Back at the base, Mary woke up on her bed having been struck by lightning on her way to meet Isaac.
(That's weird) she thought, recalling how the sky had been perfectly clear before the bolt appeared out of nowhere. But before she could make sense of it, a sharp pain exploded in her head as if someone was deliberately driving it against a wall. Then it happened.
A stream of memories , memories that did not belong to her, but to another person entirely flooded through her mind in a torrent she could not stop or control.
"What is this?" Mary muttered in pain, tears running freely down her face as she witnessed helplessly, in vivid and unforgiving detail how Lily was brutally cut down, the way Veronica was handled by the zombie and finally Thomas's bloody figure lying on the ground, his eyes holding nothing but desperation.
For a long moment Mary simply sat there not crying, not moving, just existing in the weight of what she had just seen. She had spent weeks quietly hoping, quietly waiting, quietly telling herself that Thomas was alive somewhere and that one day he would come back. And he was alive. But Veronica the girl whose memories now lived inside her own mind like a second heartbeat, the girl who had loved Thomas with a quiet fierce certainty that Mary recognized all too well was gone. Mary knowing this pressed her hand flat against her chest and breathed. Once. Twice. For the complicated grief of mourning someone you never met, for the sake of someone you love, settled into her quietly and stayed.
All she could do in that moment was endure it. The soul crushing scenes would be forever carved into her heart. Though somewhere deep within her, in a place she was almost ashamed to acknowledge , a quiet, fragile relief stirred up at the sight of Thomas still alive.
A moment later the door opened, revealing Lucy with worry written clearly across her face, a tray balanced in her arms But the moment her gaze landed on Mary who also sat on the bed , she went into complete shock and dropped the tray entirely.
Mary wore the exact same expression as she stared back at Lucy's tall figure.
"What happened to your hair?!" they both shouted in unison, each pointing at the other.
Mary's magnificent black silky hair had turned a deep navy blue, her eyes now a vivid green. Lucy's short black hair had become a striking coral pink and her eyes had taken on a soft golden hue.
Just as the two were trying to make sense of the situation, Kingsley burst into the room in a panic, shouting, "Guys we have a serious problem on our hands!" But He immediately stopped mid sentence after seeing the hair of the two of them staring back at him.
"Kingsley your hair, it's changed color too?" Mary asked, marveling at the sight.
"Look who just got leveled up to a pretty boy," Lucy added with a grin as she observed Kingsley's hair which had transformed from its usual slightly messy black into a striking brick red with a few strands tipping into orange.
Meanwhile, in what had formerly been the headmaster's office and was now Isaac's, he sat with Charles and Christian discussing the troubling news that Shadrack and Richmond were manipulating some of the survivors into following them and potentially leaving the base when Isaac noticed Christian's hair slowly shifting to silver and Charles's fading to a dull grey, his eyes shifting to a matching silver.
"Oh, great heavens," Isaac said, startling both of them. Their alarmed expressions soon dissolving into something more of a bewildered one when they noticed each other's hair.
"Bro I don't know, but why the hair dye? And when exactly did you apply it?" Charles asked, silver eyes narrowed as he studied Isaac's now distinctly yellow hair and gold eyes.
"I didn't," Isaac replied, one eyebrow raised. "Why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror first?"
"It seems," Christian said with a heavy sigh as he rose to his feet, his silver hair catching the light, "that we have officially entered the age of fantasy."
"And where exactly are you going, Mister Smarty Pants?" Charles asked with a snort.
"Where else but the assembly hall," Christian replied, his lips curling unconsciously into a faint smile. "People will be gathering in confusion and we ought to provide at least some reassurance."
"You are absolutely right," Isaac said with a thumbs up then added, "Though what exactly do you plan on saying? Because even I am at a loss for words right now."
"Fine. I'll handle the talking this time," Christian answered, shaking his head.
(Besides if Shadrack really intends to leave, he will almost certainly use this chaos as the perfect opportunity to do so. Annoying person) Christian thought as they headed for the auditorium.
Sure enough, when they arrived the auditorium was packed with every survivor in the base each sporting a different colored hair and pupils, confusion etched across every face. Every face, that is, except Shadrack's whose hair had shifted to a striking emerald green and those of his supporters, including Richmond whose hair had taken on a cold ash grey. Both wore expressions of unmistakable smugness.
Shadrack sat with his arms folded, his emerald green eyes occasionally drifting to some middle distance that no one else seemed able to see as if he were reading something invisible, something only he had access to.
"Listen here, people," Isaac said quietly, but with a weight behind the words that instantly silenced the murmuring and brought every wandering gaze to the front.
Once the room had settled, Isaac gestured for Christian to speak.
"I'm here to provide you with some information that should help put your minds at ease," Christian began.
