HBWnovel Chapter 199 Have you ever heard this song?
Chapter 199 Have you ever heard this song?
"Not bad on the piano," Ethan said casually, his figure materializing behind her.
"Huh?" Elegy Zombie King's face froze in shock. She immediately tensed up, springing from her seat and crouching low like a startled beast, ready to attack at any moment.
"Who's there?"
"No need to be so jumpy," Ethan said, trying to reassure her. He couldn't help but think, Man, this kid's really on edge. Must be all those humans in San Bernardino. Even the slightest noise has her spooked.
Elegy Zombie King's sharp, predatory eyes locked onto him, her guard not dropping for even a second. If anything, she seemed even more wary. After all, someone appearing out of thin air would put anyone on edge.
But as her heightened senses scanned him, she realized something—Ethan didn't have the aura of the living. He wasn't human. He was a zombie, just like her.
"What are you doing in my territory?" she demanded, her voice cold and unyielding.
Territory? Ethan glanced around the room, taking in the dilapidated surroundings. He raised an eyebrow. She's calling this building her territory?
"Your 'territory' isn't even as big as my living room," he said, smirking.
"..." Elegy Zombie King was momentarily speechless. "Are you trying to say your territory is huge?"
"Not exactly," Ethan replied with a shrug. "But I can see you've got potential. Why don't you come work for me in the future?"
He didn't bother sugarcoating it. This Elegy Zombie King was clearly struggling under the pressure of human oppression, barely scraping by with her B+ rank. But her awakened abilities were promising, and she had talent—real talent.
In Los Angeles, there was no room for idle zombies. Sure, she was weak now, but evolution was always an option. Still, if she wanted to survive, she needed a purpose.
Elegy Zombie King frowned. "You barge into my territory uninvited and then tell me to work for you? Do you really think I'd agree to that?"
"Oh..." Ethan nodded, amused. Figures. Musicians. Always free-spirited and rebellious.
"You don't have to decide right away," he said, leaning casually against the wall. "Take your time to think it over. Wouldn't want you regretting it later."
"I don't regret my decisions," she shot back firmly. "And besides, this place is dangerous right now. I just killed a bunch of humans. They'll probably send stronger Awakeners soon. If you don't leave now, you might not get the chance."
Her tone was cautious, her instincts sharp. She was right to be wary. San Bernardino's Awakeners were no joke, with plenty of A-rankers in their ranks. For someone like her, staying alive required constant vigilance.
But Ethan didn't seem the least bit concerned. "The ones who should be leaving are the humans," he said nonchalantly.
Just then, a faint buzzing sound filled the air. Outside the window, a dozen or so drones zipped through the sky, spreading out to surround the mall. Their cameras scanned the area with precision, leaving no blind spots.
It was clear now—human Awakeners were on their way.
"Damn it! They're already here!" Elegy's eyes narrowed, her predatory instincts kicking in.
Ethan strolled over to the second-floor window, peering outside. Sure enough, down the street, human figures began to emerge. Dozens of them. No, more than that—there were at least a hundred.
It was a standard Operation King Hunt squad.
Leading the group were four Awakeners, with their captain standing out as an A-rank. The rest were armed personnel who had just reached the Neurocore stage of awakening.
Thanks to the development and widespread use of the "Human Evolution Serum," Awakeners were becoming more and more common. These days, it felt like you couldn't throw a rock without hitting one.
Elegy's gaze was fixed on the approaching group. "The leader is Jonathan Reed, an A-rank psychic Awakener. His strength is second only to the Four Knights of Bernardino. This is bad."
Ethan, however, didn't seem fazed. Instead, he turned to her with an unexpected question. "Hey, have you ever heard this song?"
"What?" she asked, caught off guard.
"'Open up your head and let me see inside,'" Ethan said, quoting the lyrics.
"Uh..." Elegy blinked, momentarily thrown. Before the apocalypse, she'd been a music teacher. As her mind continued to evolve, fragments of her old memories often resurfaced—especially when it came to music. She'd heard countless songs in her time.
But this one? It didn't ring a bell.
"Never heard of it," she admitted.
"Oh, well," Ethan said with a grin. "I'll teach it to you later." Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
...
By now, Jonathan and his team had arrived near the mall. They stood tall and imposing, clad in matching combat uniforms that gave them an air of authority and precision.
Occasionally, a few low-level zombies would lurch out from the shadows, but they were swiftly and effortlessly dealt with by the team.
"So, it's true. There's a Zombie King with strange abilities hiding in this mall," Jonathan said, his sharp gaze fixed on the building ahead.
One of his teammates nodded. "That works in our favor, Captain. Your A-rank psychic abilities are a natural counter to a Zombie King with powers like that."
"Exactly," Jonathan replied confidently. "I'll handle her attacks and keep her abilities at bay. You all charge in and take her down as quickly as possible. Let's not give the other squads a chance to steal our glory." His tone was calm, almost casual, but it carried an unmistakable weight of authority and self-assurance.
"Yes, sir!" the team responded in unison before storming into the mall.
The first-floor lobby was a scene straight out of a nightmare. Blood was smeared across the floor, and half-eaten corpses lay scattered about. Bloody handprints clawed down the walls, a haunting testament to the victims' final moments of despair.
"I'll avenge you," one of the female team members murmured, her voice tinged with emotion. Her eyes scanned the area, and she gestured for the group to head upstairs in
...