Chapter 32: You, a Human, Became the Zombie King?

"We are surrounded!"

"They seem to be waiting for an order. There might be a Zombie King here."

Liu Shiyun steadied herself and continued to analyze, "The Zombie King hasn't let them attack, which goes against common sense. Unless, it's feeling cautious."

Lin Yu looked at her with appreciation. As someone who had founded a large company, her mind was indeed sharp. In this situation, anyone else would surely be doomed, but if he wanted to leave, he could still fight his way out.

Just then, footsteps echoed. Ten more Tier 1 zombies walked down from the second floor, lining up in a row.

Lin Yu gasped. Had they really stumbled into a zombie nest?

"Roar!"

A roar erupted, and the Tier 1 zombies parted to create a path.

"Is that the Zombie King?" Lin Yu looked toward the stairs.

A man in a black tuxedo walked down. He looked no different from a normal human, except for his deathly pale complexion. He walked down step by step, a constant smile on his face. His black suit was immaculate, and his hair even appeared styled with wax. He looked dashing, a typical handsome man.

He walked up, bowed slightly to Lin Yu in a gentlemanly fashion, and said, "The Magician. I've heard much about you."

Hearing this, Lin Yu’s heart jolted. The fact that his codename was "The Magician" was known to only three people in the world: his younger sister Lin Xiaoyou, his childhood friend Wang Ergou, and Chen Jing'er. Even Liu Shiyun, who was right beside him, didn't know his true identity. Yet, here he was, correctly identified by a stranger.

"You think I'm The Magician?"

"Of course."

"I don't even know I'm The Magician, so why would you think that?"

"Intuition! My intuition has always been very accurate," the young man said with a smile.

Lin Yu fell silent. "So, are you human, or a zombie?"

"Hmm... how should I put this?" The young man seemed conflicted. After a moment, he said, "I am a human who was bitten by a zombie, but I retained my consciousness. Does that make sense?"

"So you are a human, but you’ve become the Zombie King here?"

"You could say that."

"Amazing. You're a human, yet you've managed to become a Zombie King." Lin Yu felt like giving him a thumbs-up. "So, are you planning to attack us?"

"I had that intention initially, because you barged in and disturbed my sleep." The young man paused. "But seeing that it's you, I’ve changed my mind. My intuition tells me I can't kill you, and being friends is more profitable."

"Can a Zombie King be friends with a human?"

"In this world, why not?" The young man kept a gentlemanly smile on his face.

Lin Yu looked at the surrounding zombies and pondered. This human-turned-Zombie King was incredibly strong. He could feel the immense power contained within the man's body. Lin Yu immediately checked the ranking board.

Sure enough!

Great Xia Nation Ranking:
1st Place: Gentleman
2nd Place: Big Brother

There were already two Tier 1s on the ranking board.

"Are you Big Brother?" Lin Yu asked the Zombie King. Since "Big Brother" was the only one atop the Yunnan Province ranking board, he was the only Tier 1 powerhouse in the entire province.

"It is I!" the young man smiled gentlemanly.

Lin Yu laughed as well. "That figure that kept monitoring me, that was you, right?" Back when he left the Olma Supermarket, there had been a figure standing on the billboard. And when he killed the first Tier 1 zombie, the figure on the roof of the low building seemed to be watching him as well.

"It wasn't exactly monitoring. Throughout this small town, there are a few powerhouses, but you are the one I value most, Magician." Big Brother looked at Lin Yu. "I want to invite you to cooperate to kill another Zombie King."

"There's another Zombie King in this town?"

"Yes, and it’s one that is about to break through to Tier 2, or perhaps already has. But it's different from me—it's a pure zombie."

"You overestimate me. I'm not even Tier 1 yet; how would I have the ability to kill a Tier 2 Zombie King?" Lin Yu shrugged, feigning helplessness.

To his surprise, Big Brother replied, "That's simple!"

"Roar!" He let out a series of growls at the Tier 1 zombies behind him. The next moment, five of them stepped forward. Lin Yu narrowed his eyes, ready for combat.

However, the scene that followed was gruesome. The five zombies raised their hands, gripped their own heads and chins, and twisted with great force.

*Snap!*

The five heads were twisted off and fell to the ground, rolling right in front of Lin Yu, dripping with blood.

"This is my sincerity—five Tier 1 crystals. You should have a few saved up yourself; together, that's enough for you to reach Tier 1." Big Brother continued, "After we succeed, I'll give you another fifteen Tier 1 crystals."

"Give me five more, otherwise I won't reach Tier 1," Lin Yu said after a moment's thought, feeling tempted.

"What about your own stock?"

"I've only encountered four Tier 1 zombies, and I gave them all away after getting them. I don't have a single one on me now." Lin Yu shrugged, looking innocent.

*I don't believe a word of that!* Big Brother’s face twitched, and he cursed inwardly, barely maintaining his gentlemanly facade.

However, he picked out five more Tier 1 zombies and growled orders at them. Soon, another five heads rolled over.

Lin Yu was overjoyed. He unleashed a burst of flame, carefully burning away the remains to leave behind ten crystals. Liu Shiyun took the initiative to go up and collect them. In such a standoff, it wouldn't do for Lin Yu to pick them up, as it would leave him vulnerable to the opponent.

"Then many thanks, Big Brother. Once I reach Tier 1, we'll go kill that Zombie King together." Lin Yu was very happy.

"With the hundred-nation struggle, the forums are in an uproar. Do you think our Great Xia can win the championship?" Big Brother suddenly asked.

"The championship can only be ours, Great Xia's. No one can take it away," Lin Yu declared firmly.

"Haha, well said. If I can fight on behalf of Great Xia, I will definitely let those foreign bastards know why the flowers are so red." Big Brother spoke with great spirit as well.

It seemed that every citizen of Great Xia, regardless of their strength, possessed a sense of national pride and confidence. As long as there was an external enemy, they were absolutely united.

"When the time is right, I want to march on the Sakura Nation. Interested?"

"How could I miss such a big event? Count me in; I won't be absent." Big Brother felt his blood boiling. Marching on the Sakura Nation—what a feat to look forward to!

"I'm off. See you tomorrow!"

"Right, see you tomorrow."

With that, Lin Yu walked out of the hotel with the two women. The thousands of zombies outside parted to create a path in perfect unison, just like well-trained soldiers.

Big Brother watched Lin Yu’s retreating figure, his eyes flashing. He had wanted to strike countless times, to take Lin Yu down and turn him into a zombie, making him his subordinate. But he wasn't confident. Even though he was already a Tier 1 level 3, and Lin Yu was only level 0, he still didn't have the confidence to win.

Lin Yu found a new hotel with the two women. As soon as he lay on the bed, he felt a terrifying power awakening within him.

Then, flames began to burn from his body out of thin air, shifting from yellow to a deep, crimson red.

"Ah! Brother Yu, you're on fire!" On the adjacent bed, Liu Shiyun was startled by the sudden eruption of flames.

The new hotel also had many bloodstains, clearly the site of a zombie incursion. She didn't dare sleep in a room alone, so she had rented a double room. She slept with her daughter in one bed, and Lin Yu in the other. The flames suddenly bursting from Lin Yu had even set the quilt on fire.

Hearing Liu Shiyun's cry, Lin Yu reacted quickly, pulling the flames back into his body and consuming the fire on the quilt.

"Is this... the evolution complete?"