The group was fully prepared for the rescue operation at the Ryozanpaku dojo. Alex’s words helped ease the tense atmosphere in the transport bay. Those sitting in the vehicles, ready for the mission, were well aware that zombies could be extremely dangerous, especially mutated variants.

Alex wasn’t worried about his people’s safety. Brunhilde regularly held lectures on zombie combat tactics, and those who attended knew by heart how to fight them. Moreover, most of the mission participants had already been on supply runs and had combat experience.

Scanning the group, Alex ensured they were ready. Takashi had, as usual, joined Kota’s team, making Alex wonder—did he really not feel out of place? That group consisted exclusively of female officers, with the only men being himself and, of course, Kota. Unlike his former self, Kota was now thoroughly enjoying life after the apocalypse and had even formed a few close relationships.

The guys in Koko’s group had fully accepted Jonah into their ranks, treating him as one of their own. Itami and his squad remained composed—except for Itami himself, who was clearly nervous and would have gladly found a way to skip the mission if possible.

Alex shifted his gaze to the other teams, assessing their readiness, until his eyes landed on one of the Humvees where a group of girls was seated. Perched on the roof behind the machine gun was Stitch—the look on his face made it obvious that the alien dog was itching to start shooting zombies. Inside the Humvee, Rebecca, Rika, Saya, Saeko, Rei, Kiriko, Beatrix, Valmet, and Yuriko were chatting and laughing among themselves. Not wanting to disturb them, Alex looked away.

Brunhilde and Koko remained on the ferry. Alex understood perfectly well that Koko wasn’t a fighter—her role was to command and oversee the operation. Brunhilde, though strong, had far more valuable strategic skills, which made her the best choice to manage the mission in Alex’s absence.

The ferry was slowly approaching the port. Tension in the transport bay grew with each passing second. Over the last few days, Namiyo had significantly improved her ship-handling skills, so she was entrusted with docking under difficult conditions—especially since G.I.R., MIMI, and Stitch were off somewhere playing with the children.

When the ferry finally came to a stop, Alex raised a hand to get everyone’s attention.

“Listen up, here’s the plan. Yeah, I know horror movies always say ‘don’t split up,’ but we don’t have a choice. The city is huge, and we don’t know which direction the Ryozanpaku people retreated. So, we have to split up to find them faster. Stay in constant contact! If you find them or other survivors, report immediately and fall back to the port. If anything goes wrong, return at once. This is a rescue operation, not a suicide mission. Understood?”

“Yes!” the fighters responded in unison.

Alex nodded in satisfaction. His gaze shifted to G.I.R. and MIMI, who were practically trembling with excitement, eager to start a bloodbath.

“Alright, hop on,” he said with a grin.

The two instantly jumped onto him, clinging to him like a pair of monkeys.

As the ramp lowered, Alex stepped out first to check the surroundings. The port was empty—no zombies, not even tracks. The only thing that stood out was the thick black smoke rising in the distance.

Waving his hand, he signaled for departure. One by one, the Humvees rolled out of the ferry. Alex stepped aside, letting the vehicles pass, and as the Humvee carrying the girls drove by, he nimbly jumped onto the roof for a better vantage point.

The groups split up in different directions, beginning their search. Kiriko, sitting behind the wheel, slammed on the gas, following Saya’s directions. Standing on the Humvee’s roof, Alex listened closely to the city’s sounds. A few minutes later, he picked up a commotion in one of the districts—chaotic sounds of struggle and the roar of zombies.

“They’re there! Judging by the sounds, they’re being chased. I’ll go ahead—contact the other groups and let them know we’ve found people. As soon as I reach them, I’ll update you,” Alex said, knocking on the roof of the vehicle.

“And how exactly are you planning to get to them?” Yuriko asked curiously.

“Straight through,” Alex smirked. “You guys turn around and move to intercept them. Saya, launch the drone—we need an exact location. There may be regular survivors among them.”

