Chapter 43: Mysterious voice
In the shadowy chamber, the orb of light flickered and swirled, illuminating scenes from different corners of the world. The enigmatic observer watched with fascination, absorbing every detail with keen interest.
"Heh, Souta, you never cease to intrigue me," the observer murmured before swiping the orb to view another scene.
The scene that appeared before the observer's eyes was that of a man and a woman climbing a mountain, their breaths labored as they ascended the steep slopes. The man, a muscular and rugged-looking figure, was leading the way, urging the woman to keep up with him.
"Come on, we're almost there," he encouraged, his voice strained.
"I'm fine, just need to catch my breath," the woman replied, gasping for air.
As they reached the summit, the view that greeted them was breathtaking. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the surrounding mountains and valleys. The man turned to the woman, a broad grin spreading across his face.
"See, it was worth it, wasn't it?" he said, pointing towards the panoramic vista.
The woman smiled back at him, a twinkle in her eye. "Yes, it was," she replied, feeling a sense of accomplishment surge through her.
The observer swiped the orb again, and the scene changed once more.
This time, the orb revealed a passionate speaker addressing a crowd, urging them to stand up against their oppressors. The speaker, a charismatic and powerful figure, roused the crowd with his fiery words, calling for an end to injustice and inequality.
Suddenly, a sniper's bullet silenced him, sending the crowd into a panicked frenzy. Chaos erupted as people ran for cover, screaming and crying in fear. The sniper, hidden in a distant perch, calmly reported back to his superiors.
"Target eliminated," he said, his voice cold and detached.
The observer watched the scene with a mixture of fascination and horror. Such violence and senseless killing were all too common in the world, and it saddened the observer to see so much suffering and pain.
With a flick of the orb, the observer changed the scene again, and a new world appeared before their eyes.
The orb revealed a sprawling empire spanning five states, each enclosed by towering walls. At the heart of it all lay the heavily fortified capital, a city of gleaming steel and concrete.
The citizens of the empire were permitted to carry weapons for self-defense, with specialized firearms designed to target only zombies. The military, however, held the authority to use lethal force against humans if necessary.
The empire boasted a population of over five million, with ample food and water provided by the government through advanced technology. As a result, a significant portion of the population served as soldiers or mercenaries, ensuring the safety of the empire from the ever-present zombie threat.
The empire's strength could be traced back to the Enlightened Ones, a group of scientists and engineers who had discovered advanced technology that enabled them to create powerful weapons and defenses against the zombie hordes. With Souta's assistance in the past, the empire continued to grow and reclaim territories from the undead.
The enigmatic observer grinned, captivated by the unfolding events. "Now, this is getting interesting," they said to themselves, wondering what new worlds and adventures the orb would reveal next.
Souta and his group were playing cards inside their vehicle as they drove towards a deserted city. Suddenly, Stacy spoke up, "Hey, we should go there, don't you think? We might find something interesting!"
"Huh? What's gotten into you? Feeling adventurous all of a sudden?" Albert asked.
"I mean, come on! It's a city! Don't you want to know what it's like inside a deserted city during the Apocalypse?" Stacy insisted.
"But, Stacy, you said it yourself, the city is dangerous," Emily pointed out.
"Emily's right. The city is worse than you think. You're acting like a spoiled brat, getting excited over just a city. I thought you were more mature than that," Nana said coldly.
"What? I am mature! I'm just suggesting that we take a look inside the city to see what's going on. Besides, everyone's already left the cities and gone to small towns in the countryside," Stacy argued.
"If you already know that everyone's left the cities and gone to the countryside, then you should know that the city itself is dangerous since they all left it behind," Nana replied calmly.
The group started to get loud, and Yuki said, "Hey, let's calm down, guys."
Souta smiled, "Alright, alright! Let's stop arguing. Nana's right, Stacy. The city is dangerous." Nana grinned and put Stacy in her place. "But it looks like we have no choice but to go inside and take another route," Souta added.
Stacy's face lit up, and she celebrated. "Yay!" Nana sighed. "Whatever." Emily looked worried, and so did Albert. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Albert asked. "Look outside, we have no choice, do we?"
Outside, thousands of broken cars littered the streets, evidence of a mass exodus from the city. "I guess we have no choice then," Albert conceded.
"I hope this will end well," Emily said worriedly.
Souta drove towards the city, the group bracing themselves for the unknown dangers that lay ahead. As they ventured deeper into the abandoned metropolis, they discovered remnants of the life that once thrived there. Overturned vehicles, shattered storefronts, and empty streets painted a grim picture of the world that had succumbed to the zombie apocalypse.
Despite the risks, the group pressed on, scavenging for supplies and uncovering clues about the city's fate. Along the way, they encountered small pockets of survivors who had managed to evade the undead hordes. These encounters provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by those who had chosen to remain in the city.
As the group delved further into the urban landscape, they began to uncover the dark secrets that had led to the city's downfall. Corruption, betrayal, and a desperate struggle for power had all played a part in the city's collapse, leaving its inhabitants vulnerable to the zombie threat.
And all the while, the enigmatic observer watched from the shadows, her interest in Souta and his group growing with each passing day. As their story unfolded, she couldn't help but wonder what role they would play in the grand scheme of things – and what destiny awaited them in the days to come.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone