There's a genre called zombie fiction.
It refers to works that primarily focus on zombie apocalypses. Because zombies are such a versatile element, the genre has developed in many different directions.
There are novels that deal with the cause and solution of zombie outbreaks, dramas that explore the changes in society after a zombie outbreak, and straightforward action games where you simply hack, shoot, and kill zombies.
The genre's development has been very diverse, and among these, the one I dislike the most is the latter.
I mean, what's so fun about mindlessly killing zombies? Zombies should be more threatening, scarier, and make you anxious about getting infected.
"But when you encounter them in reality!"
I shouted.
"You realize that smashing them in action is the best thing ever!"
In front of me, the knight duo was literally plowing through the field of zombies like tanks.
Swish! Slash! Slash!
Lucas was alternating between the [Bestowed Sword] and [Excalibur], slicing through the zombies mercilessly.
The [Bestowed Sword] extended its length to sweep through mid-range enemies like a whip, while [Excalibur] in his other hand decapitated any zombies that made it past the whip's reach.
Moreover, [Excalibur] was a holy sword imbued with divine power. It was highly effective against 'impure' beings like zombies.
Lucas, a veritable zombie blender, was cutting down all zombies within his range.
"Take that! And that!"
Beside him, Evangeline was charging forward like a runaway train.
Evangeline's usual weapons, the [Cross Family's Spear] and [Cross Family's Shield], were still being repaired, so she brought temporary equipment: the [Shield Sword] made from Kun and Peng, which we defeated in Stage 44.
To say it was made is an overstatement; it was looted immediately after defeating them...
The [Shield Sword] could transform from a giant fish-scale-shaped shield to a long sword resembling a bird's beak.
Using this, Evangeline pushed the zombies in front of her into mush with the shield, then transformed it into a long sword to slice through the surrounding zombies before transforming it back into a shield. She wielded it with skill.
"I told you before, right? I mostly use spears, but I can handle swords pretty well too!"
Evangeline shouted confidently as a zombie monster lunged at her. It had slipped through when she was transforming her weapon.
"Whoa?!"
Before Evangeline could react,
Swish!
Lucas's [Bestowed Sword] decapitated the zombie monster.
"..."
Normally, he would tease her with a 'aren't you paying attention?' but Lucas just glanced at her and kept running.
"Tsk!"
Evangeline gritted her teeth and sped up to catch up with Lucas.
Watching these youngsters, I chuckled.
'Hehe. It's nice to see you two still bickering and getting along...'
But your prince is getting tired?!
It's already been 10 minutes since we started sprinting! I've used my magic and equipment to overcome my poor stamina, but this is getting exhausting! How can you increase the pace now?!
I couldn't afford to slow down. Even a slight decrease in speed would let the zombies catch up.
I checked on the others.
Swish! Swish!
While we ran along the main street, Verdandi was following agilely over fences and collapsed buildings.
The area was teeming with zombies, and some particularly dangerous ones were among them. Verdandi was picking off these threats with her bow and the combination of teleporting daggers—Isagum. Excellent!
And finally, at the rear of the party...
"Nooo! Stay away!"
Dearmudin was screaming sharply while breathing fire.
Roar...
The massive horde of zombies chasing us was getting roasted.
The mindless monsters kept coming after us, regardless of their burning bodies, until the cumulative fire damage reduced them to ashes.
'As expected of a mage! Amazing! I'm glad I brought him! He's racking up a kill count in the double digits!'
Though Dearmudin's screams were becoming strangely adorable, his efficiency was unmatched!
However, our charge was becoming increasingly difficult. As we ventured deeper into the Lake Kingdom dungeon, the number of zombies clogging the main street increased, and their strength grew as well.
These weren't ordinary zombies. They were originally strong monsters that had been resurrected in a zombie state.
They couldn't use their special abilities but their physical stats had become even stronger. Cutting our way through was becoming increasingly challenging.
"Master, at this rate, there's no end to this!"
Lucas, who was leading the way, shouted.
Even I could see that zombies, who used to die with one strike from the [Bestowed Sword], were now enduring two or three hits. It was becoming hard to break through with just our five-member team.
'In that case!'
I turned around and shouted.
"Dearmudin!"
Dearmudin looked at me with hope. I nodded.
"Let's take off!"
"You should have ordered that sooner!"
Dropping the flames, Dearmudin spread the hem of his robe wide.
Whoosh!
Black feathered wings unfurled from his robe, and the flight spell was cast on all of us.
Defying gravity, the five of us floated into the sky and flew towards the deepest part of the dungeon.
The zombies left on the ground watched us, their bodies still sizzling in the lingering flames.
***
Currently, our forces had occupied up to Zone 9 of the Lake Kingdom dungeon.
