NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 11: Chapter 11
"Franklin! Wake up, you have school!" A blonde-haired zombie called out, her decayed voice strangely tender as she tried to rouse her child from sleep.
Yes, zombies lived a twisted echo of their former lives, clinging to routines they once cherished. But one thing never changed, The hunger. That insatiable, gnawing hunger that never faded, no matter how much they devoured.
In the comics, it was this endless hunger that had driven the zombies to abandon Earth, leaving the planet barren as they scoured the universe for new prey.
But in this universe, only a handful ever left. Why? Franklin Richards. After being turned into a zombie, Franklin had warped reality itself, reshaping the world. Ashburn had never seen it firsthand. Hell, he didn't even know zombies could speak until a few days ago, while he was cutting through hordes like a reaper.
Ashburn never realized there was a system in place among the zombies. They worked, earning a living in the form of food—food that appeared out of nowhere, seemingly conjured by Franklin's power.
This gave the zombies purpose, something to distract them from their never-ending hunger. But Franklin hadn't stopped there. He'd tried everything, resurrecting the dead, erasing the zombie virus, and even bringing himself back to life.
Every attempt had failed. He had even collaborated with other reality warpers, hoping their combined strength would succeed.
But nothing worked. Eventually, failure became routine, and this twisted existence became normal.
"I wonder if Iron Man and the others found something out there," Franklin mused, dragging himself out of bed and getting ready for school. He remembered Iron Man, and the others, their bellies full after devouring Galactus.
But that satisfaction? It had lasted barely a second. The hunger returned. Worse than ever. Desperate, they had left Earth, driven by insatiable cravings.
Franklin had wanted to stop them, dreading the spread of the zombie virus across the universe. But he couldn't. Not when the Avengers, now zombified and infused with cosmic energy, stood alongside the undead Galactus. Even Franklin Richards, zombie or not, was powerless to stop them.
Franklin regretted not taking a bite out of Galactus. If he had, he was certain he would have gained cosmic energy, making him even stronger. But it was too late for that now.
All he could do was wait—wait for Iron Man and the others to return with good news. After all, Iron Man wasn't a fool. He knew the truth.
One day, all life across the universe would be zombified. And when that happened, what would they eat? So, Iron Man and the others had promised to find a cure. Because if they didn't, their endless hunger would become torture.
"Where's Dad?" After getting ready, Franklin stepped outside, where he found his mother waiting. She had once been known as the Invisible Woman, A hero. Well, she still was. Because while life among the zombies had become structured, it was far from peaceful.
Some zombies had resorted to eating their own, driven by hunger to the point of cannibalism. Even among monsters, it was a disgusting act, one that horrified the rest and kept them living in fear. So, heroes were still needed. Not to protect the living. But to protect zombies… from other zombies.
"You know him," Sue Storm sighed, her tone heavy with resignation. Her husband, Reed Richards, was the smartest zombie alive, and he'd thrown himself into endless research, determined to cure the zombie virus.
To this day, he hasn't stepped out of his lab. Why would he? Zombies didn't need food, water, or sleep. Reed could work indefinitely, chasing a solution that always seemed just out of reach.
"This isn't your fault, Franklin," Sue added, noticing the guilt etched across her son's face. "We all have limits to our powers."
Franklin looked away, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I know… but if I could age, I'd get stronger…" He never finished the sentence. Because in the next instant, Franklin was crushed. Effortlessly.
Sue barely had time to register the attack before her head burst into flames, her thoughts ending in an instant. In the span of a heartbeat, both mother and son were dead.
"That was easier than expected… though sneaking in wasn't exactly a walk in the park," Ashburn muttered, his tone casual as he called Torch back into his shadow. He had barely arrived, and the moment he spotted an opening, he hadn't hesitated.
Franklin dead. Sue dead. Ashburn's gaze shifted, locking onto the sea of nullification spreading out before him, a lingering aftereffect of Franklin's death.
[Ding!]You have killed a powerful individual. The host has reached the maximum level gain from a single kill. The host has leveled up to Level 29.
[All Stats: +57]
[Free Stat Points: +90]
[Congratulations on reaching a milestone, Level 15. Gained [Shadow Exchange].
Congratulations on reaching a milestone, Level 20. Gained [Ruler's Authority].
Congratulations on reaching a milestone, Level 25. You're now ¼ the way to level 100.
Your Job Class [Shadow Monarch] has grown stronger. You now have a higher chance of bringing raised targets as shadows, with less MP cost.
The congregation [Shadow Preservation] has improved to [Shadow Preservation v2].
Gained +25 to all stats.
Gained [Level 25 gear].
Gained a new title: [Impossible Killer].
Gained [3 100% Arise chances].
'Wo…' Ashburn blinked, stunned by the sheer amount of gains. Well, he'd expected most of them, but seeing it laid out like this still hit differently.
[Shadow Exchange] was straightforward—swap places with any shadow. It came with a 3-hour cooldown, but that didn't bother him. It was the kind of skill that could save his life if used right.
[Ruler's Authority] was even better. It was basically telekinesis, and if his memory served him right, it didn't even consume MP. That alone made it priceless.
But the real game-changer was the [Shadow Preservation] upgrade. Now, his shadows could share their senses with him, turning them into perfect scouts. He'd see, hear, and feel everything they did. That'll make information gathering a breeze.