Chapter 139: Chapter 139: The Horde of the Unknown

Sayako moved with lightning speed, her figure a blur as she repeatedly struck the new, modified zombie. Each impact sent reverberations through the mall's empty halls, and though the unknown zombie tried to defend itself, it was no match for her raw strength and agility. Ryo stood a few feet away, watching the scene with a sense of detachment and curiosity.The modified zombie, though quicker and stronger than the regular ones, was utterly dominated. But what caught Ryo's attention the most wasn't the creature's resilience—it was the sound it made. The screams that escaped its mouth were unlike anything he had heard from the countless other zombies he'd encountered.

This scream wasn't the mindless shriek of the undead; it had a distinct, eerie quality to it, almost as if it was infused with some form of primitive emotion or intelligence. It was neither high-pitched nor deep, but something in between—an unnatural, unsettling noise.

Ryo tilted his head, observing with a growing sense of amusement. The creature's screams, though unsettling, intrigued him. "Different...," he muttered to himself, almost fascinated. There was more to this zombie than the others, and it was that difference that both intrigued and amused him.

Finally, with a fluid motion, Sayako delivered a devastating blow to the zombie's legs, forcing it to collapse onto the ground. The unknown zombie, now at her mercy, was no longer capable of resisting.

Sayako grabbed it by the back of its neck with one hand and, without hesitation, forced its body into a full **dogeza**—the traditional kneeling position with its head pressed to the floor, a posture of complete submission.

Ryo's amusement deepened, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched the scene unfold. There it was, this rogue zombie, this modified creature, being forced to kneel before him, its head touching the cold floor in a gesture of obedience. Sayako stood over it, unmoving, her presence dominant and commanding.

Ryo approached the kneeling zombie with slow, deliberate steps. He crouched down, staring at the back of its head for a long moment. The creature's ragged breathing echoed in the stillness of the mall.

"Interesting," Ryo said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "Even something as defiant as you can be brought to its knees."

He looked up at Sayako, who stood vigilant beside him, awaiting his next command. Her loyalty was absolute. Ryo's gaze returned to the zombie at his feet. There was more to uncover here. This rogue zombie was different, and Ryo intended to figure out just how far those differences went.

But for now, it knelt before him, a symbol of his dominance over even the unknown.

As the echoes of the modified zombie's eerie scream faded, the atmosphere in the mall shifted. A sudden, ominous movement rippled through the shadows, followed by more sounds. It wasn't just one zombie anymore—there were several of them. Ryo's heart skipped a beat as he spotted a group of the modified zombies emerging from the darkness.

Their pale grey skin gleamed faintly under the dim light, and their eyes, darker than the night itself, locked onto him.

Ryo's grip tightened on his MP5. "What the fuck…?" he muttered, his voice low with shock. He hadn't expected this. One or two of these new types were manageable with Sayako at his side, but this—this was too many. Sayako, who had just forced the rogue zombie into submission, reacted instantly.

She grabbed the kneeling creature with one swift motion and hurled it toward the oncoming horde with a vicious snarl.

The flying zombie crashed into the group, knocking a few of them off balance, but it wasn't enough to stop the flood of these new, unpredictable enemies. Ryo's mind raced. Too many for her to handle alone, he thought, his heart pounding. He knew Sayako was faster, stronger, and more agile than any other zombie he'd encountered, but this group was different. Searᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

They were faster, smarter—and there were too many.

Before Ryo could fully process his next move, one of the modified zombies broke from the pack and charged straight toward him. Its movements were rapid, fluid, unlike the lumbering motions of regular zombies. This one was intelligent, dodging left and right, as if anticipating Ryo's actions.

In a panic, Ryo raised his MP5 and fired a burst of rounds toward it. But the creature evaded the shots with ease, its body shifting unnaturally as it closed the distance. "The fuck is this?!" Ryo shouted, frustration and shock coursing through him.

Just as the zombie lunged, one of the regular zombies Ryo had commanded stepped in, attempting to shield him. But the modified zombie was far too strong—it tore through the regular zombie as if it were nothing, its sharp, clawed hands ripping into the poor creature's body. Ryo's heart raced as he realized he was in serious danger. He took a step back, bracing himself.

But before the modified zombie could reach him, Sayako's figure flashed across his vision. In a blink, she was between Ryo and the creature. With a single, devastating kick, she sent the charging zombie flying across the mall's floor, crashing into the walls with a sickening thud.

Ryo exhaled sharply, realizing just how close he had come to death. He was shaken but forced himself to remain composed. Sayako stood in front of him, her eyes glowing with a fierce protectiveness, her body tense and ready for more.

"This is getting out of hand," Ryo muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. He glanced at the modified zombies, still advancing, their numbers overwhelming. It was clear now—this wasn't just some random mutation. Something else was at play here, something that made these creatures different. He needed to retreat and regroup, but the unknown force driving these new zombies demanded answers.

