The Red Building.
Novak had probably passed by this building countless times before the apocalypse, but back then, he never imagined he'd be here under such circumstances.
They were in the basement now. Whatever this space had been used for before, Novak didn't know and didn't care. What mattered was that it was now a vast, empty area filled with huge iron cages.
In front of those cages, a layer of reinforced glass stood as the only barrier. From behind the glass, one could see the ravenous, crazed zombies locked inside the cages.
Each cage held more than twenty zombies, and with just a quick glance, Novak counted nearly two hundred of them in total.
To think she had managed to capture so many zombies even before the apocalypse fully began...
But Novak wasn't particularly surprised by the number.
He understood all too well how the end of the world worked. The zombie virus—capable of toppling human civilization at a terrifying speed—didn't erupt instantly.
In the days leading up to the apocalypse, the virus had already begun to spread, lying dormant in everyone's bodies. Those who were weak or had significant genetic flaws would turn first, transforming into zombies faster than others. The healthier individuals, with fewer defects, wouldn't fully succumb until the day of reckoning—when the earth's magnetic field triggered a mass outbreak.
Though these early cases were rare, people on the brink of becoming zombies could already be found in hospitals like the one affiliated with Ateneo de M-anila University. The odds might have been slim, but with such a massive population, the numbers were still significant.
For Daphne, someone who acted as the eyes and ears of De M-anila City, obtaining and studying these zombies before the full outbreak was no major challenge. Especially since these early-stage zombies, driven only by madness and bloodlust, were relatively easy to capture.
Novak observed the scene. In front of the glass, more than twenty men dressed in black stood with their arms crossed.
He glanced at Daphne, who seemed more confident now, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Was she trying to show off her power?
It didn't bother Novak. He knew Daphne wasn't the type to act rashly. Even if she intended to turn against him, now wasn't the time.
And that's exactly why Novak relished the thought of breaking her will and making this proud woman fully submit.
For most people, what lay behind that tempered glass was a vision of hell. Even with guns, taking down these creatures was no easy feat. Unless a headshot landed perfectly, the zombies—moving at the speed of a normal human—would quickly overwhelm any opposition.
But for Novak, this was his playground.
"Open the door," he said with a confident smile. He could already feel the black light virus within him stir, growing more excited by the second.
The zombie virus was biologically similar to the black light virus in Novak's body, making these creatures the perfect supplement for him.
Daphne gave a slight nod, and the door in front of the glass slid open.
Novak stepped inside.
"Madam!" one of the men exclaimed, but Daphne cut him off with a glance. "Open one cage first," she instructed.
Before her words could fully register, Novak's voice rang out, piercing through the reinforced glass with a calm but firm tone:
"Open them all. It'll save time—Dane's waiting for us at home."
Furious at his arrogant words, Daphne clenched her fists but replied, "Fine. Open them all!"
The sound of iron doors slamming open echoed through the basement.
The zombies, dull and sluggish at first, seemed momentarily confused as they were released. But the scent of human flesh quickly registered, and within seconds, they were charging toward Novak, driven by primal hunger.
The vast, empty basement, stretching over thousands of square meters, instantly transformed into a zombie's paradise.
Nicole and the other bodyguards began to sweat, their hands trembling. Faced with nearly two hundred raging zombies, the small-caliber pistols in their hands were practically useless. Without accurate headshots, they wouldn't last more than a minute.
There was no chance of outrunning them either—not in such an open space.
Only heavy firepower could handle this situation, and even the Song family didn't have access to that kind of weaponry here.
How on earth was Novak planning to survive this?
Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to the man who now stood alone amidst the swarm of corpses. Even Daphne, with her complex mix of emotions, found herself torn. Part of her wanted this man—who had humiliated her and was over twenty years younger—to die here. But another part of her… didn't.
As the zombies swarmed out of the cages, Novak remained calm.
He wasn't holding a weapon, but after his strength had increased to nearly thirty, his body itself had become his most lethal tool.
Without hesitation, he reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a mask, its design strange and eerie. He placed it over his face.
The mask's attributes weren't particularly impressive—it was merely low-level, F-grade equipment—but it served its purpose. It helped block out the stench of the rotting corpses.
After all, even when killing zombies, hygiene mattered. If bacteria or viruses entered his body, sickness could follow.
With the mask in place, bloodthirst and madness gleamed in Novak's eyes, making his already cold expression even more menacing.
Then, before anyone could react, Novak's body burst into motion, his agility—boosted to nearly thirty—fully unleashed. He moved like a blur, his figure an afterimage as he dashed toward the nearest zombie.
In one powerful motion, his leg whipped out with frightening force, and the zombie's head exploded upon impact.
The basement fell silent.