After defeating Leighton, Erwin stood over the broken body of his former leader, the blood still warm beneath his boots. He raised his voice, sharp and commanding.
"All of you, gather. Now."
The remaining survivors scrambled, forming a loose half-circle around him in the dimly lit school hallway. No one dared to speak. Erwin’s eyes, cold and unreadable, swept over each face.
"I want to know," he began, voice low and dangerous, "has anyone else awakened powers... like Leighton? Like me?"
Silence. Not a single hand moved. Not a single breath was dared.
Erwin chuckled darkly. "I see. That’s fine. If I were in your shoes, I’d keep my mouth shut too."
He took a step forward. The group instinctively leaned back.
"But let me make this very clear," he continued. "If I find out any of you are hiding a skill, I won’t hesitate. I’ll kill you on the spot... and feed your corpse to the zombies."
His words were laced with casual cruelty.
The tension cracked when three hesitant hands slowly rose.
Erwin smiled.
"Good," he said. "I like honest people."
He gestured toward the first, an overweight boy with a round face, nervous sweat on his brow, and trembling hands. "You first. Name and skill."
"R-Ryan Doucheling..." he muttered. "My skill is... [Tentacle]."
"Show me."
Ryan gulped, held out his hand, and with visible strain, black tentacle-like appendages burst out from his back, writhing like serpents. The sight was grotesque, but efficient.
Erwin gave a short nod. "Impressive."
Next was a lanky boy with droopy eyes and messy hair, slouching like he could fall asleep any second.
"Name?"
"Leo Rippin. I have [Shadow]."
"Demonstrate."
With a sigh, Leo tapped his foot, and his body flickered, merging with the nearest shadow and disappearing for a second, before reappearing a few steps away.
Erwin raised an eyebrow. "Lazy, but useful."
Last was a girl with short black hair, glasses too large for her face, and a pale, anxious expression. She clutched her hands tightly.
"Your name?"
"A-Aya Claint," she said quietly. "My skill is [Blacksmith]."
"Go on."
Aya pulled a few metal scraps from her pouch. Concentrating, her hands glowed faintly, and within seconds, the scraps melted and reformed into a small dagger. Nothing fancy, but sharp. Efficient.
"She needs materials," Leo muttered lazily. "Her skill’s all about balance, she can’t make stuff from nothing."
Erwin tilted his head, clearly interested. "Very useful."
He stepped back and started pointing.
"Ryan. You’ll lead a scouting group. Find routes. Food, water, essentials. Your skill will tear through whatever blocks your way."
"Leo. You’ll locate survivors. Anyone worth taking in—bring them to me."
"Aya. You’ll focus on weapons. Supply our fighters. If you need material, ask. Make requests. But produce results."
The three nodded, still visibly afraid, but also slightly relieved to be alive.
Erwin returned to Leighton’s body, sitting casually atop it like a throne, surveying his domain.
That was when he noticed Veronica, barking orders to the others, keeping her distance but always watching him.
"Veronica," he called.
She froze mid-step, her sharp tongue paused. Then she turned, trying to maintain her composure, and approached.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice still laced with arrogance, but now carrying a note of unease.
Erwin didn’t answer immediately. He studied her, a beautiful woman, fierce, proud... and clearly afraid of him now.
"Spend the night with me," he said flatly.
Veronica blinked. "What?"
"You heard me."
Her jaw clenched. "No. Pick someone else."
And just like that, she turned and walked away. But Erwin saw it. The stiffness in her stride. The way her fingers trembled. She was scared.
He didn’t stop her. He didn’t raise his voice. He just smiled to himself.
It’s no fun if she gives in so easily. I’ll wait. Eventually, she’ll crawl to me... beg me.
His gaze flicked elsewhere. He spotted another girl nearby, one who had been quietly listening, trying to make herself invisible.
"You," he said.
She froze.
"Tonight."
The girl swallowed hard. "Y-Yes..."
-------×-------
Julian narrowed his eyes at the door, then turned to Emma.
"Emma," he said calmly, "open it."
She blinked. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Yes. Clarissa and I will hide for now. Just follow my lead."
Emma hesitated only for a moment. She trusted Julian, too much to question him. She took a breath, stepped forward, and unlocked the door.
The door creaked open.
There they were.
Her old group, four of them, standing with wide, stunned eyes as if seeing a ghost. They were armed now. One had a katana strapped to his back, another gripped a makeshift dagger, and two others stood alert with sharpened pipes and hunting knives. One of them a tall boy with brown wavy hair and piercing gray eyes stared at Emma with suspicion.
"Emma...?" one of the girls whispered. "You’re alive... Thank God."
But Emma said nothing. She stared at them in silence, her expression unreadable.
The tall one with the cold gaze stepped forward. "Are you alone?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah. Just me."
His eyes narrowed. "That’s strange," he muttered. "The girl in front of me feels... off." He turned to the others. "I heard she was left behind in a room with someone who got bitten. We all assumed she was dead. Or infected."
Another spoke up. "We came back to check because we felt guilty. Thought maybe..."
Emma finally snapped, her voice sharp. "Then why don’t you just say what you’re thinking?"
The tall boy paused, then said flatly, "Maybe you awakened a skill."
A murmur spread among the group.
"Emma, is that true?"
"You got powers?"
They stepped a little closer.
"You should come with us," one said. "We’re under someone powerful. He protects us. We’ve got supplies, weapons, a real shot at surviving."
