Zombie Domination

The next day, all the residents of Meltdown City had been evacuated and were now on their way to Wolf City.

Glain wasted no time, he ordered the production teams to begin crafting weapons capable of bringing down the Divine Beast.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Joe had been released, though he remained under strict surveillance. Kevin, who had been unusually quiet, seemed lost in thought, something that clearly irritated Belle. Eventually, she gave him space, telling him to think things through on his own.

Julian, observing Kevin's distant expression, felt something was off. There might be a connection to Nia, who had recently taken on a mysterious new activity. Leaning closer to the women beside him, he instructed in a low voice, "Keep an eye on Nia. If she does anything suspicious, I want to know immediately."

Emma straightened with a confident grin. "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Beside her, Zoe simply nodded repeatedly, almost like an obedient pup.

Then Celestia spoke up, her voice calm but edged with doubt. "Are you sure it's safe to let that stubborn man go free?"

Julian's gaze shifted toward Joe, who was busy ordering his men to start building fortifications. His tone was cold as he replied, "I argued against releasing him. But the city leader here is far too confident in his own strength. We'll see how that plays out."

Veronica, with a smirk of superiority, ran her fingers through her blonde hair and added, "Exactly. If that dragon tries anything, we'll just throw him back in prison."

Clarissa's voice carried a hint of worry as she glanced toward the distance. "I wonder if Aya's doing okay… She didn't seem to want to part from us."

Emma, lounging back with a casual shrug, replied, "She'll be fine. Aya just needs some time to adjust. Besides, Miss Beatrix is with her."

Their conversation was interrupted by Luke strolling over at a leisurely pace. Behind him trailed Vivi and Sefi, both carrying supplies. "Yo, what are you all up to?" Luke asked.

Julian, eyes sweeping over the workers bustling around them, answered plainly, "Just taking a break."

"Must be nice," Luke smirked. "Saving your strength for the big fight against that giant whale? Frontline squad, huh?"

Julian met his gaze without flinching. "Yeah. That's the toughest job out there, so I'm resting while I can."

Vivi stepped forward, hands on her hips. "Instead of sitting around, why not help us build this fortress?"

Clarissa perked up. "That's a good idea, let's help them."

Emma tilted her head in confusion. "Why build more? The fortress is already strong enough."

Celestia gave her a pointed look. "Because we'll be facing mutant beasts, remember?"

Emma rubbed the back of her neck. "Right… I might've dozed off yesterday, so I didn't hear that part, hehe."

Veronica sighed in exasperation, flicking a strand of her hair. "You've been getting lazier lately. What if you miss crucial intel about the enemy?"

Emma shot back without missing a beat. "Oh, please, you were the one snoring on the couch yesterday."

"Alright, enough," Celestia interjected, shaking her head. "You two…"

Vivi crossed her arms, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You're as relaxed as ever, even with that whale getting closer in the sky."

Almost as if on cue, a deep, resonating call thundered from above, rolling across the city like the roar of a living storm. The sound was so loud it rattled the air, and everyone froze.

Emma blinked, then pointed at Vivi. "See? You called it here just by talking about it."

Sefi, standing beside Vivi, gripped her arm nervously. "W-wait… Can it actually hear us from up there?"

"That's ridiculous," Vivi said, though her voice wavered for a split second. "It's just a coincidence."

Julian's gaze lifted to the clouds where a shadow loomed faintly. His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "We should hurry with the preparations."

"Exactly," Vivi replied, gesturing to the half-finished barricades. "So quit standing around and help already."

With that, everyone snapped into motion, their easy banter dissolving into focused urgency as they prepared to withstand the looming assault of the sky whale.

On the other side of the city, Joe barked orders with unshakable enthusiasm, urging his men to haul stone after stone and reinforce the barricades. The air was thick with dust and the clatter of rock on rock.

From the side, Glain appeared, Sebas following quietly at his back.

"You're still full of energy," Glain remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I half expected you to run the moment I set you free."

