Clang! Boom!

Two swords collided in a flash, an almost visible ripple spreading from the impact. Leon's muscles bulged as he contended against the crushing force from the wendigo, yet his expression remained unchanged.

In half a minute, several blows were exchanged, the sound waves shattering the nearby mirrors and glass.

'Null Impact.'

A purple haze covered Leon's sword, as it passed by the wendigo's greatsword. The blade wreathed in purple flames sliced into the monster's chest, while Leon dodged the greatsword by an inch.

Roar!!!

A furious roar escaped the wendigo as it staggered from the widened injury. Leon turned deaf ears to its rage, using the brief respite to steady himself. He glanced at the cloaked figure, then instantly regretted it.

Bang!

The wendigo slammed into him, sending him flying through the air. The bones in his wrists trembled as he almost dropped the sword, but he tightened his grip. The wendigo didn't give him a moment to breathe as it was already upon him.

Its strikes descended like a storm of steel, threatening to shatter his guard and kill him in on blow. Even then, Leon wasn't daunted. He responded to each attack calmly.

Slowly but surely, his attacks suddenly gained a sense of swordsmanship. It didn't cut, it didn't block or parry. Instead, it pulled the enemy's sword inward, as if drawing a ship into a whirlpool.

A flicker of understanding flashed in Leon's eyes as he named the technique.

'Restraint.'

The wendigo might be strong, but its intelligence wasn't high. Although it sensed the anomaly, it couldn't react and could only allow its attacks to be directed by the enemy without dealing any damage. Gradually, Leon was gaining the upper hand.

Seeing this, the cloaked figure panicked and did a hand sign. A red string stretched forth from their palm and connected to the wendigo's back.

ROAR~!

The wendigo roared in unmatched rage, its muscles growing bigger and bulkier. Instantly, it grew over ten foot tall, towering above Leon.

The white-haired guy frowned, glancing at the cloaked figure.

'Is this it? The veiny stuff…'

Unaware of his thoughts, the wendigo's attack became frenzy as it slashed and hacked like its life depended on it, literally.

Leon was slowly forced back despite using all of his strength. Even the new technique he had developed was useless as he couldn't control the enemy's momentum.

"Annoying."

He grumbled, then suddenly retreated. From a ring on his finger, he produced a sniper rifle, then fired three successive shots at the wendigo.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sudden attack caught the frenzied creature off guard, causing the strikes to connect cleanly.

Blood didn't spurt from the wounds, but the clean holes showed how deadly the attack was. As it staggered backwards, Leon fired another round of shots at its head, trying to break the skull.

The bullets struck true. However, they couldn't penetrate the skull and could only create web-like cracks.

Leon wasn't discouraged and procured a grenade. It was just a normal one and wouldn't gravely hurt a first-level zombie. Even then, Leon uncapped, the grenade, then threw it towards the cloaked figure.

'If my guess is right…'

Seeing the incoming projectile that looked slow but threatening, the cloaked figure immediately dodged. This was a simple trick. Seeing how a seemingly regular firearm had injured the wendigo, it was normal for them to be wary of a grenade.

While they were distracted by the grenade's explosion and flash, Leon closed the gap between himself and the wendigo, then smoothly beheaded it. In the brief moment where it let down its guard to look at its master, Leon killed it.

Thud.

The head fell on the concrete ground while the body remained standing, as if frozen in shock. Leon wiped his sword with the sheath, then raised his head to gaze at those red eyes.

No words were exchanged, but a silent communication occured. Leon saw their desire to flee, and if he pursued, his subordinates might not be able to handle the red-veined zombies unscathed.

'Tch.'

Scowling, he watched them vanish from the rooftop. Without hesitation, he turned heels and rushed to aid his people. With him personally joining, the already losing zombies totally collapsed until they were all killed, torn to shreds that decorated the streets.

Ice suppressed the urge to retch at the sight, then glanced at Leon.

"You didn't get it?"

At her question, everyone turned to him, expecting an answer.

Leon didn't entertain their questions at all. "Gather the crystals. We're returning to the shelter."

In the conference room, every third-level evolved were gathered, gazing at their leader with a focused look.

Leon closed his eyes, then thoughtfully crossed his fingers beneath his chin.

"I'm going to be sharing important information with everyone and I want utmost secrecy regarding this matter."

His tone was unusually grave compared to his youthful face which had grown even more handsome and slightly paler.

The others nodded, their expressions equally serious.

Opening his lips, he started.

...

After a lengthy meeting, Leon visited the Alchemy Research Building to see Cassie one last time.

"You're going somewhere? You look so lonely."

Elena said wistfully, staring at his face carefully. Leon stood beside Cassie's unconscious figure, gazing at her with a gentle look in his eyes

"She'll be alone for a while. Keep her company."

