Zombie Domination

The scene shifted to the meeting room. Representatives from each group were present, their murmurs filling the air, but one seat remained conspicuously empty, Joe's.

Leighton, seated beside Julian, leaned closer and spoke in a low but relieved tone.

"Thank goodness you made it back safely, Julian. I heard from Dori that you fainted earlier. Are you sure you're alright?"

Julian met his gaze calmly, his voice even.

"I'm fine. Just a bit worn out, that's all."

Across the table, Kevin looked up with an apologetic expression, his posture tense.

"Sorry, Julian. I didn't greet you earlier."

Julian gave a small shake of his head.

"No need to worry about that. Is there something going on?"

Kevin quickly dismissed it with a faint smile.

"No, nothing serious. Just a minor issue."

At the head of the table, Glain, who was presiding over the meeting, cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

"Let's pick up where we left off in our previous discussion. But before that," his eyes briefly met Julian's, "I want to thank you for bravely undertaking the reconnaissance mission."

Julian gave a polite nod in acknowledgment.

Glain then turned slightly, glancing at Sebas, who stood behind him with his arms clasped behind his back.

"Sebas, I'll let you explain the details."

Sebas inclined his head, stepped forward, and unfolded a set of papers. His tone was steady, professional, as he began reading the report.

"During our approach to the target area, our vehicle was detected by the whale, likely because it can sense the energy we emit. However, when we switched to a helicopter that doesn't use any detectable energy, the whale failed to register our presence. This allowed us to observe and analyze it freely without interference."

The faint scratching of Sebas's paper and the subtle hum of the ceiling lights were the only sounds in the room as everyone listened intently.

"We've also discovered," Sebas continued, his tone steady but carrying an undercurrent of weight, "that the whale possesses a unique characteristic, it absorbs solar energy. This energy is then stored within its body and can be released in the form of a concentrated laser beam, fueled entirely by the sunlight it has collected."

A few heads around the table tilted in interest as he went on.

"We ran tests to determine whether the whale could absorb other forms of energy, such as those produced by energy-based attacks. The results were clear, it can only absorb energy from the sun."

Leighton's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, but before he could speak, Leo leaned forward in his chair, his voice edged with curiosity.

"So, as long as there's sunlight, it can keep absorbing energy at any time?"

Sebas adjusted his glasses, the faint glint of the lenses catching the overhead lights.

"Correct," he replied. "And there's more. It appears the whale doesn't operate alone, it seems to command its own forces on land. Four, to be precise."

He set his papers down and glanced around the table before listing them.

"The first a massive centipede, long enough to coil around a building. The second a large, horned lion. The third a huge bird resembling an eagle, its wingspan vast enough to block out the sun. And the fourth…" Sebas paused briefly, "…a colossal turtle, its shell thick as fortress walls."

The room fell into a tense silence as the implications of his words sank in.

Kevin leaned forward, his voice carrying a bold, almost defiant tone.

"Relax. We've got strong fighters. We can win this."

Leo, sitting across from him, shook his head slightly, his tone sharp with caution.

"Don't get ahead of yourself. We're talking about enemies backed by a force that can absorb solar energy without limit."

Julian's gaze cut toward Leo, cold and unwavering.

"That absorption has its limits," he said evenly. "And whenever the whale takes in too much energy or runs out of it, it shields its body with an energy barrier. That's our window to strike."

Luke, who had been listening intently, raised a hand slightly.

"Then… does that mean it can absorb moonlight too? I mean, the moon's light comes from the sun, right?"

Sebas adjusted his glasses again, nodding.

"Yes. The moon's reflected light can be absorbed as well, but the effect is weaker and takes much longer. Which means, if we're going to attack… night time would be our best option."

From the far end of the table, Rafael, who had been sitting stiff and silent, fear practically radiating from him, spoke in a shaky voice.

"S-So… are we actually going to fight that thing? It can absorb energy, for god's sake. Maybe we should evacuate before it's too late…"

Leo turned to him, eyes narrowing in open disdain.

