In the days that followed, Los Angeles settled into an eerie calm.
Ethan's underlings, basking daily in the glow of the Radiant Crystal, were evolving at an astonishing pace. The number of elite zombies had skyrocketed, now numbering in the tens of thousands.
Even the zombie kings had all reached A-rank strength or higher. Big Ears and Shrimpy, who used to be more on the sidelines, would occasionally show up to soak in the crystal's energy too.
Los Angeles had become the most terrifying zombie hive imaginable. No other creatures dared to set foot in its domain.
...
One day, Bulldozer and Laura were patrolling the outskirts of the city, accompanied by a squad of elite zombies.
Bulldozer's small, beady eyes scanned the area. Everything seemed normal—no prey in sight. Bored out of his mind, he decided to show off some of the "knowledge" he'd recently picked up, hoping to flaunt his so-called brilliance.
