The day passed haphazardly.
The zombies which had been tormenting the guards, once again returned to their original place outside the barricaded walls.
Their numbers as if had not dwindled at all.
But, the presence of a certain team provided a piece of relief, comfort and security to those who had seen them.
The news was already passed to everyone in the survival camp building, the last refugee of these people.
Tomorrow, Lady Cecilia with her team will lead all the survivors out of this God Forsaken city.
But, everyone knew...
Not just this city....
May be entire world was forsaken by the God.
They wondered what held for them outside this hellhole.
Just a day and thousands of cities, hundreds of regions and tens of countries had fallen.
The mindless undead relentlessly followed their mindful and cunning counterpart kins, attacking the human strongholds non stop.
No one knew when another Stage 4 zombie will pop up and destroy another city.
Humans lived in fear, they huddled together for warmth.
But, in face of utter devastation they were powerless.
But, during this time just a week after an incredible news almost considered as a joke spread throughout the World.
The strongest undead, the Skeleton Dragon was subdued!
The Superpower of Essos who had done this incredible feat boasted it like no other.
The word 'Subdued' here is important.
The Skeleton Dragon wasn't killed.
It was tamed!
The one who had done this incredible feat was the Empress of Essos.
Even though the Empress hadn't claimed such a feat to her own name.
Her husband, the current Emperor of the Essos had elevated the status of his mere neglected concubine to the status that equalled his own, as soon as the news of her taming the Stage 7 Skeleton Dragon had reached his ears.
The gigantic Skeleton Dragon sprawled outside the new Imperial city of Essos was the clear indication to the credibility of the Empire's boast.
So no one doubted them.
But, their envy was clear...
[ The Day 6 after the Dawn of the destruction... ]
The new Imperial City of Essos, Brightburn.
The Emperor of the Essos, the Frederick Glenburn stood before a door.
His back straight and majestic, commanding respect at first of his call.
But, right now his eyes held deep fatigue.
A week ago, the Apocalypse descended.
Other capitals might have faced millions of zombies, but Essos faced just one adversary.
A mighty Skeleton Dragon, with its wing span of over 1000 metres long!
A single breath of its flame destroyed their Capital city, now remaining in just shreds and destruction instead of its previous prosperity.
If not for the ancestral heritage of Glenburns which somehow predicted the Apocalypse, the Royal Blood of Glenburns might have perished there.
They fled to the another city like dogs that had been stepped on their tails, and built their stronghold here.
When zombies appeared, with the entire Royal Family stationed here they seriously handled the situation.
With the strength of their mighty empire, even Stage 3 zombies were easily killed.
With the population of their Empire, in just a day tens of thousands of Level 19 beings were created just in the single city.
But, even such a number wasn't enough.
The Empire of Essos was just that vast.
The Royal Family of course wasn't strong enough to safeguard the entire Empire.
Rather they themselves faced the danger of destruction, and that was because of the unending siege of Stage 4 zombies that appeared from the third day.
Only the residents knew what real nightmarish entities those unkillable undeads were.
Besides they appeared in clusters! Their cunning evident!
Still, since Glenburns could stand tall at the spearhead of the Essos, so they weren't simple.
Even in the Apocalypse, which defied common sense they stood tall.
With their special means they managed to kill and repel the Stage 4 zombies.
But, that wasn't the end...
At 5th day of the Apocalypse, the real perpetrator behind the misery of the Royal Family appeared.
An entity against which even nukes didn't work.
In the end, Frederick Glenburn paid a great price and used the Imperial treasure artifact of the Glenburns to hold off against the Stage 5 undead.
The Unbreakable Shield of Averath!
Such was the name of the treasure.
A demonic artifact which had consumed the lives of more than hundred thousand humans in just a day.
But, even such a weapon fell unsatisfactory and was crushed by the Stage 5 zombie at the end.
And when the true despair shined upon them, a ray of light came from the distant horizons.
A massive silhouette flew towards the city under the cloak of unimaginable speed almost invisible to eyes.
A creature of the span of 1000 metres appeared before the dread filled citizens, making even the bravest shudder in despair.
Few humans even fell just from gazing at the silhouette of such superior being, never to wake up again.
But, a shadown perched upon the back of the the Skeleton Dragon gave an order and the nemesis that made the entire city tremble before it was literally burned to death.
Frederick still remembered that moment of yesterday, when the women he had randomly taken as his concubine because of her beauty had appeared before him.
At that moment, he knew that she was someone at whom he could only gaze at from now on, never to stand beside her again.
Right outside the chamber of his Empress, stood the Emperor remembering the time when he had taken the women as his concubine.
They had even shared a child...
" It's me Frederick... " He knocked on the door.
There wasn't any sound from inside, which only made Frederick feel his breath tighten more.
Then the door opened soundlessly.
" Your highness, the sun of the Empire... " A women in a maid uniform bowed slightly to the Emperor.
" Is my wife inside? " Frederick asked his voice majestic.
But, if one had seen the usual him, they will find that just how polite this man was right now.
" Her highness is... Busy... " The women in maid uniform said in apologetic tone.
" Is she? " Frederick looked at the maid, as if examining for any deciet.
The women in maid uniform visibly flinched at the Emperor's gaze.
But, she didn't move away from the door.
Because the women inside...
She was million times more terrifying than the majesty of the Emperor in front of her.
Seeing the maid unmoved, Frederick sighed.
' Has my position dwindled to this level? ' He thought.
The helplessness arisen from the huge difference in the strength.
It won't be bridged, just because of his status and the relationship as the women's husband.
" Then... I'll come later. Inform my Empress about my visit, " Frederick said as he turned around.
But, just then a sound came from inside.
" Let him in, " The voice devoid of any warmth and emotions.
The maid quickly moved away, " Please your highness... "
She bowed to the Emperor.
Frederick felt humiliated.
But, he calmed down and entered inside the chamber.
The first thing he saw inside were the bodies of three women.
Hung on the wall, as if they were portraits.
Their once snow White skin, devoid of a single fabric now covered with countless deep gashes and injuries.
'Whore' 'Bitch' 'The slut of Empire' 'Disgraceful cunt of the Imperial family'
Such words were carved on their bodies.
Some words looked fresh, as the blood was still dripping from them.
Frederick forcefully calmed down at the sight of the company of three women who usually accompanied him through the nights, carried his children and shared the woes of lifetime with him.
His eyes next went to the women seating before a table with only a side of her face visible.
But, even then one could see how beautiful this women was.
A one in a million beauty. Holding unparalleled grace, gentleness and peace.
Her smooth black hair cascaded down till her waist like waterfall, covering the back of the thin robe which showcased her perfect figure.
Her serious hazel eyes held infinite charm, while her face as if skillfully carved by an artisan was currently held serious expression which looked handsome and heroic, as if she was focusing on something very important.
" Agnes... " Emperor mutterrd the name of his once concubine but now his Empress.
At the age of 31, she looked like an University student that just graduated.
Emperor wondered, why he had neglected such a beautiful women.
Was he blind?
No... It was his wives who had bullied her and had cast her aside. To the limit where she had to send away her own flesh and blood, a part of her heart far away to maintain his safety.
Only if he hadn't neglected her, only if he had cared for their child more... then may be today might have been much different for him and his family.
But, there was no medicine for regret.
The charming Agnes heard the voice calling her, she turned around and looked at the Emperor, a smile came to her rose like lips naturally.
As if they were made to smile beautifully, to spread the joy and love.
But, Emperor shuddered at just the sight of her lips curving, as the pressure infinitely stronger than the Stage 5 zombie fell upon him.
Besides...
" F-Ford m-my son... " Emperor mutterrd as he took a step back. An emotion of dread, loathing and sorrow welled up in his mind as he looked at the 'thing' in his Empress' hand.
