Alex rode through the city streets of Okinawa on his motorcycle, accompanied by Valmet and Shigure, heading toward the shopping mall. As he passed the buildings, he carefully observed them, keeping in mind that the zombies, known as the Ridden, preferred to nest in dark places—underground tunnels, basements, and other hidden corners where sunlight couldn’t reach. He marked potentially dangerous zones on the map in advance to warn the raid teams and avoid unnecessary risks.

Outside the military base, the city was in better condition than he had expected. Even Valmet noted this, pointing out the relatively intact buildings. Alex hoped that survivors might still be hiding among the ruins. The city was large, and there was always a chance of encountering groups of people. However, neither he nor the girls could be sure whether those survivors would be friendly or hostile.

The deeper they ventured into the city, the more frequently they encountered small groups of zombies—two or three at a time. These were the slow, mindless undead wandering aimlessly among the ruins. Alex didn’t waste time on them, simply maneuvering around.

After some time, they arrived at the shopping mall. Even from a distance, it was clear that the main entrance had been destroyed. Judging by the dried bloodstains and gnawed remains, a brutal massacre had taken place here. Those who hadn’t been devoured on the spot had likely already joined the horde, roaming the city in search of new prey.

Alex slowed down as they approached the entrance, allowing them to take in the full extent of the destruction.

“It looks like one of those huge zombies broke through the entrance,” Valmet suggested, examining the collapsed structures.

“Maybe, but it’s also possible that the people inside made too much noise and attracted attention. Or the infection started here, and chaos erupted instantly,” Alex replied, voicing his thoughts.

Valmet nodded in agreement. In times like these, even the smallest mistake could cost an entire group their lives. If their team hadn’t reached Okinawa by ferry, they would have had to make their way through mainland Japan, where even the slightest error could have been catastrophic.

With her rifle at the ready, Valmet scanned the area carefully before patting Alex on the shoulder, signaling him to move forward.

Alex slowly drove through the shattered entrance. The scene inside was even more gruesome: shattered display windows, pools of dried blood, scattered remains. If the mall looked ominous from the outside, inside, it was nothing short of a horror show.

“It feels like everyone from the surrounding area rushed here in the early days of the outbreak,” Valmet observed, glancing around.

“Herd instinct. They just followed the crowd,” Shigure added in her usual monotone voice.

Alex didn’t argue. In crisis situations, people naturally gravitate toward large groups, hoping for safety, but more often than not, it only hastens their demise.

Wasting no time, Alex headed toward the mall directory. Reaching the central hall, he stopped in front of a large map of the building. Their first priority was to check the grocery stores and essential supply shops before dealing with anything else.

“If there’s anything valuable here, should we call the guys to haul everything back to the base?” Alex asked Valmet.

“I think so. They’re just lazing around anyway. Let’s give them something useful to do,” she replied with a nod.

“Yes,” Shigure added simply.

Alex nodded in agreement. If the mall contained valuable supplies, it was better to transport everything immediately rather than waste time returning later. Turning his motorcycle, he headed toward the grocery stores.

As they passed by other boutiques and display windows, it was clear that people had once taken refuge here. This was especially noticeable in a furniture store: makeshift sleeping areas, belongings piled in a corner, left behind in haste. Alex even considered grabbing a couple of mattresses, adding them to the list of things to take.

Reaching the grocery store inside the mall, Alex let out a whistle of surprise. Even Valmet and Shigure looked slightly taken aback. None of them had expected to see so many supplies. The shelves were still packed with food and household goods. This could only mean one thing—whoever had taken shelter here hadn’t stayed for long. Either the zombies wiped them out quickly, or they had to flee, abandoning their stockpile.

Since supplies were available, there was one more important thing to grab—underwear for the girls. Turning the motorcycle around, Alex rode up to the escalator and ascended to the upper floor. Finding the right store wasn’t difficult. Stopping in front of the display, he killed the engine.

“Underwear?” Shigure asked, tilting her head slightly.

“Yeah. The girls at the base asked for some. And you should pick something too,” Alex replied, lighting a cigarette.

“I don’t need it,” Shigure said calmly, showing the bandage wrap that compressed her chest. “This is more convenient.”

“You should still take a few sets. Sports underwear won’t chafe or restrict movement,” Valmet interjected, lifting her shirt slightly to show her sports top.

Shigure eyed her carefully, squinting a little. Alex, on the other hand, felt his eye twitch. He shot Valmet a look that clearly said, “Did you really have to show your chest instead of just explaining?” Valmet just rolled her eyes in response.

Not wanting to waste time, Alex entered the store first to pick out sets for the girls. His gut told him that if he didn’t hurry, they’d be stuck here for a while. As he searched for the right items, his suspicions were confirmed—Valmet had taken Shigure to the sportswear section and was giving her advice like a professional consultant.

Alex sighed, quickly packed the items, and sat down in a chair near the exit, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. For a moment, he even doubted whether a zombie apocalypse was actually raging outside. Lowering his gaze, he saw Tachimaru perched on the armrest of the chair, looking just as bored as he was.

“Looks like I’m not the only one, huh, little guy?” he chuckled, scratching the mouse behind the ear.

Tachimaru squinted, enjoying the affection. Alex pondered who was cooler—Tachimaru or those battle mice trained by Tengen Uzui. Then, out of nowhere, he imagined his pet fighting them while G.I.R. chased Sanemi and Obanai just for being idiots.

Alex snickered quietly.

“What are you scheming now?” Valmet’s voice sounded as she loomed over him.

“Hmm… Have you picked out underwear for Shigure?” he lazily raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, here,” Shigure said, showing the chosen set.

Alex nodded, picked up Tachimaru, and placed him on his head. Once everything was packed, he decided it was time to leave the mall and explore other locations in the city. He was particularly interested in the agricultural store—there, he could find everything needed to build greenhouses. Even though he already had a stockpile of such materials, having extra wouldn’t hurt. He had no idea how many more people would join their group on their way to Alaska.

Walking over to the motorcycle, Alex opened the weapon compartment and stashed the packs of underwear inside. Shigure, realizing that carrying them in her hands wasn’t the best option, followed his example.

Sitting on his motorcycle, Alex decided to contact the guys at the military base so they could come and collect the supplies. He pulled the communicator from his pocket and inserted the earpiece into his ear.

“Hey, Lehm, you there?” he asked, establishing the connection.

“What’s up, kid? Need help?” came Lehm’s response.

“Something like that. We’re at the shopping mall right now, and I can tell you—there are a ton of supplies here. Can you gather everyone who’s free and come pick them up?”

“Oh? That many supplies?” Lehm asked with interest.

“More than enough,” Alex confirmed. “We haven’t checked the storage area yet, but most of the shelves are still packed with food and household goods. Better grab them now before someone else does. Meanwhile, I’ll check out a few other locations with the girls. I’ve already sent the mall’s coordinates to your holo-map.”

“Got it. I’ll round up the guys and head out. Over and out.”

Finishing the call, Alex pocketed the communicator and glanced at Valmet to see if she was ready to move out. She gave a nod. Then he turned to Shigure, who also nodded in confirmation.

Revving the engine, Alex shot forward. Valmet, realizing his intentions, wrapped her arms around his waist, bracing for a sharp maneuver. Instead of heading down to the first floor, Alex decided to take a shortcut—by jumping off the second.

Tachimaru, perched on his head, sensed his plan and dug his tiny claws into Alex’s hair to avoid falling off. Alex squeezed his legs around Shigure to hold her in place, and she, realizing what was happening, grabbed onto his arms.

Launching off the second floor, Alex twisted mid-air and, upon landing, immediately accelerated.

“How was that landing?” he asked, steering the bike.

“Next time, warn me! I don’t want to get thrown off!” Valmet complained, tightening her grip around his waist.

“It was fun,” Shigure remarked calmly, giving a slight nod.

Alex smirked and continued riding. There was no time to waste—too much still needed to be done before they moved on.

Following the map, he guided the motorcycle toward the agricultural store, deciding to check it out. After a while, they reached their destination, and Alex headed straight for the warehouses, where materials, fertilizers, and fertile soil were likely stored.

He knew that Alaska’s climate was too cold for open-field farming, making greenhouses a necessity.

Parking near the warehouses, Alex wasn’t surprised that no one had tried looting the agricultural stores during the zombie apocalypse.Jumping off the motorcycle, he and the girls scanned the area to make sure it was clear.

“What are we looking for?” Valmet asked, surveying the surroundings.

“We need materials for greenhouses, soil, and fertilizers. It’s cold in Alaska, and growing most crops without special conditions is impossible. We’ll have to build greenhouses,” Alex explained.

