The Humvee traveled through streets now ruled by the undead. Fortunately, the Humvee was not a vehicle they could stop.
"..." Allen watched a burning vehicle and sank into his thoughts.
As hours passed, the streets grew quieter—or maybe people were moving away from this area.
"Saya... how can we cross the river?"
"Hm?" Saya thought for a moment before taking out her phone and showing him Google Maps. "Given our current position, there are two bridges we could use, but one of them is blocked by the police. I recommend taking the Tokonasu Bridge instead."
Allen nodded. "Sounds fine to me. However, the police actions are useless. The virus has already spread everywhere—even doing that won't change anything."
Everyone agreed. There were reports of zombies all over the country—Okinawa, Kyoto, and Nagasaki had already fallen. What was the point of enforcing restrictions now?
Shizuka sighed and slouched in her seat. "Rika-chan once told me that no matter how good a cop is, they still feel fear like everyone else. Sometimes it's easier to just shut off your brain and follow orders."
Shizuka's gaze dimmed. She was worried about her best friend. Rika Minami wasn't just any officer—she was part of a special unit and one of the best snipers in the world. In a world full of normal zombies, Rika Minami wouldn't die. But against mutated ones…
Allen reached out and gently patted Shizuka's head with a warm smile. "Don't worry, she's fine."
Shizuka puffed her cheeks. "Allen-kun, you do remember I'm older than you, right? I should be the one doing that!"
Right after saying that, Shizuka tried to pat Allen's head.
"Ahh! Look ahead!" Saya shouted in panic.
A speeding vehicle suddenly came out of nowhere, nearly hitting the Humvee. Shizuka quickly regained control of the car while the other car swerved erratically.
"Shizuka-san, don't forget we're in the middle of an apocalypse—at any moment a plane could fall from the sky or something!" Kyoko tried to steady her breathing. This kind of constant adrenaline wasn't something she particularly enjoyed.
"What happened?" Saeko rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Nothing," Allen replied, and Saeko simply went back to sleep, leaving everyone speechless at how carefree she was.
Allen shook his head. He wasn't dense—he knew that Saeko would've been much more alert anywhere else, but resting in his arms made her feel safe enough to sleep deeply. Somehow, that was strangely flattering.
Saya bit her lip. 'That pervert… and that shameless woman. Don't forget this, Allen Walker—you'll pay for underestimating me. I'll make you fall for me, Saya Takagi!'
She began imagining Allen kneeling before her, giving her a leg massage. For some reason, in her imagination, he was wearing a butler outfit, which made her blush furiously.
....
(Takagi Mansion)
A beautiful woman who strongly resembled Saya walked down the halls of the Takagi mansion. Her hair was long and light purple, loose with shorter strands framing her face. Her eyes were also violet. She wore an elegant red dress, with a white layer of fabric wrapping around her arms and lower body, a silver necklace with a small pendant, and lipstick that highlighted her mature beauty.
This stunning woman was Yuriko—Saya's mother.
When she reached a large wooden door, she paused before knocking.
"Come in."
A deep male voice came from inside. Yuriko opened the door and entered the office, where a man with a commanding presence sat. His build was robust, and his posture radiated dignity and pride.
This was Soichiro Takagi—Saya's father.
"What is it?" he asked flatly, still reviewing the reports on his desk.
"It's Saya. She managed to escape from Fujimi and is heading here, but she's not sure she'll be able to cross the police blockades."
"I see. I knew she would make it—she's my daughter," he said confidently.
Those words made Yuriko grit her teeth slightly.
Soichiro Takagi was the leader of an ultranationalist and patriotic organization based in Suginami, wielding significant influence in the region.
During the initial chaos of the zombie outbreak, his top priority was to organize the defense and survival of his group and their base—the Takagi mansion. This included coordinating resources, protecting survivors under his command, securing nearby supplies, and establishing a safe perimeter.
Yuriko understood his reasoning. But ultimately, his choices led to abandoning Saya. While the girl was indeed intelligent, Soichiro should have known that intelligence alone couldn't save you in an apocalypse—a truth proven when Saya nearly died.
Yuriko herself was a capable, intelligent woman who had once worked on Wall Street. But she couldn't fully accept that they had left Saya to her fate, which had caused many fights between them. Still, as professionals, they wouldn't let emotions interfere with their duties.
"Then I'll take my leave," Yuriko said, turning to go. But she stopped when Soichiro spoke.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't lie," she said coldly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "I know you well. Even if you had to choose a hundred times, you'd make the same decision every single time."
Soichiro stopped looking at his reports and stared at Yuriko silently, not denying it. He was an exceptional leader—a strong, decisive man capable of surviving and ensuring others' survival. But as a father and husband, he lacked emotional warmth, often appearing cold even toward his family.
"It doesn't matter. She seems to have found herself a reliable young man," Yuriko said mockingly as she left the office.
Soichiro's gaze drifted back to his desk. From a drawer, he pulled out a folder containing all the information he had gathered on Allen Walker.
The first time Soichiro Takagi heard of Allen was two years ago. In all her life, Saya had never struggled in school—no matter the subject, she mastered it with ease.
