"Let's attack in waves."Gideon's voice reverberated, slicing through the concentration of Canis. A zombie horde exceeding fifty in number stood before them. Over ten had attained level 3, and two formidable beings had reached level 4.Usually, a level 4 zombie could compete against four level 4 Superhumans simultaneously. Still, the Superhuman ranks needed to hold more level 4 warriors to fend off the two high-level zombies at once. Moreover, the level 3 zombies were also formidable adversaries, and dealing even with the lesser horde seemed daunting."A...ah!"Suddenly, a cry tore from Hadley's lips as she clutched her chest, panting heavily. A vibrant red light began to radiate intensely from her body."Hadley... Hadley! Are you all right?""What's happening to her?"Hadley's hands were clasped around her chest like she was in excruciating pain. Phelan, organizing the troop for battle, beheld this spectacle and declared in a commanding tone:"She's leveling up. Don't let her be dist
The Wilderness Forest might not have been the world's largest. Still, it was the largest in the country and the closest to City S. The city's center was where the meteorite had landed, spawning countless zombies and producing more with each passing moment. A significant disturbance like a forest fire would surely attract the zombie, particularly the fire-element ones, which could exploit the fire to boost their experience. Moreover, it was still being determined whether any Superhumans were hunting in the forest at night. If a wildfire occurred, they would have no way to escape. Deep within the forest lurked countless high-level zombies. If roused, it would spell certain doom for all present. "What am I supposed to do now? Water and ice abilities are ineffective." "Do I have to use an over-level ability again?" As Hubert muttered under his breath, Canis overheard him. Grasping Hubert's hands, Canis held them firmly in place. "You can't resort to over-level abilities again. Withi
Hubert had activated his water-based superpower, and water began to flow downwards from his hands. His water encased the fire in a large ring, thus forming a sturdy water wall. He then continued to activate his ice-based superpower to freeze the water area. But this ice wall wouldn't hold for long as his low-level ability couldn't withstand the level 4 zombie's fire superpower. Thus, this ice wall was only a temporary barrier to prevent the fire from spreading further.As it could not spread, the fire could only rise higher. Thick black smoke covered a vast expanse of the sky.Boom! Crash!They had just taken down the two level 4 zombies at Nathan, Hadley, and Enda's side. The zombies could no longer fuel the fire, which could only smolder within the ice wall."Take action, Stella, Lucia!"With a cry, Hubert leaped towards the duo. The gusts of wind flurried in response to their collective movement, all utilizing every last bit of their energy for this crucial moment. Failure was not
Just as Canis boosted Hubert's energy, Hubert's Superpower broke free at its maximum level. He was swift when he morphed into a cat form; now, with Canis' amplification, he was even faster. His ability to generate water was also enhanced. Water cascaded from above like a hailstorm. With such intensity, if the fire didn't go out, it would be a mockery of nature - to have so much water yet unable to put out a fire would be a laughing matter.But in reality, it was far from a joke. A level 4 zombie ignited this fire; due to the difference in levels, the amount of water needed increased rapidly. Behind, Stella and Lucia also generated a large amount of snow. With such a frequency, in five minutes, the ground would be blanketed in white, half a meter thick.They were getting closer to the final steps of fire suppression. The crucial factor now was each individual going out. Initially, the fire enveloped all Superhumans inside, but none flinched due to a defense Superhuman creating a bar
Thud! Just as the metallic web crafted by Lancelot had been completed, both Hubert and Stella had fallen unconscious onto the mesh, soon followed by Lucia. The flame of the Level 4 zombie had been completely extinguished, but the count of the injured and those at death's doorstep to reach this result was too staggering to measure. Hubert and Canis, in particular, were severely affected due to their superpowers overreaching their limits. Emerging from a foggy stupor a few minutes later, Stella glanced over at Hubert, sprawled beside her. Hubert's entire body was covered in blood that had oozed from countless wounds. Even the pores of his skin wept with specks of blood dotting his flesh. Stella was genuinely terrified this time. She had always coveted everything that belonged to Hubert, even wished for his demise. However, ever since he had risked his life to save her, she wished she had never entertained such thoughts. "Hubert! Hubert!" Half of the resentment she held within hersel
Winston's eyes widened as if he were acquiring new knowledge. Theodore, even though a zombie, was no different from an average human except that his body had turned black. But his cognition remained remarkably regular. It seemed like what Hubert had said was right. This apocalypse was utterly different from the one-two millennia ago. Developing a vaccine was no easy task. Winston said, "Give me a piece of your flesh. I need it for research." Theodore didn't respond immediately, not showing any surprise, as though he had anticipated this request: "You indeed have an incurable habit, even wanting to dissect your friend's flesh for research." "For the survival of humankind, I can only try my best." "Do you think I'm going to give you some? Remember, I'm a zombie now. We aren't close enough to casually ask for flesh." Theodore stated firmly. Winston chuckled: "Well if you're not giving, you're not giving. And we're not close anymore? Just because you've become a zombie, we're no long
Hubert reiterated: "Speak up, and I don't want to sever ties with you."Hitting Winston's weak spot, Winston sat up straight. Now it was impossible to hide anymore. Theodore shouldn't have tasked him with this covert operation, especially when it had many loose ends. Winston began hesitantly:"When I tell you, you mustn't venture into dangerous territories.""Which dangerous territories?""Just dangerous ones.""Speak up."Hubert retorted coldly. Winston, realizing the bleakness of the situation, hurriedly confessed:"Theodore has arrived. He was the one who healed you and Canis.""My elder brother is here?""Our elder brother was here?"Both Canis and Hubert simultaneously asked, not giving Winston a chance to answer as the barrage of questions continued:"How did he know we were in danger and come to our rescue? Does he possess a healing Superpower?""Can zombies even have healing Superpowers?"Canis' statement was not unfounded; zombies were devoid of healing Superpowers. They coul
This time, Canis understood that Theodore had risked himself to save Hubert and not himself - he was a beneficial afterthought. The life-saving debt he owed Theodore was undeniable, and he had long recognized Theodore's sibling love for Hubert that transcended ordinary bonds. Hence, to repay Theodore, Canis vowed to take good care of Hubert, believing Theodore's deepest desire was for his young brother to survive safely in this apocalypse riddled with death."Now, we shall rest for half a day before we proceed." he declared."Let me give them some food, and it'll help to restore their energy faster."Hubert then retrieved water, bread, and live instant noodles from his space and distributed them equally. Superhumans of level 4 and above could last up to fifteen days without food, but their cravings remained. Hence he made sure everyone had enough. After distributing the food, he began sorting out the cores they had collected.Theodore had given nearly a hundred of various types of co
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