Chapter 174: Golden orb

While Leo and the Freedom Convoy confronted the military in Rendell City, a medium-sized survivor shelter sat in the middle of the ruined wilderness, two hundred kilometers away. A makeshift wall surrounded the entire compound. Armed survivors manned several watchtowers along the perimeter, keeping a constant eye out for approaching zombie hordes or hostile groups.

This was the Kent Clan’s shelter. Inside, two important guests rested: the Ape God, Oshu, and the cyborg known as S-Borg. Neither had fully recovered from the brutal injuries they suffered in Rendell City.

A deafening blast shattered the peace.

BOOOOM!!

Missiles rained down on the shelter, blowing the watchtowers apart one after another. Another explosive crashed into the courtyard, sending concrete and jagged debris flying in every direction. Chaos consumed the compound.

"Enemy attack!"

"Everyone, grab your weapons!"

"Where are they coming from?!"

The shelter’s fighters rushed out of their buildings, grabbing whatever weapons they could carry. Before they could even form a defensive line, the roar of engines erupted from all directions. Vehicles breached the surrounding wilderness, and dozens of armed men poured out. The Doomsday Cult had arrived.

At the front of the raiding party stood the masked, red-haired man. Unlike the grand speeches he might have given under different circumstances, this time he spared no breath for monologues. He simply raised his hand.

"Attack."

"Don’t leave anyone alive."

His eyes gleamed beneath his mask.

"From today onward, let the world..."

"And everyone who hears the name of the Doomsday Cult..."

"Shiver in fear."

The moment the words left his lips, the cultists charged toward the shelter. The masked man stepped forward. He raised one hand.

"Scorching Fire—Firefly Explosion."

Dozens of tiny orbs of flame sparked to life around him, resembling a swarm of glowing fireflies. For a heartbeat, they hovered silently in the air.

Then—

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The fireflies shot in every direction. Some cleared the walls, while others drifted into the buildings or passed right over the heads of the fleeing survivors. One of the fireflies touched the dirt.

BOOM!

A massive explosion tore through the area. Another firefly met a watchtower.

BOOOOM!!

The tower collapsed in a cloud of dust. Another blast gutted a nearby building.

BOOM!

Within moments, the entire shelter turned into a battlefield. Gunfire rang through the air over the screams of desperate survivors trying to defend themselves. The Doomsday Cult showed no mercy, slaughtering anyone who resisted and looting everything in sight.

As the first missile struck the shelter, a lone vehicle slipped through the rear gates. Inside sat Captain Bear, flanked by several of the Kent Clan’s higher-ups. Bear looked back through the rear window, his face twisted with anger.

"Fuck!"

"Who the hell dares attack our Kent Clan’s shelter?!"

A middle-aged man sitting beside him tried to soothe his temper.

"Young Master, calm down."

"Whoever this group is, they clearly came prepared."

"We’re heavily outnumbered."

"It’s better not to take any unnecessary risks."

Bear clenched his fists. After a tense moment of silence, his breathing slowed.

"Yes..."

"You’re right."

The middle-aged man hesitated before asking,

"But Young Master..."

"Was it really the right choice to leave the Ape God and S-Borg behind?"

"They’re both members of the Rizen Group."

"Wouldn’t the Rizen Group be offended if they learned that we abandoned them?"

Bear snorted.

"Abandoned them?"

He leaned back in his leather seat.

"After what happened in Rendell City, the Ape God’s power has been crippled."

"The cyborg is in the same condition."

"They lost their powers, along with the fortress vehicle belonging to the Rizen Group."

"They also lost all of their highly trained personnel."

Bear’s expression grew colder.

"And what did they gain from all of that?"

"Nothing."

"The military is furious with them for delaying the operation and then fleeing from the battlefield."

"They’ve already lodged an official complaint with the Rizen Group and are demanding compensation."

The middle-aged man remained silent. Bear continued.

"So the Ape God doesn’t dare return to the Rizen Group after losing his powers."

"Instead, he’s decided to leech off our Kent Clan by using his status as a member of the Rizen Group."

He scoffed.

"We can’t drive him away because doing so would offend the Rizen Group."

"But now..."

A cruel smile stretched across Bear’s face.

"This new group has attacked us."

"They might just solve our problem for us."

The middle-aged man chewed on the thought before slowly nodding.

"You’re right, Young Master."

