The mall loomed ahead, broken and falling apart like everything else in the world.
Glass crunched under Elias's boots as he and Ivy slipped inside.
It was dark. Too quiet.
The stench of rot and blood was still everywhere. It was no different from the street.
Elias, who had been aching for a fight, glanced around, trying to catch something. A zombie. Maybe!
Both of them moved cautiously, sticking to the dark. They weren't trying to make their presence known to anyone.
"Seen anything yet?" Ivy asked, almost in a whisper.
"No. Not yet. Let's walk deeper," he responded, also in a whisper.
The building was half-collapsed, with shops gutted and mannequins lying like corpses.
Then... a sound.
They braced for a fight, Ivy trying to reach for a gun that was tied to her lap under her robe and her crowbar in the other hand. Elias, on the other hand, was just going to use his fist as usual. He already has a hobby for bursting zombie heads with his bare hands.
But they paused and listened closely.
It wasn't the sound a low-tier zombie would make. There wasn't any grrr or awful groan.
Voices.
Low. Human.
"Survivors? They aren't supposed to be here..." Ivy mumbled, worried about them already.
Elias knew she was right. Their current location was the Gravepoint City. The place where it all started ninety-two years ago. It had been abandoned by humans for almost a century, yet there were still humans hanging around.
'If they don't leave soon, they'll die,'
Elias thought to himself, also starting to get worried about them. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard their voices again.
Elias and Ivy pressed against a broken pillar, listening to their conversations.
"...Did you hear?" a rough voice whispered. "They say he's close."
"Who?" another voice asked.
"The fucking Zombie Lord. Vark Draven."
Elias stiffened, upon hearing that familiar name. His gaze travelled to Ivy. Her face had gone pale too.
"Vark?" she whispered, barely breathing.
Elias turned away from her and pretended to listen to the remainder of their discussion.
The first man kept talking, his voice full of fear.
"They say he's got a body count bigger than anyone. Humans, zombies, don't matter. Once you see him, you're fucked. No one survives."
"That's bullshit. How can a zombie be that smart to do that to people? Is he a variant?" someone else muttered, but he sounded scared too.
No one answered his question because they didn't know if Vark was a variant or not. They haven't even met him before.
Elias frowned, heart beating faster.
Zombie Lord?
Vark Draven?
He reached for the system, pulling up his status screen again.
System Notification:
> > [Host Body: Vark Draven.]
[Title: Zombie Lord (Sealed)]
[Warning: Host reputation – Infamous.]
Fuck.
It hit him like a punch.
He wasn't just some random Tier 3 zombie.
He was the Zombie Lord. The monster every survivor whispered about.
'What are they saying about body count? I died a virgin! I didn't even get the chance to tell Lira I liked her. But... I got to touch her before I died,'
He smirked in relief.
He then leaned back against the pillar, dragging a hand through his hair as he thought about his identity again.
Zombie Lord? Vark Draven?
He was a monster.
"No fucking way," he muttered under his breath.
Ivy heard him. She looked at him sharply, her eyes wide with fear and something else... something warmer, hidden deep in her eyes.
"You... you're not like him," she said suddenly, like she was trying to convince herself.
"You saved me."
Elias smirked, cocking his head.
"You don't even know me, Sister."
"I know enough," she whispered, gripping her crowbar tighter.
Elias stepped closer, crowding her against the wall.
He could feel her heart pounding through her chest. He could smell the heat rising from her skin. She was convinced that he wasn't Vark when he knew nothing about her. She also has zero idea about his identity.
Talking about identity, Elias wondered who he was now. Elias or Vark?
He chose to live as Elias. Even if he was a Zombie, he didn't look exactly like one. He had black hair and crimson-red eyes; his skin was pale and cold. His skin was dead after all, but with clothes, he'd be able to live secretly like a human.
Unlike other lower-tier zombies who couldn't speak and had lost their sense of humanity, he was different.
"You're too close..."
He heard the voice of the tiny figure in front of him. She looked so cute with her palms pressing on his hard chest.
"You're scared," he murmured.
"I should be," she said, voice trembling.
He leaned in, lips brushing the shell of her ear.
"But you're also turned on."
Ivy's eyes widened in shock as she gasped, shoving him hard, but it was weak.
Her cheeks flamed red, her breathing fast.
Elias chuckled low in his throat, stepping back, hands raised in mock surrender.
"Relax, Sister," he teased.
"I'm not gonna eat you."
He paused, letting his eyes slide down her body, slow and hungry.
"Not yet, anyway."
Ivy muttered a curse and stalked off toward the old food court, her hips swaying without meaning to.
Elias grinned wider.
Fuck. This is getting fun.
He followed her lazily, pulling up the system window again.
System Notification:
> > [New Title Gained: Masked Predator.]
[Effect: +5% intimidation to enemies, +5% seduction chance with humans.]
[New Skill Available: Aura of Dread (Passive).]
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the dark energy coiled just beneath his skin.
No wonder people pissed themselves when they heard his name.
Vark wasn't just strong. He was a walking nightmare. He killed without reason, fucked anything that walked the earth...
And now...
He has become that person.
Vark Draven
The survivors were hiding in an old sporting goods store, their camp lit by scraps of burning trash.
Elias spotted at least ten people... skinny, ragged, hungry, desperate.
They huddled together, clutching weapons.
Children sobbed quietly.
Men and women muttered prayers under their breath.
Their prayers were well needed. He wasn't sure if they would get answered though. There could be an attack anytime and any day. They wouldn't be able to stay there anymore when that happens. Some of them could even lose their lives and watch their relative turn into a mindless monster. And when that time comes they'll only have to watch their relative feed on other people till it gets to their turn.
That annoying thought flashed some annoying memories across his face. He smacked his lips, trying to forget about it.
And now and then...
They whispered about him.
About Vark Draven.
The demon is in the shape of a man.
Elias watched from the shadows, arms crossed.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Just listening.
Just feeling the raw, naked fear he caused without even trying. He was indirectly learning about himself... about the damned body he was possessing.
He tilted his head, amused.
Maybe being the bad guy wouldn't be so bad.
Maybe...
It was exactly what he needed to survive this fucked-up world.
He felt Ivy watching him, too, from a few steps behind.
Torn between fear and something different. Pity? Worry?
He wasn't sure.
"Come on," he said finally, flashing her a grin.
"Let's find somewhere to crash for the night. Before someone shits themselves seeing my face."
Ivy nodded stiffly, but her eyes lingered on him longer than they should have.
Elias turned, leading her deeper into the mall.
A slow, hungry smile played on his lips.
There had been a change of plans...
If the system is going to help him become a ruthless monster, he only has to accept it without becoming the ruthless monster the system wants.
There's nothing wrong with being the bad guy...
First step: survive.
Second step:
Own this fucking world
[END OF CHAPTER SIX]