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Before anyone could even process what had just happened, another figure shot out the door.
It was Julian, A sword in hand.
"Quick! Shut the door!" Sugawara hissed, shooting Takeshi a look.
Sure, Uzaki Hana getting dragged out was unfortunate—but there was still that long-legged beauty inside. As long as they locked the door and kept the zombies out, this place could still be paradise.
"Whoever touches that door, I'll break their hands."
Mafuyu Kirisu stepped in front of it, her voice ice-cold.
Takeshi sneered. "What, worried about your boyfriend?"
"Let me tell you something—one bite, one scratch, and he's dead."
"You should start looking for a new man already." He leered at her. "How about me?"
Mafuyu Kirisu didn't waste a word. She swung her leg and kicked him square in the knee.
Crack.
His left knee bent the wrong way, collapsing inward with a sickening snap.
That leg was done.
"AHHHH! My leg! My leg!"
Takeshi crumpled to the floor, shrieking in agony.
Sugawara dropped back onto his butt, trembling.
That perfect figure. That flawless face.
And she had this kind of strength?
Who the hell would dare make a move on her now?
Mafuyu planted herself in front of the door and waited for Julian.
She didn't dare rush out to help. If she stepped outside and someone inside chained the door shut, they'd be locked out for good. In this world, being trapped outside meant death.
Unless Julian was in immediate danger, she had to hold back.
Outside—
When Hana was dragged away by the zombie, despair swallowed her whole.
Is this it?
Am I going to die?
Will I turn into one of those disgusting monsters?
I haven't even had a boyfriend yet…
She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for death.
Then suddenly, a warm hand grabbed her and pulled her into a firm embrace.
She blinked.
Julian was holding her.
"Brother Julian! Why did you come out?!"
Her whole body trembled.
He came to save me?
In a situation like this… he still came?
Her eyes filled instantly. Moments like this—life and death hanging by a thread—hit straight at the heart.
But the zombies had already surrounded them.
Crunch. Rip.
Several of them were gnawing at Julian's body.
"Brother Julian!"
Hana burst into tears. She'd seen the news on her phone. One bite, and you were finished.
He was risking his life for her.
"Don't be scared."
Julian patted her back calmly and drew his sword.
One arm shielded Hana. The other swung the blade.
He cut through the horde.
Flesh and blood flew.
Minutes later, Julian stood with the tip of his blade braced against the ground, breathing hard. More than a dozen zombies lay motionless around him.
Fighting one-handed had definitely been harder this time.
His body was covered in fresh wounds.
Fortunately, he was immune to the zombie virus.
In the distance, dozens more zombies were rushing toward the noise.
"Let's go. Back inside."
He and Hana supported each other and staggered into the warehouse.
Only then did Mafuyu let out the breath she'd been holding. She pulled them in and locked the door immediately.
"He—he was bitten!" Sugawara shouted in terror. "He'll turn into a zombie! You're going to get us all killed!"
"Shut up. Do you have the right to speak?" Mafuyu shot him a glare.
Sugawara instantly shrank back, not daring to make another sound.
He had no intention of ending up like Takeshi. In the apocalypse, losing a limb was no different from dying.
"Mafuyu, help me to a corner. I need to rest."
Julian's voice was low.
Something felt… off.
He'd been bitten at least seven or eight times.
Was the virus too strong this time? Had it broken through his immunity?
If that was the case, he was finished.
Mafuyu and Hana supported him to the appliance section. Julian lay down inside a tent.
His body felt like it was on fire.
Sweat soaked him instantly.
"Master, how are you?" Mafuyu asked anxiously.
When he'd been bitten by her before, it hadn't looked like this.
Was it because he'd been bitten too many times?
"I'm fine… Just feels strange."
After a few minutes, Julian's breathing steadied.
He hadn't turned into a zombie before, but what he felt inside him didn't resemble decay.
It felt like power.
Like something swelling, building, about to explode.
This wasn't zombification.
A few more minutes passed. He let out a long breath.
The burning sensation faded.
Strength surged through him.
He clenched his fist.
I get stronger when I'm bitten.
The conclusion came to him instantly.
"Mafuyu, move that fridge over here."
She quickly pushed a double-door refrigerator in front of him.
Julian stood, inhaled deeply, and threw a punch.
Boom.
The fridge door caved inward from the impact.
He pulled his fist back and inspected it.
Not even a scratch.
Just as he suspected.
"Master! You've gotten stronger!" Mafuyu beamed.
At this point, his strength was no weaker than hers—and she was a mutated zombie.
"Yeah. With this kind of power, I can survive out there on my own."
He was more than satisfied.
If he hadn't risked going out to save Hana, he might never have discovered this.
When Mafuyu bit him before, he'd probably gotten a tiny boost too—but it had been too subtle to notice.
Seven or eight bites at once, though? The difference was obvious.
"Master… now that you're stronger…"
Mafuyu's face turned red. She lowered her head shyly.
Julian didn't need to ask. He knew exactly where her mind had wandered.
Good thing my physique improved… otherwise I'd have been drained dry by her in a few days.
"Hey—where's Hana?"
He looked around. At some point, Hana had disappeared.
She must've been terrified earlier.
"Master, she's in the tent," Mafuyu said, pointing.
A chill ran down Julian's spine.
When Hana was dragged out earlier… it was possible—
She'd been infected.
From inside the tent came a faint grinding sound.
Teeth scraping.
Julian's expression hardened. He knew that sound.
She'd turned.
"Mafuyu, stand guard for me."
With that, he bent down and slipped into the tent.
"....."