The group moved.
Sweat clung to the commander's skin.
Not because of the weather.
Rainy clouds covered the sky.
But because of exhaustion.
He constantly kept his ability half-active.
If he turned it off, he wouldn't be able to bear the pain.
They encountered minor danger.
Just zombies.
They dealt with them silently.
Without using guns.
Lest they attract the attention of more zombies.
.
.
.
Lucian and his group walked back.
Zombies attacked them.
Mainly, the people around dealt with them.
Lucian only interfered when necessary.
After all, maintaining seventeen barriers to hold the injured people strained him.
And being on high alert all the time was not easy.
But they continued.
Vincent also walked back.
He walked, not stopping for even a second.
He didn't like Livia. He despised her.
But she was the only one who accepted him.
.
.
.
Time passed.
The three groups continued moving, each toward their respective destination.
As the day drew to a close, gentle rain began to fall.
In fear of the Progenitor, Lucian's and the commander's group decided to rest through the night.
But Vincent continued moving.
He saw many zombies around.
They naturally didn't pose a threat ot him.
Instead, the zombies gave him confidence in facing a demon.
'Unless...'
His heart tightened.
The image of the demon with tentacles growing from the mouth flashed in his eyes.
'No...'
But he shook his head.
He was moving towards the city's outskirts.
A demon such as that would be deep within the city.
Thus, he carefully proceeded, keeping his senses on high alert.
.
.
.
The rain poured.
Vincent's body soaked.
But his eyes looked forward, sharp, determined.
The skies thundered.
Lightning flashed, illuminating the night.
The hospital came into Vincent's view.
Far in the distance.
Exhaustion filled Vincent's being.
But with the hospital in sight, strength filled him.
He quickened his pace.
RUMBLE!
The sky lit.
"No..."
Vincent's heart trembled.
Fear.
Zombies surrounded the entrance of the hospital.
Dozens of zombies.
Swoosh!
Vincent's feet moved.
He ran.
He despised Livia.
But for some reason, he wanted her to live.
Love? Affection? Or kinship?
Vincent himself didn't understand.
No!
He didn't want to be left alone.
He quickly approached.
The hospital's lights were off.
'No...'
Vincent's heart sank.
A terrible thought flashed in his mind.
'Am I too late?'
He ran faster.
Adrenaline pumped through his veins.
Lungs and muscles burned. But he didn't care.
Thud!
He stumbled.
Fell on the rock, but quickly got up.
Desperation was getting to him.
He grabbed a sharp stone, clenching it in his palm.
'No,'
Another thought crossed his mind.
'It's not too late,'
As he approached, he could see the zombies aggressively banging on the glass door.
'There is still a human inside. They wouldn't be so aggressive otherwise.'
RUMMMBLE!
The sky thundered.
Vincent reached the zombies.
SPLASH!
A head split open.
Green blood splashed.
Green rotting blood.
Rot contaminated the air around them.
But the rain quickly washed away everything.
Including the blood splashing on the ground.
"Haaa...haaa..."
Vincent's chest went up and down.
He panted.
Memories flashed in his mind.
Memories of his time as the Progenitor.
"Aghhhh..."
Indescribable anger flashed in his eyes.
The grip around the sharp, bloody stone tightened.
THUD!
He struck!
A head split open.
The corpse collapsed.
Black brain flowed out.
"AGHHHHHHHHHH!"
Vincent roared in fury.
His cries muffled by the thundering skies.
He swung around.
Heads split. Corpses fell.
But it was easy to attack weak, defenseless corpses.
Corpses that didn't even notice him.
He unleashed all his fury.
All his pent-up frustration.
Frustration with himself.
RUMMMBLE!
Lightning lit the hospital.
Vincent stood, surrounded by corpses.
Panting.
Blood covered.
His reflection stared at him from the glass door.
The rain washed the blood.
He looked up.
His eyes filled with sorrow. Misery.
"What's the point of this misery?"
He questioned the heavens.
But got an angry roar in reply.
Thud! Thud!
He hit the glass door.
Green eyes lit from within the hospital.
Green eyes observing him.
The door opened.
"Vincent,"
A surprised but joyful voice rang.
Livia.
"Livia..."
Vincent looked up.
He froze.
Shock!
"I'm so glad you're alive,"
She cried, tears of joy.
She hugged him.
"W-What happened to you?"
He touched her head.
Head wrapped in bandages.
Bandages went under her chin, wrapping around her head.
"Come inside, quickly."
She urged.
Vincent followed.
They closed the door, blocking it.
Wet footsteps remained as Vincent stepped on the dry floor.
"What happened to you?"
"Sighh..."
Livia let out a long sigh.
Terror flashed in her eyes.
"I almost lost my life. Thankfully, I only lost my ears,"
"Your ears?"
Vincent exclaimed.
"When did this happen?"
A troublesome expression flashed on Livia's face.
"Just this morning,"
Vincent nodded.
"It's good that you're alive,"
He added.
They walked deeper into the hospital.
Vincent explained what happened with the demon hound.
Of course, he left out turning into the Progenitor.
He made up a fake story.
"Ugh..."
He suddenly covered his nose.
A strong, metallic smell.
"Is that blood?"
He frowned.
Since he reverted from the Progenitor form, he found he became more sensitive to the scent of blood.
"I haven't cleaned properly yet,"
Livia revealed painfully.
"I lost a lot of blood until I managed to stop the bleeding."
Vincent nodded.
He glanced at her bandaged ears.
He could see some blood poking from underneath the many layers.
He didn't doubt her.
"But don't mind that for now."
Livia smiled.
The only other person Vincent saw smile was the elder.
But it was a different smile.
The Elder smiled gently, fatherly to the commander.
But Livia smiled as if everyday life. As if nothing had changed.
A strange woman.
"I'll turn the generator on. Go and dry yourself. You'll catch a cold."
Vincent didn't refute.
'Dry myself, huh?'
He saw the benefits of having a generator now.
He walked up while Livia headed to the utility room.
Through the floor door, she entered the dark basement.
Swosoh!
Her face turned dark. Her eyes cold, merciless.
"Then how did your injuries heal, Vincent?"
She muttered.
Clearly, she found the hole in his story.
He was almost in perfect condition.
"Looks like there are still things I don't know about you,"
A smile crept up her face. An excited smile.
Before her feet, a massive blood trail stretched to the closed metal door.
The door behind which the generator was.
Creeak!
Livia opened the door.
Cold, screen light pierced the darkness.
But she quickly closed the door behind her.
The basement fell into darkness again.
.
.
.
Vincent dried his long hair.
Fresh hair that grew when he reverted to his human form.
He changed clothes, and as the day approached, he collapsed onto the bed.
The eyes weighed. The heart weighed.
Memories flashed.
But exhaustion was stronger.
He fell asleep.
.
.
.
The night brightened.
The commander and his group continued the journey.
'Less than 20 kilometers left,'
The commander thought.
He led the group.
Face pale. Body weak.
But his eyes stayed sharp, focused forward.
He was closer to the tower than ever before.
The massive tower with its tip into the clouds.
A sense of oppression and primal fear filled them.
But they continued.
'We should reach the destination before the end of today.'
With no thoughts of retreat.
And a lingering fear in his heart.
What awaited in the laboratory?
A truth that shakes everything.
.
.
.
Lucian and his group resumed their journey.
A journey nearing its end.