Then Stella spoke up again: "Jacob, what's wrong? Why aren't you answering? My brother is asking you."Jacob looked from Stella to Hubert, bit his lip, and after a moment, he said slowly: "I am your sister's boyfriend."Hubert seemed to freeze, standing rigid until Canis spoke again, rousing him back to reality: "Is that true? Then why did you pretend not to know each other earlier?""Well, when ex-lovers meet, what is there to say? We've been talking and found that feelings remain, so we're rekindling our old relationship."Canis said nothing more. He had just thought Jacob was reliable, but now he felt nothing but antipathy. Stella was his sister, or more precisely, his half-sister. And her mother was his mother's younger sister, who is currently Madam Wang.He never had any prejudices against his stepmother and her two children because, apart from being his stepmother, she is also his maternal aunt. But since Stella did that to Hubert, he has completely alienated his stepmother, St
Winston stopped soothing him, but Hubert, the big lad, couldn't stop crying. Winston couldn't understand why he felt indescribable patience, as though currents of electricity were creeping inside him, paralyzing his entire body. Hubert continued to whimper like a child, thinking of Theodore and then of Jacob, each thought filling him with indescribable self-pity.He saw the other party as a cultivation partner and knew well that Jacob's soft words carried no weight, but now he felt a loss as if he had lost a lover. Ironically, he was the one who treated the other party like a toy but ended up being discarded like a plaything. Thinking about this, a dull pain began to resonate in Hubert's ribs. If he had known that Jacob was Stella's boyfriend, he wouldn't have saved him and wouldn't have ended up this angry."Hubert..."Suddenly, a familiar voice pierced through Hubert's ears, rousing him. It was Jacob calling him. At that moment, Winston released Hubert, with Jacob and Stella appro
Hubert pulled a flashlight from the void, its battery nearly drained after several days, casting a dim light. He pointed it towards Jacob: "Come over here, help me out!" Only now did Jacob regain his composure and walk towards Hubert. He had said earlier they could continue their previous affair at the emergency assembly area. Did this mean he would wait for Jacob to sort out his matters and explain everything? So, he was given a chance. Jacob was so ecstatic that he nearly drowned in joy. Only when Hubert called out did he snap back to reality."Just refer to me as you used to, don't distance yourself from me." Yet, he was not satisfied with Hubert addressing him as such distance. But Hubert didn't even bother to save face for him: "When you're ready to share your secrets, I'll consider getting close to you again. For now, help me get rid of this mess." He tossed the pickaxe towards Jacob, who didn't catch it and said: "I've advanced to level three. I can use firepower to break th
Mr. Wang added: "You're correct, zombies are averse to sunlight, which makes their cultivation take a long time, but when night falls, they progress very quickly. Furthermore, they aren't obscured by darkness, which makes it extremely convenient for them to hunt living creatures like us.""Damn! How are we ever going to catch up with them? We may die before reaching the peak of cultivation!" Hubert exclaimed, somewhat infuriatingly. This was too much of an advantage for the zombies, as cultivation was difficult enough. They had been beaten almost to death by zombies, and now an "easy mode" was being activated for the zombies. He pulled out a map and looked at it, with Winston illuminating it with a flashlight. The dim light barely highlighted a few main roads."We should quickly head to the contingency assembly area. If we hesitate, we might draw a horde of zombies, which would be the end. We're a large group. Our scent spreads and is more easily detected." suggested Hubert."Alright
Flap! Flap!The beating wings grew louder, and the bat leader cried out before spreading its massive wings. From underneath, it unleashed a myriad of energy like shooting stars. Each flaming meteor flew with a dizzying speed. The swarm of fiery rocks was so dense dodging them all was impossible. Hubert shouted: "Big brother, quickly empower Lucia and Stella. Hurry and create an ice barrier!"At this moment, they had to join forces to survive, setting aside any grudges. Stella Wang rushed forward, seemingly sharing her power, and Lucia quickly followed suit. The dual icy energies amplified by Canis promptly coalesced into an ice barrier blocking the barrage of flaming rocks. They were all at the peak of the second tier, but under Canis' bless, they were almost on par with the mid-third deck, but the power of the zombies was far superior. The bat leader's ability could compete with a fourth-tier superpower user. Therefore, Lucia and Stella couldn't hold on for long.The thick ice wall
"Hubert! Let's get off. What's been bothering you?"Suddenly a voice resounded next to his ear, jerking Hubert out of his meditative state. Winston had somehow moved beside him, and the helicopter had landed. Compared to the main one, this contingency meeting point was slightly smaller but fortified with sturdy barriers, standing approximately five meters tall. Even if zombies sprouted wings, it would be tough for them to infiltrate. Hubert glanced at Winston's concerned questioning and shook his head, responding:"It's nothing. Just thinking about my elder brother during the break.""Theodore wouldn't be pleased if he knew you were so disheartened. All things will pass."Hubert gave a dutiful nod, taking the lead to disembark. As he stepped out of the helicopter, he caught Jacob wearing a displeased expression. The man kept alternating his gaze between Hubert and Winston but didn't utter a word. Hubert also maintained a stoic silence.Upon entering the settlement, Hubert realized th
