Chapter 509: Get busy living, or get busy dying

“Va… Vanessa’s dead. Blackhand City, the base of the Black Hand Legion, was overrun by that Zombie King from L.A. The whole group’s been disbanded,” Sophia said, her voice running on instinct.

“That Zombie King from Los Angeles?” The Crimson Count didn’t even blink. To him, Blackhand City was nothing—his influence stretched across the globe. But the mention of a Zombie King in the U.S. did pique his interest, if only slightly. “Is he the strongest Zombie King in America?”

“Y-Yes. According to the Zombie King files, he’s basically unmatched in the States,” Sophia answered truthfully.

The Crimson Count’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t care much for the so-called Zombie King files—some were strong, some weak. Besides, the whole system had been created because of him. Everyone listed after him? Just juniors.

Back when he ruled the world like a storm, most of these so-called Zombie Kings hadn’t even awakened yet…

“Still, he seems promising. If he swears loyalty to me, I might just let him live.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. She’d dealt with Ethan plenty of times—she knew exactly what kind of person he was.

“No way. From what I know about that Zombie King, he’d never bow to anyone.”

“That’s a shame…” The Crimson Count sounded genuinely disappointed.

Because right now, he was planning to unite all the Zombie Kings across the globe, command billions of undead, and rise to the top of the world—become the true global overlord.

And then, crush his old nemesis: Genesis Biotech.

Sophia stared at him, stunned. She never imagined she’d one day be standing face-to-face with the Crimson Count.

This Zombie King in front of her—his power was unfathomable. Even that infamous L.A. Zombie King, as terrifying as he was, seemed to pale in comparison.

Most zombie hives had grown through endless bloodshed, clawing their way to dominance.

But the Crimson Count? He thrived on the darkness in human hearts.

He ran the Black Hand Legion, recruiting the fallen—humans who’d given in to their worst impulses. The more evil they embraced, the stronger his organization became.

Until it spread like a virus across the world…

And the members of the Black Hand Legion? They constantly fed their master—this top-ranked Zombie King in the files—by kidnapping survivors, delivering a steady supply of flesh, blood, and other resources.

“No wonder people kept disappearing from shelters… and no one ever found the bodies,” Sophia muttered to herself.

It was terrifying to imagine just how powerful the Crimson Count had become through all this. His rise wasn’t just about brute strength—it was also about timing, opportunity, and sheer luck.

And there was more.

Back when the Zombie King files were first being compiled, Sophia had heard a rumor.

They said the Crimson Count wasn’t even human before the apocalypse. He had some kind of rare disease—couldn’t stand sunlight, survived by drinking blood.

Locals thought he was a freak. He was shunned, mocked, hated.

Some even believed he was a vampire—an omen of doom. They tried to burn him alive, to “cleanse” the town.

They tied him to a stake, lit the fire.

He burned halfway before the local authorities arrived just in time to put out the flames and drag him out.

By then, his body was a wreck—third-degree burns over ninety percent of his skin. He was barely clinging to life.

After that, he vanished.

Most assumed he’d died.

But then the apocalypse hit.

And the Crimson Count returned—this time, as the real harbinger of doom. He wiped out every human in the region—Genesis Biotech’s local branch, the nearby shelters—everyone. Slaughtered them all in the most brutal, horrific ways imaginable.

The Crimson Count smiled faintly. “If that Zombie King from L.A. won’t submit… then kill him.”

“But… he’s insanely strong. He wiped out Genesis Biotech’s North American HQ in Texas. No one’s been able to stop him!” Sophia’s voice trembled with rage. She wanted Ethan dead more than anyone—he was the reason her life had spiraled into hell.

The Crimson Count noticed the fire of hatred in her eyes—and he liked what he saw. In fact, it reminded him of himself, once upon a time.

“You want to get stronger?” he asked.

“I… I do,” Sophia said after a pause. She’d already been thinking about it on the way here—depending on others was a dead end. If she wanted revenge, she’d have to take it herself.

The Crimson Count slowly rose to his feet, then began walking toward her.

“You… what are you doing?” Sophia’s voice trembled as she backed away, alarmed by the look in his eyes.

“The human body is too fragile,” the Crimson Count said slowly, his tone calm but chilling. “Only a zombie can fight a zombie.”

In that instant, Sophia understood exactly what he meant—he wanted to infect her.

Turn her into one of them.

And honestly… if it meant getting her revenge, she wasn’t entirely against it.

She had nothing left. No home, no allies, no future. At this point, if you can’t beat them—join them.

But… once she was infected, she’d lose her memories. Everything that made her who she was would be gone. Would she even still be Sophia?

And if she wasn’t… what would be the point of revenge?

“No… no! I don’t want to forget!” she cried, shaking her head violently, panic rising in her chest.

“Relax,” the Crimson Count said, his voice low and almost soothing. “I’ll preserve your hatred… all the way to the end.”

As he spoke, his fangs lengthened, gleaming in the dim light.

The virus in his body wasn’t like the standard zombie strain. It had fused with his vampiric nature, creating something entirely new.

When he infected a human, they didn’t lose their memories. But their personality twisted—becoming cruel, bloodthirsty, and cold.

Before Sophia could even react, his monstrous mouth lunged toward her.

“Ahhh—!”

Her scream echoed through the ancient castle, piercing the storm outside.

Thunder cracked. Wind howled. And the rain poured harder than ever…

…

Sophia was changing.

She was becoming something else—something new.

The only human to ever cross all three factions: Genesis Biotech, the Black Hand Legion… and now, the undead.

After Richard, the head of Genesis Biotech’s North American division, fell in battle, the rest of the regional directors didn’t fare much better.

They’d sent their best fighters to support Richard. Every last one of them died.

Now, holding their ground meant certain death.

So most of the directors bailed—abandoning their posts, packing up, and disappearing.

Genesis Biotech’s presence in the U.S. was effectively wiped out. What remained were empty shells of once-powerful branches.

Except for one.

Los Angeles.

Nathan’s branch.

At that moment, Nathan was slouched in his office chair, feet kicked up on the desk, watching a movie on the screen in front of him.

“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”

The classic line echoed from the speakers.

Just then, the office door creaked open. Jacob stepped inside.

“Mr. Nathan, we’ve lost contact with all the other regional directors across the U.S.”

Nathan didn’t even flinch. “Yeah…” he muttered, already suspecting as much.

Richard’s so-called “strongest defense” had crumbled.

The others were either dead… or had run for their lives.

Now, his was the only Genesis Biotech branch in America still standing.

“What about Blackhand City?” he asked.

“Overrun by the horde,” Jacob replied without hesitation.

Nathan let out a long, dramatic sigh. “Man… it’s lonely at the top.”

His thoughts drifted to Sophia. She’d fled to Blackhand City not long ago. Odds were, she didn’t make it.

Former colleague. Former rival. Now probably just another corpse.

He couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic.

But then—beep beep beep—the satellite comms device on his desk lit up, its sharp ring cutting through the silence.

Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “Who the hell…?”

With most of Genesis Biotech’s branches gone, there shouldn’t be anyone left to call him.

He stood up quickly and checked the screen.

His expression froze.

The display read:

“Genesis Biotech Global Headquarters.”

…

Here’s a redemption code for everyone: