Half an hour later, the entrance of the factory was a scene of devastation.
Countless severed limbs and dismembered bodies lay scattered across the ground, their dark greenish blood mingling with the snow, seeping into the cold earth.
Breathing heavily, Nathan sat on the ground. After resting for a few moments, he struggled to rise again, stumbling as he rushed toward Isaac, who lay nearby.
Miles glanced at him and reassured, "Don't worry, he's only unconscious. A few days of rest, and he'll be fine."
The master and disciple, once estranged, had thrown themselves into the fray for each other's sake in the face of danger. Ah, who could say what the true nature of their past grudges and grievances had been?
Ryan, having lowered his sniper rifle, descended from the rooftop.
"That was thrilling! Absolutely thrilling!"
Reluctantly, he handed the rifle to Miles and grinned. "I must've taken out at least seven zombies, each with a single shot!"
Miles smiled wryly, "Take it easy, we're running low on ammo."
"Ah…"
Ryan looked disappointed for a moment, then his face lit up. "How about we go scavenging tomorrow? There might still be some good stuff left."
Miles nodded. "We definitely need to search for supplies, especially weapons. If used correctly, they're just as crucial as abilities."
Just moments ago, Miles had effortlessly dispatched over a dozen zombies using his psychic abilities. To an observer, it seemed almost effortless.
Yet only Miles himself knew the truth: the final attack had left him dizzy and in excruciating pain, as if his very brain were being torn apart.
Clearly, even those with abilities were not invincible; there were moments when their energy would run out.
Had there been dozens more zombies today, he might have collapsed from exhaustion—or worse, been bitten and infected.
The three of them soon gathered the half-dead zombies together, a total of thirty-five in all.
Miles scanned the one that had been decapitated.
Indeed, without its head, the zombie's energy had dissipated entirely.
His gaze swept across the others, and a sense of clarity washed over him, as though cleansing his soul. The pain in his mind subsided almost immediately.
He had hoped that absorbing so much energy would have leveled up his abilities, but aside from replenishing his strength, he felt no significant changes.
With a sigh, he resigned himself to the truth.
Even after absorbing so much energy from these super zombies, he hadn't leveled up. It seemed that improving his powers would be even more difficult in the future.
Suddenly, he recalled what Alexander had said earlier: absorbing energy from other ability users could enhance one's powers.
But for now, aside from himself, Miles hadn't encountered any other ability users.
"Miles, what should we do with these?" Nathan asked, looking at the lifeless zombies. A sense of satisfaction filled him as he thought of avenging his fallen comrades.
"Burn them," Miles replied. "We don't want to risk them coming back to life."
Ryan nodded, fetched a can of gasoline from the vehicle, and struck a match, tossing it onto the pile of corpses. The fire erupted instantly.
The group then made their way back.
After Nathan helped Isaac into the vehicle, Miles suddenly spoke.
"I believe Isaac isn't the kind of person you think he is. There must be some misunderstanding between you two."
Nathan paused, then shook his head. "I know Isaac must have been deceived, but I can't get over it... back then..."
"But today, he blocked a death blow for you."
"I know..."
Indeed, if Isaac hadn't thrown himself in the way, Nathan would have either died or been bitten and infected by a zombie.
If Isaac truly harbored no feelings for him, why would he risk his life to save him?
They soon arrived at the factory. Nathan gently placed Isaac on the back seat before preparing to get out.
"Wait..."
Miles turned back and asked, "I heard you're down to just six people now?"
Nathan nodded sadly. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been so reckless, my brothers might still be alive."
"Who can guarantee their survival in this world?" Miles sighed, then asked, "So what are you planning to do now?"
"We..." Nathan, skilled as he was, still lacked the foresight to plan for the future.
"Head to the Cloud City," he said. "There are plenty of empty villas there. We can find a few to settle in. The environment is better than here, and there's also some safety in numbers."
It had been over two months since the apocalypse began.
Cloud City had once housed over thirty thousand residents, but now, less than a tenth of that remained. The expensive homes, once priced beyond belief, now lay abandoned, as unwanted as rotting cabbages.
Nathan was eager to go.
The mechanical factory had no resources left, and the remaining families numbered barely a hundred. Even if they stayed, it would only be a waiting game for death.
With this in mind, Nathan hesitated, then said, "Miles, the families of the fallen... They died at the hands of the zombies. I don't want their families to suffer any further..."
Miles replied indifferently, "You decide. But the food rations won't change. Whether they survive or not depends on them."
"Thank you!"
Nathan bowed deeply in gratitude and hurried off to inform the others.
Once he was gone, Ryan chuckled.
"This doesn't seem like your usual style. I thought you didn't care about these people."
"But Nathan does care..."
Miles watched Nathan's retreating figure with a smile.
"If there's anyone in this world you care about, at least it means you haven't become a beast."
"So long as those families are safe, Nathan will retain his humanity, and it will be easier for you to control him."
Meanwhile, Isaac, who had unknowingly awakened, weakly pulled himself up. He smiled faintly.
"Miles, you've truly figured people out."
"You're awake?"
Miles glanced at him with a smile but said nothing.
Isaac, studying his face, suddenly asked, "But I still want to ask... do you have anyone you care about?"
Ryan was momentarily stunned and also turned to Miles.
"Me?"
Miles looked at both of them, his expression unreadable.
"I long for friendship... I long for affection... but I had no choice, did I?"
At this point, Miles remained the most powerful entity in the world.
Not only did he possess endless supplies, but he was also fortunate enough to be an advanced ability user, a near-mythical figure in the eyes of ordinary people.
The phrase "A general's rise is built on the bones of the fallen" might not be entirely fitting, but it certainly captured his situation.
It was like a fat, helpless lamb that had suddenly fallen into a pack of wolves.
It could only fight desperately, grow stronger with each passing moment, lest it be devoured by the wolves one day.
As for feelings with the wolves...
The wolves might have feelings, but when hunger sets in, would they care for the feelings of a lamb?
Whether one called him heartless or cruel, it mattered little.
He had wealth most people could never dream of—and that wealth was both his weapon and his curse.
"An innocent man bears the guilt of his wealth."
Isaac finally understood Miles' mindset. He gave a bitter smile.
"Yeah, anyone would be tempted by such a fortune."
Miles gave a noncommittal smile and looked at both of them seriously.
"Do you think those people shouldn't have died? But what about me? Am I meant to die?"