Chapter Summary: “Hunting Plan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Xiaochun, Liu Baiyue, and the others observe the climactic battle between the Jiangbei Corpse Nest and Night Fiend’s forces. Because Lin Dong and Night Fiend’s overlapping domains make the battlefield too dangerous to enter directly, Liu Baiyue devises a strategy to hunt down a severely wounded Zombie King.
• They identify Little Eight, an S-rank speed-type Zombie King, as the ideal target. Although extremely fast and dangerous, she is physically weaker than other Zombie Kings and has already suffered heavy injuries and energy loss.
• Baldy 09 claims he can restrain Little Eight. Liu Baiyue positions their aircraft near the battlefield to allow both a quick attack and an easy escape if necessary.
• 09, Zhao Xiaochun, and the others launch their operation. 09 attacks Little Eight with fire, forcing her to evade while the surrounding zombie tide turns against the humans.
• At the same time, Night Fiend and Lin Dong continue their devastating duel. Night Fiend discovers that Lin Dong’s Stone Tablet contains three Crystal Stones, explaining its immense power and the high evolutionary level of Lin Dong’s forces.
• 09 engages Little Eight directly. Her claws tear into his body, but his Adamantium skeleton and liquid-metal skin allow him to regenerate instantly. He counters with ice attacks, driving her back.
• Liu Baiyue believes the hunt is progressing successfully, while Little Eight becomes increasingly enraged and launches another assault on 09.

Character Developments

• Liu Baiyue demonstrates tactical leadership. Initially relieved that others still trust her judgment, she quickly analyzes the battlefield and selects a practical target rather than attempting to influence the main battle directly.
• Zhao Xiaochun supports Liu Baiyue’s plan and helps coordinate the attack, showing confidence in the group’s ability to exploit the battlefield’s chaos.
• Baldy 09 reveals the value of his altered programming and advanced construction. He fights calmly and efficiently, using his fire and ice abilities while relying on his metal body’s resilience and regeneration.
• Little Eight is shown as extraordinarily fast, aggressive, and battle-hardened. Despite severe injuries, she continues slaughtering enemies and responds to 09’s attack with increasing fury.
• Night Fiend becomes more cautious and analytical during his fight with Lin Dong. He recognizes the superior strength of Lin Dong’s Corpse Domain and begins calculating how much energy his opponent may have expended.
• Lin Dong remains composed and confident, treating the human intervention as an expected development rather than a serious disruption.

Significant Themes

• Strategy amid overwhelming power: Since the humans cannot challenge the two supreme Zombie Kings directly, they focus on weakening their forces by targeting vulnerable commanders.
• Exploiting battlefield chaos: The massive battle creates opportunities for smaller groups to intervene, hunt weakened enemies, and alter the balance without confronting the main powers head-on.
• Technological strength versus monstrous power: 09’s mechanical body and elemental abilities allow him to withstand attacks that would destroy an ordinary human, emphasizing the potential of advanced human technology.
• Hidden reserves and power gaps: Night Fiend’s discovery of Lin Dong’s three Crystal Stones highlights the unequal resources between the opposing forces and suggests that the battle’s outcome may depend on energy reserves as much as raw strength.
• Persistence despite injury: Little Eight’s continued aggression despite her wounds emphasizes the relentless, almost instinctive nature of the Zombie Kings.

Character Interactions

• Liu Baiyue takes command while Zhao Xiaochun and the others seek her tactical direction, reinforcing her leadership role.
• Zhao Xiaochun coordinates with 09, who volunteers to restrain Little Eight and becomes the main combatant in the hunt.
• 09 and Little Eight engage in a direct battle of speed and durability: she relies on rapid claw attacks, while he absorbs the damage and counters with ice and fire abilities.
• Night Fiend notices the humans attacking the opposing Corpse Nest and, despite not knowing who they are, welcomes their intervention because it benefits him.
• Lin Dong observes the humans’ arrival without surprise, understanding that outside forces would inevitably enter a battle of such scale.

Chapter Summary: “Little Eight’s Injury”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Augmented Human 09 uses his advanced computational abilities to predict and intercept Little Eight’s movements, grabbing her wrist and crushing it with his adamantium-like fingers.
• As 09 is about to kill her, Tank arrives and punches him away, badly denting 09’s liquid-metal face. However, 09 quickly repairs himself.
• Little Eight, despite her severely broken arm and worsening injuries, orders the zombies to kill the human attackers.
• Liu Baiyue instructs Zhao Xiaochun’s team to retreat, recognizing that the Zombie Kings are distracted by the ongoing battle with the Provincial Capital Zombie Tide and may not pursue far.
• Their escape is blocked when Flowerpot, Zombie Tiger Little White, and Little Black arrive to support Little Eight, along with numerous Elite Zombies and Ace Elites.
• 09 stays behind to protect the humans, using ice and fire abilities to hold back Tank and the other powerful zombies.
• Flowerpot’s vines bypass 09 and attack the retreating humans. Several are pierced, lifted into the air, and drained of their flesh and blood.
• Little Black, who had remained hidden as a shadow, ambushes and kills another human, causing Zhao Xiaochun’s team to suffer heavy casualties.
• While monitoring the battle, Ye Jian notices Liu Baiyue beside an aircraft speaking with a mysterious, scarred man bearing a Black Scorpion tattoo. He reacts with extreme shock, identifying the man as “Black Scorpion.”

Character Developments

• 09: Demonstrates exceptional combat intelligence, durability, and control over multiple powers. He shifts from attacker to protector, holding off the Zombie Kings so the humans can escape.
• Little Eight: Although her arm is nearly destroyed and she is covered in blood, she remains aggressive and commands the other zombies. Her resilience and savage determination are emphasized.
• Tank: Shows loyalty toward Little Eight by immediately intervening when 09 attacks her. His physical strength is immense, though even he finds 09’s body unusually hard.
• Flowerpot and Little Black: Reveal their effectiveness as coordinated support fighters. Flowerpot controls the battlefield with overwhelming vines, while Little Black uses stealth and surprise attacks.
• Zhao Xiaochun: Recognizes the danger and follows Liu Baiyue’s retreat order, but her group becomes trapped and overwhelmed.
• Ye Jian: Moves from criticizing the reckless operation to becoming alarmed by the appearance of Black Scorpion, suggesting a larger and more dangerous development.

Significant Themes

• The danger of underestimating evolved zombies: The Zombie Kings are not isolated monsters; they cooperate, protect one another, and coordinate attacks.
• Loyalty and collective defense: The zombies immediately rally around Little Eight, demonstrating their sense of solidarity and mutual protection.
• The cost of recklessness: The human team’s decision to attack despite warnings leads to severe injuries and rapid casualties.
• Power versus strategy: Raw strength alone is insufficient. 09’s predictive intelligence allows him to compete with multiple Zombie Kings, while the zombies’ teamwork overwhelms the weaker humans.
• Hidden threats and escalating conflict: The appearance of Black Scorpion at the end implies that the battlefield conflict is connected to a broader conspiracy or new power struggle.

Character Interactions

• 09 attacks and nearly kills Little Eight, but Tank interrupts to protect her.
• Little Eight summons the surrounding Zombie Kings and commands them to eliminate the humans.
• Liu Baiyue guides Zhao Xiaochun’s team remotely, ordering them to retreat when the situation becomes untenable.
• 09 cooperates with the humans by covering their escape, while Tank, Little White, Flowerpot, and Little Black work together to stop them.
• Ye Jian and his secretary discuss the failed operation, but Ye Jian’s attention shifts when he sees Liu Baiyue meeting the mysterious Black Scorpion.

Chapter Summary: Black Scorpion Members

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Jian realizes that Liu Baiyue’s sabotage of Augmented Human 09 and the company’s communications was possible because she had secretly allied herself with the Black Scorpion Organization.
• At the battlefield’s edge, Liu Baiyue reports to Black Scorpion leader Long Fei that she not only altered 09’s programming but also brought Zhao Xiaochun and several other experts into the organization’s sphere of influence.
• Long Fei praises her contribution, but Liu Baiyue demands complete freedom to act independently. Long Fei agrees, while making it clear that he views her as a future partner or possession.
• Black Scorpion enters the chaotic battle between humans and zombies, intending to hunt powerful Zombie Kings and obtain their valuable S-Rank Crystal Cores.
• Long Fei uses his S-rank Shadow Control Technique to restrain the zombies and the battlefield’s dangerous vines. He unexpectedly “welcomes” Zhao Xiaochun to Black Scorpion, implying that Liu Baiyue has already decided her allegiance for her.
• Black Scorpion’s intervention changes the battle’s balance, allowing its elite members to fight alongside Zhao Xiaochun and the altered 09.
• Long Fei detects Little Black attempting a stealth attack and neutralizes him by controlling his shadow. A Black Scorpion member wounds Little Black before he escapes the killing blow.
• Long Fei targets the already injured Little Eight. Using his shadow ability to immobilize her, he severs her damaged arm and prepares to kill her and extract her Crystal Core.
• Little Black desperately calls out to Little Eight, but the other Zombie Kings are too far away to help.
• As Long Fei’s saber is about to split Little Eight’s head, another weapon suddenly blocks the attack. The chapter ends with lightning surging from the intervening blade and striking toward Long Fei.