“Good luck,” Saeko said with a smile.

“Heh, sometimes that woman plays tricks on me, so we have a mutual love-hate relationship,” Alex chuckled before jumping off the Humvee and rushing toward the sounds of battle.

Before anyone could react, Alex bolted forward—straight into a wall.

The girls thought he was about to leap onto the rooftops and sprint toward the commotion. They all had the same thought… except for Valmet, who suspected Alex was about to smash his way through the buildings instead. And, as it turned out, she was absolutely right.

Instead of taking the rooftops, Alex chose the most direct route—smashing through every wall in his path. Crashing through the first one, he burst straight through it and kept going without slowing down, leaving the stunned girls behind.

The phrase “taking a direct route” took on a whole new meaning for them after watching Alex literally break through walls with his body.

“I knew my husband was tough, but not to this extent…” Beatrix murmured in astonishment.

“And not just for breaking walls,” Rebecca added with a wide grin.

“Do you ever think about anything else, you perverted gremlin?!” Saya exclaimed, glaring at her.

“Jealous much, pink-haired know-it-all?” Rebecca smirked, watching as Saya clenched her fists in irritation.

“Ladies, you’re forgetting something,” Yuriko interjected, shutting down the argument. “Alex asked us to intercept the survivors. And, my dear Saya, it’s time for you to launch that reconnaissance drone.”

Saya and Rebecca huffed but turned away from each other, unwilling to continue the fight. Saya then opened the window and released the drone.

As soon as it soared into the sky, the monitor displayed the aftermath of a recent chase. In the distance, a group of people from the Ryozanpaku dojo was desperately fleeing from a horde of zombies. Determining their trajectory, Saya pointed out the best route to intercept them.

Kiriko swiftly turned the Humvee around, floored the gas, and sped off in the indicated direction.

Meanwhile, the students and masters of Ryozanpaku dojo were struggling to outrun the pursuing horde.

Hayato Furinji, the self-proclaimed strongest man in the world, used his techniques to slow down the monsters, giving the others a chance to put some distance between them. The other masters also assisted, buying time for those running ahead.

“Master Sasaki, are you sure the ferry that arrived at the port isn’t a threat?” Kenichi asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice.

“Less talking, more running—unless you want me to give you a boost?” Renka Ma shot back, urging him forward. “Don’t forget, you’re carrying your sister!”

“She’s right, son,” added Mototsugu Shirahama. “Your masters are good people—they’ll definitely be able to negotiate with the newcomers.”

“Keep up, Kenichi! While Grandpa and the others buy us time, we have to reach the port!” Miu Furinji encouraged him.

Kenichi gave a silent nod, gritted his teeth, and, despite his exhaustion, kept running, holding his sister tightly in his arms.

The group was heading toward the port, as they noticed a ferry approaching. It was decided they would try to reach it and negotiate with its passengers for help.

Hayato once again struck the ground, scattering zombies in all directions, and then caught up with the others, making sure no one had fallen behind. He was on high alert, ready to rush to help if anyone slowed down or if a new wave of undead appeared ahead.

However, soon, the group was stopped by a strange sound.

It grew louder and louder. It sounded like someone wasn’t just moving toward them but was literally smashing through the walls in their path.

The masters of Ryozanpaku immediately positioned themselves in front, shielding the others. The sound of impacts grew closer… until the final wall before them shattered into pieces.

From the dust, a familiar figure emerged.

“I found you!” Alex announced with a wide grin.

The group of people stared at Alex as if he were some kind of oddball. They immediately assumed he was one of the bounty hunters who had been chasing them in recent days. However, what surprised them the most was his appearance: a completely unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, shorts, flip-flops—and three katanas hanging from his waist.