Soichiro knew his daughter's capabilities. If she wanted to graduate early and go straight to university, it would've been easy. But Saya chose not to, and he never forced her to do anything.
The man stood and walked to the window, watching trucks unload canned food and water.
Soichiro narrowed his eyes, "Saya chose to stay in Fujimi because of her childish crush on Komuro Takashi. But that love died before it even took root. Nevertheless, that decision led her to "that man", who became Saya's obsession"
Soichiro referred to Allen as "that man." Despite their age difference, he sensed Allen was no ordinary person. The more he investigated, the less he found about Allen Walker.
As an ultranationalist, Soichiro didn't like the idea of a foreigner being close to his daughter. Yet, he could never find a proper reason to keep them apart. The only thing that brought him some comfort was that Allen had shown no romantic interest in Saya.
"As expected, he survived—and now he's leading a group," Soichiro muttered, with a glimmer of intrigue.
He couldn't tell whether they would become allies or enemies in the end. After all, two tigers cannot share the same mountain.
....
Allen glanced in the rearview mirror at Saya, who smiled as she replied to a "good night" message from her mom.
Saya's, Saeko's, and Rei's parents were all special cases. Allen didn't know what kind of situation awaited him once they met, but he preferred to avoid unnecessary conflict—people got tense easily during the apocalypse.
'I'd rather not end up killing Saya's, Rei's, or Saeko's father,' he thought.
One was a politician who disliked him, another was a police chief with a strong sense of justice, and the last was a traditional yakuza boss.
Allen's eyes shifted toward Alice, the little girl whose father might have been one of the people responsible for the apocalypse. Then there was Shizuka—and her mysterious friend who had a stash of weaponry and a bulletproof vehicle.
'I really am a magnet for troublesome women…' Allen chuckled inwardly. 'The only thing missing is Kyoko being a member of Japanese royalty or something.'
"Shizuka, stop at the next corner."
"Hm? Okay," she said.
Allen gently woke Saeko. The others looked confused until Allen pointed at a clothing store.
"You don't plan on going back wearing only underwear, right?"
The girls blushed, and soon everyone except Alice and Zeke—who were still asleep—got out of the Humvee. Since the vehicle was armored, leaving them there wasn't dangerous.
Inside the store, there were only a few zombies, which Rei and Saeko easily dealt with. The girls searched for clothes in their sizes, while Allen stood guard near the entrance.
Shizuka chose a skirt, a cute blouse, and heels, but Saya immediately scolded her—dressing like that in the apocalypse was stupid. Still, the compliment Allen gave her made it totally worth it.
Saeko came out of the fitting room wearing a kimono, something that made her look stunning, and Allen made sure to compliment her with a few words. She received them with a faint blush and a discreet laugh. Once again, however, Saya grew irritated.
Kyoko, who was trying on a sexy evening dress, hesitated to step out. As a teacher who'd worked nonstop for years, she'd never had the luxury of wearing something like that. When she heard the others arguing, she decided against showing it and changed into something else.
Rei, on the other hand, came out of the fitting room in a simple blouse and skirt, but upon seeing what Shizuka and Saeko had tried on, she grabbed a maid outfit with a tail and slipped into the dressing room — only to be caught by Saya, who grabbed her by the neck.
"Rei Miyamoto, are you insane?!"
"Let me go! You wore a low-cut blouse too!" Rei protested. She was the only one dressed normally, and because of that, she felt left behind. She hadn't expected this bunch of sluts to take advantage of the situation to seduce Allen.
"That's not true!" Saya denied it, blushing furiously.
Allen, meanwhile, stayed silent. He'd accompanied his women shopping countless times, and this scene was all too familiar. It had happened with Gwen, Felicia, and MJ in Marvel; with Annie, Kimiko, and Maeve in The Boys; with Eve, Amanda, and Jare in Invincible; with Rebecca, Harley, and Albedo — also in Invincible; and with Kara, Raven, and Donna in DC.
So, he simply waited for the girls to finish arguing until they eventually reached an agreement — which they did. In the end, they all dressed casually, though each one carried a few shopping bags she didn't show Allen. Judging by the blushes on Kyoko, Saya, and Rei's faces, it was probably something private — underwear or perhaps clothing with a purpose beyond survival.
Of course, they also picked out a few changes of clothes for Alice.
As for Allen, he changed too. The blood on him was less than before, but still there. Also, he picked up a couple of shirts and pants for emergencies. He didn't need more for now, and if he did, there were plenty of stores to loot later.
With that, they hit the road again.
....
Inside the shelter, the atmosphere was tense the moment Hirano mentioned the basement. Everyone fell silent.
The reason no one had found the basement until now was simple: when Teshima had ordered everyone to check all the windows, they'd done so — but only the rooms facing the outside. That meant the small door beside the stairs had gone unnoticed, and that mistake would cost them dearly.
Hirano stood up, ready to investigate. He felt it was his duty. Takashi rose to go with him, but before either could move, loud thuds came from the door. Half of the group panicked while Teshima steeled himself, grabbed his axe, and went to see what was happening.