Character Developments

• Liu Baiyue openly confirms her betrayal of the company and demonstrates that she has strategically aligned herself with Black Scorpion. She remains assertive, insisting on independence despite working under Long Fei.
• Long Fei is established as a powerful and ruthless Black Scorpion leader. He is confident, opportunistic, and motivated by both power and valuable Crystal Cores. His shadow ability makes him especially dangerous against stealth-based enemies.
• Zhao Xiaochun is effectively absorbed into Black Scorpion without being consulted. Though confused, she prioritizes survival and continues fighting.
• Augmented Human 09 proves highly resilient. Despite suffering numerous wounds, his liquid-metal body repairs itself, allowing him to continue battling Tank and Little White.
• Little Black encounters a natural counter to his shadow-based abilities in Long Fei. His injury and inability to save Little Eight reveal his vulnerability and emotional concern for his fellow Zombie Kings.
• Little Eight is shown to be ferocious but critically weakened. Her helplessness against Long Fei contrasts sharply with her usual strength, and her final thought—“Goodbye, Boss”—suggests deep loyalty and attachment to someone important.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and shifting loyalties: Liu Baiyue’s defection and Zhao Xiaochun’s forced “recruitment” show how alliances can change rapidly during the crisis.
• Power and exploitation: Black Scorpion treats the battlefield as an opportunity to harvest Crystal Cores and recruit or manipulate useful fighters.
• Predator versus predator: Humans, Black Scorpion, and Zombie Kings all exploit one another’s weaknesses rather than forming stable alliances.
• Control and autonomy: Long Fei’s shadow control mirrors his attempts to dominate others, while Liu Baiyue’s insistence on independence pushes back against his possessiveness.
• Desperation and sacrifice: Little Eight’s injuries and Little Black’s failed rescue attempt emphasize the vulnerability of even powerful characters in the chaotic battle.

Character Interactions

• Liu Baiyue and Long Fei: Their exchange reveals a tense alliance. Liu Baiyue seeks freedom, while Long Fei treats their relationship as personally and romantically inevitable.
• Long Fei and Zhao Xiaochun: He declares her a Black Scorpion member in the middle of combat, while she realizes Liu Baiyue is responsible for her situation.
• Long Fei and Little Black: Their shadow abilities directly oppose each other. Long Fei easily suppresses Little Black, making him a dangerous natural enemy.
• Long Fei and Little Eight: Long Fei takes advantage of her injuries and attempts to execute her for her Crystal Core, showing his ruthlessness.
• Little Black and Little Eight: Little Black’s alarmed cry demonstrates his concern for Little Eight and highlights the bonds among the Zombie Kings.
• 09, Tank, and Little White: Their ongoing battle remains evenly matched, with 09’s regenerative liquid-metal body allowing him to withstand continuous attacks.
• The sudden arrival of the lightning-wielding fighter interrupts Little Eight’s execution, setting up a confrontation with Long Fei.

Chapter Summary: “Order and Chaos”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Long Fei, a leader of the Black Scorpion Organization, attempts to kill the zombies but is stopped by Cheng Luoyi, one of the Shelter’s strongest awakened fighters.
• Chen Muyan arrives and condemns the Black Scorpion as an evil force worse than the zombies. He also confronts Liu Baiyue, who has recently become one of Black Scorpion’s leaders.
• The confrontation develops into a symbolic battle between the Shelter’s “order” and Black Scorpion’s “chaos.” Both sides prepare for a major clash involving powerful human awakened fighters as well as the broader conflict against the Zombie Kings.
• Long Fei attacks Cheng Luoyi with his Shadow Control Technique, binding her in place. Believing her helpless, he attempts to kill her with his blade.
• Cheng Luoyi unexpectedly catches the blade with her bare hand, enduring the wound without showing pain, then snaps the weapon in half through sheer physical strength. Long Fei is shocked by the overwhelming gap between them and retreats.
• Elsewhere, Chen Muyan fights several Black Scorpion elites at once. Though outnumbered and pressured by elemental and speed-type abilities, he remains calm and successfully blocks or avoids their attacks.
• As the battle continues from dusk into night, Chen Muyan deliberately creates distance and observes the approaching darkness. He ominously announces, “Night has fallen. Please close your eyes…”

Character Developments

• Long Fei: Initially confident in his S-rank strength and Shadow Control Technique, he becomes frightened and disoriented after discovering that Cheng Luoyi can resist his ability and overpower him physically. His belief in Black Scorpion’s superiority is severely shaken.
• Cheng Luoyi: Demonstrates extraordinary physical strength, pain tolerance, and composure. Despite being wounded and restrained, she remains expressionless and treats Long Fei as an inferior opponent. Her contempt for Black Scorpion is reinforced by her dismissive comments about their outdated technology.
• Chen Muyan: Establishes himself as a calm, capable, and ideologically driven fighter. Even while surrounded by numerous powerful enemies, he refuses to be psychologically intimidated and appears to be preparing a decisive counterattack connected to nightfall.
• Liu Baiyue: Faces direct condemnation from her former allies after joining Black Scorpion. Though she says little, her resolve suggests she accepts the consequences of her choice and remains committed to her path.
• Black Scorpion elites: Their ruthlessness and willingness to attack in groups emphasize their chaotic, violent nature, though their confidence begins to contrast with Chen Muyan’s composure.

Significant Themes

• Order versus chaos: The chapter explicitly frames the conflict between the Shelter and Black Scorpion as a larger ideological struggle, not merely a personal or military confrontation.
• Appearance versus true strength: Long Fei assumes Cheng Luoyi is vulnerable because of her slender appearance, but her immense physical power completely overturns his expectations.
• Justice and hypocrisy: Chen Muyan claims Black Scorpion’s actions are driven by ambition rather than justice, while Liu Baiyue insists their actions are meant to fight the zombies. Their disagreement raises questions about whether either side truly represents justice.
• Confidence and psychological warfare: Black Scorpion relies on intimidation, numbers, and viciousness, while Chen Muyan counters with emotional control and patience.
• The coming darkness: Nightfall functions both literally and symbolically, suggesting that a more dangerous phase of the battle—and possibly Chen Muyan’s hidden ability—is about to begin.

Character Interactions

• Cheng Luoyi and Long Fei: Their duel reveals a dramatic imbalance in strength. Long Fei attempts to exploit Shadow Bind, but Cheng Luoyi withstands it, breaks his weapon, and forces him onto the defensive.
• Chen Muyan and Liu Baiyue: Chen Muyan openly denounces Liu Baiyue for becoming a Black Scorpion leader, while she refuses to back down or justify herself further.
• Chen Muyan and the Black Scorpion elites: He is surrounded and taunted by multiple enemies, but their psychological pressure fails to disturb him. His final statement about closing their eyes hints that he may soon reverse the battle.
• Cheng Luoyi and Chen Muyan: They fight on the same side but display contrasting personalities: Cheng is blunt and physically overwhelming, while Chen is theatrical, ideological, and strategically composed.

Chapter Summary: “Helping Out, Huh?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Muyan activates Night Dancer, greatly increasing his attributes and raising his strength to S-Plus Rank.
• He uses Justice… Execute! to kill a Black Scorpion Speed Type Awakened with a single beheading strike.
• Chen Muyan continues attacking at overwhelming speed, cutting through the group’s Ice and Earth defenses and slaughtering Black Scorpion’s elite members.
• The braided leader realizes too late that he has badly underestimated Chen Muyan and is unable to stop him.
• Meanwhile, Long Fei struggles against Cheng Luoyi, who is becoming increasingly powerful and physically resilient.
• Long Fei’s Shadow Control Technique only restrains Cheng Luoyi briefly. She destroys his already-damaged weapon, drives her blade into his shoulder, and electrocutes him through the wound with her Lightning Crystal Core.
• As Cheng Luoyi prepares to kill Long Fei, Liu Baiyue realizes that he must survive for the moment.
• Liu Baiyue orders Zhao Xiaochun to intervene. Though hesitant because of her association with Black Scorpion, Zhao ultimately rushes in and knocks Cheng Luoyi’s blade away from Long Fei.
• The chapter ends with Cheng Luoyi turning her cold gaze toward Zhao and ominously asking, “Helping out, huh?”