“You’ve planned that far ahead… Although, why am I surprised? That’s just your style,” Valmet said, shrugging.

“Exactly! Your husband is a wise and farsighted man!” Alex declared proudly, puffing out his chest.

“Uh-huh, sure. You’re also strange, with your ridiculous sense of humor, and you love causing trouble for others. Whenever you’re bored, you always find something crazy to do,” Valmet said with a squint, eyeing him.

Alex choked and immediately deflated after Valmet’s words. It wasn’t his fault he was like this—he couldn’t even say it used to be worse.

Noticing she’d managed to amuse herself at his expense, Valmet smiled, leaned toward him, and planted a quick kiss on his cheek as if to comfort him. Feeling the light kiss, Alex simply huffed and led the girls into the warehouse.

Once inside, he began searching for the necessary materials, marking them on his holographic map so he could later organize their transport with the group. Of course, he wasn’t going to make the two girls carry heavy loads—if necessary, he could always bring along G.I.R., MIMI, and Stitch, and they’d have no trouble delivering three loaded trucks.

“Is everything here?” Shigure asked, gently tugging on the edge of Alex’s shirt.

“Looks like it. I think the soil and fertilizers here will be enough for now. Everything needed to build the greenhouses is here. We just need to transport it to the military base,” Alex said, thoughtfully stroking his chin.

Shigure nodded and started looking around. After a while, Valmet returned and reported on everything found in the warehouse. Alex noted the data on the holograph, contemplating how to handle the remaining materials.

However, what concerned him the most was the need to build housing for the group. Still, he decided not to dwell on it too much—he could always use chakra to build houses. The real question was whether such buildings would be livable in Alaska’s harsh conditions.

After finishing the inspection, Alex and the girls headed toward the exit. However, as soon as they stepped outside, Alex suddenly stopped, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“What’s wrong?” Valmet asked, sensing the change in his expression.

“Do you hear that?” Alex listened intently to the distant sounds.

The girls strained their ears, trying to understand what he meant. Soon, they made out the rumble of approaching vehicles. At first, Valmet thought it was one of their group members, but quickly dismissed the idea—no one from their group was supposed to be heading this way.

Shigure, instead of guessing, decided to check it out herself. Taking a few steps back, she gathered speed, pushed off from Alex’s shoulder, and skillfully jumped onto the roof of the warehouse to get a better view of the source of the noise.

Alex and Valmet looked up, watching Shigure’s movements.

“What do you see?” Alex asked.

The girl didn’t answer right away, squinting at the road. After a few seconds, she caught sight of movement and saw three vehicles come around the corner—two black SUVs that looked very sturdy, followed by a large truck. Shigure narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the people inside, but the windows of the SUVs were completely tinted, making it impossible to see the interiors.

“Three vehicles heading our way. They’re strange,” she reported, casting a glance downward.

Alex frowned. To confirm for himself, he jumped, pushed off the wall, and soon landed next to Shigure. The girl silently pointed toward the vehicles that had caught her attention.

Squinting, Alex studied the SUVs and frowned even more—they seemed very familiar. He had only seen those kinds of vehicles once—when a substation in the first city caught fire, and he went to check what had happened. It was there that he first encountered a group of soldiers without insignia, later learning that they worked for the Evil Corporation. The prisoner he had captured back then had gone mad, and he had to “erase” him to avoid causing further problems.

Now, Alex had a new question—what the hell were these bastards doing in Okinawa? And most importantly, was their headquarters here?

“What’s going on?” Valmet called from below.

“Looks like our old friends. And it seems they’re heading straight for us,” Alex replied, squinting.

Valmet frowned as she realized who he was talking about. Alex wrapped his arm around Shigure’s waist, and before the girl could react, he jumped down. Once on the ground, he quickly began thinking through the situation. What confused him the most was the truck in the convoy of SUVs—what could they need it for?

Noticing the thoughtful look on Alex’s face, Valmet sighed heavily and patted him on the shoulder, distracting him from his thoughts. She was still getting used to the fact that he sometimes became completely absorbed in his thoughts without explaining his actions to those around him.

“What should we do, now that you say they’re heading toward us?” she asked, continuing to pat him on the shoulder.

Alex stopped thinking and grunted.

“I think we should meet them. But you two should hide.”

Valmet and Shigure silently agreed with his decision and took cover, ready to support him if needed. Alex, on the other hand, casually leaned against the motorcycle, patiently waiting for the convoy to arrive. Now, there was no doubt that the vehicles were heading straight toward them.