Such a night was still very long, and it was unknown when the darkness would descend and when the zombies would come again. After an undisclosed amount of time, it was only when there was a loud knocking on the door outside that Hubert slowly opened his eyes. He had fallen asleep at some point, and Winston had woken up a little before him. Winston put on his pants and went out to open the door. Canis called: "Hubert, it's morning. Come out for breakfast."Outside, Hubert noticed the sunlight was brilliantly bright. Hadn't it been said that they would be cloaked in darkness for thirty days? Why had it brightened up after just one night? But he had no time to ponder it. Hubert saw in front of him Canis punching Winston in the stomach."Humph! I trusted you with my brother to care for him, not leave him like this!"Rubbing the sore spot where he was hit, Winston retorted provocatively: "How should I know? It's because of lax supervisors like you, Canis.""Stinking liar! Don't think I w
Not only ordinary people but also those with extraordinary abilities began to grumble. At that moment, Gideon arrived from a distance. Despite his small stature, his presence silenced the crowd as if they were terrified. Having overheard a few sentences, Gideon didn't bother with rhetorical questions. Still, he made a straightforward statement: "An apocalypse has occurred, and it's the army's responsibility to evacuate you to a safe refuge. But if zombies attack, everyone will think of themselves first. No one will have the spare capacity to protect you. As I said earlier, you must fend for yourself, protect yourself." After that, Canis started to speak, mainly trying to appease the crowd. Gideon was not known for his patience. If he continued speaking, he might draw his gun and shoot, so Canis had no choice but to appease the crowd."I understand that the sudden arrival of the apocalypse has left everyone feeling uncertain, especially those who lack special abilities. Gideon's wor
But what they hadn't anticipated was the very moment Hubert fell into a state of energy seclusion, disturbances began to ripple outside.The squadron led by Wayne and the wind-aspected Superhuman began to inch their way towards where Hubert sat. Now, with the absorption of the Energy Stone, no protective energy sphere enveloped the scene. Only a few protective mages were there to ensure the upgrade process remained uninterrupted. Everyone understood the dire consequences if the upgrade failed."What do you want?""Isn't it obvious? To abduct the subject and seize the Energy Stone. Right now, you've lost one Superhuman of level 6 quota mid, and your most potent Superhuman is mid-upgrade. How could you possibly fend us off now?""Toby, don't waste words on them. The longer we stall, the more likely Hubert will complete the absorption, leaving us at a disadvantage."Wayne urged, the wind-aspected Superhuman accompanying him was Toby, a man with pure offensive abilities. Their squadron, i
He had traversed time four times. The first was to the moment he claimed Hubert from the fragments of time. He tried being more conciliatory, gentler. But he couldn't change his controlling nature, and once again, Hubert slipped away. But one couldn't stay in a timeline more than thrice, so he chose the future where Hubert had traveled. Hubert had failed in his mission to save Raymond, deciding to leap 500 years ahead, and Domi followed suit. In this era, Raymond had lost his memory and Hubert was exploiting it for a happier existence. Unwilling to witness this, Domi returned to the present with a plan to make Hubert end Raymond himself, eliminating him entirely.But the truth unveiled itself in a tale of sorrow, proving his failure, and he had indeed lost Hubert. What's more, he'd forsaken his chance of survival - a misfortune that had not befallen him during his second traverse through time. Perhaps now, Hubert was utterly beyond his grasp; his past, his future, and even the present
The dark energy within Hubert surged powerfully, overwhelming those around him in no time. This force clearly embodied Raymond’s essence and grew alongside him. The zombie king's energy was not to be trifled with, so Superhumans below level 6 felt dizzy, nauseous, and experienced a pressure akin to diving deep underwater."It's... hard to breathe!""What monstrous energy is this?"They all knew Hubert was a Level 6 Superhuman, but to possess such overwhelming energy was exceedingly rare. Moreover, the kind of energy that could oppress them to the point of feeling as if their lungs were being torn apart could only be that of a zombie's. It was as if they couldn't believe their own thoughts, or more precisely, they were terrified. For a Superhuman to carry zombie energy without being assimilated or controlled was extremely peculiar. And Hubert was that very anomaly!The atmosphere seemed to have stagnated, suffocating not just the Superhumans but Hubert himself. That dark force seemed t
"If we are to hunt Superhumans together, I must address you properly. Surely, I can't just call you 'this zombie' or 'that zombie,' can I?" But Raymond never responded. Never before had he felt so dismissed, so insulted. Yet, he persisted in his quest for Raymond's name. Until, irked by Clunky's persistence, Raymond finally said: "My surname is Raymond Joshua." "And your first name? Speak it!" "Annoying!" "What?" "I said, 'You're annoying.'" Though meant as a reprimand, Clunky responded: "I am nameless. But if you find me annoying, I shall name myself 'Clunky.' I will take your surname, and serve under you, the true zombie king. What say you?" ... Raymond never replied. Clunky initially thought Raymond would maintain that initial distance, but later, every time Raymond hunted, he would share with him any mutated Water Energy Stones he found. Clunky realized that zombies typically lacked emotional depth, yet as a high-level sentient zombie, his thoughts mirrored that of humans.