Character Developments

• Chen Muyan demonstrates a dramatic power increase under darkness, transforming from an endangered fighter into an unstoppable executioner. His confidence and lethality become clear as he effortlessly eliminates Black Scorpion’s elites.
• Long Fei is revealed to be increasingly desperate. He correctly realizes that Cheng Luoyi, rather than himself, is growing stronger, and he hopes to survive until her stamina runs out. His ruined weapon and severe injuries show how badly he is losing the fight.
• Cheng Luoyi displays overwhelming physical strength, endurance, and combat skill. She breaks free of Long Fei’s shadow restraints and ruthlessly tortures him before attempting to finish him.
• Liu Baiyue remains calculating and pragmatic. Although she is concerned about Long Fei, she prioritizes his survival for strategic reasons and pressures Zhao Xiaochun to act.
• Zhao Xiaochun struggles with guilt and uncertainty over joining Black Scorpion. Despite fearing the consequences, she makes a decisive choice to help Long Fei, marking a moment of courage and moral conflict.

Significant Themes

• Power shifts under pressure: Darkness dramatically amplifies Chen Muyan’s abilities, while Cheng Luoyi’s growing vitality reverses Long Fei’s expectations.
• Survival and decisiveness: Liu Baiyue emphasizes that hesitation is dangerous in the apocalypse, forcing Zhao Xiaochun to choose immediate action over concern for her future reputation.
• Loyalty and moral ambiguity: Zhao’s intervention reflects her unresolved conflict between her nominal allegiance to Black Scorpion and her personal desire to prevent unnecessary deaths.
• Overwhelming violence and vulnerability: The chapter contrasts Chen Muyan and Cheng Luoyi’s dominance with the helplessness of their opponents, especially Long Fei’s brutal injury.

Character Interactions

• Chen Muyan’s attacks terrify the remaining Black Scorpion members and cause the braided leader to panic.
• Long Fei and Cheng Luoyi exchange hostile combat dialogue, with Cheng mocking his concern over the battle and taunting him through his pain.
• Liu Baiyue commands Zhao Xiaochun to rescue Long Fei, using the threat of collective death to overcome Zhao’s hesitation.
• Zhao successfully interrupts Cheng Luoyi’s execution attempt, prompting Cheng Luoyi to confront her directly at the chapter’s cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: The Might to Destroy the World

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cheng Luoyi attacks Long Fei and Zhao Xiaochun as they attempt to escape. Zhao blocks her strike but is overwhelmed by Cheng’s superior strength.
• Long Fei, already seriously wounded and terrified by Cheng’s brutality, abandons Zhao and flees toward the aircraft. Zhao soon follows, relying on her exceptional speed.
• Cheng pursues them and nearly kills Long Fei with a sword thrust. Just before the attack lands, Augmented Human 09 freezes Cheng in a massive block of ice, giving Long Fei and Zhao time to escape.
• Liu Baiyue, Long Fei, Zhao Xiaochun, and 09 board the aircraft and launch hastily. Two Black Scorpion members are left behind and are killed by Chen Muyan.
• Cheng breaks free from the ice shortly after the aircraft departs. She and Chen Muyan acknowledge that Long Fei has escaped, but conclude that he and the others will eventually return to Black Scorpion City.
• The battle between order and chaos temporarily ends with Black Scorpion’s leader fleeing while seriously injured.
• Cheng and Chen leave to travel to the provincial capital and check on Sun Xiaoqiang and the supply-gathering operation.
• Meanwhile, the battle between the Zombie Kings Lin Dong and Night Fiend continues. Night Fiend creates an enormous illusion of a falling star through his Phantom Spirit Domain, but Lin Dong destroys it with the Stone Tablet.

Character Developments

• Long Fei: His injuries and fear cause his fighting spirit to collapse. He prioritizes survival over loyalty, fleeing even after Zhao saves him. His escape reinforces his role as a calculating but cowardly leader under pressure.
• Zhao Xiaochun: Though initially shocked that Long Fei abandons her, she quickly adapts to the harsh survival rules of Black Scorpion and escapes using her speed. Her behavior shows growing pragmatism.
• Cheng Luoyi: She remains relentless and lethal, nearly killing Long Fei despite his attempt to flee. After escaping Augmented Human 09’s ice attack, she calmly accepts that the enemy has gotten away and focuses on future plans.
• Augmented Human 09: He expends nearly all his energy to freeze Cheng and rescue Long Fei, demonstrating both his combat ability and his importance to the retreat.
• Chen Muyan: He efficiently kills the Black Scorpion members left behind and supports Cheng after the battle. His calm attitude contrasts with the panic of the fleeing enemies.
• Lin Dong and Night Fiend: Their ongoing clash escalates to a massive, near-apocalyptic level, revealing the extraordinary power of both Zombie Kings.

Significant Themes

• Survival over loyalty: Long Fei abandons Zhao immediately after being saved, while Zhao accepts that self-preservation is now the primary rule within Black Scorpion.
• Order versus chaos: The battle represents a temporary victory for the forces of order, though the escape of Black Scorpion’s leader means the conflict is far from over.
• The consequences of leadership: Long Fei survives, but his retreat exposes the weakness and fear beneath his position as Black Scorpion’s leader.
• Apocalyptic power: The duel between Lin Dong and Night Fiend emphasizes the destructive scale of awakened and zombie abilities, with attacks resembling world-ending phenomena.
• Illusion versus reality: Night Fiend’s star appears capable of destroying the world, but it is ultimately a spiritual illusion. Lin Dong’s physical strength and the Stone Tablet overcome its apparent grandeur.

Character Interactions

• Cheng’s ruthless attack causes Long Fei and Zhao to flee together, though Long Fei’s abandonment of Zhao creates tension between them.
• Augmented Human 09 intervenes at the decisive moment, freezing Cheng and allowing the Black Scorpion group to escape.
• Chen Muyan and Cheng discuss the escape and recognize that the conflict will resume at Black Scorpion City.
• Lin Dong and Night Fiend engage in a dramatic battle of physical power against spiritual illusion, culminating in Lin Dong shattering Night Fiend’s enormous conjured star.

Key Plot Points

• Lin Dong and Night Fiend clash in a massive battle. Night Fiend, exhausted from creating large-scale illusions, struggles against Lin Dong’s relentless Corpse Domain.
• Lin Dong has used about 40% of his energy and privately worries about the cost, but expands his Corpse Domain, crushing Night Fiend’s Phantom Spirit Domain.
• Night Fiend conjures towering ghostly figures, but Lin Dong smashes through them with the Stone Tablet/Star Map Slate and lands Force-Splitting Mount Hua, shattering Night Fiend’s mental barrier and destroying both of his arms.
• Night Fiend falls, seemingly defeated, but calmly announces the “real show” is beginning. His body dissolves like an illusion—and the Crystal Stone Lin Dong grabs also vanishes.
• Lin Dong realizes Night Fiend used a “cicada-shell escape”: the Night Fiend he fought was a final illusion clone. The true Night Fiend has escaped, and his defeated forces retreat into the city.

Character Developments

• Lin Dong shows growing caution despite his dominance; he is aware of his own energy limits and senses something dangerous beneath Night Fiend’s calm.
• Night Fiend proves cunning and adaptable: even in defeat, he preserves himself through deception rather than raw power.

Significant Themes

• Strength vs. deception: raw power wins battles, but illusions and trickery can decide survival.
• Exhaustion and resource management: both fighters are drained, but Lin Dong’s stamina and Night Fiend’s dwindling mental power shape the fight.
• Overconfidence as a trap: victory seems near, but the enemy slips away.

Character Interactions

• Lin Dong dominates the fight, while his subordinates—Tank, Flared Ears, and others—cheer him on, believing victory is certain.
• Night Fiend maintains eerie composure even after losing his arms, hinting that his escape was planned all along.
• Lin Dong’s final realization (“just as I thought, this is dangerous…”) underscores his wariness of Night Fiend’s scheming.

Chapter Summary: “Storming into the City”

Key Plot Points and Events

• While the group sorts supplies in a warehouse, Sun Xiaoqiang lazily drinks long-shelf-life juice instead of helping. After being reprimanded, he goes outside to urinate.
• He discovers strange blood patterns covering the ruined street. By urinating on them, he accidentally alters and disrupts parts of the formation.
• A weakened Night Fiend and his zombie army rush back into the city. Night Fiend has nearly exhausted his psychic power after using his final illusion against Lin Dong, and he is desperate to reach the center of the Provincial Capital Corpse Nest.
• Night Fiend’s last hope is a mysterious formation called the Stargate, created from electromagnetic signals transmitted from outer space. With two Crystal Stones, he believes it can grant enough power to rule the planet or at least defeat the Jiangbei Zombie King.
• Zombie King Duo’er and Flying Hound remain behind with the wounded provincial-capital zombies to delay the pursuing Jiangbei City zombie tide.
• The two zombie armies clash. Jiangbei City’s forces clearly have the advantage, but Duo’er uses her remaining strength to make pink Little Flowers spread throughout the Corpse Nest, while Flying Hound fights desperately to buy Night Fiend more time.
• Sun Xiaoqiang, Chen Ming, Sun Yuhang, Wu Dan, Li Yun, Cheng Luoyi, and Chen Muyan arrive nearby after hearing the battle. Sun Xiaoqiang is annoyed that the conflict is interrupting their supply work and recognizes Flying Hound as the “dog” that previously tried to bite him.