Alex, in turn, carefully surveyed the group from the Ryozanpaku dojo, wondering how many characters from the Kenichi manga had managed to survive. He immediately spotted Hayato and the other masters, Miu, Renka, Kenichi himself with his sister, as well as Kenichi’s parents. Raising an eyebrow, Alex realized that there were more survivors than he had expected. Even some of the secondary characters had made it, like Kisara, Kaname, and her “Valkyries”—or whatever she called them.

“Yo,” Alex waved a hand, greeting them. “You guys were tough to find. But you did a good job making enough noise.”

“Are you hunting for our heads too?” Hayato asked, frowning.

Alex tilted his head slightly, remembering that the masters of Ryozanpaku were probably on the list for elimination.

“Oh, no, of course not,” he waved off the idea. “I’m a man of good heart! Anyway, the thing is, my group and I are here to help you.”

“Why should we trust you?” Akisame Kojutsu asked suspiciously, eyeing Alex carefully.

“Well, you don’t have to believe me,” Alex shrugged. “But I suggest you keep moving toward the port. In the meantime, my little ones and I will buy you some time. Oh, and hurry up—the horde you pushed back is already catching up. Questions later, now—hurry up, let’s go!” He clapped his hands, urging the group on.

Behind him, G.I.R. and MIMI landed lightly, ready to join the fight. The Ryozanpaku people were slightly taken aback at the sight of these strange creatures with weapons in hand, but Alex paid them no mind. He focused on the approaching horde. Drawing one of his katanas, he smiled slowly. Finally, he’d get to stretch his legs a bit—the lazy life on the ferry was starting to irritate him.

“Young friend, you’d better come with us. These dead… they’re strange,” Hayato warned.

“Oh, come on, old man,” Alex waved him off. “I need to blow off some steam. Further down the road, you’ll find a Humvee with the girls—they’ll help you get to the ferry. Now, don’t bother me while I buy you some time.”

“Good luck, young friend,” Hayato said, understanding that he was dealing with a stubborn one.

Alex waved his hand, signaling that everything was under control. Then, he pulled out his second katana and placed it in his mouth, while taking the third with his free hand. Now, he was fully ready to cosplay the green-haired swordsman known for his three-sword style.

The masters, running toward the port, noticed how Alex held three katanas and couldn’t understand what style it was or why he was using it. Meanwhile, Alex was carefully studying the approaching horde of zombies. He noticed something strange but couldn’t make out the details due to the dense mass of the undead. Among them were mutated creatures that stood out from the usual zombies.

“Santoryu…” Alex took a combat stance.

When the horde got closer, he vanished from his spot, appearing right in its center. The moment he disappeared, the world seemed to freeze, and then…

Those who were running turned around and saw: Alex was right in the middle of the horde, and zombies were flying apart behind him. Their bodies were slashed in different directions, and blood sprayed through the air.

“Oni-Giri,” Alex said calmly, finishing the attack.

G.I.R. and MIMI charged into the zombie horde with battle cries, swinging their weapons and shouting something about “mutant filth.” Meanwhile, Alex jumped back, dodging a crushing blow from a Tank zombie, and involuntarily thought: the three-sword style was certainly flashy and effective against crowds, but it was horribly inconvenient to use.

“Santoryu: 108-pound cannon,” he muttered, launching three spiraling air projectiles directly into the heart of the enemies.

The shockwaves tore through the zombie ranks, shredding their bodies into pieces. Alex grunted, watching the results of the attack, then spat, sheathing his sword from his mouth.

“Damn, I don’t understand how Zoro does it. My jaw already hurts,” he grumbled, placing the katana back into its sheath.

Leaving only one blade in his hand—just as he was used to—Alex took his iaido stance. With one swift movement, he drew his sword, and immediately a bloody gap appeared among the zombies as their bodies collapsed like cut wheat.

“That’s better.”

However, the wave of the undead immediately surged with renewed strength. Alex, G.I.R., and MIMI rushed into battle once again, while the Ryozanpaku group, following his advice, continued moving toward the port.