If reason failed, then perhaps the heart's tug might prevail. Since their encounter, Clunky had refrained from striking him, showcasing a surprising restraint. Coupled with the fact that Clunky had not lost his rationale, there was hope to sway him. Hubert implored,"Just pretend not to see us, allowing us passage to the asteroid's core. I'll do my utmost to prevent his self-destruction. You can assist with that, can't you?""Do you not comprehend the apocalypse that Raymond's existence might trigger?""I'm well aware." Hubert sighed: "but I wish to save both the world and him."Once more, Clunky lapsed into a contemplative silence. It was a long minute before he said: "Your recklessness astonishes me. Moreover, preventing his self-destruction might be inevitable. He can't explode if he loses his self-awareness. The event is imminent!"Rather than speculation, Clunky’s words felt like a forewarning. As if Raymond's loss of control was a foregone conclusion. Hubert queried,"Do you fat
Now, had it not been for Canis with his luminous superpowers, there probably would've been no means of separating Raymond's energy. Cautiously extending his arm, he sensed a familiar energy, through which he could trace the very existence of Raymond. Even more astonishing, he felt as though he could pinpoint Raymond's exact location.Raymond wasn't at the meteorite's core, but he was undoubtedly making his way there. This revelation meant there was no need to waste time seeking him. The very thing demanding his attention now roiled and seethed right before his very eyes.The ominous black pool belonging to Clunky seemed on the verge of erupting, its turmoil growing by the second. Ever since Hubert had siphoned off Raymond's energy, Clunky's own energy began to oscillate wildly. This clearly indicated that he had detected the essence of the Zombie King lingering around.Confusion must have gripped Clunky, for Raymond's scent manifested in two distinct locations: where Raymond truly was
If Clunky arrived a tad earlier, Phelan and Allan might have formed an alliance to restrain him, saving them much precious energy. Yet, if his arrival were any more belated, the ice barrier would have been wholly corroded by his sinister liquid. Hubert, gazing as the first shadow struck the ice barrier, realized that had he not been at Superhuman level 6 quota peak, that wall would have fallen long ago.Lost in contemplation, Hubert was startled by Stella’s sudden voice:"Hubert, have you forgotten about me? I am, after all, a pure Ice Superhuman.""And I am as well. Alone, your showy moves are more than enough."Lucia chimed in, her laughter tinged with a hint of mockery. Stella, with a hint of drama, channeled her Superpower, reinforcing Hubert's ice barrier. Almost as if dancing in tandem, Lucia followed suit. Thus, three magnificent ice walls, spanning over fifty meters, stood in unison, ensuring Clunky's water shadows could not break through. This feat could potentially buy them
Though he'd never directly clashed with him, Caradoc knew that Clunky was no pushover. His first encounter with the zombie was when Clunky was merely a level-5, losing a fight against Lancelot. But things had changed; the zombie had gained immense strength over the months, and even Caradoc, who had never fought him, felt a sense of dread.Hubert, too, ceased arguing at this moment. He walked closer to the black "river." stopping a mere five meters away. The heat emanating from it was palpable. Compared to Nathan's or Jacob's fire, Lancelot's was less hot, but it should not be underestimated.When he was merely at level 5, he could transform a high-ranking Superhuman into a mere skeleton in the blink of an eye. Now, the magnitude of his powers is beyond anyone's comprehension.Whoosh!Hubert unleashed a chunk of metal larger than a human head, hurling it into the heart of the river. The metallic mass immediately emitted a sound akin to boiling oil, followed by effervescent bubbles befo
Winston grabbed Hubert's hand and gave it two shakes, demanding his attention. The gesture did make Hubert shift his focus. He glanced at Winston, then back at the ringleader, and finally toward the heart of S city. He spoke deliberately:"Let's put today's matter aside for now. But don't assume that anyone who seeks to hunt the zombie king will be safe."Hubert withdrew his Superpower energy, his fists clenched as though prepared to decapitate anyone at a moment's notice. The ringleader, noticing Hubert's newfound composure, let out a sigh of relief, yet dared to probe further:"Why do you protect the zombie king? His existence threatens the lives of all humanity.""Indeed..."Hubert merely nodded in agreement, signaling his understanding that Raymond's existence was a peril to humankind. Yet, he voiced no further thoughts. More than anyone else, he understood the peril that Raymond's very being brought about, the specter of death that trailed behind him. But the very thought of witn