Character Developments

• Sun Xiaoqiang remains careless, gluttonous, and comically unconcerned with the larger crisis. However, his accidental interference with the blood formation may have major consequences.
• Night Fiend is shown as desperate rather than dominant. Though still determined to preserve his rule, he is weakened and forced to rely on an uncertain extraterrestrial technology.
• Duo’er demonstrates loyalty and courage by sacrificing herself and her forces to protect Night Fiend and give the Stargate time to activate.
• Flying Hound fights bravely despite serious injuries, using both his mutated bones and aerial mobility to delay the enemy.
• Chen Ming and the others, joined by Cheng Luoyi and Chen Muyan, continue gathering supplies but are drawn into the escalating conflict.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and survival: Night Fiend’s retreat and the provincial capital zombies’ last stand show a defeated power struggling to survive.
• The danger of unknown power: The Stargate promises overwhelming strength, but Night Fiend does not truly understand its origin or effects.
• Fate shaped by absurdity: Sun Xiaoqiang’s trivial act of urinating on the formation may unintentionally undermine Night Fiend’s carefully prepared final weapon.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Duo’er, Flying Hound, and the remaining zombies risk everything to protect their ruler.
• Contrast between comedy and crisis: Sun Xiaoqiang’s casual behavior and complaints about juice provide comic relief amid an apocalyptic battle.

Character Interactions

• Li Yun and the others repeatedly scold Sun Xiaoqiang for avoiding work, while he cheerfully ignores their irritation.
• Sun Xiaoqiang jokes with Chen Ming about the questionable ingredients in the juice and later warns the group not to drink it.
• Duo’er orders Flying Hound to stop being distracted and help delay the enemy forces.
• Duo’er and Flying Hound coordinate their defenses, using flowers, endurance, and mobility to stall the Jiangbei zombie tide.
• The human group watches the battle from a nearby building, with Sun Xiaoqiang recognizing Flying Hound and ending the chapter on a humorous cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “Formation Activated”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Dong leads Jiangbei City’s Myriad Zombie Horde into the battlefield, accompanied by Tank, Doctor, and the other Zombie Kings.
• With Night Fiend no longer opposing him, Lin Dong’s Corpse Domain overwhelms everything in its path, destroying zombies and crushing Duo’er’s pink Sea of Flowers.
• Lin Dong attacks Flying Hound with the Star Map Slate, shattering his bones and leaving him helpless. Sun Xiaoqiang then pours a foul black liquid over the injured Flying Hound, causing him extreme agony and producing a grotesquely comic moment.
• Duo’er continues resisting Lin Dong despite her severe injuries, determined to buy time for Night Fiend and refusing to retreat.
• As Lin Dong’s Corpse Domain bears down on her, the formation finally activates. A massive white pillar of light erupts, bloody patterns illuminate across the city, and spatial energy gathers over the battlefield.
• Lin Dong reaches the formation’s core and realizes that its energy does not appear designed to grant power. Instead, it seems to be opening a passage or gateway.
• Night Fiend celebrates, believing the formation will make him powerful enough to rule the world. Lin Dong warns him that the formation is likely a trap, but Night Fiend refuses to listen.
• A terrifying humanoid entity emerges from the spatial chaos. It possesses a powerful zombie-like aura and strength far beyond SS-Rank.
• The entity identifies itself not as a Zombie King, but as part of the “Undead Race.” Night Fiend desperately asks it for power, only to be mocked as naive.

Character Developments

• Lin Dong: Demonstrates overwhelming control of the battlefield through the Corpse Domain and his mastery of the Star Map Slate. He also shows strong perception, recognizing that the formation is dangerous before its true purpose is revealed.
• Flying Hound: Suffers catastrophic injuries from Lin Dong’s attack and is rendered incapable of fighting. His terror and humiliation deepen when Sun Xiaoqiang subjects him to the foul liquid.
• Sun Xiaoqiang: Displays his bizarre, sadistic humor by “serving” Flying Hound a drink, turning the enemy’s defeat into a grotesque spectacle.
• Duo’er: Reveals intense loyalty and determination. Despite knowing she may die, she continues resisting Lin Dong to protect Night Fiend and ensure the formation activates.
• Night Fiend: His confidence and ambition collapse as he realizes the formation has not granted him power. His dependence on the extraterrestrial signal’s promise exposes his desperation and naivety.
• The Undead Entity: Enters as a new, extremely powerful threat. Its confidence and contempt suggest that it views both Night Fiend and the Zombie Kings as insignificant.

Significant Themes

• False promises and manipulation: Night Fiend’s belief in the extraterrestrial signal’s promise leads him to activate a formation that may have been designed to summon another being rather than empower him.
• Ambition and hubris: Night Fiend’s desire to rule the world blinds him to the obvious danger of the ritual.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Duo’er knowingly risks her life to buy time for Night Fiend, showing the depth of her devotion.
• Power and predation: The chapter shifts the hierarchy of the battlefield, suggesting that even powerful Zombie Kings may be helpless before the newly summoned Undead entity.
• Dark comedy amid horror: Flying Hound’s brutal injuries are contrasted with Sun Xiaoqiang’s absurd and revolting prank, creating comic relief within the violent conflict.

Character Interactions

• Lin Dong vs. Flying Hound: Lin Dong decisively defeats him with the Star Map Slate.
• Sun Xiaoqiang vs. Flying Hound: Sun Xiaoqiang torments the incapacitated Flying Hound with a foul black liquid, intensifying his suffering.
• Lin Dong vs. Duo’er: Lin Dong’s advance forces Duo’er to endure the Corpse Domain and sacrifice herself to delay him.
• Lin Dong vs. Night Fiend: Lin Dong challenges Night Fiend’s interpretation of the formation, warning that it is a trap.
• Night Fiend vs. the Undead Entity: Night Fiend begs the summoned being for power, but the entity dismisses him as naive, revealing that Night Fiend has likely been deceived.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points

• Night Fiend's carefully prepared summoning ritual backfires. The Undead Race emerges—but only in an incomplete, manifested form—and immediately takes control, declaring that it is the one destined to rule the world.
• The Undead Race easily defeats Night Fiend, sending him crashing through a building after Night Fiend refuses to submit.
• Corpse Whisperer Delusion tries to sabotage the summoning formation using his own blood. The Undead Race kills him with one blow, leaving only his Crystal Core.
• The Undead Race attempts to recruit Lin Dong and the Myriad Zombie Horde. Lin Dong bluntly refuses.
• The formation suddenly destabilizes due to a flaw: a urine stain left earlier by Sun Xiaoqiang while moving supplies.
• As the formation collapses, the Undead Race rages and tries to force its way through the closing Stargate.

Character Developments

• Night Fiend: Falls from seeming mastermind to broken pawn—realizes he was deceived and defeated by the very being he summoned.
• Undead Race: Reveals itself as arrogant, cruel, and overwhelmingly powerful, but is thwarted by the formation flaw, exposing its incomplete manifestation.
• Lin Dong: Remains calm, unimpressed, and defiant even in the face of a world-threatening being.
• Sun Xiaoqiang: Becomes an accidental hero—his earlier laziness (urinating on the formation) now proves decisive.
• Delusion: Dies bravely but futilely trying to destroy the formation.

Themes

• Consequences of hubris: Night Fiend's greed and scheming lead to his own downfall.
• Small acts can change fate: A trivial, mocking incident (urinating on the formation) alters the outcome of a titanic battle.
• Comedy amid catastrophe: The anti-fraud app joke and Sun Xiaoqiang's "one piss" highlight the story's darkly humorous tone.
• Refusal to bow: Lin Dong and the zombies reject submission to a would-be tyrant.

Character Interactions

• Night Fiend vs. Undead Race: Brief verbal clash, then brutal one-sided violence.
• Undead Race vs. assembled Zombie Kings: Displays dominance by killing Delusion and injuring Night Fiend.
• Undead Race vs. Lin Dong: Stare-down and verbal exchange; Lin Dong refuses to submit.
• Rooftop observers (Cheng Luoyi, Chen Ming, Sun Yuhang, Wu Dan, Sun Xiaoqiang): Blame Night Fiend, joke about anti-fraud apps, then realize Sun Xiaoqiang's urine is the cause of the formation failure.