Suddenly, a drone hovered above the fleeing group. Without hesitation, Sigure threw a shuriken, but she didn’t make it in time—just around the corner, a Humvee appeared. Inside the vehicle sat a group of girls, and perched behind a machine gun was a strange-looking blue dog. It became clear: this was exactly what Alex had been talking about.

“Are you the ones supposed to meet us?” Sasaki asked, glancing at the passengers in the Humvee.

“Looks like it,” Valmet replied, stepping out of the vehicle. “Those who can’t run—get inside! The rest—march to the port!”

“But aren’t we supposed to help that guy?” Kenichi asked cautiously, throwing a worried glance in Alex’s direction, where he was fighting the horde.

Rebecca just snorted:

“He’ll be fine. Now, kid, stop whining and get your sister into that damn Humvee. We don’t have time to waste on your hesitation.”

Kenichi flinched at her sharp tone but obeyed. His sister, parents, and those who had already exhausted themselves quickly took their places in the vehicle, while the others remained on their feet, ready to keep running.

“Receiving, this is Valmet. We’ve located the target. Everyone retreat to the port, I repeat—everyone retreat, target found.” She transmitted through the communicator.

“Copy that, retreating.” Voices came through the speaker.

Once everyone was ready, Kiriko pressed the gas pedal, and the Humvee surged forward.

The members of Ryozanpaku exchanged glances: from the key words in the conversation, they realized that this entire group had arrived just for their rescue. But why? What was the point?

Their thoughts were interrupted by a flash of an explosion.

Instinctively, everyone turned toward the direction where Alex had stayed. Clouds of smoke rose into the sky, and a charred but still twitching zombie corpse flew toward them. Without hesitation, Rebecca raised her shotgun and fired, blasting the rotten brains into the air.

Some of them jumped at her lightning-fast reaction.

“What are you all standing around for? Never seen zombies before?” she shouted, slinging the shotgun over her shoulder. “Move it, faster!”

After Rebecca’s words, the Ryozanpaku group decided to postpone their questions and hurried toward the port. The girls who had left the Humvee threw one last glance in the direction where Alex remained before following the others.

The group arrived at the port just as the other teams began to return. Brunhilde immediately took command, issuing clear orders to take defensive positions. The Ryozanpaku masters watched in surprise as the group moved with military precision. They even thought they weren’t just survivors, but well-trained soldiers. However, they didn’t know that under Brunhilde’s strict leadership, the discipline in the squad had been honed to perfection, and many of the fighters were simply afraid of the stern Valkyrie.

Soon, the masters noticed a familiar elderly couple among Alex’s people.

” Eijiro? Tomiko? You’re alive!” Kensai Ma exclaimed upon seeing the old friends.

“Of course we’re alive, you old pervert. Otherwise, how could I protect my granddaughter from your filthy hands?” Eijiro smirked at him.

“Oh, little Kana… Who would have thought you’d grow up into such a beauty, heh-heh-heh…” Kensai said with a lustful grin.

“Dad, stop it!” Renka scolded, kicking him in the back. “Even in times like this, you can’t stop hitting on women! If mom were here, she’d kill you!”

“Daughter, you underestimate me. I’ll always find time for my hobbies, even during the apocalypse!” Kensai proudly responded.

As soon as he said that, all the women in the port looked at him with expressions as if he were the worst person on earth. Their gazes were full of clear disgust, and some even wondered whether it was worth saving such a person at all.

Realizing that her father had once again made himself look bad, Renka angrily charged forward, intending to kick him again. However, Kensai skillfully dodged and began teasing his daughter, never losing his smug grin.

“Maybe we should just leave this old pervert here?” Valmet asked irritably, watching the scene unfold.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Rebecca agreed. “Although, if he really tries something nasty, Alex will either throw him overboard or just refresh him.”

“Enough talking, ladies!” Brunhilde’s stern voice rang out. “The zombie horde has arrived at the port! Prepare for battle!”

