The katana in Robertâs hand suddenly flared with blinding lightning, glowing like a torch in the dark. His body shot forward like a bolt of electricity, slicing straight toward Ravena.
His unique ability,
Night Legend
, had kicked inâunder the cover of night, all his stats were massively boosted, turning him into a force of nature.
Ravena, who had been smug just a second ago, froze. The sudden shift caught her completely off guard.
The razor-sharp katana was already at her chest before she could react. She felt a sharp, needle-like pain on her skinâher instincts screamed danger.
No time to think. She twisted her body, trying to dodge.
Shhhkâ!
The two figures crossed paths mid-air. Robertâs lightning-charged blade missed its mark by just a hairâbut still slashed across Ravenaâs chest, tearing open half her torso.
Blood gushed out in torrents. Her pale bones and glistening organs were fully exposed.
She crashed to the ground like a ragdoll, her body hitting the dirt with a sickening thud.
Robert landed behind her, katana still in hand, standing tall and steady.
"We did it!"
"Robert just wrecked the Zombie King!"
"Damn, heâs amazing! Knew heâd pull through!"
Cheers broke out among the human Awakeners nearby. In the middle of this brutal battle, they finally had a moment of hope.
Robert slowly turned around, his eyes locking onto the bloodied, crumpled form of Ravena.
"Whatâs wrong? Not so fun anymore, huh?"
"D-Damn you..." Ravena gritted her sharp teeth, lying limp on the ground. She clutched her gaping wound, trying desperately to keep her insides from spilling out.
The strike hadnât killed her outright, but it had all but taken her out of the fight.
Why?
Why the hell did this human suddenly get so strong?
Robert walked toward her, step by step. His handsome face was cold, his eyes filled with killing intent. He hated these monstersâhated everything they stood for.
"You like torturing humans, donât you?"
"N-No... please..." Ravena whimpered, crawling backward, one hand still pressed to her wound. She looked like a wounded dog, dragging herself away, leaving a trail of blood across the rocks.
Sheâd just wanted to toy with her prey a littleâhow the hell did it end up like this?
Guess Mount Elbert wasnât the playground she thought it was...
Robert raised his katana, ready to finish her offâbut just then, a voice rang out from nearby, stopping him cold.
"If youâre weak, youâll get hurt no matter where you go. Thatâs not my fault."
Robert turned his head, his dark eyes narrowing.
Sophia was walking toward him, calm and composed. Flanking her were two powerful Zombie Kingsâone of them was Dexter, of course.
The other was a beast of a man. Broad shoulders, thick armsâhis biceps were nearly as wide as a normal personâs waist. If Sophia and the late Malcolm were the brains of the operation, this guy was pure brawn.
He was the strongest of the Crimson Countâs adopted childrenâa Vampire King named Titus.
"Big bro..." Ravenaâs bloodshot eyes lit up with a flicker of hope.
The hulking Zombie King was indeed her eldest brotherâTitus, the Crimson Countâs first adopted child.
"My dear little sister... you really let your guard down, didnât you?"
"..." Ravena rolled her eyes, speechless. Ever since she set foot in America, it felt like her luck had been absolute garbage.
Robertâs brow furrowed. More Zombie Kings were showing up, each one radiating a terrifying aura. Especially this Titus guyâhis presence was overwhelming.
"So thereâs more..."
The remaining human Awakeners were in rough shapeâbloodied, battered, barely standing. Most of them were injured.
Now, with three more Zombie Kings joining the fight, fear gripped their hearts. Robert was strong, sureâbut even if he were made of iron, how many nails could he take?
"Robert... we canât hold out much longer..."
"Donât say that," Robert said firmly. "We never give up hope."
"Heh..."
Sophia let out a cold laugh. She couldnât tell if this guy was brave... or just plain stupid.
"With all four of us Zombie Kings here... what hope do you think you have left?"
"Four of you, huh?" Robert swept his gaze across the battlefield.
Ravena was barely clinging to consciousness, bleeding out on the groundâshe was no longer a threat. And Sophia? She didnât even register on his radar.
"Iâd say itâs more like... two and a half."
"Youâre calling me half?" Sophiaâs eyes flared with fury, her voice sharp with indignation. She felt utterly insulted, rage boiling in her chest.
"No," Robert replied coolly, "I meant the one bleeding out over there. Sheâs the half."
"Youâ!"
Sophiaâs teeth clenched so hard it sounded like they might crack. She wanted nothing more than to rip him apartâbut under the cover of night, she knew she wasnât strong enough to take him head-on.
"Big bro... teach this bastard a lesson!" Ravena gasped, her voice weak but laced with venom.
Titus, the hulking Vampire King, let a cold smirk curl at the corner of his mouth.s... so amusing.
Robertâs katana crackled with arcs of lightning as he tightened his grip, eyes locked on the new threats. Heâd just taken down one Zombie King, and now two even stronger ones had stepped into the ring.
This was the apocalypseâno rules, no fairness. Just kill or be killed.
Only by severing their heads could he survive.
The battle of titans was far from over.
...
Meanwhile, at the summit of Mount Elbert, the slaughter raged on.
The ground was littered with corpses, piled into grotesque mounds. Severed limbs and shattered bones were everywhere, blood pooling into dark, sticky puddles.
A zombie, torn in half at the waist, dragged its entrails behind it as it clawed toward a human, snarling with mindless hunger.
Shunk!
A kukri blade came down, splitting its skull clean in two.
But before the wielder could catch his breath, another zombie lunged from the side, tackling him to the ground. Its jaws clamped down on his neck with a sickening crunch, blood spraying into the air.
The clash between humans and the undead was growing more savage by the second.
Inside the shelter, survivors huddled together, eyes locked on a massive screen broadcasting the battle in real time. Many had tears in their eyes, their faces pale and stricken.
They watched helplessly as loved ones fellâsome torn apart by ravenous zombies, others twitching violently as they reanimated, rising again as monsters.
The sight was unbearable.
Some turned away, unable to watch any longer. Others closed their eyes and whispered silent prayers.
Please... let them win. Let them come back alive.
"Weâre gonna win, right?"
"Yeah... we have to."
"Look! The Last Light squadâtheyâre about to take down a Zombie King!"
...
The Last Light squadâhumanityâs elite. Each member was the top-ranked Awakener from their respective shelters. Mia led them, but every one of them was a powerhouse.
Right now, they were locked in a brutal fight against another mutated Zombie King.
This one was a towering Vampire, nearly 6â7", with jet-black skin stretched tight over rippling muscle. His jaw jutted forward, filled with jagged fangs, giving him a monstrous, almost alien appearance.
His name was
Razorback
, another of the Crimson Countâs adopted children.
And the horde he commanded was just as distinctiveâevery zombie in his ranks had the same dark skin, clearly originating from the African continent.
Under the shroud of night, they moved like shadowsâsleek, fast, and terrifyingly silent.
"Damn... the global horde really brought out all kinds," muttered one of the Last Light members, eyes narrowing. He was the one who had unleashed the Lightning Field earlierâan Awakener with devastating electric powers.
As the next wave of zombies surged forward, he raised his arms. Lightning exploded around him, tearing through the darkness like a storm of vengeance.
...