Chapter Summary: “Already at the Pinnacle”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Dong helps the Undead Race member escape the spatial rift—not out of kindness, but by smashing it in the face with the Stone Tablet. Torn apart by spatial forces, the creature vanishes while swearing revenge.
• The grand formation collapses completely, ending the battle and leaving behind two Crystal Stones, which Lin Dong retrieves.
• Night Fiend emerges from the ruins, severely injured and mentally exhausted. He acknowledges Lin Dong’s victory and admits that Lin Dong has already reached the pinnacle of power, despite Lin Dong claiming he never sought it.
• Night Fiend reveals that there are seven Crystal Stones in total and that another is likely located in the waters near Australia. He also warns Lin Dong to be cautious with the Stone Tablet, whose completed formation could summon something even more terrifying.
• Lin Dong kills Night Fiend by extracting his Crystal Core, ending the reign of a major overlord and gaining an exceptionally powerful SS-Rank Mental-type Crystal Core.
• The Myriad Zombie Horde celebrates their victory. Tank, Flared Ears, Mist, and the others jokingly argue over who contributed most, with Flared Ears proudly treating Bigtooth’s tooth as a “medal of honor.”
• Cheng Luoyi and the human survivors congratulate Lin Dong and warn him about the danger of the Stone Tablet. They then leave to transport supplies and drinks for Xiaoqiang.
• The celebration is interrupted by the sound of intense sobbing. The zombies part to reveal Little Eight sitting against a wall, badly injured and missing one arm.

Character Developments

• Lin Dong: Solidifies his position as the strongest Corpse Nest in Dragon Country. He remains calm, pragmatic, and emotionally restrained, even when killing Night Fiend and facing warnings about the Stone Tablet.
• Night Fiend: Accepts his defeat with surprising peace and dignity. He recognizes Lin Dong as a worthy opponent, offers him useful information, and appears relieved that his struggle has finally ended.
• Undead Race member: Survives temporarily by escaping through spatial power, but leaves as a powerful future enemy driven by hatred and revenge.
• Zombie Horde: Displays strong loyalty and enthusiasm toward Lin Dong, celebrating him as their king while also revealing their humorous and competitive personalities.
• Little Eight: Contrasts sharply with the victorious atmosphere. Once fierce and brutal, she is now physically devastated and emotionally broken after losing an arm.

Significant Themes

• Power and destiny: Lin Dong has become the strongest figure despite never deliberately pursuing “the pinnacle,” suggesting that power and fate have placed him there.
• The cost of victory: The battle ends in triumph, but Night Fiend dies and Little Eight is left severely maimed, emphasizing that victory brings heavy losses.
• Mutual respect among enemies: Lin Dong and Night Fiend speak with unusual calm and respect, recognizing that their conflict was inevitable rather than fueled by personal hatred.
• Dangerous power and responsibility: The Stone Tablet and Crystal Stones offer immense power but may unleash catastrophic entities, foreshadowing future threats.
• Humor amid brutality: Comedic exchanges among the zombies—especially Flared Ears’ “medal”—offset the chapter’s violence and tragedy.

Character Interactions

• Lin Dong and the Undead Race member interact as enemies, with Lin Dong mockingly “helping” it by striking it with the Stone Tablet.
• Lin Dong and Night Fiend share a calm, almost friendly conversation after the battle, exchanging respect, information, and warnings before Lin Dong kills him.
• Tank, Flared Ears, Shrimp Chaser, and Mist celebrate and bicker humorously over their contributions to the battle.
• Cheng Luoyi challenges Lin Dong over his reckless use of the Stone Tablet, while Lin Dong responds with detached confidence.
• The final scene shifts attention from the victory celebrations to Little Eight’s grief and suffering, creating an emotional contrast and setting up the next development.

Chapter Summary: The Eighth Zombie King

Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle ends with Lin Dong’s forces victorious, though several underlings are injured. Little Eight is critically wounded and has lost an arm.
• After learning that Black Scorpion City’s leader, Long Fei, caused Little Eight’s injury, Lin Dong calmly vows revenge. He plans to regroup and eventually crush Black Scorpion City.
• Doctor suggests using the Provincial Tech Company’s laboratory to replace Little Eight’s missing arm with a mechanical one. Little Eight agrees to undergo the modification, giving her a possible new path as a Mechanical Zombie.
• Lin Dong and his forces clean up the battlefield. They recover Corpse Whisperer Delusion’s S-Rank Crystal Core and the cores of the fallen Zombie Kings Flying Hound and Duo’er.
• Rather than allow Duo’er’s valuable Corpse-Raising ability to be lost, Lin Dong gives her Crystal Core to an intelligent female zombie. The fusion succeeds, causing a flower to bloom from the zombie’s head.
• Lin Dong initially names her “Second Duo’er,” but accepts her suggestion to use “Little Flower” as her nickname. She becomes the eighth Zombie King in his Corpse Nest.
• Lin Dong installs one of the newly acquired Crystal Stones into the final empty slot of the Star Map Slate. The slate activates with increased energy, but its mysterious nature prompts him to remember warnings from Night Fiend and Cheng Luoyi to use it cautiously.

Character Developments

• Lin Dong: Remains outwardly calm despite Little Eight’s injury, but his resolve for revenge against Black Scorpion is clear. He also demonstrates strategic thinking by preserving Duo’er’s abilities through a new successor.
• Little Eight: Becomes emotionally vulnerable after losing her arm but regains hope when Doctor proposes a mechanical replacement. Her future combat capabilities remain uncertain.
• Doctor: Shows initiative and technical creativity by proposing the mechanical modification for Little Eight.
• Little Flower/Second Duo’er: Evolves from an intelligent Ace Elite into the eighth Zombie King after successfully fusing with Duo’er’s Crystal Core. She displays independence by negotiating her own nickname.
• Cheng Luoyi: Provides crucial information about Long Fei and recognizes the danger surrounding him.
• Flying Hound and Duo’er: Die after Night Fiend’s defeat, having been psychologically devastated by the revelation that the formation they defended was based on an online scam.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and revenge: Lin Dong and the Zombie Kings share a strong bond, and Little Eight’s injury becomes a collective grievance against Black Scorpion.
• Adaptation and transformation: Little Eight may become a Mechanical Zombie, while Little Flower inherits Duo’er’s abilities, showing how the zombies evolve through technology and fusion.
• Loss and succession: Duo’er’s death does not entirely erase her influence; her Crystal Core allows another zombie to continue her role.
• Humor amid tragedy: Lin Dong’s absurd naming of “Second Duo’er” and the repeated references to online scams provide comic relief despite the battlefield deaths.
• Caution surrounding power: The completed Star Map Slate grows more powerful, but its mysterious purpose and previous warnings suggest future danger.

Character Interactions

• Lin Dong questions Little Eight about her attacker, leading Cheng Luoyi to identify Long Fei.
• The Zombie Kings urge Lin Dong to avenge Little Eight, and he promises to retaliate against Black Scorpion City.
• Little Mushroom innocently asks how Little Eight’s lost arm can be restored, prompting Doctor’s mechanical solution.
• Doctor works with Little Eight in the Tech Company laboratory to attempt the modification.
• Lin Dong selects an intelligent female zombie to receive Duo’er’s Crystal Core and grants her a new identity as Little Flower.
• Lin Dong’s installation of the final Crystal Stone reflects his determination to complete the Star Map Slate, though he remains wary of its unknown consequences.

Chapter Summary: “New Ability”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After embedding another Crystal Stone, Lin Dong resolves to search for the remaining Stone Tablet fragments, believing they may eventually bring him a major reward.
• The zombie army returns to the Corpse Nest after defeating Night Fiend. Having consumed many Brain Cores, the zombies continue evolving; the elite forces may eventually reach 50,000, while the total combat-capable zombie population approaches 100,000.
• Lin Dong returns home exhausted from the battle and consumes Night Fiend’s Double-S-Rank Mental-type Crystal Core.
• Overnight, the crystal core dramatically strengthens his spiritual power and causes a new ability to awaken.
• The next morning, Su Xiaorou witnesses Lin Dong creating a lifelike spiritual duplicate of himself. The figure can transform into people, Zombie Kings, former enemies, and various objects before dissolving back into Lin Dong.
• Lin Dong identifies the ability as Illusion Creation, allowing him to generate convincing illusions that confuse enemies. However, these illusions are not physically real and cannot cause direct damage.
• Despite absorbing two Double-S-Rank Crystal Cores, Lin Dong still has not reached SSS-Rank and realizes he must hunt more powerful beings to advance.
• The zombie population gathers in celebration after the victory over Night Fiend. Qin Yin appears on a building with her guitar, suggesting another dancing or musical celebration is about to begin.

Character Developments

• Lin Dong: Becomes significantly stronger spiritually after absorbing Night Fiend’s core. He gains Illusion Creation but considers it only a minor improvement because it lacks offensive power. His continued ambition is emphasized through his determination to reach SSS-Rank and collect the remaining Stone Tablet fragments.
• Su Xiaorou: Continues working loyally as Lin Dong’s cleaner and has become healthier and slightly chubbier from life in the Corpse Nest. Though still awed and somewhat frightened by Lin Dong, she is now comfortable enough to observe and speak with him. Seeing his new power reminds her of how overwhelming his strength has become, and she briefly worries he may kill her for knowing too much.
• The Zombie Army: Grows stronger and more organized after the battle, with increased numbers of elite zombies and a rising sense of collective excitement and morale.
• Qin Yin: Reappears as a source of entertainment and communal celebration, preparing to perform for the gathered zombies.

Significant Themes

• Power and evolution: Strength requires increasingly greater resources, and even major gains leave Lin Dong far from his next breakthrough.
• Limits of ability: Illusion Creation is powerful for deception but cannot yet become physically real or inflict damage, showing that Lin Dong’s abilities are still developing.
• Growth through consumption: Crystal Cores serve as both the source of advancement and a reminder that Lin Dong must continue hunting to evolve.
• Community and celebration in the apocalypse: Despite the brutal world, the zombies celebrate victory through gatherings, music, and dancing, creating a strange sense of society within the Corpse Nest.
• Fear and loyalty: Su Xiaorou’s relationship with Lin Dong combines obedience, admiration, and lingering fear, reflecting the power imbalance between them.

Character Interactions

• Su Xiaorou enters to clean and silently observes Lin Dong’s overnight transformation.
• Lin Dong casually explains his new ability to her, dismissing it as “tiny” despite the terrifying spectacle she witnessed.
• Her reaction reveals both her growing familiarity with him and her continued uncertainty about whether she is safe around him.
• The chapter ends with the zombie population gathering around Qin Yin, whose guitar performance appears set to lead another large-scale celebration.

Chapter Summary: “Overrun Plan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Little Eight reappears with a powerful new right arm created by Doctor. The arm is made of extremely durable Adamantium and contains thirty-centimeter claw blades.
• Doctor plans to further upgrade Little Eight by installing Crystal Core weapons, including a palm-mounted energy cannon and possibly multiple elemental Crystal Cores. Her transformation more than compensates for the arm she lost.
• Flared Ears debuts a gruesome but fashionable accessory: Bigtooth’s front tooth, hung from his injured ear. The other zombies praise his appearance, reinforcing his newfound confidence as an uncontested Zombie King.
• Qin Yin leads the zombies in an energetic musical performance. Flowerpot, Mist, and Little Flower provide vines, smoke, fog, and falling petals, turning the zombie gathering into a spectacular concert.
• With Jiangbei City’s immediate enemies eliminated, Lin Dong decides to expand into Hanjiang Province, targeting Black Scorpion City and the Tech Company’s Dragon Country headquarters.
• Lin Dong announces the Overrun Plan: instead of remaining hidden, his forces will migrate across provinces, destroy or absorb rival Corpse Nest factions, and rapidly expand from hundreds of thousands of zombies to potentially millions or tens of millions.
• The surviving human factions become terrified of Lin Dong’s next move. Tech Company’s Jiangbei branch is especially worried that he will retaliate for Liu Baiyue’s alliance with Black Scorpion.
• Ye Jian attempts to protect himself by publicly declaring that Liu Baiyue betrayed the company and acted independently. He then prepares to give the same explanation to the company’s Dragon Country headquarters.

Character Developments

• Little Eight becomes stronger and more combat-capable after Doctor replaces her lost arm with an Adamantium weapon. She is excited about her future upgrades and embraces her transformation.
• Doctor is revealed to have ambitious plans for weaponizing Crystal Cores and turning Little Eight into a versatile, heavily armed fighter.
• Flared Ears develops a playful vanity, treating his lack of worthy opponents as an opportunity to reinvent himself through appearance and style.
• Qin Yin continues functioning as the zombie horde’s performer and morale leader, while the other specialized zombies contribute to the spectacle.
• Lin Dong shifts from defensive consolidation to aggressive expansion. He becomes confident enough to abandon secrecy and pursue large-scale conquest and assimilation.
• Ye Jian reveals himself to be highly self-protective and politically calculating, immediately attempting to shift responsibility for the company’s actions onto Liu Baiyue.

Significant Themes

• Transformation as empowerment: Little Eight’s injury becomes an opportunity for greater strength, suggesting that loss can lead to evolution.
• Power and expansion: Lin Dong’s growing dominance changes his strategy from survival to conquest, with the Overrun Plan representing the zombie faction’s transition into an empire-building force.
• Unity and spectacle: Music, dancing, and the zombies’ unusual talents create a sense of community and identity despite their monstrous nature.
• Fear and political maneuvering: Human factions are paralyzed by anxiety over Lin Dong’s retaliation, while Tech Company responds through propaganda and scapegoating.
• Control versus trust: Lin Dong plans to absorb vast numbers of zombies but remains wary of traitors and unreliable outsiders, showing that expansion also creates internal risks.

Character Interactions

• Doctor supports Little Eight’s recovery and future development by explaining his plans for Crystal Core weaponry.
• The zombies admire Flared Ears’s tooth accessory, encouraging his pride and eccentric personality.
• Qin Yin performs for the assembled zombies, with Flowerpot, Mist, and Little Flower enhancing her music through coordinated abilities.
• Lin Dong observes his followers’ celebration while planning their next campaign and issuing orders for the mass migration.
• Ye Jian consults with his secretary and executives about Lin Dong’s possible retaliation, then directs them to issue a public denunciation of Liu Baiyue.
• Wang Rong contacts Ye Jian from the Dragon Country headquarters, creating pressure for Ye Jian to justify the company’s connection to Liu Baiyue’s actions.

Chapter Summary: “Return of the Conqueror”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ye Jian reports to Boss Wang that Liu Baiyue betrayed the company, took experts with her, and allied with the Black Scorpion Organization. He theatrically blames her for the failed attempt to eliminate the Zombie King.
• Boss Wang reassures Ye Jian that the failure is not his fault, since Liu Baiyue removed much of his manpower. However, he warns Ye Jian that the Jiangbei City Tech Company is surrounded by zombies and may soon be attacked.
• A subordinate announces that the massive Jiangbei Zombie Tide has begun moving. Both Ye Jian and Boss Wang initially assume the horde is targeting the company.
• They soon learn that the zombie army is actually heading toward Hanjiang Province. Boss Wang panics and abruptly ends the call to organize a meeting, while Ye Jian relaxes, realizing he is temporarily safe.
• Tank, Little Eight, and the other S-rank Zombie Kings lead their forces out of Jiangbei City in a huge migration. Their march promises widespread destruction.
• Mist is particularly excited because Hanjiang Province was once his territory. He hopes to reunite with his former underlings and serves as a guide for the coming campaign.
• After several days of absorbing Crystal Cores, Lin Dong stabilizes his power and fully recovers. He prepares to return to Hanjiang Province, where he previously fought the Black Scorpion Organization and seized valuable Tek resources.
• Lin Dong summons an advanced aircraft and departs with Mist. Flared Ears, Shrimp Chaser, and Locomotive eagerly join after being invited aboard, despite initially expecting to travel with the main zombie force.

Character Developments

• Ye Jian uses exaggerated grief and false indignation to protect himself and shift blame onto Liu Baiyue. His fear quickly turns into relief once he learns the horde is not attacking him.
• Boss Wang appears concerned for Ye Jian, but his composure collapses when he suspects the zombie army may be targeting him instead. His immediate decision to end the call reveals his anxiety and self-interest.
• Mist becomes more important as the group’s connection to Hanjiang Province. His history as a former territorial overlord makes him a natural scout and guide.
• Lin Dong is shown to have fully recovered and grown stronger through absorbing Crystal Cores. His return to Hanjiang Province is framed as a triumphant homecoming and an opportunity for revenge.
• Flared Ears, Shrimp Chaser, and Locomotive grow increasingly devoted to Lin Dong. They interpret the invitation to ride in his aircraft as a sign of special favor and vow to prove themselves.

Significant Themes

• Deception and blame: Ye Jian manipulates the conversation by presenting himself as a victim and blaming Liu Baiyue for the failed operation.
• Fear and shifting power: Humans and zombies alike react to the movements of the powerful Zombie Tide, showing how rapidly the balance of power has changed.
• Return and revenge: Lin Dong’s journey to Hanjiang Province represents a return to a former battlefield, now undertaken from a position of overwhelming strength.
• Loyalty and hierarchy: The zombie characters seek Lin Dong’s approval and interpret even casual gestures as recognition from their leader.
• Comedic contrast: Serious threats are undercut by characters such as Ye Jian enjoying his newfound safety and Lin Dong casually misunderstanding his followers’ excitement.