The conversation stopped immediately. Everyone turned toward the port entrance, where a new wave of the dead was breaking through. But for Alex’s group, this was far from their first encounter with such hordes. They knew that if they followed Brunhilde’s orders, they would survive.

The members of Ryozanpaku were astounded. They were once again reminded of just how well-coordinated this group was. From the conversation with the elderly Agatsuma, they realized that these people had come here solely to rescue them. They also learned that the man in beach attire they’d encountered earlier was the leader of this group.

What surprised them the most, however, was the stark contrast between Alex and his team. The person who was supposed to fight an entire zombie horde appeared utterly carefree when they saw him, while his fighters, in contrast, held their positions with military discipline. This contrast was so striking that it was hard for them to grasp.

Meanwhile, in a secret location, sat the man whom Alex had not yet met but already despised—Caleb Williams, Director of the Analytics Department and, simultaneously, the second-in-command at the Live Corporation, just below the mysterious Director.

Caleb sat at a massive desk in the Analytics Department, observing the events through the network of cameras. On the large monitor, two key situations unfolding in the city, where the Ryozanpaku dojo was located, were being broadcast. He rhythmically tapped his fingers on the desk, his gaze fixed on the screen.

On one side of the monitor, Alex, G.I.R., and MIMI were holding back the massive zombie horde, preventing it from advancing further. On the other side, Alex’s group was maintaining their position at the port, acting with coordination and confidence. In both cases, the undead couldn’t pose any threat to these people.

“Hmm, interesting…” Caleb squinted thoughtfully. “He’s exceeded my expectations again. How did such a person manage to avoid the Corporation’s attention? Leadership qualities and strength, all in one person… This is extremely troubling. But at the same time… damn fascinating.” His voice held almost a hint of admiration, though his expression remained cold.

The atmosphere in the room was tense. All the staff held their breath, making no sound as they observed the situation on the screen. They didn’t need to guess to know that Director Williams was irritated. His rhythmic tapping on the desk was pressing on the psyche of everyone present, and the fear of making a mistake kept them from even lifting their gaze.

But Caleb was no longer paying attention to that. His focus was entirely on Alex. The situation at the port no longer interested him.

“Director Williams, your orders?” came a cautious voice. It was Frank, one of the staff members, standing nearby.

Caleb smirked.

“Release the experimental product. This man will be the perfect subject for testing.”

Frank swallowed.

“But, sir… The experimental zombies are still unstable. We don’t know what might happen if we release them.”

“Did I stutter?” Caleb slowly turned his head toward his subordinate, his gaze cold and his voice sharp. “Execute the order.”

“Yes, sir!” Frank quickly nodded, feeling a cold sweat run down his spine.

Realizing Caleb was losing patience, he immediately contacted the research department and relayed the order to release the experimental zombies. There were objections in response—scientists claimed the zombies were still not stabilized, and the consequences could be unpredictable. However, as soon as they heard the order came from Caleb Williams himself, and sensed the hint of irritation in Frank’s voice, they quickly agreed to comply.

“Sir, what should we do about the Ryozanpaku people?” Frank asked, trying to hide his nervousness.

Caleb thoughtfully ran his finger across his chin.

“What was his name… Isshinsei Ogata? He expressed his desire to deal with the Ryozanpaku masters himself. Let him handle it. Does he think that just because we gave him power, he can sit idly by? We gave him the opportunities—now he needs to earn them.”

“I’ll relay the message now,” Frank quickly replied, already contacting Ogata.

Caleb slightly turned his head, his gaze lingering on Frank again.

“Since you brought it up… How’s the fusion with the U virus progressing?”

Frank nervously adjusted his glasses and began his report:

“After merging with the U virus, Isshinsei Ogata remains stable. He has gained significant physical enhancements—strength, endurance, and regeneration. According to him, he has reached a new level of skill in martial arts. However, the research department warns that the virus is still unstable and could spiral out of control at any moment.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow.

“And?”

