Zombie Domination

The next morning came quietly. Sunlight filtered through the windows, warm and soft. Julian was the first to wake up. He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, then looked around.

He smiled faintly to himself.

After what happened last night… the others had definitely noticed. He could feel it. The way they looked at him and Veronica afterward, half curious, half envious.

They wanted to be loved too. Even Zoe, though she still kept her distance, hiding behind a wall of shyness. Maybe she just needed a bit more time.

Julian got dressed quickly, adjusting his gear. Today was important. Glain was supposed to assign the scouting team, but Julian already had a few people in mind.

He made his way to Glain's office, the hallways still quiet at this early hour. When he arrived, he knocked twice on the heavy wooden door.

"Come in," Glain's voice called from inside.

Julian stepped in.

Inside, Glain was seated behind his desk as usual. Leighton was there too, standing near the corner and speaking softly to him. As always, Sebas stood silently behind Glain, calm, composed, and watching everything.

"Ah, Julian. You're here," Glain said, setting down a paper.

Leighton turned and gave a polite nod. "Morning, Julian."

Julian nodded back. "Is the team ready?"

Glain sighed. "Some of them, yes. But… others declined. Too dangerous, they said. Not worth the risk."

Julian didn't seem surprised. "I figured."

Then Leighton chimed in. "I suggested Dori join your team. Her [Conceal] skill will be perfect for this kind of operation."

Julian nodded with appreciation. "Thanks, Mr. Leighton. That'll help a lot."

After a few moments of reviewing the list on the table, Julian leaned back slightly and said, "If the team's still lacking, I can pick the rest myself."

Glain nodded without hesitation. "That's fine. You're leading it after all."

They both exchanged glances with Leighton, who simply folded his arms and watched. Julian began listing names, and soon, the three of them dove into a deeper discussion, talking about compatibility, skills, personalities, and potential survival rates.

Meanwhile, in a separate room not far away...

Joe was already awake. He sat on the edge of his bed, shirtless, scars crisscrossing his muscular frame. His long, wild black hair hung over his shoulders like a lion's mane. His sharp reptilian eyes stared into space, until a voice beside him broke the silence.

"My lord, shall we proceed with the plan?"

It was Don, the large man who always stood by Joe's side. His frame was round but solid, like a living fortress. Calm but deadly.

Joe grunted. "Yeah. Do it exactly like we planned."

Don nodded. "Understood. But you must also follow the plan, Lord. Don't act on your own again."

Joe gave him a side glance, his lips curling into a smirk. "You think I can't follow a simple plan?"

"I didn't say that," Don replied carefully. "But improvising can end badly."

Joe scoffed. "Relax. I got this. Just watch."

Don sighed and nodded. "Alright then. Oh, and about that man with the dark blue eyes. I've looked into him."

Joe turned his head. "And?"

"Reports say he has multiple skills. Four or more, some say. A bit of a mystery."

"Hmph," Joe scoffed again. "Even if he has a bunch of skills, he's just splitting his focus. No way he can master them all. Me? I've perfected mine. My true form alone is enough to crush him."

Don nodded with deep respect. "Yes, Lord. Overloading on too many skills only slows one's growth. Yours… yours is on another level entirely."

Joe grinned. "Exactly. And that guy… he's too busy playing with women to be taken seriously. A real warrior doesn't waste time like that."

Don coughed politely. "Um… with all due respect, Lord, you also have quite a few women waiting back at your estate."

Joe blinked. Then grinned wider. "That's different. I have them because I deserve them."

"…Of course, Lord," Don murmured with a small sigh.

Joe stood, stretching. "Also, keep an eye on that bug-eyed freak and the hobo guy."

"You mean Leo and Rafael?"

"Yeah. Something about them… gives me a bad feeling."

Don nodded once more. "As you wish, Lord. I'll make sure they're monitored closely."

Meanwhile, Julian stood a few steps ahead of the group, surveying them one by one.

Rogan, tall and confident, had his arms crossed with that usual smirk. His [Hunter Eye] ability made him the best at tracking, even in impossible terrain.