"Look it's the think tank of the base," a girl nearby whispered.
"Is he really that impressive?" a boy who had only recently joined the group asked with a skeptical look.
Christian continued without missing a beat. "What I can tell you about this situation is that our bodies have entered what appears to be the second and perhaps final stage of evolution. Due to the awakening of our energy sourcewhich I am tentatively calling Equinux, though I reserve the right to revise that name pending further research the cells in our hair and eyes have taken on new colors, likely as a result of the energy now running through them. Now some of you may want to ask follow up questions, but please keep in mind that I have not yet conducted any formal research on this and what I am telling you is currently theoretical."
A quiet but genuine wave of calm moved through the room, lasting only for a second
Then Shadrack stood up.
"Well since we're all sharing news," he said, his emerald green hair catching the light as his voice carried with practiced ease, "I'd like to make an announcement of my own." He paused just long enough to make sure every eye was on him. "I'm leaving. And anyone who wants a real future is welcome to come with me."
What followed was loud, heated and went back and forth for longer than anyone wanted. Isaac argued with measured restraint. Shadrack argued with the particular confidence of someone who had already made up his mind before the conversation started. In the end, despite everything Isaac said, Shadrack and his group of followers rose and left.
Richmond, before following Shadrack out, stopped at the doorway and turned back one last time his ash grey eyes finding Mary across the room. She didn't look at him. She hadn't looked at him since the day Thomas disappeared. He stood there for exactly two seconds then turned and walked out without a word. Some losses, even Richmond understood, were permanent.
Their footsteps echoed through the auditorium and left behind a silence that was heavier than noise. Those who remained exchanged glances filled with unease and a quiet, creeping worry that nobody quite wanted to be the first to put into words.
Outside the base, Shadrack stood at the head of his group and gazed toward the horizon ,Richmond beside him like a shadow.
"Say, Shadrack where do we go from here?" Richmond asked, scanning the empty landscape like a man trying to find his footing.
"We head to Revanom," Shadrack answered, his face full of quiet, unshakeable confidence. "Specifically the naval base there. We take control of it."
(Hey System. How many more zombies do I need to kill to level up?) Shadrack asked internally.
"You will need one hundred corpses to do so," a cold, mechanical voice replied dirctly in his mind.
This was Shadrack's ability a System. It functioned like his own personal AI assistant, tracking his progress, issuing missions and rewarding him upon completion.
"First mission of the Protagonist Track leave old survivor base and establish new one. Complete. Overall progress: 20%," the System announced.
Shadrack allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. Then he walked forward toward Revanom, toward the naval base, toward whatever came next.
Around this same time, Thomas had returned to consciousness.
He found himself inside a deserted radio station alone, surrounded by dust covered equipment and the quiet hum of old machinery that had no business still running. He got up slowly, checked himself over and turned to leave.
Then a blinking button caught his eye with its red color insistent and beeping with the kind of patience that suggested it had been waiting for someone for a very long time.
He almost touched it. Thought better of it. Turned away.
Then his foot caught on something on the floor and he went down his forehead connecting directly and decisively with the red blinking button on the control panel.
After a series of crackling static sounds, the giant screen on the wall lit up.
On it appeared a boy who looked to be around fifteen years old with light brown hair, yellow eyes, and an expression that was entirely unreadable as he looked at Thomas with calm, steady attention.
"Hello there," the boy said. "My name is Samuel. I'm speaking from Liberty City."
Thomas stared at him. Expressionless.
Samuel held the silence for a moment then tilted his head slightly and added, "I've been broadcasting on this frequency for nineteen days. You're the first person who has ever responded." He paused again. "I think we need to talk."
THOMAS POV
My face was blank as I watched the boy on the screen try to communicate with me. The main reason was simple I was still trying to process how I was supposed to live my life from this moment on. After some time had passed, I decided to stop giving him the silent treatment.
"Thomas," I answered.
"Well then, Thomas I want to know. Are you the only survivor in your country or are there others?"
He asked it with a straightforward tone that matched his straightforward face. To be honest, if this were the old me, I would have been quietly calculating what he intended to do with the information once he had it. But right now I was in no mood to play the cautious game. So I just answered him straight.
"No."
"Wow, now that was fast. Are you not afraid that I might be some kind of evil leader?" the boy asked, attempting what I can only describe as the most unconvincing evil grin I had ever witnessed in my entire life.
As I watched him make a complete fool of himself with that pathetic expression, my patience bar dropped bit by bit. I made up my mind to turn and leave.
My legs had barely moved a step when the screen which had until now projected only one face began to split. Into four.
"Well then, Thomas I guess it's time to introduce you to the others," Samuel said his face turning a bit serious
"A few weeks into the apocalypse I managed to make contact with other survivor groups around the world specifically Dragon County, Pajna and Dangle. Making the total number of confirmed survivor bases five, including yours."
