Scarlett hesitated.“Please answer me, Scarlett. Do we give you food and water?”“Yes.”“Do we train you so you can fight?”“Yes.”“Have we asked you to pay for that?”“No.”“Have we forced you to spend the night with us and be our plaything?”“No.”“Apart from training, have we hit you or treated you roughly?”“No.”“One last question. Do you think we're truly evil?”“No?”She remembered meals laid in front of her, weapons put into her hands. Then Conrad's body returned to her mind. Food and fear had arrived together; Kil's questions left room to name only one.Heat rose in her face. She lowered her eyes.“They haven't asked for what the others did. Is this what he wants me to say?”He had called them family. She tried to picture a place in that word where she would not have to measure every answer.Then a gentle hand patted her head.“In an ant colony, someone organizes all the ants so they can survive and multiply. Those tiny, seemingly helpless creatures endure in this world and a

Meanwhile, Kil headed straight for the third floor.In a large room there, he found dozens of zombies in psychiatric hospital patient clothing. His gaze swept across them and finally settled on one in the middle of the horde.“In my previous life, I only heard there was an incredibly powerful zombie at the psychiatric hospital.“A special ability. Hard to fight.“So many fighters killed trying.“A female zombie wearing a sapphire pendant.”Kil stared at the female zombie in a patient's clothes. She had long black hair, and her entire body was deathly white, as though frozen. Cracks marked her skin, black as ink. A sapphire pendant hung around her neck.His weapon hand trembled slightly as he looked at her.“I really just wanted to make sure. But…”Kil's grip faltered. A small, aching smile replaced the cold set of his face, and tears gathered in his eyes.“I hoped it wouldn't really be you… Rhea.”***Five years before the merger.Near dawn, on a high rooftop, Kil sat at the edge watc

He remembered clearly. The first Miracle Root he had absorbed in his previous life had given him an instantaneous burst of speed. His second, after his second evolution, had come from the red zombie and doubled all his attributes—the same zombie he had given to Axel this time.But after returning from the future, Kil had set his sights higher. He wanted every Miracle Root he took to be the best possible match for him.In his previous life, his first evolution had tripled his Telekinesis: a three-meter range and a combined load of three daggers. At about 500 grams each, that meant 1.5 kilograms. This time, compared with his original ability…Five times his original range. Ten times the load.He could now control objects within five meters, with a combined weight of about five kilograms. That extra reach could keep an enemy's weapon away from his throat.At roughly 2,500 grams apiece, his two katanas were now within that limit.Multiple objects divided his attention and drained more ene

Scarlett smiled pleasantly and patted her waist.All six looked at the sword. After a brief silence, Declan tried again."Even if he gave you a sword, it's still too dangerous for a girl like you to fight zombies alone."Since your leader doesn't seem to be coming back, you'd be better off coming with us. There are more people at the shelter, and it's safer. Life's more comfortable there, too."Scarlett looked surprised."Really?""Of course."Declan patted his chest confidently."Our leader used to be a mercenary, too. He's strong, and much more reliable.""Is Daphne there?""Yes! You can see her there. She's very worried about you. That's one of the reasons we came back to check this area.""I see…"Scarlett nodded, an innocent smile on her face."Then I'll go have a look at your shelter.""Great!"Declan nodded in satisfaction and smiled."You're a girl. You shouldn't be fighting on the front lines. Stay in the middle and let us protect you on the way, Scarlett.""Really?""Of cour

"Talk?! Haven't we been talking this whole time?"Kil's mouth twitched. He caught her by the collar and dragged her into a nearby building.But just as he was about to speak, he saw that she had drawn her dagger and pressed it to her own throat, ready to kill herself at any moment!"What are you trying to do?"His voice turned cold."Dragging a beautiful woman into a cramped, dark place… Don't think I don't know what you want, bastard!"I'd rather die than let someone like you defile me!"Kil stopped. He remembered a woman who had repeatedly beaten him down. Here she stood with a knife to her own throat, expecting something worse from him.He had dragged her inside after forcing himself on her. There was little mystery about the expectation.He looked past the dagger for somewhere to sit."Yes, yes. Whatever you say, Ms. Full of Herself."He cleaned off a place to sit and stayed beyond the dagger's reach. Helena kept her back to the wall."Why would a police officer like you join a sm