System Of The Undead

Chapter 235: The Threat On The Third Floor

Jason noticed that the zombies in the hospital were nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t quite understand it, but it felt different. The zombies remained motionless, which was unusual. This couldn’t be another nest, and they should have reacted to his presence, even if they couldn’t perceive him.

However, Jason didn’t care much about the lack of zombie activity because he had a weapon with him.

With no one around to protect, he could go all out, even if it meant losing himself in the process.

He searched the rooms and found a couple of pills that were way past their expiration date, but he didn’t mind. He couldn’t be picky because even though they were expired, there was no doubt they would still be useful.

Jason began packing everything into the empty backpack hanging from his shoulder. This task was of utmost importance, and Jason was aware of the urgency.

Yet, the zombies still didn’t react to him. This was strange, and Jason knew that something was amiss, but he couldn’t quite figure it out. He was relieved that they weren’t responding, but the pills on the first floor weren’t nearly enough.

He knew he had to go upstairs, but the main threat awaited him there. Surprisingly, it didn’t respond to him either.

"Chronos, what is going on?" Jason questioned, realizing that Chronos had been quiet for quite some time.

[[It seems the zombies do not perceive you as a threat]]

Chronos informed him. This should be impossible, considering he was holding a sword composed of the very fragments that made up the zombies.

It was as if they were no longer zombies. However, Jason wasn’t foolish enough to take any chances.

He decapitated every zombie he encountered, as he couldn’t risk being attacked.

He wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away.

He had discovered that evolved zombies could insert a parasite into others to force their evolution.

However, the extent of the evolution depended on the zombie itself.

That’s why they could only pass on certain traits.

Jason rushed to the second floor. It was different from the first floor, with a stench that made him feel nauseous.

The hallway was covered in dried blood, indicating a massacre had taken place. Given that this floor housed most of the patients, it wasn’t surprising.

The question remained, where were the zombies?

Jason couldn’t comprehend it, but he found himself able to equip and wield the sword with relative ease.

As he inspected the rooms, he realized they had been cleaned out.

This was a bit strange, as it implied someone had been here before.

That was the only explanation he could come up with.

He was concealing the aura that made the zombies sense him, but they should still be able to sense the energy emanating from the sword. Then, it hit Jason.

"Chronos, is it possible that I’m not being treated as a threat because I have this sword in my hand?" Jason questioned. It would make sense, considering that the zombies could easily mistake him for an evolved one, especially after what he had witnessed earlier.

The parasite that had taken over Schneider seemed to be immune to zombies for some reason.

What if it had used a piece of the fragment it possessed to forge this sword? The other zombies would assume that it was the one walking past them, and Jason knew that this was one of the possibilities as to why they could move freely.

If it was true, then there was no limit to what they could do. The sword acted as a cloak, but Jason needed further research to confirm this theory.

[[I detect the same energy emitting from the sword as I did back there]]

Chronos informed Jason. Jason was relieved by this, as it meant that this might be a lot easier than anticipated. It also reinforced the belief that the zombies were a collective.

They lacked individuality, but that was to be expected.

Jason just didn’t know that they had such a formation. He once believed that they attacked anything in sight, witnessing it when two zombies fought each other to rip the fragment from one another. Jason was getting closer to the truth, but he knew he needed more knowledge. If he could obtain it, there was no doubt that he could defeat these parasites once and for all.

He could sense the evolved zombie waiting for him on the floor above, realizing that he would have to fight.

Jason braced himself for the battle that was about to ensue. He knew that if he wasn’t ready, the probability of being caught off guard was extraordinarily high.

He couldn’t underestimate these creatures anymore, and he was still yet to determine if Chronos was on his side or not.

One thing he knew, however, was that Chronos needed him more than he needed it.

[[I am not your enemy]]

Chronos informed Jason, revealing that it could once again read his thoughts.

"I never said you were, but I have to admit, I don’t trust you. However, my gut tells me that you do not share the same twisted goal as that other side of you," Jason muttered.

If Chronos was once whole, why did it split when it would clearly be stronger together? It would make its goal a lot more attainable.

Why was Chronos warning him to get away from here when it would be to its advantage if it was consumed? Jason was connecting the dots, and he just couldn’t make Chronos the bad guy, even though it had an ulterior motive.

[[You wish to know what my intentions are...]] Chronos said; for some reason, Chronos wasn’t being as secretive as before, and that told Jason that it understood the gravity of the situation.

"You wish to become whole," Jason responded in an exhausted tone.

[[That is true, but that isn’t all. To understand, I need to take you back to the beginning]]

Chronos informed Jason.

Jason knew that Chronos was about to tell him a story about its origin, but he had to leave this place as soon as possible.

[[... Right after we deal with the threat]]

Chronos could read the room, and Jason began his ascent to the third floor.