Zombie Domination-Chapter 59- Monster

Inside Elien’s hidden shelter, the group sat around a dim lantern, the weight of the earlier chaos still heavy in the air. Rayden leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed after listening to the full report.

"So that’s what happened at the west gate..." he muttered. "Makes sense now."

He looked up, voice low and steady. "The same thing happened at the southern gate. We only escaped thanks to Rodrick’s teleportation skill."

Julian sat near the entrance, brows furrowed in thought. "Then it’s likely the eastern side experienced the same chaos..."

Lucia turned her gaze toward him, tone sharp but slightly worried. "You’re concerned about Celestia, aren’t you?"

Julian didn’t hesitate. He gave a single nod. "She’s strong, but if the situation there is anything like ours... I’m not taking the chance."

Clarissa stepped forward, her voice calm. "Be careful. If the infection spreads that fast, it might already be too late."

Julian glanced at her, then to the others. "I’ll be back soon."

Without another word, A shadow enveloped his body, then he vanished.

At the eastern post, the morning air was unusually calm.

Celestia stood at the center of the training grounds, her silver cloak fluttering gently in the wind. Her squad wasn’t around, but she didn’t think much of it, last she heard, they had been considered for promotion.

’Maybe they’re undergoing some quiet training exercise,’ she thought, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Her soldiers were running drills in formation, sharp, efficient, disciplined.

Unlike the other gates, the eastern zone was rarely attacked by zombies. That’s why it was only under Celestia’s command and the small squad she trusted most.

But then, it began.

A strange hissing sound echoed from above, followed by the appearance of a descending canister. It exploded mid-air, releasing a thick, shimmering green gas that spread unnaturally fast.

"What—!?" Celestia covered her mouth with her sleeve. But it was too late.

One by one, soldiers fell to their knees, choking, then rising again. Their eyes glowed a sinister red, movements jerky but unnaturally strong.

Celestia gritted her teeth and activated her skill: [Silver Thread]. Dozens of luminous threads shot out, wrapping around the infected to restrain them.

But they pushed through it, snapping the threads with raw force.

She had no choice. Retreat.

She leapt back, panting, then froze.

Six figures stood before her in a line. Silent. Unmoving. Behind them, Colonel Frederik, arms behind his back, watching with an expression of eerie calm.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Hike...?!" she called out. "Reinar? Igor? Cassian? Mira?!"

No answer.

She took a step forward, voice shaking slightly. "Where have you been? Why didn’t you report in?!"

Frederik spoke instead, his voice cold and composed.

"They’re doing just fine. In fact... they’re stronger than ever now."

Celestia’s blood ran cold. She looked closer, each of her squadmates’ eyes were empty, hollow... lifeless.

"You... what did you do to them?" she asked, her voice rising.

Frederik shrugged. "They’ve evolved, Lieutenant. They’re not your little squad anymore."

Then he gave a nod, and all five launched forward at once.

Celestia barely had time to summon her threads again, barely blocking the first wave of attacks. Her voice cracked as she shouted, "What’s the meaning of this, Colonel Frederik?!"

Frederik stepped closer, smiling slightly.

"This is the new world, Celestia. Embrace it... or be devoured by it."

Her eyes burned with fury. "You turned them into monsters!"

"How cruel," Frederik said calmly, hands still folded behind his back. "To call them monsters... They are new beings, evolved lifeforms that will usher this world into a new era."

Celestia gritted her teeth, her silver threads crackling in tension. "You’ve lost your mind! Why... Why would you do this to my team? My friends!"

Frederik tilted his head. "Because they asked for it. They wanted to be useful to you, Lieutenant. I simply granted their request."

A sudden blaze of blue fire shot toward her, Igor’s signature attack. Celestia barely dodged, the heat singeing her uniform.

She landed in a crouch, panting, eyes darting around.

She was surrounded.

"Please," she shouted, desperation in her voice. "Snap out of it! Don’t become this!"

Frederik raised a single hand. "It’s no use. I’ve compressed their emotional cores. They feel no fear, no doubt, only loyalty to the new world."

Then his expression twisted slightly. "But don’t worry. Soon, you’ll join them too."

Celestia’s breath hitched. Her hands trembled, not in fear, but rage.

"I... will never forgive you."

Frederik chuckled darkly. "Then allow me to show you just how far they’ve evolved."

With a single gesture, he released the suppression, just a bit. A flicker of pain crossed their faces as the soldiers clutched their heads, groaning.

