“So, you know about the ghoul? My theory is that it forms when there's a large concentration of zombies in one area. I mean, we first encountered it in that zombie-infested house, and then again at the mall.”

“Another one of your theories?” Lucy asked.

“Yeah, who knows? I might be proven wrong, but we need some sort of explanation, right?”

“Sounds like typical conspiracy theorist thinking.”

“Lucy, you're familiar with conspiracy theorists?”

Lucy looked at him with a complex expression. “You'd be surprised at how much ordinary stuff I'm aware of. I'm not living under a rock.”

“True, true. Anyway, that ghoul really gets to me. It reminds me so much of lizards, and I can't stand lizards. Did I ever mention that I have a strong dislike for dogs?”

“Dogs? Wait, Lucas, what?”

“Just as I said. Dogs and I have a complicated relationship. Where I live, those dogs always try to steal my fish, and they bark at me for no reason whenever I pass by, just minding my own business.”

As he made his bed, Lucy questioned, “And what about cats? Are you afraid of cats too?”

“Not really. I actually love cats. I always give them food whenever I see them. They're so adorable. I've always wanted to adopt one.”

Lucas sighed deeply in disappointment as Lucy remained stunned and speechless.

Unbeknownst to them, behind the house adjacent to theirs, an injured man was bleeding out while receiving aid from his companion.

“Don't worry, you'll be fine. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.”

“No, this is all wrong. I'm infected. You should've left me there. We're going to be in trouble!”

“Shut up! If we both stay quiet, who's going to find out? Now, help me lift your shirt. It's difficult.”

***

Lucas picked up his phone, and the clock read 12:01 p.m. Exiting their room, he and Lucy headed to the kitchen, where they encountered someone familiar to both of them.

“Lucy! Have I introduced you? This is Uncle Kell. He taught me how to deal with those terrifying zombies.”

Lucas winked at Lucy. Although he was surprised to see Kell, he wanted to steer the conversation away from the events of yesterday.

“Oh, you must be the boy's sister. Nice to meet you, kid!” Kell greeted Lucy with a smile, extending his hand for a handshake.

In response, Lucy simply nodded, standing there with her head slightly lowered in silence.

“Kid! You've got a shy sister,” Kell teased, referencing their previous conversations. Lucas managed a reluctant smile as he chose a chair to sit on. Glancing around, he sensed that many others in the vicinity were in a sour mood. Negative energy seemed to emanate from them, creating a tense atmosphere.

As they waited for their food, Lucas was presented with another bowl of porridge. While he would have preferred a freshly cooked meal of rice, he appreciated the porridge all the same. Beside him, Lucy seemed to share his sentiment as they both began to eat.

This time, Aunt Edith sat across from him, her face showing a different kind of distress—anger and frustration. Lucas could sense an underlying tension that had likely been ignited by the events of yesterday. The heated arguments and suspicions among the group had probably spread throughout the base.

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Lucas's concern, however, went beyond the immediate conflict. He worried about their imminent departure and the consistent misfortune that seemed to follow them wherever they went. Strangely enough, the events at this base hadn't been entirely unfortunate, as they'd managed to turn the situation to their advantage.

Suddenly, for the second time since his return, a scream pierced the air. This time, it seemed to originate from a nearby building. The faint sound caused Lucy, who sat next to him, to tense up noticeably. The already strained atmosphere around the dinner table grew even more intense. Lucas could even make out Aunt Edith's muttered complaint.

“Again! That idiot!”

Without waiting, Lucas hurried outside along with the others, making sure to stay close to Lucy, just in case suspicions were cast upon her for the death of the man whose name he had already forgotten. As they stepped outside, they were met by a crowd of panicked individuals rushing towards them. Most of the faces were familiar to him, but their expressions told a story of their own—horror and fear.

“What's happened?” Lucas urgently asked, grabbing one of the men who was running past him.

“Get your hands off me, you idiot! They're coming!” the man snapped, struggling to break free from Lucas's grip. He managed to wrench himself away and dashed off, his panicked footsteps mingling with the cries of other fleeing individuals.

Standing there amidst the confusion, Lucas looked around with the same confusion mirrored in the faces of those around him. However, Lucy's urgent voice snapped him out of his daze.

“Lucas! We need to go! Look over there!” Lucy's voice carried a sense of urgency as she pointed in a particular direction.

Following her outstretched arm, it took Lucas a moment to discern the cause of the commotion. “What… is that?” he muttered, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief.

Reacting swiftly, Lucy grabbed Lucas by the arm and pulled him along as they joined the running crowd. Their escape was underscored by the cries of panic and the disturbing sight of a massive zombie, larger than any Lucas had encountered before. The zombie had captured one of the fleeing men, its gruesome feeding resembling a macabre snack time.

“Lucas! Perhaps this is our chance to escape without raising suspicion!” Lucy suggested in between breaths as they ran.

Nodding in agreement, Lucas came to the same conclusion. He understood that leaving this group behind meant leaving behind the connections he had formed, but it was perhaps the best choice for their survival.

“Yes, let's go,” he affirmed.

Dodging through the fleeing crowd, they turned sharply to the left, trying to put distance between themselves and the advancing zombie. Lucas handed Lucy her cloak, suggesting, “Put this on. We don't want anyone recognizing us when we're fighting these monsters.”

Both of them quickly donned their combat gear, preparing for the impending confrontation. Drawing his jian from its pouch, Lucas sliced at the zombie's face, ignoring the system's notification of its defeat.

“Fire blaze!” he invoked his skill, a jet of flames enveloping him momentarily as he surged forward toward the approaching undead.

In the midst of the chaos, Lucas realized that shouting for help while running was probably the last thing anyone should do. It only attracted more unwanted attention from other zombies in the vicinity. They were about to face not just one, but a horde of these creatures.

Summoning his dagger from its pouch, Lucas drove it into the zombie's throat as he charged forward, flames flickering around him. He unleashed his skill, “Hurricane spiral!” determined to fight their way out of this predicament.

“Lucas!” he muttered as the spiral wind whirled out from his ring, spiraling into a fiery vortex that lifted some of the encroaching zombies away from their path. Yet, even as they valiantly fought and unleashed their formidable skills, their display did not go unnoticed by the others.

“A mage?” someone exclaimed incredulously.

Contrary to their expectations, the sight of wind and fire conjured by the red-cloaked figure drew the attention of everyone present. Without hesitation, the mob redirected their focus towards Lucas and Lucy, chasing after the cloaked duo along with the horde of zombies they had attracted.

“Idiots,” Lucas muttered, frustration coursing through him as he surveyed the escalating number of zombies converging upon them.

Abandoning the fallen zombies, he enacted a swift decision. “Hurricane leap!” he muttered, launching himself into the air. Hovering above the ground, he grumbled inwardly as he conjured fireballs in his hand and aimed them downwards. With a deliberate lack of precision, he released the fireballs, allowing them to plummet and explode on the ground, conveying his annoyance to the humans trailing them.

Unconcerned about the erratic trajectory of the fireballs or whether they hit their intended targets, Lucas used the display to feign control and mastery over his abilities. Meanwhile, he observed Lucy's struggle against the encircling zombies.

As his time aloft dwindled, he descended gracefully, landing back on the ground like a drifting leaf.

“Savior! Save us! Save us!” A cry rose from the crowd, though contrary to his hope, the scene unfolded in the opposite manner. William rushed towards Lucas, dragging a massive zombie along as if offering it to him.

“God!” Lucas exclaimed incredulously, his patience running thin.