Character Interactions

• Ye Jian and Boss Wang exchange a tense but deceptive report, with Boss Wang comforting Ye Jian while privately becoming more alarmed about the zombie migration.
• Mist reminisces about his former subordinates, prompting Flared Ears and the others to question him and express interest in his past.
• Lin Dong casually permits Flared Ears, Shrimp Chaser, and Locomotive to board the aircraft. They react with exaggerated gratitude, while Lin Dong views the gesture as merely practical.
• The chapter closes with Lin Dong, Mist, and the three eager followers flying toward Hanjiang Province as the larger zombie army advances by land.

Chapter Summary: “Former Underlings”

• Lin Dong’s preparations and goals: During the aircraft journey, Lin Dong reviews the Tech Company’s archive of nine known Wraith Zombies. Six are overseas, Night Fiend has been defeated, and only one other remains in Dragon Country, far away in Quicksand Town. Lin Dong becomes interested in hunting powerful Zombie Kings to obtain high-level Crystal Cores and advance toward SSS-Rank. His newly acquired Illusion Creation ability may also become stronger and gain offensive power after absorbing more cores.
• Doctor’s mechanical zombie project: Doctor stays behind to guard the Corpse Nest and begins modifying injured zombies into a planned “Mechanical Zombie Legion,” using spare materials from the Tech Company’s warehouses. Little Eight’s successful modification has inspired this new project.
• Arrival in Mist’s former territory: After flying for two hours, Lin Dong and the others reach the ruined city that once belonged to Mist. Mist expects to find his former underlings, but the city is completely deserted. The absence of zombie auras and the presence of rats suggest that no zombies have lived there for a long time. Mist fears that the Tech Company or Black Scorpion City slaughtered them after the previous battle.
• The group searches for survivors: Lin Dong decides to investigate rather than assume the worst. They eventually find more than a hundred zombies pursuing a smaller group through the wilderness. Mist recognizes the fleeing zombies as his former subordinates and is relieved to discover they survived, although they are being hunted.
• Conflict with a modified zombie force: The pursuers include a powerful B-Rank minor leader, apparently enhanced through the Tech Company’s Z Virus, Q Virus, and Evolution Serum. The fleeing zombies admit they cannot outrun him and hope to reach their main force before being overwhelmed. They also recall Mist as someone who might have helped them.
• Ambush and cliffhanger: Near a forest, hidden zombies emerge from the vegetation to protect the fleeing group. Their leader, disguised with a grass ring, attacks the modified minor leader and knocks him back. The minor leader calls the hidden leader a fearful Zombie King for daring to fight, but the Zombie King questions the accusation, setting up a confrontation.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Lin Dong remains analytical and focused on strengthening himself, while also showing concern for Mist’s former territory and underlings.
• Mist shifts from excitement to despair, then to relief when he discovers his old followers are alive. His attachment to them reveals loyalty beneath his usual carefree attitude.
• Flared Ears reacts protectively toward Mist and promises that the Overlord Squad will avenge his subordinates, though Mist is uncertain whether revenge is necessary.
• Shrimp Chaser provides comic relief by asking whether the ruined inland city has shrimp.
• The former underlings appear loyal to Mist and desperate to survive, fighting to reach their main force.
• The grass-disguised Zombie King is introduced as a determined protector willing to confront a stronger, modified pursuer.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and former bonds: Mist’s concern for his old followers and their hope that he will return emphasize the lasting importance of relationships among zombies.
• Transformation and technological power: Doctor’s mechanical army and the Tech Company’s biological enhancements show the escalating fusion of science, viruses, and zombie evolution.
• Survival and persecution: The former underlings are hunted by a technologically enhanced force, suggesting organized efforts to eliminate rival zombie groups.
• Growing conflict: Lin Dong’s search for power and the discovery of the surviving zombie faction point toward another confrontation with the Tech Company and its modified forces.

Chapter Summary: “Taking the Lead”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fear is attacked by a powerful minor zombie leader enhanced by both the Z Virus and Q Virus. Although Fear fights desperately, he is steadily overpowered.
• As the surrounding zombies battle and Fear’s allies face possible extinction, Fear worries that he has failed his promise to Mist and Lin Dong to lead the zombie horde to greater strength.
• Just as the minor leader is about to snap Fear’s neck, Mist arrives with Flared Ears, Shrimp Chaser, and the other two members of the “Four Great Overlords,” concealed within dense Black Mist.
• The four zombies work together to kill the stronger minor leader and then overwhelm the remaining enemy zombies. Their victory leaves almost the entire opposing force dead, with only a few survivors escaping.
• Fear’s former comrades regain confidence after Mist’s arrival, while Flared Ears and Shrimp Chaser feel that Hanjiang Province may finally be a place where they can prove themselves.
• Lin Dong then appears. Overcome with relief, Fear breaks down crying and runs to him.
• Fear explains that Tek Company has been systematically hunting Mist’s former underlings. After discovering that Lin Dong had left the region, Tek Company repeatedly sent human awakeners and trained Elite Zombies against them, forcing the zombies out of the city and into the forest.
• Mist and Flared Ears realize that Tek Company intends to eliminate them completely. Flared Ears suggests that, with Lin Dong back, they may now confront Tek Company directly.

Character Developments

• Fear: Displays courage and loyalty despite being badly outmatched. His refusal to die comes from his faith in Lin Dong and his concern for his fellow zombies. His ability to cry at such a low evolutionary level suggests unusually high potential.
• Mist: Returns as a protective leader and immediately rescues Fear. His presence inspires his former underlings and restores their fighting spirit.
• Flared Ears, Shrimp Chaser, and the other Overlords: Demonstrate improved teamwork and combat ability, defeating a stronger opponent through coordination. Their victory restores their confidence and ambition.
• Lin Dong: Remains a deeply trusted and almost parental figure to Fear. His arrival gives Fear emotional security and signals that the hunted zombies may finally receive protection and support.
• Tek Company/Wang Rong: Are portrayed as vengeful and relentless, escalating their attacks after Lin Dong’s earlier destruction of their forces.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and family: Fear’s determination to survive is driven by his bond with Lin Dong, while Mist’s group treats one another as comrades and family.
• Leadership and protection: The chapter contrasts Fear’s struggle to lead during a crisis with Mist and Lin Dong’s ability to protect and inspire their followers.
• Strength through unity: The Four Great Overlords defeat a stronger enemy through coordination, showing that teamwork can overcome individual power.
• Hope after persecution: Lin Dong’s return transforms a desperate survival situation into the possibility of retaliation and renewed strength.
• Evolution and potential: Fear’s emotional development, particularly his ability to cry, marks him as a zombie with exceptional evolutionary promise.

Character Interactions

• The minor leader taunts and brutalizes Fear, while Fear resists through desperation and loyalty.
• Mist and the Four Great Overlords rescue Fear and respond violently to his mistreatment.
• Fear reunites emotionally with Mist, who praises him for enduring the ordeal.
• Fear’s reunion with Lin Dong is especially dramatic: he sobs like a child, revealing the depth of his trust and dependence on his boss.
• Fear recounts Tek Company’s persecution to Flared Ears and the others, prompting Mist to consider direct confrontation.
• Flared Ears reassures Fear that the worst is over now that Lin Dong has returned.

Chapter Summary: “Extraterrestrial Humans”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Dong returns to Xiang’an City with the Four Overlords, Terror, and his other followers, reclaiming the city as his territory.
• Xiang’an, once a peaceful fifth-tier city, is now a ruined, corpse-filled wasteland. Lin Dong discovers evidence that humans from Tech Company have been scavenging there.
• Terror explains that Tech Company expelled the zombies and now claims the city as territory gained through conquest. Nearby shelters and Black Scorpion members are forbidden from entering.
• Lin Dong decides to remain in Xiang’an, partly to avenge Terror and the others and partly to wait for human prey to arrive. He casually reflects that it has been two months since he last killed a human.
• Within Tech Company, Wang Rong convenes an emergency meeting after the powerful zombie horde from Jiangbei City begins moving toward Hanjiang Province and absorbing more zombies along the way.
• The company’s branch leaders debate whether to stop the horde, but its enormous size and powerful Zombie Kings make direct confrontation seem nearly impossible.
• Wang Rong proposes constructing the strongest possible defensive line at the edge of Hanjiang Province rather than attacking the migrating horde immediately.
• He reveals that headquarters has approved the secret “Perfect Squad Project,” a specialized team designed to counter the leading Zombie King. The development of Fourth-Generation Augmented Humans makes the project feasible.
• Wang Rong then discloses an even more confidential revelation: headquarters has received a signal from “Extraterrestrial Humans” through a highly precise instrument.