Joe threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Run? Ha! Not a chance. I'm not the kind of man who disappears after being saved."

Glain gave a slow nod, seemingly satisfied. "I hope you keep your word," he said before turning and walking away at an unhurried pace.

Joe watched him leave, muttering under his breath, "What's with that old man? Comes over, talks like that, and just leaves…"

"Boss, should this go here?" one of his men asked, struggling to hold a large slab of stone.

Joe glanced over and snapped, "No, you idiot, that goes in the front!"

On the far side of the barricades, Joe caught sight of Julian, standing at a distance, eyes fixed on him as if weighing him up. Something in that steady gaze sparked a flicker of challenge in Joe's mind.

"That kid…" Joe muttered under his breath, his voice low and edged with curiosity. "He's been watching me for a while. Is he looking for a duel?"

Beside him, Don, recently freed and drenched in sweat from hauling stones, glanced in Julian's direction. "Maybe he's just keeping an eye on you, Boss. Can't blame him for being cautious."

Joe let out a deep, rolling laugh. "Hah! Is he afraid I'll stir up trouble in this city again?"

Before Don could respond, the air was suddenly split by a deep, resonant cry, an echo that seemed to come from every direction at once. The unmistakable call of the Sky Whale rolled through the streets, vibrating in everyone's bones.

Several of Joe's men froze, their faces pale.

"Is… is that what we're up against?" one of them whispered.

"That sound… it's terrifying," another muttered.

"Do you think… we'll survive this?" a third asked, his voice shaking.

Joe's head snapped toward them, his expression sharp. "Hey! Don't start acting like cowards. It's just a sea creature, nothing more. It's not going to kill you unless you let fear do it first. Now quit whining and get back to work, you fools!"

Something in his rough, booming voice broke through their fear. The men straightened up, tightened their grips on the stones, and shouted in unison, "Yes, Boss!" before throwing themselves back into the work.

Don exhaled, a faint smile crossing his face. "Glad to see you're still the same as always, Boss."

Joe gave him a puzzled look. "What do you mean? I've always been like this."

Don chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Of course, Boss. My mistake."

On the other side of the worksite, Glain stood silently, his sharp gaze sweeping over the people laboring to fortify the defenses. Without turning his head, he spoke to Sebas, who stood at his side like a shadow.

"Tell me, Sebas… do you think Leo will betray us?"

Sebas adjusted his glasses, the light glinting off the lenses. "There is… a possibility," he replied carefully. "His behavior in recent days has been… questionable."

He studied Glain for a moment. "Why do you ask, sir?"

Glain's eyes narrowed slightly. "I just want to be certain. If you notice even the slightest suspicious movement from Leo… seize him at once. But do not kill him."

Sebas gave a small nod, his voice steady. "Understood, my lord."

Glain's attention then shifted across the yard, where Rafael was working alongside his own men. They moved with energy and loyalty, their eyes full of respect toward him, as though he were their true leader. Rafael, however, only smiled awkwardly at their enthusiasm, clearly unused to such admiration.

A faint, almost imperceptible smirk touched Glain's lips. His voice was quiet, yet carried a weight that seemed to ripple through the air.

"It seems… the dragon is about to awaken."

In the production area, Aya's voice trembled with panic. "Uhh… Miss Beatrix, is this really correct?"

Beatrix, calm to the point of sounding bored, replied, "Of course it's correct. Don't underestimate your teacher."

"But… Miss Beatrix," Aya continued, her tone laced with uncertainty, "this isn't the same as what we were planning to make."

Beatrix let out a slow, weary sigh, as though she had been expecting such a question. "Tell me… do you honestly believe the weapon they've been building could pierce the sky?"

Aya hesitated, her brow furrowing. "Maybe…?" she answered, her voice unsure.

"No." Beatrix's tone hardened, her eyes sharpening with conviction. "That's impossible. The whale swims far too high. Which is why we're creating something else, something different. A weapon that will pierce through every shred of misfortune."