Beside him, Dori stood with an unreadable expression, blending almost too easily with the background, her [Conceal] skill made her presence unnervingly subtle.

Rea stretched his arms lazily. His hair blew slightly in the wind as he looked around with his eyes. He was the wielder of [Mirage], known for bending perceptions.

Cindy adjusted the strap of her pack and calmly observed her surroundings. Her ability [Hidden Spot] made her adept at identifying unnoticed vantage points, weakness point and blind zones.

Sebas stood silently, his glasses glinting in the morning light. His role was analytical, and his skill [Analyze] made him invaluable for identifying threats, weaknesses, and patterns in both enemies and the environment.

Zoe stood apart from the others, daze and quiet. Her expression remained blank, quiet as ever, but there was a deep instinct in her movements that hinted at the ferocity hidden beneath.

And then there was one more, Fey. She stood with arms behind her back, posture elegant but clearly disciplined. Her deep blue hair flowed with the breeze, and those black eyes were steady and alert. Her skill, [Liquid], remained undisclosed in its full nature, but Julian had heard enough from Glain to trust her.

Julian stepped forward, his voice clear.

"I've gathered all of you for this mission not to throw lives away, but to sharpen our edge. We're here to observe, to analyze, and most importantly, to return safely. This is not a suicide mission. We will hit hard when the time is right… but for now, we learn."

He let that settle before continuing.

"Our main target is the Sky Whale. But we won't engage directly. Our objective is to get close, gather data, and understand what we're truly dealing with."

Rea raised her hand slightly. "Are we really going near that thing? Is that safe?"

Julian looked at her and nodded. "It is, because we have Dori. Her concealment ability will cover our approach. As long as we stay sharp, it won't even sense us."

Rogan chuckled, resting a hand on his weapon. "Finally… a real hunt. I've waited for this."

Sebas pushed his glasses up slightly. "I'll handle recording its traits, patterns, and weaknesses. Focus on what's ahead, leave the details to me."

Julian nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the last member.

Fey finally spoke, his voice calm and steady. "Let's all return in one piece."

A beat of silence followed, then Julian smiled faintly and said, "Alright then. Let's move."

The shimmering energy of Reimon's warp gate pulsed in the air like a living veil of light. One by one, Julian and his team stepped through, emerging onto cracked terrain surrounded by sweeping plains and jagged stone ridges.

The wind here was heavier, laced with the distant scent of ozone and something far older.

The gate had placed them at a safe distance, far enough to avoid the Whale detection, but close enough to begin a proper approach.

Kevin stood by the gate, arms crossed, watching them with concern. "Be careful out there. One wrong step and that beast'll swallow you whole."

Rogan grinned as he slung his rifle over his shoulder. "Don't worry, man. I'll bring you its head when I'm done."

From behind Kevin, a cluster of familiar faces had come to see them off.

Then Clarissa turned to Zoe and said gently, "Listen to whatever Julian says, alright?"

Zoe nodded quietly.

Celestia stepped forward. "Be careful out there."

Julian gave her a calm nod. "I will."

Emma smirked. "If you can, punch that whale for me."

Zoe echoed innocently, "Punch."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "What are you saying, Emma? Zoe might actually do it if you keep talking like that."

Aya approached Julian and handed him a pack. "Here, I've prepared a bunch of bombs for you."

Julian nodded. "Thank you."

Rogan grinned wide. "Ooh, bombs? Sounds like we're having a fireworks party."

Julian glanced back at them once more, giving a brief wave.

Then the engine of the vehicle provided by Glain roared to life.

It was a custom-built reconnaissance transport, armored lightly, but fast and quiet. Julian took the front seat, checking the map and terrain scanner mounted near the dashboard.

Once everyone was settled in, Julian glanced through the rearview mirror and asked, "Anyone here get motion sickness?"

Silence.

He waited another second, then smiled. "Good. That means I can do this."

With that, Julian slammed the accelerator.

The vehicle surged forward, tires kicking up a trail of dust as it raced across the broken landscape. The terrain blurred past them, endless plains occasionally interrupted by dark stone spires that jutted out of the earth like ancient teeth.

Inside the vehicle, the team remained composed.

And...

The hunt had begun.