“Zombies?” Dustin raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I’ve heard stories, but I’ve never actually seen one. Are they really as powerful as the legends claim?”
Zombies were abominations that defied the natural order, driven by an insatiable hunger for the living and nearly impossible to kill. They fed on human flesh, especially brains. Wherever they appeared, they spread like wildfire.
Ancient records claimed that some of the strongest could wipe out entire cities, leaving nothing but scorched ruins in their wake.
Grace replied grimly, “They’re creatures of pure darkness, unnatural and dangerous in every way. Their bodies are tough as iron, nearly bulletproof, and incredibly hard to kill.
“The scariest part isn’t their strength, but the virus they carry. One bite or even a scratch is enough to turn a person into one of them. And once it starts, the infection spreads like wildfire. One turns into ten, ten into 100.”
Compared to the plague, the zombie virus was far more aggressive and impossible to contain. While plague could be managed with medicine and lockdowns, there was no stopping it once the virus broke out.
The only effective method was the total eradication of all infected individuals to prevent further outbreaks. If the zombie incursion couldn’t be contained, the fall of Reedcrest would only be a matter of time.
“The Skull Covenant remnants really don’t know when to quit,” Dustin said, clearly irritated. “First the plague, then the scarlet mist, and now zombies? It’s been one attack after another.”
Though he had recently broken through to a new realm and could handle far more than before, the chaos stirred up by the Skull Covenant was pushing his patience to its limit. If he ever found their hiding place, he would wipe out every last one of them in one fell sweep.1
“I’ve already deployed troops to block off every major route,” Grace said.
She continued, expressing her concern, ” But I can’t guarantee they’ll be able to hold off a large-scale zombie attack. If our defense lines fall, then Reedcrest’s civilians will lose all protection. When that happens, the entire city will turn into a bloodbath.”
The zombie virus spread faster than anyone could respond. If the military itself became infected, the situation would spiral far beyond control.
“What do you need me to do?” Dustin asked bluntly. Since she had called him over, he figured she had a specific plan in mind.
“I need you to stop the zombies from breaking through. If possible, wipe them out,” Grace replied.
“How many zombies are there in Reedcrest?”
“Hundreds or maybe more. And the number’s growing fast,” she answered honestly.
Dustin said, “With them scattered across the city, I can’t kill them fast enough to keep up with the infection rate.”
He paused to think, then added, “Here’s the plan. Have your troops evacuate the civilians and move them far from any known zombie clusters. That’ll slow the spread.
“Then, pick a few teams to herd the zombies into a single area. Once they’re gathered, I’ll take them all out at once. It’s faster and more efficient.”
“Great. I’ll send the orders now,” Grace replied. She waved one of her aides over and quickly issued instructions. Just as he said, trying to hunt down the infected one by one would be far too slow. Coordinated elimination was their best chance of saving the city.
“Given the Skull Covenant remnants’ typical behavior, I doubt Reedcrest is the only city hit by this zombie outbreak,” Dustin remarked.
“You’re right.” Grace nodded seriously.
“The first outbreak happened in Sommertown. Then it spread to Thornwick and Harbortown. Reedcrest was the last to be affected. Compared to the others, we’re actually in better shape. But in Sommertown, thousands have already been infected by the zombie virus.”
“The zombie crisis broke out in four cities at the same time? The remnants of the Skull Covenant are really pushing us to a dead end.” He narrowed his eyes slightly, with murderous intent in his eyes.
“They’re using these outbreaks as part of a massive blood ritual to summon their so-called Skull Lord,” she said with a frown.
“If we want to contain the outbreak in Reedcrest, we can’t ignore the other cities, either. Send word to the three princes immediately. Tell them to start evacuating civilians and stop the spread of the virus. Once the infected are rounded up, I’ll deal with the zombies myself,” Dustin said firmly.
“Got it.” Grace turned and began relaying the new orders without hesitation.
This was a matter of life and death for the people of every city. Everyone needed to come together. After all, if the zombie virus truly broke out, the disaster wouldn’t be limited to just four cities.
It would spread across the entire Ashen Coast and possibly all of Dragonmarsh, triggering an unprecedented wave of unrest. A disaster like that could shake the nation to its core.
When Grace relayed the warning to the three princes, each reacted differently.
Tristan acted quickly and decisively. He immediately followed her advice, instructing his men to evacuate civilians and keep them far from any infected areas to stop the spread of the virus.
His decision came from both his trust in Grace and the simple logic of her reasoning. After all, he had no better solution. All he could do was carry out the plan and hope the mysterious expert would put an end to this new wave of undead.
Compared to Tristan, Matthias was stubborn and autocratic. In his eyes, there was nothing that couldn’t be solved with military force.
A few measly zombies were hardly worth his concern. With guns, tanks, and aircraft at his command, he didn’t believe anything could withstand his firepower.
To him, ordering a retreat was an act of cowardice and something he scoffed at without hesitation. But that arrogance would soon cost him dearly.