Back inside the burning compound, the battle raged in every corner. Bodies littered the bloodstained dirt. Buildings burned as black smoke choked the sky, and the reinforced walls lay breached in several places.

Deep inside the shelter, Oshu and S-Borg finally stood face-to-face with the masked man. Oshu glared at the intruder.

"Who are you?"

"Do you even know who we are?"

"We belong to the Rizen Group."

"Whatever grudge you have against the Kent Clan has nothing to do with us."

"Let us go, and the Rizen Group will owe you a favor."

His eyes narrowed.

"Otherwise..."

"Prepare yourself for the Rizen Group’s revenge."

Silence fell over the smoke-filled room for a heavy second.

"Hahahahaha!"

The masked man burst into a fit of laughter. The cultists flanking him joined in. Oshu’s expression darkened.

"What are you laughing at?"

The masked man’s laughter died down. He stared directly into Oshu’s eyes.

"I always thought the Rizen Group was very formidable."

"But you’ve changed my perception."

He tilted his head.

"I’ve been searching for you for a long time."

"And yet you come right to me..."

"Declaring yourself to be a member of the Rizen Group."

He chuckled.

"Truly foolish."

His expression turned ice-cold.

"Now die."

S-Borg stepped in front of Oshu. His mechanical arm shifted and locked as a heavy weapon emerged from his forearm, primed to fire. Before his finger could even brush the trigger, a figure materialized behind him, draped entirely in a heavy cloak. The figure raised a specially modified firearm.

Bang!

A heavy net blasted from the barrel. S-Borg’s eyes went wide as the net expanded in midair and tangled around his body.

ZZZZT!!

A massive electrical current surged through the mesh. Power coursed through S-Borg’s mechanical frame, sending violent tremors down his spine. The weapons attached to his arms powered down with a dying whine. He tried to move, but his limbs refused to respond. The shock had completely paralyzed him.

Oshu’s face went pale.

"Shit!"

The masked man raised an open hand.

"Scorching Fire—Burn."

He snapped his fingers.

Snap.

WHOOSH!

Flames roared to life around Oshu’s body.

"ARRRGHHHH!"

Oshu screamed, his entire form consumed by fire. The masked man watched the burning man with a twisted sense of awe, then snapped his fingers once more.

Snap.

The flames grew hotter. Oshu’s screams pierced the room.

Again.

Snap.

The fire flared.

Again.

Snap.

Waves of blazing heat swallowed Oshu whole. The masked man’s posture grew erratic, fueled by manic glee.

"Yes..."

"Yes!"

"That’s it!"

He stared at Oshu as though watching a masterpiece unfold.

"Scream."

"Scream louder."

"I love hearing your screams."

Oshu thrashed in a desperate bid to fight back, but his battered body gave way. He lacked the strength to resist. The masked man kept snapping his fingers, sending fresh waves of fire over Oshu with every sharp click. Skin blistered and peeled. Flesh charred. The sickening stench of burning meat filled the confined space.

Eventually, Oshu’s screams faded into weak, breathless gasps. His frantic movements slowed to a twitch. And finally, his body collapsed into the ash.

What remained was little more than a blackened, smoking corpse.

The Ape God was dead.

The masked man stared down at the remains for several quiet seconds, a satisfied grin hidden beneath his mask. Neither the cult leader nor his followers caught what happened next. From Oshu’s charred chest, a tiny golden orb breached the surface. It drifted silently into the air, unnoticed by the raiding party or by S-Borg, who remained trapped inside the electrified net.

The golden orb darted straight up, passing through the ceiling and rocketing into the distance. It crossed hundreds of kilometers at a staggering speed. It blurred over ruined roads, abandoned settlements, and barren wilderness, until the jagged skyline of Rendell City finally broke the horizon.

The golden orb slipped into the city blocks, weaving through the streets as if searching. Then, it pivoted.

Far away, a large convoy transported goods through the ruined streets. Among the workers hauling heavy supplies was a young man with short golden hair.

Atlas.

The glowing sphere bolted straight toward him. Atlas paused mid-step, looking around in confusion.

"Huh?"

Before he could make sense of the feeling, the golden orb sank deep into his chest. Atlas froze. A strange warmth washed over him, but just as fast as it arrived, the sensation faded entirely. He scratched his forehead, thoroughly confused by the phantom feeling, then shrugged and went back to hauling his supplies.