So the zombies were concentrated in Zone 10.
The problem was that Zone 10 was the largest single area.
'Well, it used to be the area where the royalty lived...'
The royal castle and various facilities for the royalty were located here, all of which had been transformed into dungeons.
There were no fewer than 30 dungeons in Zone 10 alone.
Most of these places had been overrun by zombies, who had bitten each other, turning all into zombie monsters.
Grrr...
Grrr...
The already hideous monsters had been topped with the zombie transformation, making them a grotesque sight.
Zombie-monsters leaning against each other groaned as they stumbled around Zone 10.
We floated in the air, courtesy of Dearmudin's flight spell, and entered the depths of Zone 10, observing the zombie horde below.
Evangeline, sweating, asked,
"There's no way all these guys will be released to the surface, right?"
Smiling, I waved my hand dismissively.
"Come on, don't be silly. There's no way..."
I quickly shut my mouth.
Experience had taught me that 'no way' scenarios often come true.
'Actually, it's stranger for these guys to stay put here. If the door opens, they'll all come out, just like in all those damn defense games!'
My complexion turned pale. The other heroes watching me also turned pale.
Dearmudin, wrapping his arms around his shoulders and shivering, screamed,
"Prince Ash! What are you going to do?! Hurry up and come up with a plan!"
"Hold on. We're out here scouting to come up with a plan."
Of course, we've barely touched the ground since entering Zone 10...
"Master."
At that moment, Lucas, who had been scanning the area, gestured.
"Over there, at the outer edge opposite our entry point... The monsters are moving strangely."
"Hmm?"
Looking in the direction Lucas pointed, I saw it too.
Most of the zombified monsters were either idling or giving up trying to reach us in the sky.
But the ones at the outer edge were rushing towards a specific point like a vortex.
"Is there something there?"
"Shall we check it out, Master?"
"Let's do that. Dearmudin, please fly us over there."
"Don't talk so lightly. Long-duration flight spells are very taxing..."
Dearmudin grumbled but still lifted us up and directed us towards the spot.
A ruined tower nearby provided a vantage point, and we descended to observe below.
And there...
"Hold them off!"
"Build the barricade!"
"Don't let them in!"
Inside a collapsed cathedral-like structure, surviving monsters were desperately setting up barriers and preparing for battle.
Grrr!
Grrr!
Zombie hordes were converging on them from all directions.
'Wow, this looks like a scene straight out of a zombie movie.'
I observed closely.
The resisting monsters had red skin and human-like features... Surprisingly, they were demons, mostly children and the elderly, not soldiers.
"Demon society categorizes roles by age."
I explained to my subordinates, trying to grasp the situation.
"Children are trained as future soldiers, adults fight in the battlefield, and the elderly dedicate themselves to supporting them."
The category of demons is quite broad. Succubi and imps fall under it too.
But the common demons we were facing in this stage were the ones with red skin and human-like appearances.
These demons invade dimensions as legions, aiming to subjugate them.
Legions sent to a dimension establish a foothold, start families, and pass on the fight to their offspring.
As I explained, children are trained, adults fight, and the elderly support them.
"What? So the elderly do the most menial tasks and suffer the most?!"
Dearmudin shouted, oddly furious at an unexpected point. But I nodded, as it was true.
"Indeed, children are considered the most precious, and the elderly are used as expendable assets if needed."
"These demon bastards! They'll be punished by heaven!"
Well, they are demons, so...
"Anyway, the main adult forces have all turned into zombies..."
I observed the situation and continued.
"It looks like the children and elderly left in the settlement are making a final stand."
Thud! Crack! Crunch!
The barricades blocking the cathedral entrance were constantly being smashed.
The zombies swarming around the cathedral quickly broke through the barricades, thrusting their arms and jaws through broken windows and walls.
The powerful bodies of the monsters had become even stronger as zombies, tearing down the cathedral's thin walls in no time.
"Nooo...!"
"Oh great Observers! Save us..."
"Dark Lord! Where are you, Dark Lord! You need to protect us!"
The trembling young and old demons screamed for salvation. But neither the Observers nor the Dark Lord came to their aid.
Only a few humans, us, were watching.
"Hmm."
After a brief contemplation, I spoke.
"We're saving them."
"What?"
Everyone was taken aback by my words, and Lucas immediately protested.
"No, Master. What are you saying? They are monsters! And demons at that! They are our enemies!"
"I know."
I drew the ceremonial longsword [Light and Shadow] from my waist and assembled it into a flagpole.
Flash!
A flag made of magic fluttered on the empty pole.
"They are also the monster legion we will face in the upcoming defense battle."
I smiled at my subordinates.
"So, wouldn't they be useful?"
Without waiting for an answer, I leaped down with the flag.