I Have a Modern Weapon Gacha System in the Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 55: New Monster?

The MQ-1 Predator proceeded to its original mission, which is to fly towards Boracay.

The drone adjusted its heading smoothly, banking slightly as it cleared the last stretch of Luzon’s southern coastline. The dense urban sprawl faded from the screen, replaced by darker patches of land and scattered settlements that looked just as still from above.

"Back on course," the operator confirmed. "Maintaining altitude. Speed steady."

Adrian remained where he stood, eyes fixed on the feed.

"Keep the sensors active along the route," he said. "I want to know if the situation changes outside the city."

"Copy."

The camera swept across the terrain below as the Predator moved south. Smaller towns came into view—clusters of houses, narrow roads, fields that should have been active.

They weren’t.

Vehicles were scattered in odd positions, some abandoned along the roadside, others stopped in front of homes. A few doors hung open. No organized movement. No signs of people working, gathering, or even attempting to move out.

"Looks the same everywhere," Ryan said quietly.

Adrian nodded once.

"Zoom in on that town," he said.

The operator adjusted the feed.

The camera tightened over a small settlement.

A few figures moved slowly between houses.

More than a few.

Not in groups that looked coordinated—just drifting, crossing paths, spreading through the area with no direction.

"Infected presence confirmed," the operator said. "Low density compared to Metro Manila, but still active."

"Any survivors?" Adrian asked.

The operator scanned across rooftops and upper windows, switching briefly to infrared.

"Negative clear confirmation," he said. "No stable heat clusters."

Adrian didn’t say anything for a moment.

"Keep moving," he said.

The Predator pushed forward.

Minutes passed as the drone crossed over more terrain. Forested areas. Coastal roads. Small ports that should have had boats moving in and out.

Instead, vessels were left near the shore, some drifting slightly, others grounded. No signs of operation. No traffic.

"Coastal activity is dead," the operator reported.

Ryan shifted his weight.

"If the mainland looks like this," he said, "the island better be different. Well anyways, I’m going now sir."

"Yeah, good luck on your work. I will watch over you here at the command center."

Ryan gave a short nod, then turned and left the command center without another word. The door closed behind him, cutting off the noise of movement outside.

Adrian stayed where he was.

Eyes still on the screen.

"Status on the Black Hawk?" he asked.

One of the operators glanced at another monitor.

"Spinning up now, sir. Crew is onboard. Herrera is being escorted to the aircraft."

"Patch me to their comms."

"Copy."

A second later, a new audio channel opened in the room.

"—all set here," Ryan’s voice came through, slightly distorted over the radio. "Pilot is secured. Team is loaded."

Adrian didn’t look away from the Predator feed.

"Proceed," he said.

"Copy. Lifting in ten."

The audio cut back to ambient.

On the main screen, the coastline shifted again.

"Approaching Panay airspace," the operator said. "Boracay in visual range in thirty seconds."

Adrian leaned slightly forward.

"Bring us lower," he said. "Not too low. Just enough to get detail."

"Adjusting altitude."

The drone descended gradually, the island growing larger in frame.

White sand beaches.

Clear water.

From this angle, it looked untouched.

Too untouched.

"Zoom on the shoreline," Adrian said.

The feed tightened.

Rows of beachfront resorts came into view.

Chairs still lined up along the sand.

Umbrellas still standing. It was too quiet. Perhaps the people are inside one of those hotels?

Then suddenly, the MQ-1 Predator detected movement.

"What is that?" Adrian pointed at the screen.

The operator reacted immediately, hands tightening on the controls as he zoomed in.

"Stabilizing feed... enhancing."

The image sharpened.

At first, it didn’t make sense.

The figure was wrong.

Its proportions didn’t match anything human.

It moved along the edge of the resort, low to the ground, but not crawling. Its limbs were too long for that—thin but stretched, jointed in a way that forced its body forward like a frame built for speed rather than balance.

"Hold that," Adrian said.

The camera locked.

Now it was clear.

The thing stood on four limbs, but not evenly. Its front limbs were longer, bent sharply at the joints, supporting most of its weight while the rear legs dragged slightly behind before pushing forward in sudden bursts. Each step looked controlled but unnatural, like it was adjusting its balance constantly.

Its body was narrow.

Skin pulled tight over bone.

The spine curved upward, then dipped, creating a hunched shape that kept its head low but forward-facing.

"Zoom further," Adrian said.

The operator pushed it.

The head came into focus.

Elongated.

The jaw extended outward, not like a normal bite pattern but stretched, with visible gaps where teeth should align. The mouth hung slightly open, exposing uneven rows of sharp, jagged teeth that didn’t look meant for chewing—more for tearing.

Chills ran down his spine as he realized something. If that creature is in that island, are his parents safe?

Suddenly, the creature moved.

"Track it!" Adrian said, his voice cutting through the room.

The operator reacted immediately, dragging the camera across the shoreline, zoom shifting as he tried to reacquire.

"Lost—wait—got it!"

The feed snapped back onto the target, but it was already far from where it had been.

"Jesus..." the operator muttered. "It covered that distance in less than a second."

Adrian leaned closer to the screen.

It was running toward something.

"Where is it going?" Adrian asked.

Then the answer showed itself.

A civilian in light clothes burst out, sprinting across the sand without direction, glancing back once before pushing forward again.

"Contact, civilian," the operator said.

The creature adjusted instantly.

It didn’t hesitate or correct gradually. Its entire body shifted direction in one clean motion, limbs digging into the sand as it pivoted and accelerated.

The distance between them disappeared fast.

"Keep it centered," Adrian said.

"I’m trying," the operator replied, tightening the zoom.

The civilian ran hard, but it didn’t matter. The sand slowed him just enough. His steps lost rhythm for half a second.

That was all it took.

The creature lunged.

It didn’t collide like a human would. It dropped low and hooked the man’s legs with one elongated limb while the other struck the ground to stabilize the impact. The man’s body flipped forward and hit the sand hard.

The creature was already on him before he could recover.

A short struggle followed—arms pushing, body twisting—but it didn’t last as the creature pierced a gaping hole to his chest.

"Shit..." the thought of losing another family dawned on Adrian as he had witnessed a new monster.