If Marcus wanted to strengthen the ordinary zombies, there was only one obvious solution — to make use of the Pathogen Gene Enhancement System, a power unlocked when he evolved into the Virus Progenitor.
According to the system, there were four available global enhancement options that could be applied to every ordinary zombie under his control.
---
[Pathogen Enhancement Options]
• Bone Spikes LV1: Grants all ordinary zombies protruding bone spikes to increase their melee combat capability.
Required DNA Enhancement Points: 10
• Bone Armor LV1: Mutates external skeletal plating on all ordinary zombies, boosting their physical defense.
Required DNA Enhancement Points: 10
• Accelerated Metabolism LV1: Enhances the healing rate of all ordinary zombies, allowing them to regenerate lost limbs during battle.
Required DNA Enhancement Points: 10
• Adrenaline Surge LV1: Increases the running speed, stamina, and attack frequency of all ordinary zombies.
Required DNA Enhancement Points: 15
---
Marcus's eyes immediately fell on Adrenaline Surge LV1.
Although his horde could technically run, their current speed was nowhere near what he needed. When the zombie army faced the U.S. military in open ground combat, the key to victory would lie in closing the distance — forcing humans into melee range, where bullets and armor would mean less. At long range, his ordinary zombies were nothing more than moving targets.
The Adrenaline upgrade was essential. The speed and attack frequency boost would turn the horde from a shambling mob into a devastating wave of flesh.
Marcus checked his available DNA points:
11 (original) + 10 (from the prison raid) + ? (from the mutant siblings) = enough to unlock Adrenaline Surge LV1.
The upgrade cost 15 points, leaving him with 8 afterward.
He confirmed the selection.
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. From his vantage point atop a skyscraper, the sea of zombies below looked exactly the same — sluggish, lumbering, and uncoordinated.
But when Marcus leapt down and mentally commanded one of them to run, the effect revealed itself instantly.
The zombie bolted forward with the speed of an Olympic sprinter. It covered hundreds of meters in seconds — and, to Marcus's satisfaction, didn't slow down even after a full kilometer. In just over a minute, it returned to its starting point, still moving at top speed.
Marcus smiled.
The difference was staggering. While the initial burst speed was slightly below human athletic limits, its endurance far surpassed anything the living could achieve. A soldier burdened with gear would never outrun such a creature. Once the horde began charging, escape would be impossible.
If only a few of these things were running toward you, it might not seem terrifying.
But if one million zombies were sprinting at full speed — an unending tidal wave of death — even the bravest soldier would break.
With this, his army had gained another critical advantage against the human coalition.
Two more enhancement points would be enough to unlock the next upgrade, and Marcus was determined to earn them before the upcoming war. With a base population of over a million, even the slightest improvement could translate into a massive, battlefield-shifting edge.
Yes — tonight would be a hunting night once more.
He only needed two more mutant-class kills.
This time, he wouldn't need to dirty his own hands. It would be a perfect opportunity to let his new subordinates stretch their muscles.
According to Hawkeye's latest intelligence, Kingpin and his deadly enforcer Bullseye had yet to flee New York. Marcus ordered the newly recruited Juggernaut and his squad — led by the Winter Soldier — to hunt them down.
They weren't the brightest of his lieutenants, but under the guidance of an experienced killer like Bucky, Marcus was confident they'd get the job done.
With the night's tasks delegated, Marcus's inspection tour was finally complete. Everything was progressing exactly as planned.
Now it was time to return to S.H.I.E.L.D. and prepare the next stage of his operation.
---
Marcus returned to the rest chamber inside the New Umbrella Headquarters, reclining comfortably on a couch. After setting all necessary security precautions, he closed his eyes — and shifted his consciousness back to his human persona within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier.
When he "woke up," he found himself lying inside a large cylindrical machine, bathed in soft blue light scanning up and down his body.
He immediately recognized it.
The Regeneration Cradle — a masterpiece of biomedical engineering capable of healing any injury by reconstructing damaged tissue using synthetic nano-cells.
More importantly, Marcus knew its significance.
This was the same technology that would one day be used to create Vision — the synthetic Avenger. The only difference was that Vision's cells had been constructed from vibranium, not standard nanomaterial.
If Marcus could acquire the cradle's blueprints, he could use the Mind Stone embedded within Loki's scepter to create Vision himself — a loyal, mind-controlled version of that powerful android.
Vibranium was expensive, yes. But if Ultron could obtain it, so could he.
Unfortunately, the cradle wasn't Tony Stark's invention.
It belonged to another genius entirely — the world-renowned geneticist, Dr. Helen Cho.
And right on cue, she appeared.
Moments after Marcus regained consciousness, the laboratory doors opened, and a tall, elegant woman entered — black hair tied into a neat ponytail, white lab coat draped over a slim figure, confidence radiating from her every step.
Dr. Helen Cho — creator of the Regeneration Cradle. In a way, she was Vision's "mother."
She smiled warmly when she saw Marcus's eyes open.
"You're awake," she said cheerfully. "I told them the scans showed no major injuries. Physically, you're fine — though your brainwaves are… a bit irregular. Probably stress. Nothing serious."
Then, in a teasing tone, she added, "Come on, hero. You've had everyone worried sick."
Marcus blinked, feigning confusion. "Did we win?" he asked softly.
For a moment, her expression darkened. But then she forced a bright smile.
"Yes," she said gently. "Thanks to you, we successfully captured Hydra's research facility and recovered valuable data on the zombie virus."
She hesitated, as if recalling the horrors of that battle, but quickly masked it with another smile.
"Now come on. Everyone's waiting to see you. Captain Rogers has been worried to death."
Marcus nodded slowly, playing his role — calm, weak, and perfectly human.
Inside, however, his mind was already turning.
Soon, Helen Cho's genius — and her miraculous machine — would belong to him.
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