“Given that the virus was brought from Africa, our specialists are continuing attempts to stabilize it. They’re unsure how it will behave in the body of a person with the martial arts mastery of someone like Isshinsei Ogata. Too many unknown factors that could lead to mutation,” Frank quickly explained.

Caleb smirked.

“All the more interesting.”

His gaze returned to the screen where Alex was fighting the zombie horde. Now, this battle promised to be even more exciting.

Caleb nodded and narrowed his eyes as he stared at the large screen. Frank waited patiently for further instructions.

“Hmm… Interesting. Another product they can’t stabilize. First the G-virus, now the U-virus. Is the research department really that incompetent?” Caleb said coldly, his gaze sharpening.

“Sir, regarding the G-virus, all developments and data were destroyed before it reached us. The U-virus is still in its early stages, but it’s much more stable than G. At least that’s what the research department says. The virus was only recently delivered to us, but they’ve already made some progress, thanks to data provided by the branch head in Africa,” Frank attempted to explain.

“Hmm. That person is earning his funding from us. But still, we should keep an eye on him. I don’t want a repeat of the situation with the one who created the G-virus. I trust I’m being clear?” Caleb slowly turned his head toward Frank.

“Yes, sir. Albert Wesker is under surveillance,” Frank quickly replied, almost stumbling over his own words.

“Hmm… Well, fine. Don’t let Wesker gain too much power. That man is far too ambitious. I noticed that look in his eyes when we first met… the look of someone aiming for more than they’re allowed,” Caleb said with a slight smirk, tapping his finger on the table.

He fell silent and refocused on the screen, where Alex was finishing off the last of the zombie horde. Alex didn’t even realize that he was about to be used as a test subject for the new experimental zombies.

Alex wiped the blood off his blade and sheathed the katana. Around him lay hundreds of dead zombies, their bodies filling the street, leaving no room to step.

“Well, at least I got a good warm-up,” Alex lazily stretched. “I was starting to think I was rusting away while stuck on the ferry. You guys don’t think so, right, kiddos?”

“Killing zombies is fun!” MIMI cheerfully declared, bouncing up and down.

“More filth to eradicate,” G.I.R. added grimly, still in combat mode.

“Heh, maybe next time,” Alex smirked, already preparing to head back to the port.

But at that moment, his ears caught a strange sound, and he quickly turned around. His eyes immediately twitched with irritation.

A new horde of zombies was emerging from around the corner… but now they were cybernetically enhanced. Metal implants, mechanical limbs, built-in weapons—they looked like something straight out of DOOM.

Alex even suspected that the Corporation had somehow contacted Davoth, but upon closer inspection, he realized they were just mechanized zombies. Although they resembled DOOM demons quite closely.

“Yay! New zombies!” MIMI squealed, raising her mace above her head.

“More filth to cleanse,” G.I.R. growled ominously, switching back into his Ultramarine mode.

“To hell with these cyber-zombies! This isn’t even the right genre! Who’s the idiot who thought mechanized zombies were a good idea? I’ll shove a stick up his ass!” Alex shouted irritably. “Stop mixing genres! Only I get to do that!”

The zombies, of course, didn’t respond. Instead, one of them raised its mechanized arm, and a plasma shot flew straight at Alex.

In the next moment, his eye twitched even more violently.

A flame of irritation literally oozed from him, but it wasn’t just because he had just been hit with a plasma charge to the face. He understood what this could lead to. There was a Marker in this world—and if it took control of these cyber-zombies, the situation could get a whole lot worse.

“Well, damn… Fine, you bastards, you asked for it,” Alex exhaled, holding back his growing fury. “First, I’ll deal with you, and then I’ll handle the idiot who created you.”

Alex gripped the katana’s handle and, along with G.I.R. and MIMI, charged into the fray.

Before engaging the new horde, he made an important decision: as soon as he got back to the ferry, he would just lie down… and not move until evening.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep