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"Brother Madman… I think I'll pass…"
"It's fine just being a normal Awakened. I'm not risking my life just to level up."
"Not everyone can handle that stuff anyway…"
Tatsumi stared at the cup of mutated zombie fluid, his whole body trembling.
He remembered clearly that just yesterday, some bold idiot had taken a sip and ended up with most of his internal organs corroded away on the spot.
He had finally become an Awakened, already standing above ordinary people. There was no need to gamble his life like this.
Let someone else chase strength.
Madman chuckled.
Tatsumi might be a coward, but he was ruthless enough toward the people under him. That made him a useful dog.
No need to force him.
Besides, more and more ordinary Awakened were being created anyway. There would always be someone willing to take the risk for greater power.
Going from an ordinary person to an Awakened required eating regular zombie flesh.
But to advance further, you had to consume the flesh and bodily fluids of mutated zombies.
After several days of testing, Bloodfang Camp had only managed three successful breakthroughs.
The camp leader, Madman himself… and Liza.
Liza was a pity. If she were prettier, Madman would've slept with her long ago.
But from the looks of it, Liza wasn't exactly fond of him either.
She'd volunteered to "guide newcomers," but really, she just wanted to pick out good-looking guys downstairs and bring them back to her room at night for her own enjoyment.
And the boss? That guy actually liked hanging around the first floor pretending to be a newbie…
Now the entire camp was basically being managed by Madman alone. What a headache.
He needed a few more rounds to stay in that post-release clarity.
"Alright, go get some rest."
"It's late today. Tomorrow we'll pick a time and take people over there."
"Anyone who dares offend Bloodfang Camp… we wipe them out completely."
Madman waved his hand, dismissing Tatsumi.
He still had his own fun to continue.
Tatsumi wisely took his leave.
If he weren't so badly injured, he'd have gone downstairs to grab a female survivor for himself too.
After Tatsumi left, the woman with the wavy hair lifted her head again.
"Brother Madman, listen…"
"That East Lake villa… there's a ton of food there. They've even started farming already."
"And their defenses are solid too. You could totally—"
"Mmph!!!"
Madman grabbed her head and shoved it down.
Annoying.
Once he led people there and cleaned the place out, everything would be his anyway. Who needed her commentary?
The carved wooden bed began to creak and shake again…
—
On the first floor, Julian leaned against the wall, quietly observing the people nearby.
Their faces were flushed, and fine beads of sweat dotted their foreheads.
Looks like the zombie meat really was giving them some energy.
Just not enough to trigger awakening yet.
A few more meals like this, and someone among these newcomers would probably awaken.
At that moment, several Awakened from upstairs came down into the exhibition hall.
They looked over the newcomers without restraint.
That look…
Like they were choosing prey.
One of them, a man with a thin mustache, froze for a second when he spotted a young couple, then walked straight over.
"You. Come with me."
He pointed at the young wife.
The tone wasn't a request. It was an order.
"What do you mean by that?"
The young husband immediately flared up.
It didn't take a genius to guess what would happen if his wife went with him.
This camp actually allowed that?
That was beyond disgusting.
"We provide you with safety and food. What's wrong with you offering up your wife in return?"
"That's a fair trade."
"Or what, you wanna spit out the dinner you just ate?"
The mustached man sneered.
To be honest, the woman wasn't particularly attractive.
But he hadn't tried her before. That alone was enough to pique his interest.
"You…!"
The couple's faces twisted.
Shameless.
So Awakened could just do whatever they wanted?
"Then we're leaving this camp!"
"Let's go!"
The young husband grabbed his wife and tried to head for the exit.
The mustached man casually lifted him up with one hand.
"Leave? You think it's that easy?"
"You can go if you want. Your wife stays."
"If you've got the guts, come back and settle this after you become Awakened."
"But tonight? She's mine."
He flung the husband aside and slung the woman over his shoulder, walking off.
The husband struggled to get up, but a fat man named Katsuo stepped in and pinned him down.
"Kid, don't act rash…"
"This kind of thing happens in every camp. Without strength, it's the same wherever you go."
"If you want to protect your wife, then get stronger."
Katsuo tried to reason with him.
The young husband clenched his teeth, fists trembling, watching helplessly as his wife disappeared from view.
Yeah…
He had to get stronger.
Right now, he stood no chance against an Awakened.
"Brother Katsuo, do you know how to awaken?"
"There are so many Awakened here. There must be a way, right?"
He grabbed Katsuo and asked urgently.
"How would I know? I just got here too."
"Why don't you ask Liza?"
Katsuo shrugged.
"Right…!"
Hope lit up the young man's eyes. He hurried over to the entrance, finding Liza.
"Sister Liza!"
"I want to become an Awakened!"
"Please, tell me how! I'll do anything if it means getting stronger!"
He clutched her arm, practically begging.
Liza raised an eyebrow.
Anything?
That made her a little intrigued.
The guy looked decent enough, and his build wasn't bad either.
If he really meant anything, she could probably have a good time with him.
But…
Today, Liza had her eyes on Julian.
It wasn't often someone so perfectly her type showed up. Letting him slip away would be a shame.
So why not…
Take both tonight?
Yeah, that could work.
"Wait here."
Liza licked her lips and walked into the hall.
Inside, quite a few Awakened were already picking their prey.
Most of the newcomers were furious but kept quiet. A few tried to flatter and ingratiate themselves, hoping to be chosen.
Liza was long used to scenes like this.
After all, she was one of the hunters too.
She made her way straight toward Julian.
In front of him, a bald, burly man was sizing him up from head to toe.
Julian felt a chill crawl up his spine.
That look…
Something was seriously off.
"You. I want you."
"Come with me."
The bald man pointed at Julian, his expression full of crude excitement.
Julian stiffened.
What the hell…
If he weren't undercover right now, he'd have slapped this guy to death already.
Just as Julian was figuring out how to deal with this awkward situation, Liza stepped in.
"Shura, I'm taking this one."
Her tone was calm, leaving no room for argument.
The bald man froze for a second, then immediately nodded.
"Sister Liza, go ahead, go ahead."
He quickly backed off and went to find another target.
A jolt ran through Julian's mind.
Liza… "Sister"?
Even other Awakened addressed her like that. There was no way she was just some ordinary newcomer guide…
"....."