Five minutes later…
Silence had returned to the surroundings, so Zeroy sat down and began to think about how to complete the mission.
All around her, the streets were littered with headless corpses and countless severed heads rolling across the ground.
First, she needed to understand this world's situation… was the biohazard global, or limited to specific regions?
Based on the Main God's [Goal 1: Ensure the survival of humanity], it was likely the former.
Next, she had to determine whether order had completely collapsed or not.
If it had, then more extreme measures would have to be considered.
In chaotic times, heavy laws; for stubborn illness, strong medicine.
A complete collapse of order meant the worst-case scenario—Survivors would face the highest difficulty in staying alive, beset by all manner of dangers.
Scarce supplies, other survivors eyeing them greedily, and zombies everywhere.
And those were the most obvious threats. Reality's dangers would only outstrip those in film or animation.
For instance, ever-present zombies would inevitably contaminate water sources; or during combat, zombie blood might splash into one's eyes. Plus, even something as simple as eating and washing hands without proper cleaning could lead to infection.
Logically, if she wanted the main cast to survive, the safest and most reliable way would be to lock them in a basement.
But that would only fulfill [Goal 2: Ensure the survival of the main cast].
Zeroy intended to achieve [Goal 1: Ensure the survival of humanity], not just for the 3000-point reward—she truly wanted to save more people.
After all, she was the benevolent and righteous Sky Striker Ace who fought for humanity.
...
"So this is the school where the protagonists are..."
Zeroy stood on high ground outside the school gate, overlooking the campus.
With vision far beyond the ordinary, she instantly spotted several areas still in turmoil within the school.
The main cast were scattered, and some students had managed to survive, still struggling.
After a brief thought, Zeroy immediately decided.
She leapt into the schoolyard, holding a rough iron pipe in her left hand, its origin unknown, and her black-and-red Striker Unit in her right.
Raising both overhead, she crossed them and struck hard—Clang!
A sharp, piercing noise rang through the schoolyard.
Yet, she didn't stop.
Mana surged from her body into her weapons.
She struck again, this time with technique, slamming the pipe and blade together.
The iron and Striker Unit became like a massive tuning fork, the Mana-amplified roar spreading like it was broadcast through loudspeakers.
The ear-splitting clang of steel swept across the campus.
After a brief silence, the school erupted.
From all directions came terrifying roars—zombies surged toward the yard like a raging tide.
They ignored survivors in their path, ignored obstacles, even flinging themselves from upper floors—just to reach the source of the sound: Zeroy.
Hunting down each scattered protagonist would be too much trouble; better to draw every zombie in the school to her at once. That way, more students could be saved.
About half an hour later…
The schoolyard had become an unimaginable hell.
Countless corpses were piled into a three-story-high mound in the center; blood and severed heads covered almost the entire yard, the stench of iron heavy in the air.
The horrific scene could only be described as a cruel, violent hell.
Every zombie in the school had been slaughtered—along with all those from nearby who had rushed to the noise.
Now, there were virtually no zombies left in or around the school.
On Zeroy's detection radar, only a few scattered red dots flickered—insignificant.
The school was eerily silent.
Zeroy turned toward the teaching building—where the most surviving students were gathered.
She stepped down a staircase made of corpses.
As her leather shoes touched the ground, a lone zombie staggered into her path.
A casual swing, a flash of steel—and its head hit the ground.
The last zombie nearby.
"...Number 3219... rest in peace."
Zeroy sighed softly.
Despite killing so many, there wasn't a drop of sweat on her forehead—thanks to [Nonhuman Killer], whose lifesteal restored stamina and eased fatigue.
She looked toward the teaching building.
In that instant, several heads peeking out quickly shrank back into hiding.
She didn't mind. Adjusting her expression, she softened her heavy look into something natural and gentle.
"It's safe now, everyone can come out!"
...
Despite that, inside, there was no response… only a silence deeper than before, as if even breathing had ceased.
Zeroy waited patiently for half a minute. When no one answered, her brow furrowed slightly in puzzlement.
What was wrong with these students?
"What's wrong, everyone? Come out quickly, don't worry… It's really safe now. There's not a single zombie left here; I've killed them all."
She spoke again—not loudly, but clearly audible—because she infused her voice with Mana, spreading it to every corner of the building to ensure all inside could hear.
...
Inside the building, every student was doing the same thing—Clamping their hands over their mouths, their faces pale as paper, eyes wide with terror.
That person outside... No! They couldn't even be sure it was human—perhaps some monster wearing human skin!
It had killed thousands—right before their eyes!
Yes, they had been zombies, but they were still human-shaped.
An hour or two ago, they'd even been living classmates, friends, teachers...
And now, the yard was filled with rolling heads, and headless corpses piled into a three-story-high mountain of gore.
That blood-soaked monster stood before that scene, flashing a smile terrifying enough to chill them to the bone.
What made it even more frightening… it disguised its voice as sweet and pure, coaxing them to come out, claiming it was safe.
Go out? Yeah, right, they'd surely go—If they were insane!
No one dared!
Only a lunatic would go out!
Many had already broken down, tears and snot streaming down their faces, yet they still covered their mouths tightly, not daring to make the faintest sob.
'What... what kind of monster is that?! What happened to this world?!'
'We'll be killed… We'll all definitely be killed!'
'Mom…'
In their hearts, they screamed in panic, terror washing over them like a tide, drowning what little reason they had left.
...
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