NOVEL ONLINE FREE CHAPTER 262
Chapter 262: The Unholy Union
To ordinary people, the Zombie Virus was a terrifying, unstoppable plague.
But to superhumans, it was merely a nuisance. Even the Undead Clan, composed entirely of zombies, had earned recognition as intelligent beings within the Black Mist Zone.
The reason was simple: superhumans, empowered by Origin Power, were immune to the zombie infection.
However, the Undead Clan had always sought a way to overcome this limitation.
And they had made progress.
Long ago, they had developed a technique to infect Physique Realm superhumans—the Corpse Soldier technique.
However, this method was cumbersome and resource-intensive, rendering it impractical on a large scale.
The same held true for exotic beasts.
All exotic beasts possessed Origin Power, making them inherently resistant to the zombie virus. There had never been a recorded instance of an exotic beast succumbing to the infection and transforming into a zombie.
But now, the fusion of Esek and the Son of the Beast King had shattered that precedent.
The reborn Esek could infect even Origin Realm exotic beasts, turning them into monstrous zombie beasts.
And the infection was swift and irreversible.
The strategic implications of this breakthrough were immense.
The Hundred Thousand Mountains were a haven for exotic beasts, their numbers uncountable.
Esek now possessed the power to turn these beasts into an army of undead horrors.
Esek, alone, could potentially tip the scales of the Three-Clan War.
This was the Undead Clan's devastating counterattack, their revenge against the Giant and Insect Clans.
From a bird's-eye view, a purplish-black poisonous mist spread outwards, with Esek at its epicenter.
Its primary direction was towards Archean City.
Each newly transformed zombie beast became another source of infection, spreading the Dream Virus exponentially, much like how zombies infected ordinary humans.
In just a week, by the 360th day of the Black Mist Calendar, the number of zombie beasts had become immeasurable.
Unfortunately, at this point, Hao Huang and The Queen of Blade had just settled into Archean City.
They couldn't be blamed for their slow response. The Giant Clan needed time to consolidate their forces within the city, establish a base, and send scouts to explore the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
The Insect Clan's hive also required time to develop.
Day 360 of the Black Mist Calendar
Location: City Lord's Manor, Archean City
Hao Huang and The Queen of Blade sat at the head of the table, listening to the reports of their officers.
As Origin Realm experts, they weren't part of the military hierarchy and weren't well-versed in military strategy. Their role in the war was akin to that of strategic nuclear weapons—figureheads in peacetime, devastating forces when unleashed.
Just as the Queen of Blades was growing bored, Hao Huang's expression suddenly shifted.
"Wait a minute," he interrupted, his voice sharp. "What did you just say?"
A Giant Clan officer cleared his throat, his voice echoing in the tense room. "I was just reporting that the scouts sent into the Hundred Thousand Mountains have suffered higher casualties than usual. Some scouts even mentioned that the exotic beasts within the mountains seem to be showing signs of unrest."
The Queen of Blade, meticulously grooming her nails, scoffed. "Hao Huang, what's the point of asking such trivial questions?"
Hao Huang ignored her dismissive remark. As an experienced member of the Giant Clan, he possessed a certain level of military acumen.
The phrases "higher casualties" and "unrest among the beasts" triggered a sense of foreboding within him.
Just as he was about to delve deeper, a Giant Clan officer burst through the door, his face pale and his breath ragged.
"Zombies!" he stammered, his voice laced with panic. "No, not zombies... Exotic beasts!"
"No, not just exotic beasts either... It's... It's..."
The Giant Clan officer, overwhelmed by fear, struggled to articulate his words.
Hao Huang's eyes narrowed.
His Origin Realm senses detected the faint stench of death in the air.
He rose abruptly, his voice a low growl.
"Full military alert!"
"Queen of Blade, let's go."
A wave of powerful Origin Power surged from him, a testament to his formidable strength.
At that moment, it was dinner time for Lu Ming.
He looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the ceiling, as if he could see the five figures flying in the sky beyond the city walls.
"An Origin Realm battle," Lu Ming muttered, his attention quickly returning to the food before him.
Unlike Lu Ming's nonchalance, Roda, Quan Chao, Roxin, and the others were alarmed.
"How could Origin Realm experts engage in battle so quickly?" Roxin wondered aloud.
For her, an Origin Realm battle was akin to ordinary people witnessing a gunfight—a rare and terrifying event.
Roda and Quan Chao rushed out to investigate, returning moments later with grim expressions.
"The city's defense formation has been activated at its highest level!" Roda reported, his voice urgent.
"The Giant Clan Legion and the Insect Hive have also been mobilized. Although we haven't seen the battlefield directly, the commotion suggests the situation is dire."
He paused, his gaze meeting Lu Ming's. "And the Origin Realm battle outside the city... Brother Lu, you wouldn't believe what I saw..."
Lu Ming interrupted, his voice calm. "Exotic beasts and the Undead Clan... or rather, a combination of both. They're called Zombie Beasts."
He wiped his mouth and pointed towards the ceiling.
"The ones fighting Hao Huang and The Queen of Blade are three such Origin Realm monsters."
Silence fell over the room.
But there was no panic. Lu Ming's composure reassured them, his presence a steady anchor in the face of the impending storm.
Finally, Roda broke the silence. "Brother Lu, what do we do next?"
"No change in the original plan," Lu Ming said simply, his words a balm to their anxieties. He smiled reassuringly. "With me here, there's no need to worry."
The same day
The Giant Clan and Insect Clan forces stationed in Archean City repelled the first wave of the zombie beast attack.
Of the three Origin Realm zombie beasts, one was slain, and two retreated. The transformation into zombie beasts had slightly weakened them, but not significantly.
Outnumbered, Hao Huang and The Queen of Blade also sustained injuries. Though not severe, the encounter left them shaken.
They finally understood Esek's purpose in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
But the realization came too late.
They immediately reported the situation to their superiors and received a clear directive:
Stop the zombie beast tide in the Hundred Thousand Mountains at all costs.
Reinforcements would arrive in a few days, but until then, Hao Huang and The Queen of Blade had to bear the full brunt of the onslaught.
After ending the communication, Hao Huang couldn't help but curse.
The mission was daunting.
Although only three Origin Realm zombie beasts had appeared on the battlefield today, Hao Huang sensed many more lurking in the shadows, their presence a constant threat.
Moreover, in just one day, their forces had already suffered significant losses.
Worry etched itself onto Hao Huang's face.
But the Queen of Blades merely narrowed her eyes, a cold determination burning within them.
End of Chapter 262