Apocalypse king

Evolution Night

ROOOOOOAR!

The terrifying roar echoed across Tokyo.

The celebration inside the shelter immediately stopped.

Everyone's faces turned pale.

Even Arthur frowned.

That roar...

It was much stronger than the previous mutants.

A system notification suddenly appeared.

DING!

---

World Announcement

Warning!

The Zombie Evolution Event has begun.

For the next 24 hours:

- Zombie mutation rate increased by 300%.

- Elite zombies may appear.

- All survivors are advised to seek shelter.

Survive the Evolution Night to receive rewards.

---

The entire shelter became silent.

Three hundred percent?

People who had just started smiling now looked terrified again.

A child started crying.

"Are the monsters coming here too?"

The adults didn't know how to answer.

Arthur slowly clenched his fists.

The apocalypse truly gave no time to rest.

Aiko walked out of the room, her shoulder wrapped in fresh bandages.

"You should still be resting."

She smiled softly.

"And leave everything to you again?"

Arthur sighed.

She really was stubborn.

DING!

---

Relationship Update

Aiko Tachibana Affection:

30% → 32%

---

Arthur quickly closed the notification.

The timing of this system was terrible.

"Everyone!"

Arthur's voice immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"We don't know what will happen tonight."

"But panicking won't help."

The survivors gradually calmed down.

"We have walls."

"We have supplies."

"And most importantly..."

Arthur looked around.

"We have each other."

Silence.

Then several people slowly nodded.

Their fear lessened.

Arthur immediately began issuing orders.

"Reinforce the barricades."

"Bring all supplies indoors."

"Anyone capable of fighting should prepare weapons."

The shelter immediately became busy.

People moved with purpose.

For the first time—

It actually felt like a community.

An hour later.

The entire shelter had become much more secure.

Cars blocked the entrances.

Extra barricades were added.

Lookouts were stationed on rooftops.

Arthur stood near the gate, observing everything.

"You really are becoming a leader."

Arthur turned.

Aiko had approached him.

She carried two cups of warm tea again.

Arthur accepted one.

"Thanks."

Aiko smiled.

For a while, they stood beside each other.

The night sky looked strangely red.

Almost as if the world itself was bleeding.

"It's beautiful."

Arthur looked at her.

"The sky?"

Aiko nodded.

"It's scary."

"But also beautiful."

Arthur stared at the crimson moon.

Before the apocalypse, he would never have thought to admire something like this.

The world had changed.

And so had he.

Aiko suddenly spoke.

"Do you miss it?"

"The old world."

Arthur became quiet.

His apartment.

His job.

His colleagues.

The game company.

Everything felt like a distant dream now.

"...Yeah."

Aiko smiled sadly.

"I miss simple things."

"Like convenience stores."

Arthur chuckled.

"That's specific."

"I really liked their desserts."

For some reason, both of them laughed.

The atmosphere became warm.

Very warm.

Aiko looked at him.

"What about you?"

Arthur thought for a moment.

"...Morning trains."

Aiko blinked.

"The crowded ones?"

Arthur nodded.

"I used to hate them."

"But now..."

He looked at the empty streets.

"...I kind of miss them."

Silence followed.

Then Aiko smiled softly.

"I understand."

The two continued talking.

About ordinary things.

Favorite movies.

Foods.

Childhood memories.

Things they probably would never have discussed before the apocalypse.

Slowly—

The distance between them lessened.

At some point, Aiko sat beside him.

Their shoulders nearly touched.

Neither moved away.

A cool breeze passed.

Aiko shivered slightly.

Without thinking—

Arthur removed his jacket again and placed it over her shoulders.

Aiko blinked.

"...You always do this."

"What?"

"Take care of everyone."

Arthur looked away slightly.

"It's nothing."

Aiko smiled.

"No."

"It isn't."

She gently held the jacket.

"...Thank you."

Silence.

The atmosphere suddenly became strange again.

Warmer.

Their shoulders lightly touched.

Neither moved.

Arthur could smell her faint shampoo scent.

Aiko could hear his breathing.

Both suddenly became slightly nervous.

Then—

"Leader!"

Both immediately separated.

Kenji came running over.

"There are movements outside!"

Arthur immediately stood.

The romantic atmosphere instantly disappeared.

The two quickly followed Kenji to the wall.

And then—

Everyone froze.

Thousands.

There were thousands of zombies moving through the streets.

Like a dark ocean.

Among them—

Several larger figures could be seen.

Mutants.

The survivors' faces instantly turned pale.

"...This is impossible."

"How can there be so many?"

Some people even began trembling.

Arthur himself was shocked.

This was the largest horde he had seen.

Fortunately—

The zombies seemed to be moving elsewhere.

Not toward them.

Everyone sighed in relief.

Then—

One of the larger mutants suddenly stopped.

Slowly—

It turned its head.

And looked directly at the shelter.

Silence.

A chill spread through everyone.

The mutant smiled.

Then—

ROOOOOOOAR!!!

Every zombie in the area suddenly stopped.

Thousands of crimson eyes slowly turned toward the shelter.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The survivors' faces lost all color.

Arthur's expression darkened.

This was bad.

Very bad.

The horde began moving.

Toward them.

Fast.

"Everyone!"

Arthur immediately shouted.

"Positions!"

Panic erupted.

People ran everywhere.

Children cried.

The sounds of growling became louder.

Louder.

Louder.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

Thousands of footsteps shook the streets.

Arthur looked at the approaching horde.

For the first time since the apocalypse began—

He felt pressure.

Real pressure.

Even he couldn't fight thousands of zombies.

DING!

---

Emergency Mission Triggered!

Defend the First Shelter.

Survive until dawn.

Reward:

- Golden Supply Crate ×1

- Shelter Upgrade Blueprint

- Random Skill Book

Failure:

Shelter destroyed.

Survivors may perish.

---

Arthur slowly exhaled.

Survive until dawn.

Simple.

Yet incredibly difficult.

Aiko suddenly grabbed his hand.

Arthur blinked.

Her hand was slightly trembling.

She was afraid.

Very afraid.

Yet she still smiled.

"We'll survive."

Arthur looked at her.

Then at the survivors.

Children.

Families.

Friends.

Everyone was looking at him.

Waiting.

Trusting him.

For some reason—

His heart became calm.

He gently squeezed Aiko's hand.

"...Yeah."

"We'll survive."

A faint blush appeared on Aiko's face.

But she didn't let go.

Neither did Arthur.

Far in the distance—

The zombie horde continued approaching.

The ground shook.

The crimson moon illuminated the battlefield.

Tonight—

The shelter would face its greatest challenge.

And unknown to everyone—

A pair of golden eyes watched from atop a skyscraper.

"...Interesting."

A humanoid figure smiled.

"The first King Candidate."

"...Let's see how long you survive."

The figure slowly disappeared into the darkness.

Meanwhile—

Arthur drew his machete.

Electricity crackled around the Thunder Pistol.

The survivors took deep breaths.

And as the first zombies reached the gates—

Arthur raised his weapon.

"DEFEND THE SHELTER!"

ROOOOOOAR!!!

The battle for survival had begun.