The corpse of the mutant lay sprawled in the wreckage of the convenience store, its twisted skull caved in, black ichor pooling beneath it. The stench was overwhelming, a foul mixture of rot, iron, and something alien.
But no one moved.
The survivors—four of them, huddled together near the counter—stared not at the monster, but at Imura. His crowbar dripped gore onto the cracked tiles, his eyes glinting with the calm of a predator who had just tasted blood.
They knew instinctively.
The real monster was standing upright.
Imura broke the silence first, his tone casual, almost bored.
"Names."
The skinny boy gulped and pushed himself forward. His clothes hung loose on his bony frame, the collar of his shirt stretched out as if it had been yanked too many times. His hands shook as he spoke, voice quivering.
"K-Kenji. I… I was a student before all this."
Imura's eyes lingered on him. Weak frame. No muscle. His hands were soft—never worked a day in his life. Imura almost laughed.
"Student, huh? You'll be dead within the week if you keep trembling like that."
Kenji swallowed, shoulders curling inward like he was trying to shrink out of existence.
The second was heavier, built like a brick wall but currently slumped against a shelf, clutching his ribs. His face was square, lined with stubble, sweat dripping down his brow. His jeans were dusty, and his shirt was soaked through with blood where the mutant had struck him.
"Taro," he said between groans. "Construction. Before everything went to shit."
At least he had some use. Strong arms, work-worn hands. But Imura noted the hesitation in his voice, the weakness in his pain. He'd break eventually. They all would.
The third was a wiry, middle-aged man with thinning hair. His face was sharp, nose slightly hooked, his eyes darting constantly like a man used to scanning for threats. He gripped a makeshift spear fashioned from a broomstick and a sharpened knife, holding it with the ease of someone who'd handled weapons before.
"Daichi," he said, his tone clipped, precise. "Worked security."
Imura gave a slow nod. A cautious man. Useful for now.
Finally, the woman.
She didn't cower behind the others. Instead, she stood in front of them, arms crossed beneath her chest in a way that made her blouse strain against her curves.
Her name came sharp, like a blade. "Rin."
Imura's gaze roamed over her without shame. Her blouse, once white, was dirtied and torn, the top buttons strained to contain the swell of her chest. Sweat clung to the fabric, making the faint outline of a lacy black bra visible beneath. Her jeans were snug, hugging her hips tightly, ripped at the thigh to expose pale skin dusted with grime. Her short, dark hair framed a striking face with sharp cheekbones and cold gray eyes that stared him down.
She wasn't beautiful in a fragile, delicate way. She was beautiful like a wolf. Sharp, untamed, dangerous if underestimated.
And that made her all the more interesting.
Imura smirked. "Before I ask—no, I don't need you to protect me."
Her lips curled into the faintest sneer. "Good. Because I wasn't offering."
The system pulsed.
[Bond Candidates Registered]Kenji – Fearful PotentialTaro – Obedient PotentialDaichi – Respect PotentialRin – Resistant Potential]
Imura's grin widened. Resistant, are you? That just makes breaking you all the sweeter.
"Here's how this works," Imura said, resting his crowbar across his shoulders. "You're alive because I killed that thing. Not because you fought well. Not because you were clever. Because I decided not to let you die."
The words hung heavy in the air. None of them dared argue.
"So," he continued, "from now on, you live if I say you live. You eat if I say you eat. You're mine. Tools, nothing more."
Kenji whimpered, his thin frame trembling. Taro looked away, shame flickering in his eyes. Daichi's jaw tightened, but he held his tongue.
Only Rin spoke.
"You talk a lot for someone hiding behind tricks," she said, her voice cool, her eyes sharp. "Those clones of yours did the work. Not you."
Saya flinched at her tone, glancing up at Imura nervously.
Imura chuckled, stepping closer to Rin. He let his gaze linger on her chest, then her thighs, before meeting her glare again. "Jealous? Or just trying to convince yourself you're not already mine?"
Her nostrils flared. "I'd rather die than depend on a creep like you."
Imura's grin widened. "We'll see."
The system shimmered again.
[Bond Progression: Rin → Resistant Hostility ↑]
Imura turned from her, his voice cold.
"Test."
Kenji blinked. "T-Test?"
"You want to stay under my protection? Prove you're not useless. Go outside. Bring back something useful. Food. Medicine. Weapons. Anything."
Kenji's face drained of color. "B-But… there are zombies out there! I'll die!"
Imura tilted his head, letting silence stretch until Kenji squirmed under the weight of it. Then he smiled, slow and cruel. "Then you're already dead. At least make it entertaining."
Kenji dropped to his knees, sobbing. "P-Please… I can't… I can't…"
Imura crouched low, gripping his chin between bloodied fingers, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Then cling to me. Beg. Maybe I'll keep you alive long enough to watch the others die instead."
Kenji's tears streamed down his face as he nodded frantically.
The system pulsed.
[Bond Progression: Kenji → Fearful Dependency ↑]
Rin's voice cut through the tension.
"You disgust me."
Imura stood, his bloody crowbar dripping ichor onto the tiles. He glanced at her over his shoulder, smirking. "And yet, your eyes won't leave me."
Her jaw clenched.
The sound hit them then.
Low, guttural groans drifting through the broken windows.
Shuffling footsteps.
One. Then another. Then dozens.
Shadows moved in the street outside, the faint outlines of rotting flesh pressing against the glass. Moans rose, a chorus of hunger and decay.
A horde.
Saya clutched his sleeve, trembling. "I-Imura… they're coming!"
Daichi gripped his spear tighter. Taro staggered to his feet, wincing with pain. Kenji curled into himself, sobbing.
Rin alone stood still, her gray eyes narrowing at the sound.
Imura's grin widened. His blood sang with anticipation.
"Perfect," he murmured, eyes gleaming. "Let's see who bleeds first."