"You. You've been acting like a coward since yesterday. Maybe you should just serve as bait for the whale."

A tense silence rippled across the room. Behind Rafael, Noah's eyes locked onto Leo's, sharp and unblinking, though he said nothing.

Leo, sensing the weight of the stare, shifted his gaze toward him.

"What?" he said with a mocking edge. "Don't like me calling your boss a coward?"

Noah said nothing, though the tension in his jaw betrayed the emotions he was holding back.

Leo glanced at him and let out a disappointed click of his tongue.

"Not even a reaction? Boring."

Julian's eyes lingered on Leo for a moment. The man was far more talkative than he had been yesterday. It was deliberate, provocation, plain and simple. And Julian knew exactly why. Leo was circling, trying to get under their skin… and likely had his eyes on the women in their group. Julian decided to wait, to watch his movements carefully. When the right moment came, he'd make sure Leo regretted it.

Kevin, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, his tone firm.

"Hey. Don't talk like that to your own teammate. We're supposed to be a unit here."

Leo smirked, leaning back in his chair.

"A team? If I had the choice, I wouldn't be in the same team as a coward like him, someone who's been thinking of running away since yesterday. What if, when the time comes to fight, he just bolts and leaves us behind?"

Rafael shifted uncomfortably, his voice trembling as he protested.

"No… I'm not like that."

Leo's grin widened, clearly enjoying how easily he'd gotten a rise out of him.

"Ha! Look at that. He can't even speak properly."

"That's enough."

Glain's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding.

"We're here for a meeting, not to tear each other down."

Leo only smiled and fell silent, looking satisfied with the sting of his own words.

Julian leaned back slightly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Then I suppose I feel the same. If I had the choice, I wouldn't want to be on the same team as you. Why? Because if your subordinate lost to someone with nothing but support skills… what does that say about the boss? Let's just hope my thoughts are wrong."

Kevin smirked faintly, clearly entertained by Julian's jab, while Veronica, standing behind Julian, couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride at her own victory being acknowledged.

Leo, caught off guard by Julian's retort, straightened in his seat.

"Are you trying to test me?" His tone sharpened, challenge lacing every word.

"I'll accept a duel anytime."

Julian replied in a calm, cold tone,

"No need. That would only be a waste of time."

Leo leaned forward with a sly grin.

"What's the matter? Afraid? Come on, let's prove it and don't be—"

Before he could finish, Glain's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"I said that's enough. Don't make me repeat myself a third time."

The room fell silent.

Leo's eyes stayed locked on Julian, sharp and unyielding, but Julian met his gaze with nothing more than steady composure.

Glain turned his attention to Sebas.

"Continue your report."

Sebas gave a curt nod.

"Lastly, the whale carries its own forces within its body. We observed it releasing swarms that resemble dragonflies, countless in number. They are weak against fire, but they always move in groups. We should remain cautious when engaging them. That concludes my report."

Glain nodded in acknowledgment.

"Thank you, Sebas."

He leaned back slightly, thinking aloud.

"It seems we'll need a way to counter that energy shield the whale uses."

Leighton, seated beside Julian, spoke up.

"Should we consider developing a specialized weapon?"

Kevin spoke up with renewed energy.

"That's true but will we have enough time for that? The whale's getting closer by the day."

Glain folded his arms, considering.

"Hmm… with a production-based skill, the weapon could be finished much faster. But we can't rely solely on weapons."

Julian leaned forward slightly.

"We can also use our own abilities to disable its energy shield. I've tested an attack on that shield before, it seems vulnerable to heat-based energy."

Sebas adjusted his glasses.

"Mr. Julian is correct. We'll need someone with an ability specifically suited for striking the whale—someone like Mr. Kevin, whose skill can fire concentrated light beams."

Kevin blinked, startled by the sudden mention of his name.

"Eh…? Me?"

Julian gave a slow nod.

"Your skill will be crucial in weakening that shield."