The Black Shadow Society.
Zhang Yang first heard of this organization during an interrogation of a captured enemy.
However, the prisoner, Ma Cheng, held only a low-ranking position and lacked access to high-level intelligence within the sanctuary. At the time, the Black Shadow Society was still in its infancy and had yet to expand into the massive force it is today.
But as time passed,
Now,
The Black Shadow Society, formed from a gathering of society's dregs and exclusively admitting evolved individuals, has grown exponentially in size.
It has even expanded across multiple cities, emerging as a chaotic force capable of contending with the official authorities.
Members of the Black Shadow Society are notorious for their heinous acts.
Arson, murder, looting, rape, and treason are merely the surface of their atrocities. There is no limit to their depravity—what they can imagine, they will execute.
The official sanctuary has issued multiple warnings, urging survivors to steer clear of the Black Shadow Society.
Zhang Yang, too, has always been intrigued by this infamous group.
As fate would have it,
The opportunity presented itself effortlessly.
Though seasoned and composed, Ba Dao couldn't help but show concern upon witnessing the aggressive approach of the Black Shadow Society.
He asked,
"Boss, these Black Shadow Society members seem to have the same objective as us."
"Should we take preemptive action and eliminate them to be safe?"
Zhang Yang, however, had other plans.
Thanks to his enhanced sensory abilities, Zhang Yang's group detected the Black Shadow Society first, while remaining completely unnoticed by their adversaries.
In other words, the enemy was exposed while Zhang Yang's side remained hidden.
To waste such an advantage would be folly.
Zhang Yang immediately led Ba Dao to a concealed position within the ruins, where they began observing the group in secret.
The plan was to let the Black Shadow Society proceed with their actions,
Forcing them into a deadly struggle with the third-stage Poisonous Scorpion lurking in the subway station,
So that Zhang Yang could reap the benefits without effort.
Understanding Zhang Yang's intentions, Ba Dao raised a thumb in admiration and sincerely praised, "Brilliant as always, Boss!"
Zhang Yang's gaze followed the figures of the Black Shadow Society members, a sinister curve tugging at his lips.
…
On the other side of the district,
The Black Shadow Society had already reached the subway station's perimeter, attempting to break through the zombie horde blocking their path.
These evolved individuals were clearly elites, displaying impressive personal strength and decent coordination. With three second-stage evolvers leading the charge,
Their progress was relatively smooth,
Advancing steadily through the heart of the zombie crowd.
Fireballs, ice walls, wooden vines, bursts of speed, raw strength—each ability emerged in turn, repelling or annihilating the advancing zombies.
Their morale was strong.
"Push harder, you bastards! Break through this horde, and we'll storm the subway station!"
At the front of the team, a second-stage evolver shouted, his burly physique and dense, mane-like beard leaving a striking impression—clearly a strength-type evolver and one of the group's leaders.
"Mang Xiong, you make it sound so easy! Do you have any idea how much pressure we're facing on the flanks?"
"Exactly! You're charging ahead without a care for those behind you. If you're so capable, why don't you clear the way by yourself?"
Voices of dissent rose from the flanks,
Two other second-stage evolvers responsible for defending the sides voiced their dissatisfaction with Mang Xiong's reckless and self-serving behavior, openly retorting.
"What's your problem, Skinny Monkey and Biao Zi?"
Mang Xiong, equally enraged, crushed a zombie's skull with his bare hand,
Extracted its energy crystal from its heart,
And tossed the corpse aside, nearly hitting Skinny Monkey and Biao Zi. Startled and furious, they cursed him again.
For a moment, the group's leaders seemed on the verge of internal conflict.
Such discord wasn't unusual within the Black Shadow Society,
A faction composed of all manner of villains.
Internal strife, even lethal disputes, were par for the course.
However, this time was different.
Their journey to the subway station wasn't a personal endeavor by Mang Xiong and his cohorts;
It was an order directly from the branch leader.
With this in mind,
A sense of unease crept into the hearts of the first-stage members trailing at the rear.
After some hesitation,
A woman with a curvaceous figure finally spoke up:
"Gentlemen, the mission to secure the subway station's treasures was personally ordered by the branch leader and cannot fail."
"If our infighting causes the mission to fail, none of us can afford to bear the branch leader's wrath."
"Any grievances should be settled after the mission. For now, the treasure takes priority."
Invoking the branch leader's authority subdued the three quarrelsome leaders.
They dared not continue their overt and covert power struggles.
They all knew just how terrifying the branch leader was—
A force capable of toying with second-stage zombie kings.
In their eyes, only the mysterious zombie king lurking near Deep Lake Dragon Scenic District could compare to the branch leader.
Should they provoke his ire,
Everyone in the group would face execution without exception.
Reluctantly, Mang Xiong, Skinny Monkey, and Biao Zi forced themselves to calm down, though dissatisfaction lingered in their hearts.
Mang Xiong shot the woman a glare:
"I don't need a first-stage like you, Rose, preaching to me!"
Skinny Monkey and Biao Zi also snorted coldly.
From their vantage point,
Zhang Yang and Ba Dao observed everything.
Ba Dao couldn't help but mock:
"Humans are truly foolish. Even in such situations, they let personal emotions override orders. Truly hopeless. We zombies, on the other hand, are far more rational—absolute obedience to the strong, no infighting."
Zhang Yang, however, was unperturbed.
He replied calmly,
"It doesn't matter. The outer horde won't stop the Black Shadow Society."
"But obtaining anything within the subway station won't be as easy as they think."
As he spoke, events unfolded exactly as predicted.
The Black Shadow Society's evolved individuals eventually carved a path through the zombies surrounding the subway station, successfully breaching its defenses and descending into its depths.
But they were unaware—
This was the furthest they could go.
The challenges within the subway station were far beyond what Mang Xiong's group could handle.
Their reckless advance could only lead to two outcomes:
Total annihilation or heavy casualties, leaving only a few lucky survivors.
Zhang Yang stepped out from behind cover,
Walking towards the lingering low-level zombies around the subway station, their hunger yet unsatisfied.
Unleashing the pressure of a zombie king,
He prepared to take action himself:
"Let's go. It's time to claim the spoils of war."