No one objected. Everyone immediately stepped back ten meters. Several hovering surveillance drones activated in the air, recording the subject's transformation from multiple angles.
Some of the younger researchers behind the reinforced glass even pulled out notebooks. No matter how sharp your memory was, nothing beat putting pen to paper. This moment whatever the outcome was something they'd remember for the rest of their lives.
Professor Morikawa took a deep breath. For reasons he couldn't explain, he felt tense. But not afraid. The ropes had been stress-tested in advance. Restraining a screamer-type zombie shouldn't pose any problem.
The test subject's violent thrashing ceased. But then, suddenly, it began to twitch, as if struck by a jolt of electricity.
Morikawa's eyes widened, afraid to miss even the slightest detail. No matter how many recordings they had, nothing compared to seeing it with your own eyes.
"Urgh!"
Without warning, the infected subject tilted its head back and vomited a torrent of foul, dark blood. Seconds later, its eyes and nostrils began to ooze black fluid, and its muscles started swelling rapidly. The ropes binding it stretched taut under the pressure as its entire body expanded to an unnatural size.
Chaos broke out inside the lab, but seeing that Professor Morikawa remained still, no one dared to flee.
In the blink of an eye, the transformation completed.
Morikawa narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. But then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed something sharp fangs?
His pupils shrank. His expression froze.
Fangs?
That can't be right. Screamer-type zombies don't have fangs.
Morikawa stared in disbelief at the subject, which was still swelling. Its mouth had pushed forward unnaturally, sprouting long, curved fangs. With a series of sickening pops, the subject's white testing uniform burst at the seams. The thick ropes snapped apart one after another.
A grotesque, spider-like monster crouched on the floor something none of them had ever seen before.
"Security! Call security!"
A wave of dread shot up Morikawa's spine. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted for the lab exit.
Behind him, the grotesque creature let out a bizarre screech. It squatted low, then launched itself forward with terrifying speed. Amid the panicked screams of the researchers, it opened its gaping maw and leapt into the air.
Chiba Prefecture
A dirt-caked SUV raced down the highway, kicking up a cloud of dust behind it. Several different vehicles followed in its wake.
"Haruno, Yukino. What are your plans next? Why not stick around with us a bit longer? Most of the people back at base are decent. There are only a few bad apples."
Shizuka Hiratsuka puffed on a cigarette and eased up on the gas, keeping pace with the car ahead. Sosuke Kitahara sat in the passenger seat, silent, while in the back, Haruno Yukinoshita replied cheerfully, "Thanks, Shizuka, but we're headed for Yamanashi Prefecture."
"You've missed your best window," Shizuka warned, glancing in the rearview mirror. "You've seen how bad things are in Tokyo. Even though it's only about 200 kilometers from Chiba to Yamanashi in a straight line, with no planes and the city in ruins, you'll have to loop around the whole capital. That's hundreds of kilometers. Don't throw your lives away."
"Then why didn't you leave when you had the chance?" Haruno asked.
Shizuka was silent for a moment. "I'm a teacher. I couldn't abandon my students."
"Chiba isn't exactly safe either," Yukino murmured, staring out the window. "All I want is to see my parents again. Even if I die in front of them, at least I'll have fulfilled my wish."
"Come on, don't talk about dying," Sosuke interjected with a smirk. "As long as I'm around, I won't let anything happen to you."
Haruno chuckled in the back. "Wow, look at us. Escaping from a mountain of corpses pretty badass, huh?"
"I like the sound of that," Utaha Kasumigaoka added with a laugh. "A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood it has a certain charm."
The women all laughed quietly, each lost in her own thoughts.
"Don't underestimate those zombies," Shizuka muttered, shaking her head. "They'll kill you in the blink of an eye."
She thought Sosuke still had the recklessness of a teenager. But since he wasn't her student, she held her tongue.
Once the convoy entered the city, the pace slowed. One SUV broke formation and shot ahead like a wrecking ball. Fujishima, gripping a radio, issued sharp commands.
"All units, listen up. We're approaching our destination. Trucks stay in the open lots. Don't block the roads. Smaller vehicles park by the mall's side entrance. Be alert."
Ten minutes later, car doors slammed shut and a chaotic stream of footsteps rushed out.
Sosuke stood calmly beside his vehicle. Before them was a massive shopping center. From the glass windows, it was clear they were at the mall's side entrance. Utaha approached, concern on her face.
"Is it really okay to park so many vehicles here? That street over there is part of the shopping district. If it doesn't attract a couple hundred zombies, it's not worthy of the name."
"Don't worry. Most of the zombies have already been lured away," Shizuka said as she hopped down from a vehicle, drew her machete, and stomped out her cigarette. "We spent days clearing the area just to reach this mall. Wait here. I'm going to check in with Fujishima."
Sosuke stayed behind, not particularly familiar with the rest of the group. Naturally, the three girls clustered near him two with long black hair and youthful beauty, one with a lively short cut. Their presence drew plenty of stares from nearby high schoolers.
Among the onlookers were Hayato Hayama and Hachiman Hikigaya. Hachiman, however, kept stealing glances at Sosuke, while Hayato clearly wanted to talk to the Yukinoshita sisters but Fujishima called him away.
Just then, someone crept up to the mall's side entrance, attempting to break the chain lock with a tool. A few zombies nearby immediately lunged toward him.
Several people moved to help, but Fujishima stopped them.
"Hayama, Hikigaya, and you two listen up. You're high schoolers, yes, but you're also men. You can't hide behind adults forever. Take these ones out. Treat it like practice. Quick and clean."
"I... I only have a steel pipe."
Hayato turned pale, while Hachiman frowned slightly and stepped forward with his weapon.
But Fujishima was clearly intent on toughening up the younger ones. The base lost people every day. Training new fighters was critical they didn't have room for freeloaders.
Fujishima gave a subtle signal. One of his men tossed a shovel to Hayato.
Shizuka added with a smile, "Hayama, stand tall. Think about how you were at school. Aim for the head. That's all it takes."
Realizing he couldn't back down, Hayato raised the shovel and shouted, "Die!"
Whoosh!
With a solid crack, the lead zombie dropped in one blow.
No one expected it. In his moment of panic, Hayato fought even harder than Hachiman, who'd carried his little sister through a zombie-infested school. He swung the shovel with surprising ferocity, landing clean hits on every zombie head.
"Well done, Hayama. Remember that feeling. Next time, do it just like that."
Shizuka beamed. Hayato stared at the corpses, panting, then proudly swung his shovel a few more times. I'm actually kind of awesome!
Wait wasn't my problem just a bad weapon before?
He glanced over. Hachiman had just finished off a zombie with a steel pipe.
Smiling with pride, Hayato looked toward Yukino and Haruno. He'd embarrassed himself earlier that morning this was his shot at redemption. Even a little nod from them would be nice.
"Hayama, watch out! One more on your left!"
"Ahh!"
Hayato froze. He turned just in time, swinging reflexively. But his aim was off. His shovel only clipped the zombie's nose. With its momentum unchecked, the creature tackled him to the ground.
"Help! Somebody help me!"
Hayato screamed like a pig headed for slaughter, flailing in pure panic.
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