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Chapter 12 - THE SYSTEM OF ENTERTAINMENT

As the sun sets, the Berry group finds themselves engaged in a fierce battle against an incoming zombie horde in Old Berry Town. Xai and Stella inspect the armor vans, but they are too heavily damaged to be of use. Ezzy attempts to start the car that Rune drove earlier, only to discover it's out of fuel. Mai and Frank check on Mai's phones, revealing they are completely surrounded by thousands of zombies that are emerging from the smokes.

Meanwhile, Rune and Simbad fight back-to-back, discussing how their magical powers are slowly reawakening. Agustin kneels beside Will's body, remarking that at least Will died happy next to his best friend. With no apparent escape route, the Berry group looks around, feeling trapped.

Surprisingly, Michael reveals that he feels like he can do anything now. However, this statement raises suspicion among his companions, and Agustin points his daggers at Michael, questioning what he truly is. Michael examines his hands and body, uncertain of what has happened, but relieved to find that he still has control over himself. Mai approaches him and inspects the bite mark wound, surprised to see that Michael seems unaffected by the zombie bite. She concludes that he might be the first one to overcome the zombie's bite, retaining his A-Star power levels and most of his humanity. Playfully, she pushes Michael into a zombie, who surprisingly ignores him.

In an attempt to create an escape route, Michael unleashes sparks of lightning from his hands but admits he's not fully accustomed to his new powers. Despite this, he pushes a car forward, using his super strength to crush the zombies blocking their path. Exhausted, Michael eventually stops, and the group continues the fight against the zombies surrounding them.

Frank struggles to fend off zombies, and Mai fights alongside him to protect him. Several of Stella's men get bitten by the horde, while Rune and Ezzy fight with unwavering determination. Xai saves Stella from a potential bite, and Agustin deploys an explosive attack with his daggers. Simbad becomes exhausted and falls to his knees, while Michael, though tired, manages to pull some zombies away to help the group.

Suddenly, a powerful laser beam shoots from a distance, killing hundreds of zombies and creating a clear path for the group to escape. They spot a giant Robot Mall building, which Rex is operating, and they all rush toward it. The robot eventually loses power and shuts down, settling the Mall building within Old Berry Town. As they escape the smoke and haze, Michael replenishes his energy by absorbing electricity from a broken light pole. Using his lightning beams, he clears the way for the group, and they head towards the Mall for safety.

A little while later that night, Kiren regains consciousness, finding himself still in the back of a trunk as they travel along a lengthy road leading to an Island encircled by a massive lake. Kiren's attention is drawn to a colossal ship sailing around the Island. Eventually, they reach the Island, and the ship docks on the shore nearby. Jarvis emerges and warmly embraces the leader of the Riders who comes out of the ship. Jarvis then tells the leader that he has brought two additional individuals with him. The leader then introduces Jarvis as his brother and commends him for a job well done.

The leader, Volk(42), turns his attention to Megan and Kiren, introducing himself to them. He commands the Riders to take both of them onto the ship, as the recruitment process is about to begin. Upon boarding the massive ship, they hear a loud crowd. Pushed into a room with several tied-up individuals, the group is then led by the Riders to a giant arena. As they step out onto the field, Kiren observes thousands of people in the seats, cheering enthusiastically. Megan notices five flags with symbols hanging around the arena.

In the middle of the arena, the group is lined up as a man with a microphone stands on a stage beside the front of arena. He announces that the new recruits will join their system, prompting the crowd to cheer. The man introduces himself as Eleon(46) and then presents the four masked Beast Masters: from the Donkeys, Bulls, Elephants, and Horse. He then introduces Volk, as the leader of the Riders, They all takes their seats on the stage, overlooking the 12 candidates.

Eleon informs the candidates that they have no choice but to join the system, but they should be grateful that the Riders saved them from the end of the world. He explains that their fate now lies in the hands of the Beast Masters. All the Beast Masters rise and signal a gate to open from the side of the arena behind the candidates. A few dozen walking zombies enter the arena.

Eleon challenges the candidates to free themselves and prove their worth. Megan spots the Horse Beast Master looking at her, prompting him to toss a knife into the arena. She walks confidently to the stage, followed by some others, picks up the knife, and frees herself. On the other hand, Kiren struggles to escape his restraints, witnessing a couple of people getting bitten by the zombies. Finally, Megan's quick actions release Kiren from his restraints, and he watches as she dispatches the zombies in front of her. Other candidates also join Megan.

As ten running zombies approach the group, Kiren becomes fearful, catching the attention of the Bull Beast Master. However, Megan rushes ahead, eliminating a few running zombies, and Kiren joins her in holding down one of the zombies while she deals a decisive blow.

Megan and Kiren witness a shocking transformation the final zombie becomes a massive, pale-skinned, muscle-bound zombie after feasting on one of the dead candidates. The crowd cheers enthusiastically at this spectacle. Realizing the danger, Megan swiftly attacks the transforming zombie by stabbing its head, but she is knocked back by its powerful response. Kiren catches her just in time. Megan identifies the creature as an A-Star zombie, and both she and Kiren understand they must stop it before it completes its unique transformation.