(Things just got considerably more complicated. I guess I should warn them) I thought remembering what the goddess had told me while I was unconscious, about the zombies and their new power scales and growing intelligence. So I came out with it directly.
"Your bases it's only a matter of time before they get wiped out by the zombies with knowledge."
"What do you mean by that, weakling?" a chubby guy with the distinct facial features of a Dragon County citizen snapped angrily.
"I mean exactly what I said," I answered, having no interest in a pointless argument.
"Huh , what's with that attitude, punk? You want me to come over there?" he threatened.
Before he could finish, a girl who introduced herself as Leny from Pajna cut in and said, "I have to agree with him on that point."
"Why is that?" Samuel asked, leaning forward with curiosity.
"Well for the past few days the zombies have started acting strange."
"Strange how?" Samuel pressed.
"Almost human like. Their eyes which used to be cold and completely lifeless at the start, now they look like they've been revitalized and Just thinking about it gives me the creeps," she answered, instinctively pulling both her arms around herself.
In that moment the atmosphere across all four screens grew noticeably heavy.
"Well that is concerning," Samuel said, crossing his arms and sinking into deep thought.
"I have to agree with her on that," Mark the leader of Dangle added in a sleepy tone, barely managing to keep his eyes open.
"So then how exactly do you expect us to survive, Mister All Knowing?" Xixi addressed me with a sarcastic look, as if he could barely be bothered with what we were discussing.
I didn't mind that. I simply told them exactly what the goddess had told me that if we wanted to survive, we had to band together and fight the Corpse Emperor.
"What do you mean by Corpse Emperor?" Samuel asked, his eyes going wide.
"Making things up now, are we?" Xixi muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
"There are four distinct power scales among the zombies," I began, my voice flat and measured. "The first are Corpse Soldiers with large, muscular, with glowing green eyes and skin as tough as steel." I paused briefly. "I believe you have all encountered them already."
"Oh you mean those weak things? Obviously," Xixi answered with a smug look.
"And the other three?" Leny asked.
I continued and as I spoke, the memory of the warehouse surfaced without warning. Silver hair. Red eyes. The sound of something falling. The image of Veronica's face. For just a moment a single, unguarded moment , something crossed my expression. Not grief. Not sadness bu anger. Pure and absolute. It lingerd around for just a second before leaving the way it came
"The second level are Corpse Knights. They are considerably stronger than Corpse Soldiers, capable of using abilities similar to ours, possess human like intelligence and carry a horizontal red mark across their chest. The third level are considerably rarer with intelligence comparable to the greatest minds in human history, a red cross mark on their chest and destructive force capable of leveling an entire island. As for the Corpse Emperor—" I paused. "That is an entirely different conversation. There is only one. It commands every single zombie in the world. Its destructive force operates at a continental scale and its intelligence surpasses that of any human being."
When I finished, all four screens stared back at me in stunned silence. Each of them clearly wanted to dismiss what I had said as nonsense but couldn't, because of how matter of factly I had delivered every single word.
"Where did you find this information?" Samuel asked, rubbing his head with the combined weight of shock and exhaustion. On her screen, Leny was already quietly instructing her people to stop going out carelessly.
I couldn't exactly explain that I had been floating in a dark void when I lost consciousness and a voice claiming to be a goddess had appeared out of nowhere and told me everything. So I kept quiet.
What followed was a debate heated in some places, cautious in others as the four of them went back and forth on whether or not to trust what I had said. I let them argue forI had said what I had to say and had no time try and meditate.
Eventually they reached their conclusion to believe me.
"So where and how do we gather?" Samuel asked. "We are separated by entire oceans."
"Simple," I answered. "There is a ship called Titanic Two at our ports. We use it."
"Wait why not just take an airplane? It would be significantly faster," Leny asked, genuinely puzzled.
Before I could answer, Samuel cut in. "Because landing a plane during an apocalypse is nearly impossible. And the moment you start an engine of that size, you are essentially broadcasting your exact position to every zombie within range." He glanced at me. "Am I wrong?"
"No," I said. "You are not."
And with that we spent the entire night planning routes, capacity, order of departure, contingencies for everything that could go wrong and several things that probably would.
NORMAL POV
At 9:00 in the morning, the leaders said their goodbyes, ended the broadcast and dispersed to begin implementing procedures for the new threat bearing down on all of them.
As Thomas returned to his vehicle and settled into the driver's seat, he caught a glimpse of himself in the rear view mirror.
His hair had turned white and his eyes once dark and unreadable were now a deep, burning crimson.
He stared at his reflection for a long moment. Then without a word, without a change of expression, he started the engine and drove.