In the meantime, while Shane''s territory was able to defend the first Zombie Wave, the others weren''t so lucky.
In therge ruined city on the north side of the forest where Shane''s manor stood, an abandoned mall was made by the Crimson Coalition n as their stronghold.
Although it looked like a crumbling fortress where survival looked impossible with its cracked tile and shattered windows, the thick walls and a sturdy foundation had kept them alive, and the scavenged supplies within its decaying stores sustained them through several nights of terror.
"Hmph! These Zombies are getting annoying! Why are there too many of them in the first ce?! Did we take too manyborers?! We should''ve just killed them from the start. Keeping them is a bad move!" A man with a huge stature and tattoo marks all over his body spoke, frustrated at the number of zombies swarming them.
He was Jaden, the n Leader of the Crimson Coalition, the top 9 in the n Leadering Board Ranking that Shane had previously seen.
Anyway, this man possessed an Epic Talent known as Diamond Skin.
His flesh was impervious to basic damage… It was like a crystalline armor that deflected zombie ws and teeth.
With this talent, he had never be worried about being turned into zombies!
At this time, he stood at the front lines, his eyes steely as he looked at the zombies. Beside him were the four main members of the n. They were his loyalrades who fought shoulder to shoulder, their talents were also perfect for supporting him and utilizing his frontline position.
There were other entries in the mall but he wasn''t too worried since the two other spots were guarded by two more Survivors with Epic Talents.
Graah~
Suddenly, waves of zombie descended upon the mall like a malevolent tide.
Runner Zombies sprinted, their decayed legs propelling them forward. Jumper Zombies leaped, their elongated limbs reaching for the catwalks and balconies where the n had taken refuge.
The air reeked of rot, and the flickering fluorescent lights cast eerie shadows on the cracked linoleum. It was as if the power cores they had just recently reced were about to be emptied.
"Haa! Come here, you pieces of trash!"
Jaden swung his de—a serrated machete that was imbued with Sharpness and Durable Effects.
He doesn''t have de Mastery or de Techniques and was just using his brute force.
In any case, his Diamond Skin repelled the zombies'' attacks and he wasn''t too worried.
Even if he getspletely buried by the Zombies, his four loyal friends would help him…
However, he underestimated the number of Zombies once again! They just kepting.
Hisrades fought alongside him.
Kira, the swift archer, picked off runners with her crossbow. Malik, the brawler, used his brute strength to crush skulls. And Hanabi, the fire mage, conjured mes that consumed the undead.
Hanabi only had about 300 Spirit Points, so she carefully selected her targets. She can''t waste her limited Fire Balls!
"What''s going on?! Why are there five of them at the same time?!" Jaden was shocked as he looked ahead.
They were already winning but the tide had shifted so suddenly.
sher Zombies emerged—they were bloated, their skin translucent.
Their heads glowed with an unnatural light, and when they opened their mouths, blinding shes erupted.
The n members staggered, disoriented.
Luckily, Jaden''s Epic Talent protected him, but hisrades were vulnerable.
Soon, the mall echoed with screams.
However, Jaden wasn''t referring to the sher Zombies just now… They were weak zombies in his eyes. What truly worried him was the five Zombies behind the squad of sher Zombies!
They were the Chief Spitter Zombies—five of them, their elongated necks were even writhing. It was as if they were so excited to kill them!
"Dodge!"
Jaden shouted, hoping his friends could dodge.
Just now, the Chief Spitter Zombies spat acidic bile that was capable of melting through barricades and flesh alike.
The walls they created crumbled, and the floors trembled.
The n members fought back, but it was toote.
Even if they called for reinforcements, it would be difficult for them since even Jaden''s Diamond Skin would notst for three more minutes!
The mall was no longer a sanctuary—it was a tomb for them!
"I miscalcted… I should killed those people instead of enving them!"
Jaden watched in horror as hisrades fell.
Kira''s crossbow snapped, Malik''s fists were corroded, and Maya''s mes fizzled. The Chief Spitters closed in, their eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Jaden swung his machete, but their acidic spray burned through his Diamond Skin.
Soon, he also copsed, and his body then started dissolving.
"I… can''t… die…"
However, as the mall crumbled, the Zombie Wave consumed them all.
Just like that, the Crimson Coalition n vanished from the leaderboard, their legacy was reduced to nothing.
Jaden felt his life receding and knew that he would soon die.
At this time, he couldn''t help but me Shadow Strider… If that person hadn''t monopolized the decent weapons in the Auction Hall, he would''ve survived this ordeal!
''I should''ve gotten that Machine Gun… If I had that, we wouldn''t be in this situation. That person is greedy! Even that Grenade Launcher… He should''ve left it with us.'' Jaden thought of this as he couldn''t help but express his frustration over the failed auction.
There, he obtained some Rare or Exceptional Items from the Market Bazaar. They weren''t as incredible as the Machine Gun or Grenade Launcher but it would''ve been amazing if he obtained such weapons as well…
''I hope you also die, Shadow Strider…''
Jaden''sst thought, however, was of hisrades—their sacrifice, their loyalty. He couldn''t help but feel regretful that their journey hade to an end just like that.
After a few more seconds, darkness finally imed him, and the mall copsed, burying the n beneath its rubble.
In the aftermath, the Zombie Wave moved on, leaving nothing but silence and decay.
The first n to be annihted was the Crimson Coalition… and it was even announced by the System.