He lightly brushed her hair, then walked out of the building. Rebecca and Aisha were waiting for him, while Sylvia stood nearby with a pout.

"Boss? I really can't follow you?"

She asked in a tiny voice. Leon didn't budge and shook his head.

"You'll stay behind with the others. Your strength is needed over here."

The silver-haired girl pouted, but no longer pushed it. Leon hung a small provisional bag on his shoulder, then moved towards the gate.

Rebecca and Aisha followed after him, their speed matching his. The three journeyed through the city, then arrived at another in a few minutes. The terrain was familiar, as it was close to where he had fought the third-level leopard in the past.

"Are we going to look for someone?"

Aisha asked as she trailed behind Leon, looking at the deserted surrounding curiously. Before the apocalypse, it would have been a tourist attraction, but now, it was only infested with zombies.

Thankfully, no zombie approached them as it seemed Leon's scent hid their own humane scent.

At her question, Leon nodded casually, then turned to an alley. The two girls followed after him, sizing up the buildings for potential danger.

"We're here."

He said, stopping right before a makeshift gate that was made of heavy iron. He knocked thrice, then forced the door open.

A half-asleep evolved guard sprang up to his feet, eyes wide, and reached for his weapon.

Chik.

A force held his wrist in place, stopping him from drawing the sword. Rebecca had stepped forward silently, her gaze indicating a wrong move could send his head flying.

"Where's Mira?"

Leon asked, looking about. The whole building had been transformed into a fortified shelter, and traces of living people could be seen within.

"Lady Mira? That…" The guard hesitated, but under Rebecca's stare, he spoke. "She has been recruited by the government."

"Recruited?" Leon raised a brow at the unexpected development, then sighed. It seemed he had come late.

"You said the government? In this era?"

Aisha asked in disbelief, finding it funny.

"What do you know?" The guy scoffed. "The American government can't be brought down that easily. They already have a fortress in Washington DC. Now, they're recruiting strong people to help them fight. I'm sure they can recover the country from the zombies soon."

He spoke with great conviction, portraying signs of high patriotism. While Aisha was dumbfounded, Leon shrugged.

"Do you think it's only zombies you're fighting?"

The guard turned to him, confused. As he opened his mouth to ask a question, one of the doors to the building swung open.

Leon glanced at the person emerging, then said flatly. "Took you some time, coward."

John's expression fell instantly, aghast by the sudden unexpected insult. Even then, he maintained his faint smile.

"It's been a while we met."

Leon nodded. "Indeed."

When he had come here in the past, John had been introduced as Mira's cousin. That time, Leon found John weird, and didn't like him at all. This sentiment remained till even now.

"Well, to what pleasure do I owe you a visit?"

"I heard Mira got recruited by the government. True?"

"Ah, you already know that."

"Cut the bullshit and speak."

"Well, they came around a week ago, claiming they needed strong individuals to help reclaim America. At first, we wanted to refuse, because Mira is our best fighter, but…"

"But?"

John smiled and revealed a scar on his forearm. "Things got a bit messy. In the end, she decided to follow them."

"Is that so…"

Leon hummed. Knowing Mira's personality, she wasn't the selfish kind to refuse in rebuilding America.

"Lame."

He sneered, then turned away, about to leave.

"Wait!"

John called out from behind them. "You didn't bring us any gifts?"

The air stilled instantly.

Leon stopped, then turned his head slightly. Killing intent flashed in his eyes as he glanced at John.

"Want a gift? Scram. I don't like cowards."

Beside him, Rebecca reached for the guard again, then brutally broke his wrist. As the man's pained screams echoed, the three of them left the alley.

John wiped the imaginary sweat off his forehead, then clicked his tongue.

"Tigers will always be tigers. So full of energy."

A dark emotion crossed his expression but quickly disappeared. Instead he turned to the others.

"Get someone to fix his broken bones."

The guard still lay on the ground, whimpering in agony.

...

"You wanted to recruit her? That Mira girl."

Aisha spoke as they tired the city, walking about without any particular destination. Occasionally, they'd spot dungeon monsters, and easily dismember them.

"Hmn. She's an old acquaintance and would have been useful."

He said curtly, cleaning his new sword as he leaned against an electric pole.

"Get ready. It should be anytime soon."

Around seven minutes later, a worldwide message flashed before all of humanity.

[Code 408D-#01 initiated]

[World link created]

[Dimensional travel allowed]

[Dimensional Bridge created]

[Target Worlds: Human World Earth, Demon World Hell, Divine World Heaven, Supernatural World Urato, and Beast World Venars]

[Do you wish to travel? Free on the first attempt. Choose a world of your choice]

[As a native of Human World Earth, your choices have been restricted]

[1. Beast World Venars]

[2. Supernatural World Urato]

[Your choice: ___ ]

Looking at the familiar string of messages, Leon laughed in melancholy.

"Now, let the true Apocalypse begin."

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