" How is it? I have some more, " The beautiful women asked with a smile that didn't complement at all the severed head in her hand.
She even pointed at the side, where two more heads lay pinned as if they were pen holders.
Emperor Frederick felt his heart being pained.
His eldest son, the Royal Crown Prince of the Glenburns had died not at the hand of enemy but at the wife of his father.
" Why... They were innocent..." Frederick said, he couldn't maintain his usual calm.
When Agnes took away his previous Empress, and other wives along with his sons he had merely thought that she will punish them.
But, seeing them dead the fury burnt in Frederick's heart.
But...
But... He didn't dare to show it.
" Why? Because I don't like them. They're enjoying what should have belonged to my son... My precious baby... " Agnes said with a gentle smile, as she threw away a new 'pen holder' on the table.
Frederick didn't at all feel gentleness behind the smile.
He mustered up his courage, " J-Just because of that... You killed them all? "
The gentle smile on Agnes' face widened.
" Yes... Just because of that, you're also alive, " As Agnes said oh so sweetly that Frederick felt a chill down his back.
But, Agnes continued with the same smile, as if she had lost her mind, " What if my baby asked about his father?... I can't tell him that, I killed him right? What if he disliked me for that? He won't dislike me right? Right? Or may be, should I just kill you like others... After that, will he be happy? will he hug me? Will he sweetly call his mommy? He won't be embarrassed to introduce me right? Right!? ... Keke... Keke..."
As Agnes' voice grew incoherent, Frederick regretted coming to look for her here.
Agnes... She had gone crazy...
But, this women was the lifeline of the Essos.
He didn't want to and couldn't drive her away.
He needed to control her somehow.
" Agnes... Please calm down. I've sent people looking for our son, " As soon as Frederick said so, the room temperature dropped by several degrees.
Agnes who was far away from him, just looked at him with a glare.
" Argh! " He groaned, as an invisible hand pushed him against the wall.
Frederick now understood how his wives had been hanging on the wall.
But, such knowledge didn't bring him any pleasure.
He didn't know, how Agnes had become so strong. He couldn't even imagine.
" He's my son! I'll bring him back... My baby... My precious... " Agnes' voice once again became incoherent as she mumbled something amongst herself.
But, after few moments she let the Frederick go.
" I'm leaving... " She said.
" Where... " Frederick gasped for breath as he asked.
" I'll bring back my baby... You stay here. I have marked everyone that has the Royal Blood. If you leave the city. You die, " She said without any expression.
Frederick didn't know how to deal with such women.
But, he needed to maintain the safety of the city.
" W-What about the city... " He asked.
" Hm? I'll leave someone to keep an eye out. " Agnes pointed at the three women hanging on the wall.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With sound their naked bodies fell to the ground.
Agnes went near them and touched their foreheads.
And soon miraculously, the injurious marks on the women's bodies healed.
They stood up and like devout slaves went to their knees in front of Agnes.
Agnes smiled like a girl with a new toy.
" They'll protect the city while I'm away. Unless a Stage 6 being appears, Brightburn won't be destroyed. Take good care of the city. If my baby doesn't like it... Then I'll kill you all, " After casually saying so, Agnes without any expression disappeared.
Frederick felt unsettled but didn't dare to stop her.
He fell to his knees, feeling exhausted.
Then, stood up to check on his wives.
But, he soon found out that their condition wasn't normal.
The three looked at Frederick devoid of any emotions, as if mimicking the expression of Agnes before she left.
" A-Are you alright? " Frederick asked as he tried to touch his once Empress.
But, the once lovable and docile wife of his now mercilessly slapped his hand away. Almost breaking it.
" Pathetic human, " The unfamiliar women spat, as she looked at Frederick with killing intent.
Her gaze clearly advising against trying to touch her again.
Frederick felt heartbroken seeing his wives' condition.
But, inwardly he felt even more afraid of the existence that Agnes had become.
If possible, he didn't want to see her ever again...