He glanced at Valmet and Shigure, who were hidden behind nearby cover, and nodded at them, receiving silent signals of readiness in return.

The sound of engines grew louder, and soon the convoy appeared around the corner: two massive black SUVs and the truck following behind. The vehicles came to a sudden stop, and armed men stepped out of the SUVs.

“Raise your hands!” one of the soldiers shouted, aiming his rifle at Alex.

Alex looked at him with contempt, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

“Oh, girls, I thought you were better prepared,” he mockingly said.

“I said, raise your hands, bastard!” the soldier repeated, raising his voice.

Alex lazily raised his hands, smirking, but inside, he was carefully watching their movements. Seeing his “compliance,” the soldier holding him in his sights nodded to his comrade.

Receiving the signal, the second soldier cautiously moved forward, aiming at Alex. However, the squad commander, holding a tablet, frowned. He quickly snapped a photo of Alex’s face and initiated the facial recognition system.

Within a second, information appeared on the screen. The captain’s face went pale. The “HIGHLY DANGEROUS” label next to Alex’s name made it clear that they were not dealing with an ordinary person.

He was about to shout at the soldier to stop, but the soldier had already approached, ready to put on handcuffs.

“Stop! Don’t go near him! He’s dangerous!” the captain shouted, his voice breaking into a rasp.

The soldier, who was about to put the handcuffs on, turned around, confused about why his commander was so anxious. The other soldiers also looked at the captain, noticing how tense he had become.

Alex, who had been standing calmly with his hands raised, grinned predatorily.

They understood. Too late.

The soldier standing before him suddenly felt a strange burning sensation in his chest. He tried to inhale, but instead of air, blood poured out of his mouth. Looking down, he saw Alex’s hand pass through his ribcage.

“Surprise,” Alex whispered, grinning widely.

The soldier didn’t even have time to scream—the darkness overtook him before he realized what had happened.

The other soldiers froze in shock, but quickly recovered.

“Dammit! Shoot him!” the captain bellowed. “I don’t believe we can’t kill him!”

All the soldiers immediately recovered and aimed their rifles at Alex. He calmly pushed the dead soldier’s body aside, his grin widening, then began to deform, revealing sharp teeth. The sight chilled the soldiers to the bone. When Alex took a step forward, they, unconsciously gripped by fear, retreated in unison.

However, one of them, driven by the instinct of “fight or flight,” couldn’t hold back and pulled the trigger. Alex barely tilted his head, dodging the bullet, his grin growing even wider. The sound of the shot signaled the others, and they opened fire in a torrential barrage.

Alex drew Yamato and, without moving from his spot, effortlessly deflected the bullets coming at him. The blade flashed with terrifying speed, cutting the metal into tiny pieces. When the magazines in the rifles ran dry, Alex skillfully laid out all the bullets he had deflected before him, neatly arranging them in a row.

“Not great shooting, girls,” he said with feigned disappointment. “Did they even teach you how to properly pull the trigger? Is your whole outfit made up of such pathetic amateurs?”

“Shut up and die!” the captain roared, drawing his pistol and opening fire again.

Alex calmly deflected these bullets as well, watching the captain’s face twist with panic. As soon as the magazine ran out and the characteristic click sounded, Alex smiled slightly and pointed at the bullets laid out in front of him.

“Impressive, isn’t it?” he smirked.

The soldiers, realizing that their weapons were powerless, panicked. Their gazes darted between Alex and the captain, waiting for orders.

“Valmet, Shigure. Kill everyone except the captain. I want to invite him… for tea.” Alex smirked, watching the opponents’ reactions.

As soon as he finished the sentence, a shot rang out, and one of the soldiers fell with a hole in his head. In the next moment, another soldier had a shuriken lodged in his throat, sending him to the afterlife.

Alex glanced briefly at Shigure, realizing he had underestimated her readiness to kill. He knew of her commitment to the path of the merciful fist, but it seemed she had realized that some people do not deserve forgiveness.

Within a few seconds, all the soldiers were dead.

The captain, the only survivor, froze in place, his gaze bouncing between the bodies of his subordinates, Alex, and his companions.

“Unexpected, huh?” Alex slowly approached him, his eyes shimmering with a rainbow glow. “But, you know, shit happens sometimes. It’s a pity, but with your caveman thinking, it was hard to predict.”

