The appetizer has arrived.
Zhang Yang gazed at the members of the Black Death Society, who had just narrowly escaped death at the metro station, with an expression of mild amusement—as though they were nothing more than a simple dish to be savored.
This dismissive attitude immediately provoked the ire of figures like the Hulking Bear.
Proud of his brawny physique, the Hulking Bear stepped forward, pointing at Zhang Yang with a growl of disdain:
"Kid, what do you mean by that? Say it again if you dare!"
Despite his ferocity, the Hulking Bear was not particularly known for his wit. He dismissed Zhang Yang as merely a young, arrogant evolved human and thought little of him.
Meanwhile, the Skinny Monkey, standing nearby, surveyed the surroundings—filled with dead bodies—and then scrutinized the impeccably dressed Zhang Yang, along with the towering blade he carried.
A sudden realization, sharp and chilling, emerged in the Skinny Monkey's mind.
His voice trembled as he whispered:
"Hulking Bear... he doesn't seem like a human at all... he's more like... a zombie!"
"A zombie?!"
The word dropped like a bomb.
The Black Death Society members were taken aback, stunned by the revelation. They immediately gave Zhang Yang another, more careful look.
Young and handsome, with black hair and red eyes, impeccably dressed, exuding an intimidating presence even without a word... If he truly was a zombie, then the only one this description could match was—
—The Dragon King of the Dead!
The terrifying zombie king, declared an S-tier threat by the official shelter and ruling over a heavily devastated area!
"No, no way! The Dragon King of the Dead is in the next district. How could he be here?"
"Could it be he's come for the treasures in the metro station?"
"We're doomed! With such a terrifying being here, even the branch leader won't stand a chance! We're as good as dead!"
Upon realizing Zhang Yang's true identity, the Hulking Bear, Skinny Monkey, and the others were drenched in cold sweat, their faces turning pale with despair.
What an international joke! They had just barely escaped the hellish ordeal in the metro station, and now they were face-to-face with the dreaded zombie king. Was this truly the curse of Rose before her death coming to fruition?
In an instant, their minds swarmed with thoughts, all condensed into a single word:
Regret.
Regret for taking the branch leader's order. Had they known this would happen, even if they were to die, they would have leapt off a rooftop rather than wade into this mess!
Alas, in this world, there are no 'what ifs.'
As Zhang Yang observed the terrified, pale faces of his enemies, he felt an unexpected wave of disinterest. The Black Death Society members seemed... tedious.
It seemed, whether ordinary people or the most villainous scum of society, when faced with death, they all exhibited the same primal fear.
"Finish them," Zhang Yang ordered indifferently.
At his command, the Blade King, who had been itching for a fight, eagerly unsheathed his two-meter-long horse-cutting blade. His presence, now enhanced by his peak second-tier power, exuded a dominating aura as he began to slowly close in on the trembling Hulking Bear and the others.
The zombie horde that had gathered at the periphery began to shrink inward, forming a tight encirclement, severing any possible escape routes for the Black Death Society.
There was no escape.
With death imminent, the Black Death Society members, like a coiled spring released from extreme tension, erupted into a frenzy of rage and desperation. They charged forward with wild shouts.
"So what if he's a zombie king?"
"Even if I'm going to die, I'll drag someone down with me!"
"Hahaha!"
Frantic, near-mad roars filled the air as the Hulking Bear, Skinny Monkey, and the others rushed toward the Blade King, hoping to overwhelm him with numbers in a swift confrontation.
But the outcome of a battle is not determined by numbers alone. Many other factors come into play.
For instance, the Black Death Society members had just survived two or three rounds of combat, leaving their ranks reduced to barely a third of their original strength, and each of them was wounded, operating at less than fifty percent of their full power.
They were effectively crippled.
In contrast, the Blade King had spent the entire time observing, waiting for the right moment to strike, and now, fully rested and in peak form, he was about to face these severely weakened foes.
The clash was inevitable.
Clang!
The deafening sound of metal colliding echoed through the air as the Blade King, wielding his massive blade, effortlessly cleaved through one of the first-tier members of the Black Death Society. The impact shattered the man's arm, and his screams filled the air as blood poured from his wounds.
But that was not all.
Sensing a deadly threat from behind, the Blade King swiftly turned, narrowly evading a barrage of ice spears fired by the Skinny Monkey. At the same time, he dodged a powerful punch from the Hulking Bear, and with a swift kick, sent the bear crashing to the ground.
With one swift maneuver, the Blade King neutralized the attack, then pressed the advantage. He swung his massive blade to take on two of the Black Death Society's first-tier members, cutting them down mercilessly.
The horse-cutting blade, once a weapon designed to combat cavalry, was now a devastating tool against humans—its razor-sharp edge tearing through their defenses with ease, leaving deep, fatal wounds in its wake.
For an ordinary person, wielding such a weapon would be impossible, but the Blade King, skilled in martial arts and awakened with blade-based abilities, made full use of its lethal potential.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The flashing blade cut through the air, carving through the remaining enemies like butter. In a matter of moments, two of the first-tier members were cleaved in half, their blood and entrails spilling onto the ground in gruesome detail.
The Skinny Monkey and the Hulking Bear froze in horror, but this only fueled the Blade King's bloodlust.
In a breakthrough of rage and power, the Blade King shattered his own limits, breaking through to the third tier!
After that, it was all over.
With his newfound power, the Blade King effortlessly tore apart the Skinny Monkey and Hulking Bear, dismembering them with ease. He then proceeded to extract their energy crystals from their hearts, along with more than thirty other crystals gathered from the corpses.
He presented the spoils to Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang had been watching the Blade King's performance, particularly the moment of his breakthrough during the battle, and he was thoroughly impressed.
"Congratulations on reaching the third tier. Well done, you've exceeded my expectations," Zhang Yang said, clapping the Blade King on the shoulder in approval.
"It's all thanks to you, Boss!" the Blade King said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Without hesitation, Zhang Yang waved his hand, granting the Blade King all the bodies to feast on.
The Blade King, elated, immediately began devouring the corpses with zeal.
Leaving the Blade King to handle the bodies, Zhang Yang strolled into the depths of the metro station, casually cracking open an energy crystal like a sunflower seed, ready to personally claim the treasure hidden at the deepest part of the station.
"Roar!!"
The growls of mutated beasts and insects on the first floor of the metro station still echoed with rage.
As soon as they noticed Zhang Yang, they immediately converged on him, their murderous intent evident. They were determined to rip apart this audacious zombie and devour him, leaving no trace behind!