Chapter 72: The mastermind
A towering skyscraper stood at the heart of Rendell City. Before the apocalypse, it had served as the administrative headquarters where the mayor and government officials managed the city’s affairs.
Now, the once-grand building was a crumbling ruin. Cracks spread across its concrete walls, shattered windows and countless vines crept over its weathered exterior.
Looking down from the rooftop offered a terrifying sight. Tens of thousands of zombies surrounded the skyscraper in every direction, forming a seemingly endless sea of decaying bodies.
They stood motionless beneath the building like disciplined soldiers guarding their king, creating an impenetrable wall of flesh.
Inside the skyscraper, on one of the upper floors that had once belonged to the mayor, every wall had been demolished to leave behind an enormous hall.
Floating silently in the center of the room was a gigantic eyeball nearly four meters in diameter.
Unlike the aliens Leo had encountered before, this creature possessed hundreds of constantly shifting pupils.
Each one moved independently across its enormous surface, with dozens staring in completely different directions at any given moment, making it impossible to tell where the creature’s true attention lay.
Seated opposite the monstrous eye was another alien. Two jet-black horns curved upward from its forehead, while pale, marble-like skin contrasted sharply against its long crimson hair.
Its sharp, refined features made it resemble a handsome nobleman rather than a monster, yet its golden, slit-shaped pupils radiated an inhuman coldness.
Dressed in an elegant black aristocratic coat reminiscent of medieval nobility, it sat with effortless grace. In one hand, it lazily swirled a crystal wine glass filled with fresh human blood. From time to time, it raised the glass to its lips, savoring each sip as though tasting the finest vintage wine.
A deep voice echoed through the silent hall.
"Do you realize how great a loss I’ve suffered because of your plan?"
The horned alien calmly took another sip before replying,
"Calm yourself."
"It’s hardly a significant loss."
The hundreds of pupils within the giant eyeball converged upon the horned alien, glaring at him with unconcealed fury.
"Hardly significant?"
"I lost two Clan Elders."
"I could’ve wiped out every human in the surrounding area already..."
"But you insisted on carrying out your little plan."
The horned alien narrowed his eyes.
"It wasn’t my plan."
"It was the Master’s order."
The eyeball’s pupils contracted.
"I only agreed because you claimed the artifact would guarantee the elders’ safety."
"So why are they dead?"
The horned alien merely spread his hands.
"How was I supposed to know the humans possessed a Zen Weapon?"
"Besides..."
"Your elders should’ve survived."
"Someone interfered."
"If you insist on blaming someone..."
"Blame your own people for their incompetence."
The eyeball’s voice grew colder.
"Impossible."
"A primitive civilization shouldn’t possess Zen Weapons."
"Stop making excuses."
The horned alien’s expression remained completely calm.
"Have you forgotten the one that has repeatedly disrupted the Lord’s conquest of this world?"
The eyeball fell silent. A moment later, it spoke two words.
"...The Rizen Group."
The horned alien nodded.
"Originally, the plan was simple."
"We would inflict heavy casualties upon the military."
"They would have no choice but to request reinforcements from the Rizen Group."
"Then we’d capture one of their Superhumans and discover how they manufacture Zen Weapons."
He slowly swirled the blood inside his wine glass.
"But your subordinates couldn’t even accomplish such a simple task."
The giant eyeball remained silent for several moments before finally asking,
"So..."
"What now?"
"And don’t expect me to sacrifice any more Clan Elders."
The horned alien rested his chin on one hand, thoughtfully swirling the crimson liquid inside his glass. After a brief silence, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Don’t worry."
"I no longer expect your incompetent subordinates to accomplish anything important."
"However..."
"When the time comes, have them prepare to spread chaos throughout the city."
He smiled faintly.
"I trust they can manage at least that much."
After a long silence, the eyeball finally replied,
"...Very well."
The horned alien rose gracefully from his chair. As he walked toward the exit, he spoke without looking back.
"Oh..."
"Have your people send more Superhuman blood to my quarters."
He lightly licked the remaining blood from the rim of his wine glass.
"I’ve grown rather fond of the taste."
With those words, he disappeared into the darkness beyond the hall.
********************************
Inside an abandoned building in the western region of Rendell City, two men lay sprawled across the dusty floor, groaning in agony. Their limbs were twisted at unnatural angles, making even the slightest movement impossible. Not far from them lay the headless corpse of a burly man. The two survivors trembled uncontrollably, their terrified eyes repeatedly drifting toward a nearby room.
A nauseating stench wafted out from within. Scattered across the floor were dozens of half-eaten corpses—both human and alien.
Rotting flesh covered every corner of the room, while countless maggots squirmed through the decaying remains.
The two men had long since emptied their stomachs. They had vomited so many times that nothing but bitter bile came up anymore.
Just then, footsteps echoed through the silent building.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The two men trembled even harder. They knew exactly who those footsteps belonged to. Combined with that man, even the zombies seemed merciful.
A moment later, the owner of the footsteps appeared. He was a burly man with dark gray skin that resembled weathered stone. Wrapped around his torso was a thick iron chain, and tied to the other end was a child-sized zombie. The tiny zombie continuously clawed and bit at the man’s shoulder, desperately trying to tear into his flesh. Yet its tiny teeth couldn’t even scratch his thick skin.
The man merely chuckled.
"Hehe..."
"My dear..."
"Are you hungry again?"
"Trying to tickle Daddy?"
A loving smile spread across his face as he gently patted the zombie’s head.
"Don’t worry."
"Daddy will feed you soon."
He slowly turned toward the two men lying on the floor.
"See?"
"We still have food."
The color drained from the men’s faces. The two injured men were the squinty-eyed thug and the short man. As for the headless corpse, it belonged to their bald boss.
The squinty-eyed man completely lost control of his bladder. A foul smell spread beneath him as tears streamed down his face.
"P-Please..."
"Spare me..."
"I-I won’t hurt anyone ever again!"
"I’ll do anything you ask!"
William’s expression darkened.
"Shut up."
"Can’t you see I am talking to my daughter?"
The man held his tongue, too terrified to make another sound.
William tilted his head.
"Oh..."
"I’ve got a question."
"If you answer honestly..."
"I’ll let you go."
The squinty-eyed man’s eyes lit up with hope.
"I-I’ll answer!"
"I swear!"
William smiled.
"Have you seen my wife?"
"Her name is Elena."
"She’s the most beautiful woman in the whole world."
"I can’t seem to find her anywhere."
The squinty-eyed man’s mind raced. Looking at the simple-minded monster before him, he saw a chance to survive. He nodded frantically.
"I know!"
"I’ve seen her!"
"She’s at the center of Rendell City!"
"If you let me go, I’ll bring her back right now!"
William stared at him silently. The smile on his face disappeared.
"Liar."
Before the man could react
Boom!
William’s fist smashed into his head. It exploded like an overripe watermelon, spraying blood and fragments across the room. William looked down at the headless corpse.
"My Elena is the kindest woman in the world."
"She would never have anything to do with trash like you."
He fell into thought.
"...The center of the city."
"I haven’t looked there yet."
"Maybe she’s waiting for me."
Soon, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the abandoned building. It lasted only a few seconds before it was replaced by the wet sounds of flesh being torn apart and bones being crushed between hungry teeth.