As soon as he reached the spot, the door burst open — and a small zombie that Hirano and Kazu immediately recognized appeared.
"Ahh!"
"Don't let it scratch you!" shouted Kazu, holding a wooden stick.
"Careful!" Hirano fired, but the zombie was fast, jumping all over the room. "Damn it!"
The creature resembled the second mutant zombie Allen had fought. The Chat would've known it instantly — it was a Jockey from Left 4 Dead.
The Jockey laughed mockingly as it leapt around the room. In one jump, it lunged at Misuzu, but Toshimi shoved her aside, taking the attack herself.
"AHHH!"
Hirano froze — he couldn't get a clear shot.
"Toshimi!" Misuzu swung a lamp at the Jockey, forcing it off her friend, but not before it left deep claw marks on Toshimi's face.
"Bastard!" Teshima roared, bringing down his axe and splitting the Jockey clean in half.
"I don't wanna die!" Okada screamed as he backed away — straight toward the basement door.
"Watch out!" shouted Hisashi.
From the darkness behind Okada emerged a twisted, deformed female figure. Her neck was bloated and unnaturally extended, her jaw hanging wide open. A glowing green light shone from deep within her throat.
Everyone froze. Was that even a zombie? What kind of mutation was this?
Before anyone could react, the creature vomited a stream of green acid, splashing all over Okada. The liquid bubbled violently, melting him on contact.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Okada screamed in unimaginable agony as his skin, flesh, and bones dissolved into sludge. The sight traumatized most of them — people began to run in every direction.
The Chat would've recognized it instantly too — it was a Spitter, another zombie from Left 4 Dead.
Imamura tried to run, but another creature came crawling out of the basement, pouncing on him like a savage beast. It tore at him with claws sharp as knives.
This was a Hunter from Left 4 Dead.
"AHHH! Help me... Ahh!-" Imamura pleaded in agony.
Tsunoda and Kazu attacked the monster. The monster retreated while licking the blood from its hands. But Imamura had a massive gash across his neck and was bleeding out fast.
"Urgh... h...elp... m-me" Imamura
There was no time to save him — more zombies were pouring out of the basement. Hirano opened fire while Takashi, Yamada, and even Kawamoto fought desperately to hold them off.
Misuzu tried to pull Toshimi away; the girl had fallen into a panic attack. Korokami and Shido had long since disappeared.
Everyone was in chaos.
"No!"
A girl's scream echoed through the room — Yuuki had been grabbed by a tentacle and dragged toward the basement. She reached out her hand, but no one was close enough to take it.
No, they didn't even pay attention to her.
'I knew it... in this kind of situation, no one's gonna save me. Nobody cares about someone like me…' Yuuki thought bitterly. She knew she was the least important person here — maybe just a notch above Shido.
"It's not fair!" Yuuki cried.
"Calm down... you're not dead yet."
A calm, firm male voice reached her ears — and in that same instant, the zombie's tongue was crushed under a black boot.
Yuuki looked up through her tears at the man standing beside her. He held a bloodstained metal pipe and his eyes were cold and sharp.
"You..." Yuuki whispered, her eyes lighting up.
"Allen!"
"Boss!"
"Aniki!"
Allen didn't waste a second. His gaze swept the scene — the mutant zombies, the terrified survivors — and he charged forward. In an instant, he was in front of the Hunter; his metal pipe swung down, smashing its head apart.
The Spitter arched its back, about to spit acid, but Allen raised his other hand — holding the Springfield — and fired, blowing its head clean off.
"Ah A Springfield M1A1 Super Match" Hirano muttered with sparkling eyes, as if seeing his dream waifu in real life.
Allen didn't hesitate. He tossed the Springfield to Hirano and the crowbar to Kazu. Under normal circumstances, someone might've noticed he hadn't been carrying a crowbar when he arrived — but now wasn't the time for questions.
Surveying the scene, Allen understood the situation. Imamura was already dead from blood loss. Okada had died a horrific death. Miura was nowhere to be found. Toshimi and Yuuki were injured but still alive — though likely infected.
"What are you waiting for?! Move it!" Allen barked. He turned to Toshimi and slapped her across the face. "Just survive! You're not dead yet!"
Toshimi clutched her cheek, tears filling her eyes, but clarity returned to her expression. She nodded.
Allen turned to Yuuki, still on the floor. Her ankle had been torn open by the zombie's tongue. To the others, she was already as good as dead — but Allen lifted her over his shoulder without a word and walked past everyone else.
"Don't split up! Follow me and you might live!"
Allen's eyes glowed red. On his minimap, dozens of red dots appeared, followed by a terrifying warning message.
[Warning! You are in a red zone. Evacuate immediately!]
A savage grin crossed Allen's face, the virus in his blood heightening his aggression.
"I'll try!"
With one kick, Allen smashed open the front door of the shelter.
The goal was simple — get everyone out alive, leave this damned place, and head toward Saya's house.
The problem?
The moment Allen stepped outside, he saw multiple mutant zombies blocking the way.
===
A/N: Sorry, due to health issues, I had to pause the update, but now I'm back ;3