The captain met Alex’s gaze—and inside, everything turned cold. He understood there was no escape.

With trembling hands, he lifted the pistol to his temple, intending to shoot himself, but…

Click.

Empty.

He had forgotten to reload the pistol.

“Oh, you’re better than most,” Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Rarely does anyone make such a move. Usually, they beg, scream, cling to life till the last.”

“Go to hell!” the captain roared, suddenly drawing a knife and attempting to strike Alex’s throat.

The blade froze just a centimeter from his neck.

Alex, not even blinking, caught the blade between two fingers.

The captain, putting all his strength into it, tried to drive the knife deeper, but it didn’t move.

“Don’t strain yourself like that, or you’ll get hemorrhoids,” Alex said with a smirk, snapping the blade with a single motion.

The captain froze in terror, realizing his fate was sealed…

There was a snap, and the knife blade cracked, scattering into shards. The captain stood still, realizing this was his last hope. The spark of resistance in his eyes faded, replaced by indifference before the inevitable. Alex shook his head, watching the expression. Such a look is only seen in those who have completely resigned themselves to their fate.

Valmet stared intently at the captain’s face. She recognized that look—once upon a time, it had been hers, on the day she lost her entire squad. Back then, she felt complete despair and helplessness before those responsible for their deaths. But now, she felt no pity or sympathy. They were on opposite sides, and especially considering the captain served the Evil Corporation, Valmet saw nothing in him but an enemy.

“Valmet, Shigure, check the truck. Find out what they were transporting,” Alex turned his gaze to the girls and smiled widely. “I’ll have a chat with our new friend in the meantime.”

The girls nodded silently and headed for the vehicle, leaving Alex with the prisoner. Once they disappeared behind the truck, playful sparks lit up in Alex’s eyes. He had said he’d “chat,” but talking was not part of his plan. He had a much more effective method of getting information.

Before the captain could react, Alex’s hand grabbed his head. In the next second, the man felt such intense pain that it seemed as though his body was being turned inside out. Alex rarely used his ability to read minds, preferring interrogations, but he didn’t want to waste time now.

After scanning the captain’s mind, he let out a disappointed sigh. There was no Corporation branch in Okinawa. This frustrated him. But he also learned who was in the truck. The soldiers had arrived only a few hours ago with one goal—capturing survivors. And it seemed this group of people was far from the first. The Corporation had been using prisoners for horrific experiments.

Anger consumed Alex. His fingers clenched, and with a horrifying crack, he crushed the captain’s skull, leaving not a trace behind.

At the same time, Valmet and Shigure reached the truck and, without wasting any time, threw open the doors. Before them stood a group of terrified people: men, women, children, the elderly. Their eyes were filled with fear.

Valmet frowned, internally wondering why the Corporation had been hunting these particular people.

“Don’t be afraid,” her voice was confident yet soft. “We’re here to help. Those who captured you are already dead.”

The people looked at her distrustfully, hesitant to come out. Valmet didn’t rush them, understanding that fear wouldn’t disappear instantly. To calm them, she began telling them about her group, the military base, and the safe haven where they would be protected. Gradually, the people began exchanging glances with each other and then, one by one, began climbing down from the truck bed.

Upon seeing the bodies of their captors, they realized Valmet had spoken the truth.

Shigure had remained silent all this time, but her furrowed brows and tight lips betrayed her anger.

Alex, noticing this, approached and gently placed his hand on her head.

“Are you okay?”

Shigure turned her head and looked directly into his eyes.

“Why did they take these people?”

Alex paused for a moment before answering quietly.

“I think you won’t like the answer. It’s better if you just don’t think about it. The important thing is that we saved them.”

Shigure thought for a while, then nodded, following his advice.

Valmet approached closer and tugged on Alex’s shirt, silently demanding an answer to the same question. Alex shook his head, signaling that he would explain later. She sighed and decided to wait.

After a while, the men arrived, ready to evacuate the people. Alex approached them and, besides giving instructions, tried to calm the survivors, explaining that there were children and the elderly in their group, and that they were safe. Gradually, the people began to trust his words.

When the evacuation was complete, the transport carrying the survivors headed for the camp. Alex waved them off, but his thoughts were heavy. Today, he had learned too much about the Corporation’s atrocities, and his anger only deepened.

Not wanting to dive back into grim thoughts, he decided to return to the base with the girls and find something to distract him from the unpleasant information.

To be continued…

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep