The humanoid figure's presence and pressure were so fierce it gave off the impression of being alive. But when Ackster looked closer, he could tell it was as dead as the stone around it.
'A corpse?'
At first, Ackster thought that the gatekeeper had died. He was looking at who had been the gatekeeper but who couldn't endure the passage of time and died but maintained his presence even in death.
But no.
The figure flicked its head up and looked straight at Ackster, even without any eyes.
'A zombie.'
It was the freakiest and most powerful zombie Ackster had seen. It was also the only one. But that was all. It was a gatekeeper, and Ackster didn't like to be gatekept.
When the zombie moved, so did Ackster. They charged at each other, drawing a tie when they collided.
Ackster's eyebrows rose a hair in surprise. The zombie was significantly stronger than the chimera. It was also faster and more durable.
