Skeleton Cavalry
The two men stood where they couldn't see inside the factory.
They had been hiding in the warehouse, and were startled when they suddenly saw Xu Mo's group emerge.
They knew exactly how many zombies were in that factory.
No matter how they tried to rationalize it, there was no way those two could have gotten out alive.
Until John made a guess—
Could it be… all the zombies were dead?
The more they thought about it, the more convinced they became.
In their minds, the infected weren't true "undead." The virus was probably like rabies, burning out its host in a matter of days. If that were the case, then the horde must have collapsed on its own.
Once the thought settled, the two men's attention shifted to Kim Tae-hee.
Under normal circumstances, a woman of her beauty would never even glance at common workers like them.
But the world had changed.
The city was already overrun. Social order had collapsed. No one cared what anyone did anymore. Even if the virus was contained here, the army would sweep through soon enough.
By then, who would care if two men had taken advantage of a woman—and silenced her afterward, blaming it all on the monsters?
It was a perfect crime.
The two exchanged a look, then rushed out of the warehouse.
---
Bell lay on the ground, his face smeared with blood, but there was still a stubborn defiance in his eyes.
"You bastards… I helped lure the zombies inside, and you killed my father?!"
Jim sneered.
"What's the point of keeping that old fool around? Just another mouth to feed."
"Besides," John added with a cruel grin, "he knew we forced you to your death in the factory. He hated us. If we hadn't kept watch, he'd have slit our throats in our sleep!"
"You bastards!!"
Bell's eyes blazed with rage.
"Impotent rage," John mocked, raising his fire axe. "Go keep your old man company!"
The blade swung down—
"Stop!"
Kim Tae-hee's voice rang out.
In that moment, she understood. The two had used Bell's father as leverage, forcing him to lure the horde inside. And when his usefulness was over, they slaughtered old Bell.
She called out, but didn't rush forward. Instead, she reached out through the devil's contract, her thoughts slipping into Xu Mo's mind.
She wasn't stupid. Charging headlong against two armed men was suicide.
Jim smirked when he heard her.
"Don't worry, sweetheart. You're not getting away."
He lunged after her—
---
Inside the factory, Xu Mo's ritual reached its climax.
Half the skeleton soldiers he had summoned collapsed, their bones scattering across the floor.
Then, under some unseen force, those bones rose, twisting and reassembling.
Moments later, towering figures began to take shape—skeleton cavalry.
Xu Mo, hearing Tae-hee's warning through the contract, opened his eyes.
The soul-fires of dozens of skeletons near the door flared.
At once, they armed themselves—blades, bows, spears—and marched outside.
Xu Mo allowed himself only a glance at their departure before returning to his work.
The cavalry was incomplete. From five hundred skeletons, only thirty-six riders emerged.
Each stood nearly three meters tall, gripping bone-forged swords over two meters long. Their very presence radiated oppression, the flickering flames within their skulls merging into something darker, heavier.
---
Outside.
Tae-hee kept her distance, forcing Jim to chase her. He wasn't worried—her stamina would fail soon.
But then, the factory doors groaned open.
A dozen skeleton soldiers marched out, weapons gleaming in the dim light.
Tae-hee's eyes widened, then lit up with relief.
Jim froze mid-step, his confidence shattering.
"What the hell…"
Panic overtook him. Without hesitation, he spun on his heel and sprinted back toward the warehouse.
John, who had been looming over Bell with his axe, caught sight of the skeletal warriors.
His blood ran cold.
"Shit!"
He dropped the axe and bolted.
The skeleton soldiers ignored them both. They surrounded Tae-hee instead, forming a protective wall of bone.
She hesitated, then reached out and poked one's arm. The soldier didn't react, and her courage grew.
When she saw the men had fled, she rushed to Bell's side.
The skeletons moved with her, their formation flawless.
Bell had already pushed himself upright. His body was battered and bleeding, but his eyes burned with cold hatred.
"I'm fine," he rasped.
But his voice was hollow.
He snatched up the axe John had dropped and started toward the warehouse.
After two steps, he stopped and turned.
"The silver's stored in the southeast warehouse. With your… abilities, locking it down should be easy."
He glanced once at the skeletons, then continued forward without another word.
Tae-hee's stomach tightened. His tone was calm, but his intent was clear—this was a man walking to his death.
Her gaze flicked to the skeletal guards.
She bit her lip, then whispered to the nearest one:
"Squat down?"
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