He wasn't sure if even Sayako could handle all of them alone.

"Sayako! We're retreating!" Ryo shouted, gripping his MP5 tightly as the situation became even more dire. His voice echoed through the dark, empty halls of the mall, a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding around him. Sayako glanced back at him with those dark, piercing eyes, acknowledging his command without hesitation.

Ryo aimed his MP5 and fired off a burst of rounds as he slowly backed away. The sharp flashes of light from the muzzle briefly illuminated the advancing swarm of modified zombies, but their speed made them difficult targets. One of the zombies darted toward him, dodging the bullets with unnatural agility. Ryo cursed under his breath, keeping his focus steady despite the rising tension.

"We need to move, now!" he muttered to himself, eyes scanning the area for a safe exit.

Meanwhile, Sayako was a whirlwind of destruction. With every lunge from the modified zombies, she intercepted them with terrifying efficiency. Her movements were a blur—she caught one of the charging creatures by the neck, slamming it into the ground with a force that shattered the tiles beneath them.

Another lunged at Ryo from the side, but before it could even get close, Sayako had already backhanded it away, sending it crashing through a nearby shop window.

Ryo fired another burst, taking down one of the lesser zombies, but the modified ones were a bigger challenge. These things weren't just stronger—they were smarter. As he retreated, he could feel their relentless pressure, constantly trying to flank him. Experience exclusive tales on M V L

Sayako, however, was relentless in her defense of Ryo. One of the modified zombies charged toward them with shocking speed, but Sayako caught it mid-air, her arm coiling around its body like a vice. With a single, devastating motion, she twisted and slammed it into the floor. The sound of bones breaking echoed through the mall.

Without missing a beat, she spun, kicking another zombie so hard that it flew across the mall and collided with the wall with a bone-crushing thud.

"Good girl, Sayako. Keep them off me," Ryo muttered, continuing to retreat, firing in controlled bursts. His adrenaline surged, but he kept his mind sharp. He knew that without Sayako, he wouldn't last a minute in this place.

More of the modified zombies poured from the shadows. Sayako growled, her protective instincts taking over as she smashed, threw, and tore through the swarm. One zombie came too close to Ryo, but Sayako caught it, snapping its neck with a vicious twist and tossing the body aside like trash.

Despite her power, Ryo knew they were outnumbered. Every time Sayako dealt with one, another would rise from the dark. He needed a way out—fast.

The back exit of the mall loomed in the distance, but it was swarming with regular zombies. Ryo gritted his teeth, realizing there was no clean escape route. Time to take a risk.

"Sayako!" he shouted, "We're going for the back exit. Clear the way!**"

Sayako growled in response, her body surging forward like a force of nature. She charged through the zombies in their path, slamming one into the floor, kicking another into the air, all while keeping her focus on Ryo's protection.

Ryo fired another burst from his MP5, forcing a few of the zombies back as Sayako carved a path for them. He kept retreating, his heart racing as they neared the exit. The sound of growling and screeching filled the air, but Ryo kept his mind on his survival, trusting Sayako to handle the chaos.

Finally, they reached the back exit. Sayako lunged forward, knocking a few of the regular zombies out of the way with ease. Ryo pushed open the door and sprinted outside, Sayako following close behind him.

As they burst out into the open, Ryo took a deep breath, his adrenaline still pumping. He quickly scanned the area, ensuring there were no immediate threats, then looked at Sayako, who stood ready at his side, her loyalty unwavering.

"Good job, Sayako," he said, catching his breath.

But even as they reached safety, Ryo's mind buzzed with questions. These modified zombies—where did they come from? Why didn't they submit like the others? This was something new, and if there were more of them, it meant one thing: the world had just gotten even more dangerous.

And Ryo, more than ever, needed to be ready.

Ryo glanced at Sayako, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he slung the MP5 over his shoulder. "We gotta come back with the boys," he said, referring to the Striders with a little nod. "This place? Way too much heat for just you and me, Sayako." He gave her an approving pat on the shoulder, knowing she had handled herself like a total powerhouse.

As they walked toward the scooter, Ryo's mind wandered to his *other* plan for Sayako. He knew she was already strong, but he wanted to push things further—his little experiment had worked before, after all. The memory of that... *unusual* session flashed in his head. "We're definitely gonna need to enhance you a bit more," he muttered under his breath, half to himself, half to Sayako.

He knew she'd be able to handle whatever the mysterious new zombies threw at them, but a little extra power boost wouldn't hurt.

"We'll get back, do some more... *testing*," Ryo grinned, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and excitement. "Let's see just how far we can push those limits, huh?"

Sayako, as always, just stared back at him, ever the silent enforcer.

Ryo chuckled to himself. Things were about to get interesting.