Chapter 491: Well, long time no see

“Mmm, not bad at all,” Mia praised again, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

Just as Ethan’s sneaky little scheme had predicted, everything was going smoothly. Now all they had to do… was wait for Slade to walk right into the trap.

But then, something clicked in Mia’s mind.

“Hey, wait a sec—what was that ‘Sexy Dance’ you mentioned earlier?”

“Uh… Sexy Dance? It’s, uh, just a kind of dance,” Hugo stammered, clearly trying to dodge the question.

Mia narrowed her eyes. “Then show me. I wanna see it.”

“Wha—no, no, come on, let’s not—” Hugo grimaced like he’d just bitten into a lemon.

But Mia cut him off, her voice sweet but deadly. “If you don’t dance, I’ll kill you.”

“Dance? Of course! I’ll dance right now!”

Faced with the very real threat of death, Hugo caved instantly.

They left the stone chamber and moved into the wide, open cavern nestled in the mountain’s belly.

Hugo took a deep breath, waddled nervously to the center of the space, and—looking like a walrus trying to do ballet—started gyrating and swaying his hips in a painfully awkward but oddly committed imitation of a K-pop girl group routine.

Mia, Leah, and the others lounged around the edges of the cavern, snacking and sipping drinks as they watched the spectacle unfold. Even the girls Chris had rescued—once victims, now spectators—sat nearby, roles reversed.

Despite his size, Hugo gave it his all. His chubby body jiggled with every move, but his technique was surprisingly on point. After watching so many performances, he’d clearly picked up the nuances. Honestly, he was even better than the girls who’d danced earlier.

“Pfft! When guys go full diva, women don’t stand a chance,” Leah snorted, trying to hold back her laughter.

Nora nodded in agreement. “Mmhmm. That big guy’s got some serious sass.”

…

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, Slade had just gotten the message and was gearing up to head out, still fuming and looking for a way to blow off steam.

A group of his elite crew followed close behind.

“Boss Slade, that Hugo guy’s been real sharp lately,” one of them said. “Even started bringing you gifts and stuff.”

“Mmm. He’s got potential,” Slade replied, clearly pleased. “Might be time to promote him.”

Another guy chimed in, “With all the zombie hordes migrating outta L.A., a bunch of survivors have been passing through our turf. The crew’s been raking in the goods.”

“Good. That’s real good,” Slade said with a grin. “L.A.’s Zombie King is going toe-to-toe with Genesis Biotech right now. Perfect time for us to enjoy ourselves. And if he ever makes it to Blackhand City, we just pack up and bounce. Head overseas or something. Doesn’t matter where—we’ll survive.”

He wasn’t bluffing. Slade had seen the Zombie King clash with Nightbane before—an apocalyptic battle that shook the earth and split the skies. The sheer power on display had been terrifying.

Even the zombie hordes back then were way beyond anything he could handle.

So no, Slade had zero intention of fighting back.

But one of his men hesitated. “Thing is, I heard Leader Vanessa’s thinking about rallying people to fight the horde.”

“That woman doesn’t know shit,” Slade snapped, instantly irritated. “Probably got brainwashed by Sophia again. That chick pulls the same crap everywhere she goes. That’s what happens when you let a woman run the show. We’re not following her lead.”

“Yeah, yeah,” the others nodded quickly, eager to agree.

They kept chatting as they approached the base nestled in the barren mountain ahead. Just thinking about the stash of supplies and the top-tier women waiting inside had them grinning from ear to ear.

Life was good. Why the hell would they risk it all fighting zombies?

With Slade at the front, the group stepped into the cave. The light dimmed instantly, and a chill crept through the air.

The tunnel opened into the wide cavern beyond. As their eyes adjusted, they spotted a large, jiggling figure in the middle of the room, twisting and swaying in a bizarrely seductive dance.

“Huh? Is he drunk?” Slade frowned, confused.

The others squinted, then burst out laughing.

“Wait—is that Hugo?”

“What the hell’s gotten into him? Dude’s really feelin’ himself today.”

“C’mon, let’s go see what the hell’s going on in there.”

“…”

The group stepped into the mountain’s hollow interior. Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting dancing shadows across their faces, the dim firelight making their expressions shift between light and dark.

“Hugo, where’s the stash?” Slade asked the moment he entered, his tone casual but expectant.

“Uh…” Hugo froze mid-dance, sweat pouring down his face.

But before he could stammer out a reply, a woman’s voice cut through the air.

“Well, long time no see.”

Slade’s face tightened instantly. That voice—it was way too familiar. He whipped his head around, and sure enough, there she was: Mia, her expression cold as ice.

His stomach dropped.

He remembered her all too well. Back during the San Diego incident, she’d nearly killed him. The memory still haunted him.

“What the hell is she doing here?”

His eyes scanned the room. Leah. Nora. Chris. All familiar faces. And then—he saw him.

A tall figure in a crisp white shirt, handsome as hell, standing calmly at the back.

Slade’s expression froze. His brain short-circuited.

“…???”

He turned to Hugo, face twisted in disbelief. “Hugo… this is the ‘stash’ you told me about?”

“Boss Slade, I didn’t have a choice!” Hugo wailed, practically in tears.

And just like that, it all clicked.

He’d been played.

There were no supplies. No women. Just a trap—set by the survivors and that damn Zombie King from L.A., all here for revenge.

“Run! Get the hell out of here!”

Slade didn’t even think about fighting. Not against this lineup. He spun around and bolted, dragging his men with him.

But Mia wasn’t about to let him go this time.

She shot forward like lightning, Leah and Brandon right behind her.

“You came all this way—might as well stay a while,” she said, her Tachi crackling with electricity, slicing through the air like a thunderbolt.

“Shadowbind!” Slade shouted, panic in his voice as he activated his awakened ability.

From beneath his feet, shadows exploded outward like a living nightmare, stretching and clawing toward the others.

Leah and the rest froze in place, their bodies locked down by the writhing darkness.

Slade wasn’t just some thug—he was one of the five top commanders of the Black Hand Legion, an S-Class awakened with the rare ability: Shadowmancy. He was no pushover.

But Mia only paused for a second before breaking free, her Tachi flashing as she lunged straight for his forehead.

“Shit!”

Slade knew better than to take her head-on. The longer she fought, the stronger she got. He tried to dodge, retreating fast.

But then—everything changed.

A crushing pressure slammed down like a tidal wave. The entire mountain shook violently, dust raining from the ceiling. The air itself seemed to freeze.

Slade was caught in the middle of it, his body suddenly weighed down like he was carrying a mountain on his back. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t even lift a finger.

Ethan had made his move.

It was the first time he and Mia had fought side by side—and together, their power was overwhelming. Even an S-Class awakened like Slade didn’t stand a chance.

Mia’s Tachi tore through the air, closing in on Slade’s forehead. It was inches away from ending him.

But then—something unexpected happened.

A blur shot in from the side, placing itself between Mia and Slade, back turned to her.

Shhk!

The blade pierced clean through the figure’s back.

It had taken the hit for Slade.

But instead of blood, there was a metallic clang—like steel on steel.

The figure didn’t collapse. It stood firm.

Slade’s men? No way. None of them were loyal enough to take a blade for him.

Then the figure’s skin began to ripple, shifting like liquid metal. Its features morphed, reshaping into a bald, strikingly handsome young man.

Etched into the back of his head was a glowing mark:

T-09.

…