Chapter 650: I got promoted? Again?

“Alright, I’ll think of another way,” Ethan texted back.

The human brain—it’s the most intricate organ we have. And with the current level of technology, truly understanding it is still way out of reach.

Using the human brain to study itself? The more you think about it, the more terrifying it becomes.

Ethan unwound his scarf and stood up from the dining table. His figure slowly faded, vanishing into thin air.

…

After Sophia was captured alive, fate had a twisted sense of humor—she ended up locked in the Los Angeles branch of Genesis Biotech, the very place she’d once tried to infiltrate.

Now, she stood inside a prison cell made entirely of alloy. Thick metal bars surrounded her, gleaming under the harsh white lights. The whole thing looked like it could withstand a tank—there was no way out.

“Was it really worth it…?”

A man’s voice echoed from outside the cell, tinged with a mix of pity and sarcasm.

“After all that running around, you still ended up back here. And now? You’re just another prisoner.”

Sophia didn’t say a word, but her blood boiled. The man standing outside was none other than her old nemesis—Nathan.

“Funny how life works, huh? Everything’s fate. Everything’s destiny. And in the end, it all comes full circle,” Nathan said with a sigh, like he was waxing poetic.

Sophia clenched her jaw so hard it cracked. Her chest burned with frustration. He sounded like he was reflecting on life, but she could feel the smugness dripping from every word. He was practically humming with joy.

“Nathan, as long as I’m still breathing, I swear I’ll take you down one day!”

“Ay, ay, ay… Can we not do this again?” Nathan waved his hands dramatically. “You’ve said that so many times, my ears are about to fall off. And yet—here we are.”

He figured her hatred probably wasn’t just personal anymore. The mutated virus had likely wiped out whatever feelings she had left from her human days.

As the two exchanged barbs, a white figure slowly materialized in front of Nathan.

“Huh?”

Nathan’s heart skipped a beat. The moment he saw the man in white, every hair on his body stood on end. A wave of dread washed over him.

They were both based in L.A., and had crossed paths indirectly during the early days of the apocalypse. But this—this was the first time they’d met face to face.

Gulp.

Nathan’s lips went dry. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Finally, he was standing in front of Ethan.

“Boss… what brings you here?”

“You’re Nathan, right? Head of Genesis Biotech’s North American division?”

“Y-Yes! That’s me!” Nathan nodded so fast he looked like a bobblehead.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Ethan said calmly.

Nathan broke into a cold sweat. His nerves were shot.

“Oh no, no, I’m not worthy of that!”

This man standing before him was now the undisputed ruler of the world. Sure, Nathan had contributed a fair amount of research materials, but what if Ethan decided he was no longer useful? What if he just… erased him?

After all, they had been on opposite sides at the beginning of all this.

Nathan was panicking inside, convinced Ethan had come to kill him.

But then Ethan paused, thought for a moment, and said, “You’ve been promoted. From now on, you’re the Global Director of Genesis Biotech.”

“…What??” Nathan’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

I got promoted? Again?

And not just any promotion—he was now the top dog of Genesis Biotech worldwide.

That was… fast. Like, absurdly fast.

Still, Nathan was thrilled. The title didn’t matter as much as the fact that Ethan clearly wasn’t here to kill him.

“So… is there anything I can do for you?” he asked, trying to sound useful.

“I want you to gather all the research data from every branch. Focus on finding a way to restore memories in zombies,” Ethan said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. It was clear—he was going to use the full power of the global network to help Mia recover her memories.

“Understood! You can count on me—I’ll give it everything I’ve got!” Nathan nodded furiously.

“Good.” With that, Ethan vanished once more, disappearing into the air like a ghost.

Nathan stood frozen for a moment, then wiped the sweat from his brow.

He let out a long, shaky breath.

Whatever Ethan wanted, he’d make damn sure it got done.

“Hmph! Bootlicker!” Sophia scoffed from inside the cell, her voice dripping with contempt.

Nathan just grinned. “Heh, and you’ve got the nerve to call me that? Better a bootlicker than a backstabbing turncoat like you!”

“You—!” Sophia’s fury flared, but she bit her tongue. She’d never once won a war of words with him, and this time was no different.

Nathan looked at her for a long moment, and surprisingly, his expression softened. There was something genuine in his eyes, something almost… human.

“If we really do figure out a way to reverse the zombie virus,” he said quietly, “I’ll make sure you get treated too.” His voice trembled slightly, like he was holding back tears that never quite fell.

Sophia was silent.

…

Back at the Los Angeles safe zone, things were finally starting to fall into place. The community was thriving—fields had been cleared and replanted, livestock raised, and order restored.

But that didn’t mean danger was gone. Mutated creatures still roamed the Angeles National Forest, and strange water beasts occasionally crawled out of the river. The threat was real, and the need for a defense force remained.

In the center of the safe zone, a massive statue had been erected.

It was a sculpture of a young woman—delicate features, breathtaking beauty, so lifelike it felt like she might open her eyes at any moment.

At the base of the statue, four bold characters were carved into the stone: Light of Humanity.

In front of it, a katana was stabbed into the ground at an angle. Embedded in the hilt was a lightning-element crystal core, pulsing with a soft electric glow. It looked badass.

Everyone who passed by the statue did so with reverence, bowing respectfully before moving on.

“Back on the summit of Mount Elbert, it was me and Mia, side by side, holding the line against the global zombie horde. We protected humanity that day,” Chris said proudly, standing before the statue with a group of students gathered around him.

“Whoa~~~” the kids gasped in awe, their eyes wide with admiration.

“Instructor Chris, what happened to Mia after that?”

“Well…” Chris paused, his gaze lingering on the statue. “She was injured. But don’t worry—she’s strong. I’m sure she’ll recover soon and come back to us.” His voice was full of hope.

The students stared up at the statue, their young hearts stirred. To them, Mia wasn’t just a hero—she was the hero. A symbol of everything they aspired to be.

And in that moment, a seed was planted—one that would grow into something powerful.

That’s what heroes do.

“Alright, let’s go. I’ll show you another hero,” Chris said, turning to lead them away. “Though… he’s a little different now. Don’t be scared.”

“Okay!” the kids chimed in unison, eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Soon, they arrived at a heavily secured room. Thick alloy pillars stood like sentinels, and inside, a young man sat cross-legged, completely isolated.

“Robert, how are you holding up? I brought the students to see you,” Chris said gently.

The figure slowly lifted his head.

His face was twisted, veins bulging beneath his skin, eyes glowing a deep, unnatural red.

“Get the hell out! I didn’t ask for visitors!” he snarled.

“Uh…” The students recoiled, startled, taking several steps back.

Chris looked at the young man—once cheerful, optimistic, full of life. Now, he was barely recognizable, consumed by darkness. The sight made Chris’s heart ache.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find a way to cure you,” he said, voice firm.

“I don’t need your damn cure!” Robert roared. “Let me out, and I’ll kill every last one of you!”

The kids shrank back even further, fear etched across their faces.

One little boy, maybe nine years old, clutched Chris’s sleeve, his voice trembling. “Instructor Chris… why is there a monster in the safe zone? That’s way too dangerous! What if he escapes? We should just kill him now before it’s too late!”

“Watch your mouth!” Chris snapped, smacking the boy lightly on the head.

“He became like this because he was protecting us…”

…