Global Evolution: I Became A Zombie!

The horde then went on to attack two more enclosures. Unfortunately, the beasts kept there were already dead.

The most probable cause had to be starvation. Also, their corpses had rotted to the point that their flesh and skin came right off the bones. So it had been a while since they had died.

Still, Blaze got the nuclei he wanted, and the group returned to the lair.

However, as they did, Blaze saw the captured humans on the ground. All of them were female and naked. Marrow stood beside them, as if waiting for someone.

"What happened?" Blaze asked.

"I've prepared them for you, Master."

Looking at Marrow's proud face added to his confusion. He looked at the terrified women.

He wasn't very interested in intimacy before, and that hadn't changed after his death. That's why he wondered what Marrow was on about.

"Prepared?"

"Yes, Master. You have been neglecting your needs," she replied. "As your loyal servant, I cannot let it be."

Blaze massaged his forehead. He didn't have time for it. There was a lot he needed to do.

"I will not move until you're well fed."

"Marrow, this isn't—wait, well fed?"

"Of course! You haven't eaten any humans in over a month. It's not good! Since human females have softer skin and muscles, you won't have any trouble digesting them."

"That's what it was about," Blaze smiled, shaking his head. "When it comes to eating, I'd rather eat you than them. Get them clothed and back in their cells."

With that, Blaze left, not noticing Marrow's stunned expression.

What Blaze meant by saying he'd rather eat Marrow was simple. He ate zombies because their nuclei boosted his evolution.

That's why he would rather eat Marrow, who was on the verge of evolving into grade-4, like him.

But it seemed Alaric's delusion had rubbed off on her. She stood there, staring at Blaze's retreating figure.

"Eat me? Master wants us to become… one?"

Blaze had merely stated a fact, but to Marrow, he had proposed.

It seemed zombies weren't the only ones spreading, so were strange delusions.

***

While Marrow became one with Blaze in her thoughts, the latter was busy preparing for a dissection.

Unlike the rest of the lair, which was covered in rot, the room was exceptionally clean. One could smell fresh disinfectant inside. It was also the reason no zombie wandered inside.

It was a room Blaze had prepared for dissections of mutants. The wall cabinets were filled with tools.

There were multiple drains in the floor to drain blood, which would feed lower-grade undead creatures, as flesh products were reserved for elites.

He had been preparing for the moment since he had learned about the third spark.

The idea was simple.

In case the collective wouldn't evolve them, then he would use the mutants to evolve in his own way.

Blaze approached the corpse after wearing proper gear.

"Let's start with your fur," he said, brushing his hand over the slimy fur.

Sparks still appeared in flew places that were dry.

He extended the Necrophage, its sharp claws digging inside the wolf.

[Looking for suitable traits/mutations/skills…]

[Search complete.]

[No suitable traits/mutations/skills found.]

Sure… not like you'd give me the lightning ability either way.

Blaze put his disappointment aside. Just because the system refused to give him a skill didn't mean he'd give up.

He used his claws to make a small incision and peeked under the fur. Along with blood, a dense, slimy substance drizzled out of the cut. It wasn't Saturn's slime, since the liquid came from under the creature's fur.

Blaze dipped his fingers in and rubbed the greasy film to examine.

"An insulation layer," he said. "That rules out the possibility of self-electrocution."

At first, he assumed the thick hide would provide the cheetah with all the insulation it needed. But he was wrong. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last time, he was wrong about something.

Upon digging further inside, he found something even stranger. Hidden underneath the outer layer of skin was a sophisticated network of small tube-like structures.

He touched a tube and was zapped. It wasn't painful, but it confirmed his thoughts.

"This must be its conductive organ," he said. "Judging from its path, it must be connected to the horn… but such thin tubes cannot possibly unleash a bolt strong enough to fry a zombie."

Blaze kept slicing the corpse along the path and found two sacks attached to the creature's shoulder blades. He saw the sacs were filled with a translucent liquid, but he didn't dare touch it.

Why?

Because of the continuous sparks popping out of it. It was the place the cheetah stored electricity before releasing it.

"A natural capacitor…"

Blaze was in awe. Partially because of the complexity of things and partially because of nature. At first, he thought no evolution could top being a sentient zombie, but now, he didn't think the same.

And it was just one mutant. There were millions of them spread throughout the planet. He could only wonder what strange evolutions they had undergone.

Further, the capacitors were linked to its horn. Its outer layer was made of keratin, but on the inside were traces of iron and something crystalline. It was like a built-in lightning rod.

Even through his little venture for knowledge, he kept most of the corpse intact. The dissection was successful to the highest degree.

It gave him knowledge and understanding of the creature. Something he could use to replicate or improve upon.

Without any delay, he set to work to separate it, piece by piece.

"Saturn, throw it inside the separator," he said and waited, only to smack himself a second later. "Right… I can't do that. I still need to reanimate it for the plan to work."

***

The lair had fallen into its usual silence without Blaze yelling random commands at everyone. Zombies roamed around aimlessly.

Even Fester, who was always busy, was curled up in a corner next to Marrow, awaiting orders. Only Saturn was busy alongside the separator.

Just then, a loud roar ripped through the silence.

Everyone jumped to their feet, turning towards Blaze's dissection room. Marrow exchanged glances with Saturn and Fester, and together they ran towards the room, only to stop midway.

"What is that?"