On Saeko and the others' side…
Well, saying things were calm would be a lie, but they weren't in a critical situation either. At least, not yet.
Saeko felt an emptiness in her chest.
That was because Yuu was gone. She didn't know how to explain it, but she knew as soon as it happened, when she felt the connection they shared disappear from this world and appear somewhere far away. Perhaps there wasn't even a distance to measure.
It was simply a place in infinity.
It was amazing that their connection could transcend time and space.
This made Saeko feel that they were truly destined to be together forever.
Moreover, before he left, Yuu's voice rang in her mind, saying, "I'll be back soon." He had promised that. When a god makes a promise, the least a follower can do is trust.
"On the right!"
Saya shouted while running alongside Shizuka. While she occasionally warned the group about an enemy's appearance, the nurse ran with little hops, making her huge boobs bounce back and forth. Up and down.
"Got it!"
Saeko didn't turn when she answered. Instead, her bokken instantly whistled down, followed by a dry thud. The zombie dropped to the floor without much fuss.
Then another. And another one after that.
Every move was executed cleanly and efficiently. So far, she hadn't needed to use her ability. And honestly, she still didn't.
That was unfortunate for her, because deep down, she was eager to see what would happen when she used it against her enemies.
—Clink!
Hirano trailed further back. His face was sweaty from running, but he wore a silly grin. He'd found another bag of nails in a room and was firing them like he was having fun in a VR game.
—Thunk-thunk-thunk.
Zombies fell one by one as nails buried themselves in their skulls.
They finally made it out of the building. That's when Saya suddenly froze.
"…What's that?"
Her eyes went wide. So wide they looked like they were about to pop out.
A few dozen meters ahead, she saw something they hadn't encountered before.
One zombie was fighting another. Not like they'd bumped into each other or pushed by accident. They were actually fighting, like one was hunting the other.
And when the bigger one easily won, a thin stream of black mist drifted from the corpse and was absorbed by the victor.
"Hide!" Saya snapped into action and dragged Shizuka behind a parked car.
"Huh? Takagi-san, what're we hiding from?"
Hirano scratched his head as he ducked behind another car.
"From that thing! It's obviously not normal."
Hirano and Shizuka peeked out.
"Zombies aren't supposed to do that. They're absorbing each other!"
"Huh…? Absorbing?" Shizuka tilted her head, finger on her lips.
Saya's expression was deadly serious as she voiced her reasoning.
"It looks like they're mutating. I don't know. Or maybe it's more like evolving?"
Saeko didn't say a word. She just crouched down and peeked around the edge of the car.
The zombie was soaked head to toe. Its bloody clothes dripped water, and its right leg was twisted, looking broken. But it kept moving anyway, which was normal since zombies felt no pain.
It caught another zombie coming from the right and grabbed its head with one hand.
—Crunch!
Once again, black mist rose and flowed into its body.
"Look at its leg!"
At Saya's words, everyone's attention snapped to the leg. There, dark energy wrapped itself around the fracture.
It was a slow process, but they noticed how the rotten flesh writhed like worms, weaving itself together and readjusting.
Was it healing?
"This isn't scientific…"
Saya muttered that with tense shoulders.
Nearby, Saeko glanced her way and, with a faint smile, said:
"This world no longer belongs to the age of science and technology. That's long gone."
She thought of Yuu. The way he'd stroked her back, making her tremble, making her whole body tingle. He was a god. Her god. And she was now his Pathstrider.
She wasn't just a normal girl anymore either.
And judging by what was happening before her eyes right now, this wasn't a normal apocalypse either.
"I'll be back soon."
Saeko said that as she stepped out from behind the car.
"Huh?! Hey, wait!"
Saya reached out to stop her, but Saeko had already taken her first step. Without turning, she answered.
"As long as that zombie's there, we can't escape. And if it keeps absorbing others, it'll get stronger."
Better to end it before it grew too strong.
Saya clenched her teeth and crossed her arms.
"Tsk! I know. Just come back safe, got it? Not that I care or anything!"
Shizuka smiled at her from behind.
"Be careful, Saeko-chan~. Don't get hurt… But if you do, I'll take care of you after~."
"I'll cover you from here!" Hirano reloaded his nail gun and gave her a brave grin.
Saeko looked at them and nodded. Then she walked to the center of the street, under the grayish light of the dust-filled sky.
To Saeko, the zombies she'd fought so far were like trash bags with teeth. Slow, ugly, noisy. They didn't feel pain, fear, or surprise, which made it less fun.
But…
The zombie lifted its head and sniffed the air, twisting its grotesque face like a hungry animal. Then it turned toward her. Its empty eyes locked on.
…this one was different.
Because unlike ordinary zombies, this one seemed to sense not just noise, but the life essence of living beings.
—Grrrrgh…
It tossed aside the corpse in its hand and charged.
Saeko didn't flinch. She lowered her body slightly, gripped her bokken with both hands, and took her stance. The wind lifted her hair a little.
A second later, she kicked off the ground.
—Swosh!
The sound of her acceleration split the air as the zombie rushed at full speed, broken leg and all, its posture only slightly hindered.
And sure, this zombie could run—but at the end of the day, it was still a zombie. Unless given enough time to keep evolving, it couldn't yet compare to the speed of a well-trained, healthy human.
That's why Saeko was faster.
When the zombie reached for her, she was no longer charging straight at it. She twisted her body, slipped past its outstretched arms, and spun on her heels.
And then…
—Crack!
Her bokken struck, but at the same time, it snapped.
The broken piece flew off, leaving Saeko with only the hilt in her hand.
"…Ah."
She let out a small sound. She hadn't expected it, but she didn't mind either.
Well, considering it was just a wooden weapon, it was already a miracle it had lasted this long since everything started.
Saeko's lips curved into a smile.
"Guess it's about time…"
And then she said:
"…to use that."
×××
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