"I should find a couple of Evolved Humans and taste what they're like."
Ethan pondered this as he planned to take a walk and test the power of his newly awakened Corpse Domain.
He wondered which "lucky recipient" would run into him.
With that, he got up and walked out.
When he reached the street outside the tower, the ferocious zombies nearby immediately bowed their heads.
The Zombie King marches, and all the dead submit!
His three Minions were out on their own, not currently nearby, and Ethan saw no need to take them along.
Lacking a specific destination, Ethan decided not to drive. He began wandering down the street.
The devastated street was littered with broken glass and patchy bloodstains. In some dark corners, moss had already begun to grow. Occasionally, a rat would let out a SQUEAK SQUEAK before darting into a sewer, a half-eaten finger clutched in its jaws.
As far as the eye could see, the scene was one of desolate ruin.
In this city of the apocalypse, Ethan—spotlessly clean—appeared remarkably leisurely, as if merely taking a stroll.
After walking for about thirty minutes, Ethan abruptly stopped.
He caught the scent of fresh blood—the vital scent of a living creature. With his now-acute sense of smell, he could easily pinpoint it.
He turned his head.
On the gate of a large building on the street were three words: 'WILDLIFE SANCTUARY.'
Strangely, the grounds were empty of zombies; there wasn't even a single corpse on the ground, only dried purplish bloodstains.
The place seemed to have become the territory of some other creature. Keep Out!
For ordinary people, this would undoubtedly be a dangerous place.
But Ethan was unconcerned. He entered through the gate. The Wildlife Sanctuary was eerily quiet, with only the rustling of wind through the trees.
The animal cages were empty, covered in bloodstains. Scattered fur and gnawed bones were left behind—a ghastly sight.
Clearly, whatever was here had devoured them all.
Ethan continued inside, reaching the Zookeepers' office building. The windows and doors of the structure were tightly sealed, welded shut with steel bars.
Though silent, Ethan could still hear the ragged breathing of humans inside. Their quick breaths suggested extreme tension.
"Humans inside..."
Ethan noted, but didn't immediately approach.
Because two male figures were walking toward the building from a short distance away. Their target was the same structure.
One man was short and heavyset, with rough, cratered skin that looked like Weathered Stone—extremely ugly. Let's call him Scarface.
The other was tall and thin, wearing a suit like a corporate Executive, looking very Clean-cut. Let's call him The Executive.
Their attire suggested they were not zoo staff. They were likely here to scavenge supplies.
However, based on their energized state—walking with strong, confident strides and possessing a strong vital essence—their physical condition far surpassed that of normal humans. They were clearly not hungry and lacked for nothing.
"Are they Evolved Humans?"
Ethan analyzed, thinking he might have to slice open their heads to see what was inside...
Seeing the tightly sealed doors and windows, the two men realized there were survivors inside.
"Heh, looks like we got live ones in here," The Executive smiled slightly.
Scarface nodded.
"Yeah, more fun to be had. I wonder... if there are any Hot Chicks."
"Definitely. I remember one of the Zookeepers here was quite pretty," The Executive said.
Banking on their strength as Evolved Humans, the two acted with impunity in the apocalypse. With order having collapsed, they scavenged for supplies and searched for women, doing whatever they pleased upon finding one.
"Don't be hasty. We'll trick them into opening the door first," The Executive advised.
Despite their powerful physiques, the building was thoroughly sealed, and forcing entry would take unnecessary effort.
Scarface nodded, indicating this was a practiced routine.
He approached and gently knocked on the door, telling a lie.
"Hello? Is anyone in there? We're an Evolved Squad from the Official Shelters! We're here to rescue survivors."
"Oh?"
The people inside were excited to hear it was an official rescue team.
"Finally... someone has come to save us."
There were four people in the building: three female Zookeepers and the Old Groundskeeper. The old man was holding a Hunting Rifle loaded with Tranquilizer Rounds—the kind used to subdue large animals at the zoo.
"Shh! Quiet! Don't attract that creature! And what if they're lying?"
"Then... should we open the door?" a petite girl asked anxiously. In this apocalypse, she was rightfully worried. Who knew if the people outside were trustworthy?
Another girl nearby said, "I saw the announcement from the Official Shelters! It said people were evolving and forming Evolved Squads to conduct rescues."
"Then... should we open up?"
"Let's do it! We're almost out of food anyway. If we don't open up, we'll die!"
"Okay!"
...
After a quick discussion, they slowly unlatched the door.
The two men immediately slipped inside, their eyes darting around.
Hot Chicks after all... sweet.
"Are you really a rescue team from the shelter?" one of the girls asked.
"Of course," Scarface nodded.
The petite girl said, "That's wonderful! Please take us with you right away."
"Not so fast. We can save you, but there's a condition. Hehehe."
"What condition?" the girl asked curiously.
Scarface gave a wicked smile.
"You have to... make me comfortable first."
"Ah? But..."
The girl understood his meaning, her expression horrified.
Another girl, however, had caught on to the deception.
"Everyone, be careful! Look at their clothes! They aren't a rescue team at all!"
"You're too smart for your own good..."
In a flash, Scarface's face twisted into a cruel expression. He grabbed the girl's neck, lifting her like a chicken. The girl's breathing hitched as her legs kicked wildly.
But against his brute strength, it was useless.
Seeing this, the Old Groundskeeper raised his rifle and fired. But as the dart left the barrel, The Executive caught it mid-air with his bare hand.
The reaction speed of an Evolved Human was far beyond that of a normal person.
"No..."
Despair filled their hearts. To survive the zombies and the monsters only to die at the hands of their own kind—and to be tortured first. Thinking this, they decided dying to a zombie would have been quicker and more merciful.
"Help! Someone help us!"
One of the girls screamed, hoping to attract the monster and take these men down with them.
POW!
The Executive struck her down with a casual blow.
"Stupid bitch!"
Scarface was about to unleash his savage desires.
"It's the end of the world! Who's going to save you now? I'm an Evolved Human! The whole damn world belongs to me!"
It was clear that these two had become the Alpha Scum!
But just at that moment, a low, smooth voice echoed through the air.
"Are Evolved Humans... delicious?"