Filled with adrenaline and excitement, Megan rushes in and dodges a strike from the transforming zombie in great speed. Kiren, astonished by her agility, follows suit and rushes in. Utilizing his strength, Kiren delivers a powerful kick, causing his shoe to fly off and dislodging the knife from the zombie's head. Megan seizes the opportunity to catch the knife and slash open the zombie's chest, exposing its shiny heart. The zombie retaliates and with a swift move, she dodges and counters with a slash to the zombie's eyes, causing blood to pour out.

Kiren takes action, lifting the zombie by its waist, but the zombie speaks "STOP!", momentarily silencing the arena. Undeterred, Megan stabs the zombie's heart, causing it to collapse in Kiren's arms. The crowd cheers in amazement as the beast masters applaud Megan's skill.

Jarvis becomes intrigued by Megan, and Volk ponders what might have happened if they had allowed the zombie to fully transform. Volk conjures a magic door onto the arena, the entire crowd erupts into chants of "En-ter-tain." Suddenly, a giant Face machine emerges onto the field, leaving Kiren in complete shock at the sight of such a remarkable creation. The machine's rolling eyes scan each of the five surviving candidates, and it proceeds to scan the audience as well. After completing a full 360-degree spin, it stops and focuses on the candidate positioned behind Kiren. To everyone's horror, the Face machine deems her unentertaining and shoots deadly lasers from its eyes, causing her body to explode in a gruesome spectacle.

Covered in the poor candidate's blood, Kiren is stunned and gazes at the Face machine in disbelief. In an unsettling twist, the machine proclaims that Kiren is entertaining and promptly targets another candidate, terminating them with its lethal laser eyes. As the danger looms, Kiren turns to Megan, as another candidate explodes near Megan, she can be seen seething with rage. The Face machine locks its gaze onto her, and without hesitation, Megan leaps and strikes downwards at the machine's forehead with her knife. Unfortunately, upon impact, the knife shatters, and her hand is splattered with blood. Falling to the ground, Megan's safety becomes Kiren's priority as he rushes to protect her. Despite her attack, the Face machine deems Megan entertaining and withdraws back into the door, which closes and disappears with a magical aura. Megan and Kiren are left bewildered by the events that transpired.

Eleon promptly approaches them with a microphone, asking for their names as the crowd cheers even louder. The four beast masters descend from the stage with their respective flags, standing in front of Kiren and Megan. Eleon inquires which Beast Master wants to recruit Kiren into their clan, and both the donkey and bull masters raise their flags. Kiren is unsure of his decision, still confused about the situation.

The Bull Beast master reveals his face and identifies himself as Ragnar(48), revealing that he and Kiren are from the same family clan with their matching orange hair. Ragnar invites Kiren to join the Bulls, offering him the opportunity to become stronger and learn more about his people. Inspired by this revelation, Kiren agrees and joins the Bulls, receiving enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.

Next, Eleon asks which Beast Master desires to have Megan in their clan, and all of them raise their flags, signaling their interest. The crowd cheers loudly, witnessing this significant moment. Eleon remarks that in their lifetime, they have never seen a human attack the ancient system machine, explaining why all the clans desire her.

Kiren suggests that Megan should join the Bulls so they can be in the same clan together, but she ignores his suggestion and boldly questions which clan is the strongest. The horse Beast master, Luka(33), steps forward, revealing his handsome face and hair. He introduces himself and declares that his horse clan is the strongest among all the clans. Surprisingly, Megan chooses the Horse clan, leaving Kiren astonished. The crowd erupts with thunderous cheers. Volk remarks to Jarvis that Megan might be a rising star, and Jarvis concurs, showing a keen interest in her potential.

Ragnar addresses Kiren, explaining that from now on, they must adhere to the system and entertain to receive rewards from the machine God for their efforts. Still in shock over Megan's decision, Kiren yells out to her as Luka escorts her out of the arena, mentioning that their family and friends will come to rescue them. Megan glances back briefly but continues walking with Luka. Ragnar then escorts Kiren out as well.

While walking down the halls, Megan and Luka encounter a woman running past them and embracing Volk. Megan questions Luka about the woman's identity, and he reveals that Volk is the leader of them all, and her current rank isn't high enough to inquire or even gaze at him. Luka discloses that the woman is Volk's wife, who happens to be the strongest person in the system. When Megan asks if Volk's wife possesses magic, Luka explains that magic is restricted in the system except for the Volk family. That there is an orb at the center of the ship that prevents the use of magic throughout the ship. Luka adds that Volk's wife is not even human but a super zombie dedicated to protecting her family. He warns Megan not to share this information with anyone, admitting he told her because he's taken an interest in her. Megan expresses her desire to become stronger, and Luka agrees to help her, smiling at the prospect.

Meanwhile, Kiren and Ragnar arrive at the Bull's section where Ragnar introduces Kiren to his new teammates. Among them, Kiren notices one individual with a striking resemblance to Michael and inquires if he is Michael. Ragnar corrects him, revealing that the person is Michael's twin brother named Mikey(27).

Mikey hushes Ragnar, cautioning him not to reveal his status as an insider for the Berry community before anyone discovers it. Ragnar chuckles and assures Kiren that the Bulls are fiercely loyal to him, and none of his clan members would ever divulge Bull secrets to other clans. The crew wholeheartedly supports Ragnar's statement, cheering in agreement. Despite the dire circumstances, Mikey shakes his head, seemingly wary.

Kiren finds some solace in witnessing these lighthearted moments, even amid the apocalypse.