Emma looked at them, eyes burning, not with fear, but fury. Her voice shook.
"You left me," she growled. "Alone. In a locked room. With a zombie."
They froze.
"You ran like cowards. Not even a goodbye. You just locked the door and left me to die!" Her voice rose. "Now you want me back because you think I’m useful? Because I have something you can use?"
A fiery pulse radiated from her body. Her clenched fists sparked with heat, and in an instant, flames danced across her hands.
The group staggered back, some gripping their weapons tighter.
The tall boy narrowed his eyes again. "I was right. She awakened. Erwin will want to see this."
At the mention of that name, Julian stepped out from the shadows, calm and poised.
"Still Erwin’s lapdog, huh, Kael?" he said with a mocking smile. "I see some things never change."
Kael’s eyes widened. "...Julian?"
A flicker of recognition, then rage.
Julian stepped beside Emma and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Calm down, Emma," he said softly. "Don’t waste your flames on trash."
Emma’s breathing slowed, but her hands were still glowing.
Kael stepped forward, jaw clenched. "You... you’re still alive?"
Julian tilted his head slightly, a lazy smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Well, what do you know, I’m still alive, healthy, and looking good," he said with dry sarcasm. "So, what’s the occasion? Decided to drop by for tea?"
Kael didn’t respond. His eyes narrowed. "Erwin would love to know you’re still breathing. Maybe I should bring you in... alive."
Julian chuckled. "Oh? You sound confident now. Don’t tell me... you’ve awakened a power too?"
Kael scoffed. "I don’t need powers to beat you."
"Is that so?" Julian said calmly. Then, turning slightly, he spoke to the girls behind him.
"Emma, Clarissa. Stay out of this."
The two girls nodded.
"Be careful," Clarissa whispered.
"Kick his ass," Emma added.
Julian twirled his staff, assuming a loose but focused fighting stance.
Across from him, Kael’s group stood stiff, unsure.
One of them whispered, "We’re going to lose if we fight him."
Another frowned. "What are you talking about? He’s alone."
"I heard stories," the first one replied, eyes wide. "He once beat up a whole group of upperclassmen who bullied his friend. One of them came back with ten others... and still lost. They say Julian never forgets a grudge. No matter how small."
"Tch. Probably just exaggerated rumors."
Kael cut through their chatter. "Enough. Focus. Attack him, now."
With a reluctant burst of movement, three of them rushed Julian with makeshift weapons. Julian didn’t flinch.
The first swung a blade, Julian sidestepped, cracked the attacker’s wrist with the end of his staff, then delivered a spinning kick that sent the boy crashing into a wall.
The second came in with a pipe. Julian ducked under the blow and drove his staff upward into the guy’s ribs *crack* then slammed him down by the back of the neck.
The last hesitated a moment too long and Julian closed the distance, sweeping his legs out and knocking him flat before disarming him with one clean twist of his wrist.
Within seconds, they were groaning on the floor.
Kael’s eye twitched. "Useless," he muttered. He watched carefully now, analyzing Julian’s fluid movements. So he’s a master with that staff...
But Kael’s smirk returned. "Good. I’ve trained in kendo for years. I’ve won tournaments. This’ll be over quick."
Julian twirled his staff and smirked. "You done watching? Or do I have to start counting for you?"
Kael growled. "You’ll regret mocking me."
With a shout, Kael dashed forward, striking fast with his iron sword. Julian met the strike mid-air, and a loud CLANG echoed as staff met blade.
From the side, Clarissa and Emma watched, wide-eyed.
"He’s... so calm," Clarissa whispered.
"Like he’s reading everything Kael does," Emma added.
Kael pressed the attack, swing after swing, fast and aggressive. Julian blocked each one, deflecting the blows with expert timing, never moving more than he needed. His movements were fluid, graceful, and efficient.
But Kael was crafty.
Mid-combo, he suddenly threw a dagger from his belt. Julian twisted to dodge it, but it grazed his side and threw off his balance.
Seizing the chance, Kael lunged with a vicious strike.
Julian brought his staff up *CLANG!* but the force knocked it from his hands. It clattered across the floor.
Kael grinned. "It’s over."
He raised his sword for the finishing blow.
But Julian moved fast, too fast. In one smooth motion, he rolled toward a fallen enemy, grabbed the sword at their side, and unsheathed it with a metallic shiiing.
Kael froze mid-swing. "You can use swords too?!"
Julian’s eyes gleamed. "Did I ever say I couldn’t?"
The battle shifted instantly.
Now it was blade against blade, steel ringing out in the gym hall as the two clashed. Sparks flew with every parry and strike. Kael fought with form and discipline. Julian fought with instinct, speed, and sheer pressure.
The rhythm intensified.
Kael swung low, Julian jumped. A slash from the left, parried. A counter-thrust from Julian, blocked. Julian circled and came in hard, Kael barely managed to deflect.
But Julian’s pressure never stopped.
Kael’s arms were starting to tremble. Sweat poured down his brow. His feet stumbled, his form broke.
Then it happened.
With a powerful feint and sudden pivot, Julian disarmed Kael, his sword flying from his hands and clattering across the floor.
Julian stepped in and delivered a sharp blow to Kael’s chest with the hilt of his blade.
Kael gasped, and collapsed, unconscious.
The room fell into silence.
Julian stood over him, breathing only slightly heavier, then slowly sheathed the sword into the empty scabbard.
"Thanks for the duel," he said coolly.