"Stop it!" Celestia cried. "What did you do to them?!"

Frederik stayed silent.

Then, Mira stepped forward, eyes twitching.

"Lieutenant...?"

Celestia’s heart skipped. "Mira...? Can you hear me?"

But Mira tilted her head, and burst into maniacal laughter.

"AHAHAHA! Long time no see, Lieutenant! Isn’t this great? The power, it’s overflowing... it feels so good!"

The others began laughing as well. Wild, broken, hollow.

Celestia’s hands trembled as her world cracked apart. "No..."

Frederik’s cold voice echoed beside her.

"You see now, don’t you? These aren’t your comrades anymore. Join them... or fall."

Celestia wiped a tear from her cheek. Her sorrow turned to resolve.

"...I refuse."

"Pity," Frederik muttered. "Then break her. Make sure she doesn’t wake up again."

The five charged.

Just as the first attack was about to hit, a shadow tore through the battlefield.

A swirl of black mist exploded between them, knocking Mira back.

From the smoke, a figure stepped out, calm, composed, deadly.

Julian.

He glanced at Celestia without looking back.

"Step aside, Celestia," he said, voice cool and steady.

"I’ll handle this."

Julian narrowed his eyes as the five charged toward him, their auras radiating unstable, overwhelming power.

He moved first.

With a swift flick of his hand, shadow tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around their limbs to restrain them. But the bindings snapped almost instantly.

They didn’t stop.

Julian launched a sudden strike toward Reinar, but Reinar moved with blinding speed, his body flickering like the wind. Julian’s blade sliced through empty air. frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Fast..." Julian muttered under his breath.

Then, from the side, Mira raised her hand. Tiny orbs of glowing light formed around her, floating and dancing in midair like fireflies.

With a wave of her fingers, the lights darted toward Julian, homing in like guided missiles.

One by one, the glowing orbs exploded around him in rapid succession, forcing Julian to dodge and weave through the bursts, shadows flickering with each movement.

Julian jumped back, launching a crackling bolt of lightning from his palm. It struck Cassian head-on, hurling him backwards in a burst of electricity.

But Cassian rose, unfazed. Eyes glowing, a grin on his lips.

"They didn’t even flinch..." Julian muttered.

Suddenly, Hike stepped forward, his body glowing with a strange crimson light. The very air around Julian grew heavier. A weight pressing against every limb.

"What the hell...?" Julian struggled to move.

Hike tilted his head, a manic grin spreading.

"Hold him down. Tear him apart."

Cassian charged in, blade gleaming.

Julian’s instincts sparked Lightning Reflex activated. He twisted just in time, dodging the slash by a hair’s breadth.

But he didn’t get a moment to breathe, Igor’s blue flames surged toward him.

Boom!

The impact sent Julian crashing to the ground, smoke and ash bursting around him. His body ached. His coat smoldered.

He staggered up, eyes sharp.

"They’re stronger..."

He clenched his fists. "This isn’t a normal enhancement. They’ve been re-engineered."

Celestia was still dazed, barely able to move.

Julian turned to her, made his decision.

He rushed toward her, scooping her into his arms.

"We’re pulling out."

He bolted, lightning crackling beneath his feet.

Frederik’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t let them escape."

He turned to Reinar. "Go. Now."

But Reinar just yawned, stretching lazily.

"Ehh... I’m tired. Can’t we play later?"

Frederik’s eye twitched. He raised a hand, attempting to suppress Reinar’s emotions again, but it was too late.

Julian had already vanished into the shadows, disappearing into the night.

"Damn it..." Frederik hissed.

Julian had already put a great distance between them and the battlefield. No one was chasing.

He glanced down at Celestia, who still sat frozen in shock, her eyes unfocused, hands trembling slightly.

"I... I want to be strong," she finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "Strong enough to protect the people I love..."

Julian nodded, his voice calm and steady.

"Then I’ll make you stronger."

They stopped by an abandoned building, long deserted, its walls cracked with time. Julian pushed the door open and led her inside.

The place was silent. Dust floated through broken beams of light.

Julian closed the door behind them, locking it tight. He turned, carried Celestia to the nearby bed, and laid her down gently.

Celestia blinked, confused. "Eh... Julian, what are you—?"

Julian stood before her, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he began to remove his shirt.

With a calm, unwavering gaze, he said,

"I’m going to make you stronger."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