Character Developments

• Lin Dong fully resumes his role as ruler of Xiang’an City. His return shows renewed confidence after escaping pursuit, while his thoughts reveal that he views humans primarily as future prey.
• Terror and the other zombies experience relief and excitement at finally returning to their former territory after a long period of flight.
• Wang Rong emerges as a cautious but decisive strategist. Although he admits he may not be able to stop the horde, he creates a defensive plan and seeks specialized personnel rather than relying on reckless attacks.
• Ye Jian remains secretly delighted that the Jiangbei zombies have left, since their departure removes the threat to his own safety. He pretends to share everyone’s concern but struggles to hide his relief.
• The various branch leaders are shown as increasingly discouraged and powerless, reflecting the growing pressure placed on humanity by the advancing zombie forces.

Significant Themes

• Territory and revenge: Lin Dong’s return emphasizes the importance of territory to the zombie factions and his desire to punish those who drove his group away.
• Human-zombie power imbalance: Tech Company once controlled Xiang’an, but Lin Dong’s return and the advancing zombie tide demonstrate how unstable human authority has become.
• Escalating apocalypse: The zombie horde grows by absorbing other zombie groups, creating a snowball effect that threatens to overwhelm entire regions.
• Hope amid despair: Humanity appears largely helpless, but the Perfect Squad Project and Fourth-Generation Augmented Humans provide a limited possibility of resistance.
• Hidden forces and expanded scale: The signal from Extraterrestrial Humans suggests that the conflict may extend beyond Earth and introduces a major new mystery.

Character Interactions

• Lin Dong speaks with Terror about the ruined city, human scavengers, and Tech Company’s claim over the area.
• Terror and Mist provide Lin Dong with information about human activity and the political divisions between Tech Company, nearby shelters, and Black Scorpion.
• Wang Rong leads the emergency conference, dismisses Ye Jian’s unnecessary agreement, and challenges the branch leaders to propose solutions.
• The supervisors argue over whether to confront the zombie horde, but their fear and uncertainty reveal the overwhelming threat it represents.
• Wang Rong gradually gains the group’s attention and cautious hope by revealing the Perfect Squad Project, then shocks them further with news of the extraterrestrial signal.

Chapter Summary: Superbrain Intelligence

Key Plot Points

• Tek headquarters receives a decoded signal from extraterrestrial humans beyond the domain—aliens are friendly and offer to help fight zombies
• Aliens provide technology for developing Fifth-Generation Augmented Humans via "Superbrain Intelligence"
• This new tech has computing power trillions of times greater than the fourth generation, plus advanced autonomous learning; described as a potential "ultimate killing machine"
• Wang Rong orders the gathering of strong individuals to pursue this development, boosting morale among executives
• Ye Jian is excused from participating (Wang Rong says he wouldn't be of much use)
• Wang Rong confirms Liu Baiyue will not be forgiven for betraying the company

Scene Shift: Black Scorpion City

• Liu Baiyue, now fallen from power, is cleaning a dirty room with Zhao Xiaochun as her only companion
• Black Scorpion members leer at her; she feels like a "lady fallen into a den of street thugs"
• Long Fei bursts in uninvited, surrounded by members filming on phones
• He grabs Liu Baiyue's wrist, threatening her; she struggles helplessly
• Long Fei suggests Zhao Xiaochun could "share the burden" too (implying gang assault)
• Zhao Xiaochun tells Liu Baiyue to just endure it, as they are in Black Scorpion territory

Character Developments

• Wang Rong: Confident and morale-boosting; committed to punishing traitors while pushing humanity's technological advancement
• Ye Jian: Detached and pragmatic; uninterested in joining the recruitment drive, seemingly unconcerned
• Liu Baiyue: From Tek executive to powerless captive; still makes grand promises but is physically helpless against Long Fei
• Zhao Xiaochun: Passive and survival-oriented; abandons Liu Baiyue's call for help, choosing compliance over resistance
• Long Fei: Asserting dominance, cruel, and sexually threatening toward Liu Baiyue, using his position of power

Significant Themes

• Hope vs. uncertainty: Alien aid and fifth-gen tech offer hope for humanity, but executives question whether augmented humans might eventually threaten humanity ("isn't that still better than being eaten by zombies?")
• Fall from power: Liu Baiyue's dramatic reversal—formerly a leader, now subjected to humiliation and helplessness
• Law of the jungle: Black Scorpion City is governed by raw force, not rules; survival means submission
• Coercion and vulnerability: Sexual intimidation as a tool of domination in the post-apocalyptic world

Character Interactions

• Wang Rong rallies executives; Ye Jian asks to be excused and is dismissed
• Ye Jian raises the question of Liu Baiyue's fate; Wang Rong vows retribution
• Liu Baiyue reassures Zhao Xiaochun about a future comeback; Zhao Xiaochun responds with doubt
• Long Fei corners Liu Baiyue, physically overpowering her; she appeals to Zhao Xiaochun for help, but Zhao refuses, counseling submission
  Note: The chapter ends with an implied threat of sexual assault against Liu Baiyue, with Zhao Xiaochun advising her to endure it.

Chapter Summary: “A Dire Predicament”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Long Fei attempts to assault Liu Baiyue in front of Black Scorpion members, who gather at the doorway to watch and record.
• Song Wenxi, Black Scorpion’s female leader and spokesperson for its mysterious Absolute Leader, interrupts and forces Long Fei to stop.
• Song Wenxi warns that the Jiangbei City Zombie Tide is advancing toward Hanjiang Province. Long Fei suspects the Zombie King’s apparent revenge is only an excuse for a larger, hidden objective.
• Long Fei leaves to prepare for the coming crisis, while Song Wenxi dismisses the onlookers.
• Liu Baiyue thanks Song Wenxi for rescuing her, but Song Wenxi then reveals predatory interest in Liu Baiyue herself, making it clear that Liu Baiyue has escaped one threat only to encounter another.
• Black Scorpion and the Tech Company begin preparing for the approaching zombie tide.
• Aircraft and awakened individuals arrive in Hanjiang Province to help construct the “Strongest Defense Line.”
• A group of newly arrived awakened individuals visits Xiang’an City, believed to be free of zombies, to search for supplies.
• Their leader, Brother Zhao, notices nothing unusual at first, but a young woman becomes suspicious after seeing rat corpses that appear to have been killed by zombies.
• Nearby, Flared Ears and Bigtooth Earring detect movement and realize that something is happening, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments

• Liu Baiyue: Becomes terrified and desperate while confronting Long Fei, then feels grateful toward Song Wenxi. Her relief quickly turns into renewed alarm when Song Wenxi shows interest in her.
• Long Fei: Demonstrates his arrogance and brutality but also shows strategic insight by questioning whether the Zombie King’s actions are motivated purely by revenge.
• Song Wenxi: Is established as a powerful and authoritative figure within Black Scorpion City. She can control Long Fei and command the organization’s members, yet she is also revealed to possess the same dangerous, exploitative tendencies as him.
• Brother Zhao: Acts as an experienced guide to the visiting awakened individuals, though he is overly confident about Xiang’an City’s safety.
• The young female visitor: Shows greater awareness than the others by noticing signs that contradict the belief that the city is empty.

Significant Themes

• Threats hidden behind apparent rescue: Liu Baiyue is saved from Long Fei but immediately faces Song Wenxi’s equally unsettling intentions.
• Impending catastrophe and preparation: The zombie tide forces rival factions and human survivors to prepare for a large-scale disaster.
• Deception and hidden motives: Long Fei suspects the Zombie King is using revenge as a pretext for a broader plan.
• False security: Xiang’an City is considered safe, but the dead rats and unusual signs suggest that danger may have returned.
• Power and exploitation: Both Long Fei and Song Wenxi use their authority to dominate weaker individuals.

Character Interactions

• Long Fei and Liu Baiyue: Long Fei threatens and intimidates Liu Baiyue until Song Wenxi intervenes.
• Long Fei and Song Wenxi: Song Wenxi rebukes Long Fei and successfully asserts authority over him, despite his resentment at being interrupted.
• Liu Baiyue and Song Wenxi: Liu Baiyue initially sees Song Wenxi as a benefactor, but Song Wenxi’s flirtatious and predatory behavior causes her to view her as another “big pervert.”
• Brother Zhao and the visiting awakened group: He guides them through Xiang’an City and reassures them that the area is safe, even as evidence suggests otherwise.
• Flared Ears and Bigtooth Earring: The two monitor the city and detect the approaching or emerging threat before the visiting group understands the danger.