Apocalypse: King of Zombies

It was clear Ethan wasn't about to give the guy any chance. With a swift swing of his blade, he split the man's skull clean open, sending the lightning-element crystal core flying out.

Nearby, Shroom was crouched on the ground, feasting ravenously on flesh and blood. Her chin was smeared with crimson, giving her a savage, almost grotesque appearance.

The sound of tearing flesh echoed through the pitch-black subway tunnel.

After devouring one of the corpses, spores began to emanate from her body, drifting down onto the other lifeless bodies scattered around.

In no time, clusters of fleshy tumors began sprouting all over the corpses. The tumors rapidly drained the nutrients from the bodies, leaving them shriveled and dry in mere moments.

Then, the tumors started to shift, making faint rustling noises as they moved. They gathered together, slowly taking on humanoid shapes.

The figures wobbled as they stood, their forms twisting and contorting. Within seconds, they had transformed into the exact likenesses of the fallen members of the Black Hand Legion.

The scene unfolding in the darkness was nothing short of bizarre. If anyone else had been there to witness it, they'd have been scared out of their minds.

As the mimics emerged, Lil' Shroom's appearance began to change as well. Her short, spiky hair now resembled steel needles, her face took on a sinister edge, and she had fully morphed into the image of Matt. Even the lip ring was an exact match.

"All set," she said.

"Yeah, let's move," Ethan replied.

With Lil' Shroom in tow, Ethan headed off to claim Genesis Biotech's "gift" and see what it was all about.

According to the intel they'd just gathered, the Black Hand Legion was supposed to meet with Genesis Biotech at the next two stations.

They walked through the darkness, the mimics trailing behind them. Their expressions were blank, their movements stiff. Having just been "born," their intelligence was rudimentary at best. They struggled to mimic human behavior, their attempts at facial expressions falling flat. They were little more than hollow imitations.

At one of the subway stations, a group from Genesis Biotech was waiting. Among them were four Awakeners and several armed personnel in the Neurocore stage.

"What time is it? The Black Hand Legion should've been here by now," Captain Garrett Lee muttered, his eyes narrowing in thought.

"Could it be… zombies again?" one of the female team members speculated.

"Huh? Why'd you say 'again'?" Garrett raised an eyebrow.

"Uh…" The woman looked embarrassed. After all, it wasn't exactly rare for humans to get ambushed by zombies, so the word had just slipped out.

"Either way, stay alert. The Black Hand Legion isn't exactly a friendly bunch," Garrett reminded them.

"Got it," the others nodded cautiously.

Before long, they spotted faint silhouettes in the distance, emerging from the darkness of the subway tracks. The figures moved like harbingers of death, cloaked in shadow.

"They're here…" Garrett said, his gaze sharpening.

The group immediately tensed, their eyes fixed on the approaching figures. Five of them stepped out of the darkness, walking slowly toward the Genesis Biotech team.

Their faces were eerily devoid of emotion, their eyes hollow and lifeless.

"Something feels… off. They don't seem like normal humans," one of the team members muttered, frowning.

"If they were normal, would they even be part of the Black Hand Legion?" Garrett shot back, his eyes never leaving the group.

He scrutinized the five figures closely, especially the one leading them—"Matt." The spiky short hair, the lip ring—it all matched the description they'd been given perfectly. The four others trailing behind him looked just as expected.

Lil' Shroom, now in her Matt disguise, seemed much calmer than she had been in previous encounters with humans. Maybe it was because she'd just eaten and wasn't feeling particularly hungry.

"My boss sent me to pick up the goods," she said bluntly, walking straight up to the humans without hesitation.

"What's the rush? Let's confirm the terms of the deal first," Garrett replied.

Lil' Shroom nodded. "Yeah, my boss wants to know the details too."

"Alright," Garrett said, satisfied with her response.

"You're aware of the situation in Los Angeles, right? The zombies are evolving way too fast. Humanity's struggling to keep up. That's why we need to join forces—to fight back against them. My company is prepared to provide you with… certain serums."

"What kind of serums?" Lil' Shroom asked.

Garrett turned to one of his subordinates, signaling with a glance. A female team member stepped forward, carrying a sleek, silver alloy case. She handed it to Garrett.

Click.

Garrett unlocked the case and opened it.

Inside, two neat rows of vials were arranged—twenty in total. The top row contained a bright orange liquid, while the bottom row held a dark purple substance.

Even at a glance, it was clear these serums were no ordinary concoctions.

Garrett began his explanation, pointing to the top row of vials. "The ten orange ones here are human evolution serums. When injected, an ordinary person can rapidly advance to the Neurocore stage."

"Oh…" Lil' Shroom nodded, though her expression remained indifferent. To her, these serums didn't seem all that impressive—just a way to grow a few more "snacks" for her to munch on later.

"But the bottom row…" Garrett's tone shifted, his voice growing heavier as his expression turned serious. "These are something else entirely."

He paused for effect before continuing. "This is the G-Virus. When injected, humans gain immense power. However… it comes at a cost."
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"Oh? What kind of cost?" Lil' Shroom asked, her curiosity piqued.

Garrett enunciated each word carefully. "Depending on the individual's physiology, they'll transform into various types of bio-mutants."

"Ah, I see…" Lil' Shroom's face returned to its usual calm demeanor.

For an ordinary person, this revelation would've been shocking, even horrifying. But for Lil' Shroom, who was already a zombie and firmly in the "monster" category herself, it was just another day at the office.

Garrett studied her reaction, surprised by her lack of alarm. He couldn't help but think these people had nerves of steel.

"Any other questions?" he asked.

"Nope. Just hand it over," Lil' Shroom replied bluntly.

"Alright." Garrett nodded, closing the case and officially handing it to her.

The group from Genesis Biotech exchanged glances, relieved that the exchange had gone so smoothly. It seemed like this mission was wrapping up without a hitch. Time to head back and report success.

"Well then, we'll be on our way—"

"Wait a second…" Lil' Shroom suddenly called out, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. She licked her lips, a faint, predatory glint flickering in her eyes.

Garrett stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing. "What is it now?"

"My boss didn't just send me to pick up the goods," Lil' Shroom said, her tone casual but laced with something darker.

"What else, then?" Garrett and his team exchanged confused glances, their unease growing.

Lil' Shroom's lips curled into a grin, her excitement barely contained. Her pupils dilated slightly as she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "You."

"...What???"

The word hit like a thunderclap. Garrett and his team's faces immediately darkened, a wave of dread washing over them. Something was very, very wrong.

This wasn't just a trade. This was a trap.

Having gathered all the intel her "boss" needed, Lil' Shroom dropped the pretense. She spread her hands wide, and in an instant, countless spores erupted from her palms, spreading through the air and enveloping the group.

At the same time, the mimics behind her shed their lifeless facades. Their faces twisted into grotesque snarls as they lunged forward, their movements unnervingly fast and feral.

"Watch out!" Garrett shouted, his instincts kicking in. Heat radiated from his body as flames roared to life, forming a barrier to fend off the encroaching spores.

The Awakeners, with their crystal core-enhanced abilities, managed to hold their ground against the onslaught. But the Neurocore-level armed personnel weren't so lucky. The spores invaded their bodies almost instantly, and they collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.

Their screams were guttural, raw, and filled with terror. Their bodies convulsed violently as red, fleshy tumors began to erupt from their skin.

...