"Boss."
As Zhang Yang stepped out of the villa, Tyrant, who had been keeping watch nearby, immediately approached, nodding in greeting. Zhang Yang glanced at Tyrant, who looked like an eager child excited for an outing.
Patting him on the shoulder, Zhang Yang said, "I'm heading out with Blade. You stay behind and guard the base."
"Oh..." Tyrant's enthusiasm dimmed for a moment. But then, realizing that Zhang Yang entrusted him with the important task of guarding their territory, his spirits quickly revived.
Standing tall, his burly figure exuded determination. Slapping his chest confidently, he declared, "Boss, you can count on me! Not even a fly will get past me!"
"Good," Zhang Yang replied casually.
Fully aware of his subordinates' personalities, Zhang Yang trusted Blade's steadiness and ability to see the bigger picture, while Tyrant, though simple-minded and a bit of a brute, could be counted on to handle straightforward tasks diligently.
With Tyrant and his thousands of zombies stationed to guard the base, Zhang Yang departed silently with Blade, slipping into the neighboring district. Their movements were so discreet that they evaded even the watchful eyes of officials stationed on the outskirts of the disaster zone.
Unbeknownst to those observers, the most dangerous corpse king had already left his territory right under their noses. The reports sent back to the shelters remained the same:
"Situation in the disaster zone is unchanged. No anomalies detected."
This misinformation kept the shelter's leadership unaware of Zhang Yang's true actions.
The Pedestrian Street
Guided by Blade, Zhang Yang entered the adjacent district. Even without deliberately releasing his aura, his innate kingly presence made an impression. Every zombie they encountered along the way reacted in awe, either retreating swiftly to avoid disrespect or freezing in place as a sign of reverence.
The display of power was undeniable.
"We're close, Boss. The subway station is just ahead, past this pedestrian street," Blade said, gesturing forward.
Zhang Yang extended his mental energy, probing ahead to assess the subway station. Treasures like the energy crystal, formed through natural processes in the apocalypse, emitted unique energy fluctuations that attracted nearby mutated creatures and evolvers, much like flowers drawing bees.
As Zhang Yang's mental energy scanned the area, he sensed hundreds of zombies gathered at the subway entrance. Among them were several Tier 1 zombies—beings with the potential to become corpse kings themselves.
Zombies reaching Tier 1 were rare powerhouses, crucial to their kind. In this city, Tier 3 corpse kings were few and far between, while Tier 2 ruled their territories with dominance.
Fortunately, the shelter officials had not yet discovered the subway station's anomaly. If they had, the location would undoubtedly be classified as a danger zone, leaving their leadership on edge about how to neutralize the threat.
Zhang Yang's mental energy delved deeper, mapping out the station's layout in his mind. The subway had two levels, both overrun with ferocious beasts—mutated serpents, rodents, and insects, all vying for the crystal's scattered energy. Occasional skirmishes broke out among them, with victors devouring the fallen to grow stronger.
Though numerous, these creatures were not particularly formidable. Blade had led his troops through such enemies before.
The true obstacle lay deeper—the Tier 3 Venomous Scorpion occupying the subway's second level. This creature, having absorbed much of the energy from the blood-red crystal embedded in the station's ruins, had evolved significantly.
The crystal itself was a natural treasure formed through a combination of immense blood energy and infused power during a catastrophic subway crash. The wreckage, with its mangled carriages and ruined platform, had become a breeding ground for death, giving rise to the crystal now guarded by the scorpion.
The scorpion, its multifaceted eyes glinting with greed, clearly coveted the crystal but refrained from devouring it outright, fearing it might explode from the crystal's overwhelming energy. It waited patiently, yet its plans were about to be disrupted.
"Hmm?" Zhang Yang's mental energy detected another presence approaching from the opposite direction. His brows furrowed slightly.
"Looks like we're not the only ones after the crystal," he murmured.
Blade noticed the newcomers as well—thirteen evolvers, including several Tier 2s, advancing confidently. Their bold actions and demeanor distinguished them from the shelter's typical personnel.
"Boss, who are these people?" Blade asked, confused. "Are they after the blood crystal too?"
Zhang Yang stroked his chin thoughtfully. Recalling his interrogation of a captured scout a few days prior, he had a guess about their origins.
"They're likely from the Black Venom Syndicate," Zhang Yang speculated. "The shelter's communications warned that this area was a hotspot for their activity. It's no surprise they discovered the subway station's treasure."
Studying the group's strength, he added, "This team isn't weak. It seems the Black Venom Syndicate is determined to secure the crystal."
The stage was set for a clash of ambitions.