Global Evolution: I Became A Zombie!

[Your troops were victorious.]

[1x Grade-1 Carrion Ant(s) was slain.]

[EXP has been awarded to the participants.]

"What…?"

June's eyes widened after seeing the notifications. Veins bulged on her forehead as she turned around, enraged beyond limits.

"Who the hell killed an ant?!" she yelled.

The initiates froze in their spots.

They knew it didn't matter who killed the ant June was talking about. It could have been a zealot or even an enforcer, but the initiates would be the ones to get punished.

It had happened before. That's why all of them froze.

It worked in favor of the Mendez couple as their frightened expressions mimicked the rest.

"Do you think I was joking?! The instructions were clear! No one is allowed to kill anything! What's so difficult to understand about that?"

June roared over the splattering rain. Even the Zealots flinched at her tone.

She knew it had to be an initiate since she was in charge of them alone. The Zealots weren't under her, nor the enforcers.

Her 'lord' system would only present data sheets for those working under her, a.k.a. the initiates. Unfortunately, the system wasn't advanced enough to present information about individual members under her.

"Fools…" she mumbled before easing her clenched fist.

She checked the logs again. There was no mention of an undead creature, which was a relief.

It's just an ant. Hmm… I thought they were supposed to be giants.

June looked around but couldn't find the corpse of a regular, 3-foot-long ant. It eased her worries even more. It could've been a baby ant or a new variant. Either way, it wasn't enough to get her all riled up.

After making a mental note to report it to the cult elders, she turned to the initiates.

Just because their actions hadn't caused a mess didn't mean she'd let them go unpunished.

"I'll say it for the last time. Whoever has killed the ant should step forward, right now!"

The initiates looked around, hoping someone would come forth. To them, it didn't matter who killed the ant; they just wanted to evade punishment.

Unfortunately, no one wanted to be a hero.

"Fine. If no one wants to admit it, then all of you will pay for the mistake."

The initiates flinched at her words, but none dared to object.

"No more breaks. You will work until all the outposts are complete," she said, flexing her crossbow. "Do I have to remind you what'll happen if I catch you taking it easy?"

The initiates shook their heads. The three absolute commandments had been engraved in their minds. They wouldn't dare disobey a direct order, not when things were already so tense.

"Now get to work!"

As they left for work, the enforcers gathered around. June informed them about what had happened, and the group decided on their next course of action.

After the quick discussion, the zealots were called forth to be assigned new roles.

"Keep your eyes on them," June informed her group. "The enforcers don't care if you have to breathe down their neck, but if another creature dies, the initiates won't be the only ones to get punished. Is that clear?"

Everyone nodded and went to teach the initiates a lesson. After all, just having their breaks taken away wasn't enough of a punishment.

Seconds later, muffled cries of pain filled the dense foliage. They had some healers, like Girl who healed the initiates as blows rained upon them. In that way, the work suffered little, but their pain intensified.

***

Six hours later…

Three wooden structures stood vehemently within the grassy forestland. The outposts were sturdy. The enforcers had tested the buildings themselves.

No one noticed the piles of bloodied and tired initiates on the side. They were in terrible condition. Yet, they were forced to work even more than before.

All because, despite June's warning, they accidentally killed several more ants. As a result, their beating and punishments got worse.

The zealots shared some burden only to take it out on the initiates later. No one cared about their weak state anymore. They were beaten and broken. Some of them even came down with a fever.

Yet, they were only allowed a break after constructing three outposts.

Meanwhile, the Enforcers were inside, working on the teleportation scrolls and other enchantments.

Zealots, however, were instructed to stay outside.

Kael was one of them, and he was pissed. The broad-shouldered blonde was angry because he got scolded by the superiors as the initiates under him killed more ants than any other group.

Naturally, the enforcers used him to set an example among the zealots and dragged him face-first in the mud. Since Kael was physically strong, the enforcers targeted his ego instead.

Safe to say, they hit the mark.

"Imbeciles…" he spat, watching the initiates resting for a minute.

Just looking at them annoyed him because they reminded him of his past as an initiate.

Kael shook his head and tried ignoring them, but their annoying coughs kept getting on his nerves. The others paid no attention to them.

As if coughing wasn't enough, some of them even began screaming.

"Now you've done it."

Kael shot to his feet and charged towards the huddled initiates. When he reached there, he realized something was off.

Several initiates were thrashing around on the ground while others tried to hold them. The rest tried to move away, but couldn't since they had been chained together as punishment.

"What the hell are you fuckers doing now—?"

He was about to kick the closest initiate when the sound of something ripping through one's flesh echoed.

Kael looked down and saw a gruesome sight.

One of the men being held down had his chest ripped open, and strange appendages burst out of it. A mixture of blood and organs was flung everywhere, splattering the ones around.

Kael's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Get back, everyone!" he yelled, raising his fists to kill the man.

Unfortunately, it was too late for that.

Before he could get closer, the man's whip-like arm hit him, sending him crashing into one of the outposts.

The initiates tried to run, but the chains held them in place as blightspore took over more of them.

An existence worse than the zombies had arrived to welcome them.