Sunrise had fully broken over the fractured city, bathing the mid-tier fortified district in harsh crimson light. Yuan Shenzi walked steadily toward the Yuan family villa, his footsteps calm despite the tension in the air. The scent of decay from last night's battles still lingered heavily. Distant patrol sirens wailed occasionally, a reminder that the apocalypse never truly slept.
Behind him, hidden in nearby alleys and behind ruined vehicles, followed his small undead group, six controlled zombies in total. The Strength-Enhanced Human Zombie and Agility-Enhanced Human Zombie stayed closest but remained out of immediate sight for now. The four basic ones were positioned strategically, ready to emerge only when commanded. Shenzi's mind was clear, but a cold fire of resentment burned steadily beneath the surface.
"They gave me until sunrise to disappear," he thought. "Instead, I return with power they could never imagine. Let's see if they still dare call me trash."
He mentally ordered most of his zombies to stay concealed. Only the two enhanced ones remained ready for quick deployment. His Level 8 presence, combined with the subtle pressure of his hidden force, made him feel far more composed than the desperate boy who had been expelled the previous night.
The villa gates came into view. Two family guards stationed there spotted him immediately. Their expressions twisted into sneers of recognition.
"Look who crawled back," one guard laughed loudly. "The bug boy is still alive? The Patriarch said you're no longer part of this family, get lost before we throw you to the zombies!"
Shenzi continued walking forward without slowing, ignoring the insults. He sent a silent mental command to one of the basic zombies farther down the street. The creature knocked over a pile of debris with a loud crash, drawing two guards away to investigate the noise. The main gate opened partially as his father, the Yuan Patriarch, stepped out, flanked by his older brother Yuan Wei, sister Yuan Mei, and several family awakeners.
The Patriarch's face showed brief surprise before settling into cold disdain. "You dare show your face here after bringing shame to the Yuan name with that worthless F-Rank talent? The deadline has passed. Leave, or we'll treat you as an intruder."
Shenzi stopped a respectful distance from the gate and stood tall. His boosted stats gave him a quiet, intimidating presence despite his plain, blood-stained clothes. He spoke with calm, icy clarity.
"I came to collect what little belongs to me… and to show you exactly what kind of 'trash' you discarded."
Yuan Wei laughed mockingly. "Still dreaming? Insect Control can't even kill a single low-level zombie properly. You're lucky you survived the night!"
Yuan Mei covered her mouth, failing to hide her sneer. "Pathetic. Father was right to expel you."
Shenzi's lips curved into a faint, cold smile for the first time. Without raising his voice, he issued a mental command. From the shadows beside the gate, the Strength-Enhanced Human Zombie stepped forward heavily. Its bulkier frame, cracked but reinforced muscles, and glowing faint crimson eyes were impossible to miss.
The entire group froze.
Gasps and shocked murmurs erupted instantly.
"What is that?!" one guard stammered.
"A controlled zombie?!"
"He… he's commanding the undead? But his talent was Insect Control yesterday!"
The Patriarch's face paled. Yuan Wei's mocking grin faltered completely.
Shenzi checked his status internally for confirmation.
[Mutation Link Status]
Control Capacity: 6/8
Strength-Enhanced Human Zombie (Lv. 4) – Ready
To drive the point home without full escalation, Shenzi gave another simple order. The Strength-Enhanced zombie lumbered forward and slammed its massive fist into the stone pillar beside the villa gate. The impact was brutal. Stone cracked audibly, sending dust and small debris flying. The pillar visibly shifted under the force.
Before anyone could react, Shenzi summoned the Agility-Enhanced zombie. It darted out from the shadows with surprising speed, a lean blur of motion. One overconfident guard tried to attack with a glowing energy blade. The agile minion moved faster than expected, disarming the guard in a single fluid motion and pinning him harmlessly to the ground with a clawed hand. It stopped short of killing, exactly as commanded.
The family and guards stood stunned into silence.
Shenzi's voice remained level and cold. "This is just the beginning. My new talent, Mutation Link, allows me to control and evolve these 'zombies'. The System gave me a second chance when you all threw me away like garbage. How does it feel to realize your 'trash' son now holds real power?"
The Patriarch's hands trembled slightly at his sides. Regret and shock warred on his face. Yuan Wei stepped back involuntarily, jealousy and fear mixing in his eyes. Yuan Mei had gone completely pale, her earlier mockery replaced by open disbelief.
"You… how is this possible?" the Patriarch muttered, voice hoarse.
Shenzi didn't demand reinstatement or beg for anything. He kept his tone restrained but laced with subtle menace. "I don't need your villa or your name anymore. But remember this moment. When the academy enrollment begins, you'll see just how far this 'bug boy' can go."
With a single mental command, he recalled his zombies smoothly. The Strength-Enhanced one stepped back into the shadows. The Agility-Enhanced one released the guard and vanished just as quickly. The entire undead group melted away, leaving no trace except the cracked pillar and the lingering fear in everyone's eyes.
As Shenzi turned to leave, one panicked family awakener tried a weak desperate attack, a small energy bolt. Two of Shenzi's basic zombies moved instantly to block it, absorbing the hit without issue. The brief clash granted him a small amount of System Energy.
He took nothing from the villa. Showing independence was more satisfying than scavenging from them.
A new system notification appeared in his vision.
[Academy Enrollment Trial Registration Now Open]
Location: Central Awakening Hall – 2 Days Remaining
Shenzi felt deep satisfaction as he walked away, but he knew this was only the first small slap. True revenge would come later, at the academy and on a much larger stage. His family would spread rumors, perhaps even try to sabotage him, but that no longer mattered. He had power now.
In the distance, a louder mutated beast roar echoed across the district, a reminder that the apocalypse cared little for family drama or personal vendettas.
Suddenly, his Agility-Enhanced zombie, acting as a rear scout, detected something unusual. A faint but stronger presence was watching from a nearby rooftop. The figure was cloaked in shadows, level unreadable.
A warning panel flashed.
[Unknown Observer Detected – Level ???]
Recommendation: Increase strength rapidly.
Shenzi narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them as he continued walking with his hidden undead escort.
"Not everyone will underestimate me again… and some are already watching."