These crows seemed to count as zombies too. They needed to gorge on corpses—and even if corpses ran out, they still craved meat.
How would Zeroy feed them? Their existence would inevitably threaten humanity. Just because they lived in harmony with Zeroy didn't mean they could coexist with humans.
"Food's not the problem..."
This world had plenty of corpses. And even if those rotted beyond use, there were still animals.
These flocks were merely slotting back into the food chain—just higher up.
"The problem is the virus..."
After the outbreak, many animals still lived.
Aside from those deliberately modified by the Company, most weren't infected. Zombies only hunted them for meat, never if humans were around.
Zeroy had noticed this while cutting down zombies.
However, the crow flocks before her had clearly been altered by the virus.
She sheathed her Striker Blade and turned to Patchouli. "Check these little ones. If they're harmful to humans... wipe them out."
She was reluctant… regardless, would strike without hesitation. They were just birds she'd crossed paths with.
She beckoned casually at one crow gnawing a corpse. "Come here."
Every head snapped up. Hundreds of crimson eyes, like rubies, locked onto her.
They didn't move, only stared, until they saw which one she'd chosen.
The chosen crow spread its wings, slowly gliding toward her.
Its feathers shone with an oily gleam in the dim light. Beak and claws dripped with clotted gore, droplets falling with soft plops.
Both Zeroy and Patchouli frowned. They had long since wrapped themselves in mint-green air-purification wards, blocking the stench.
Anyhow, stink or not, no one wanted to touch filth like that.
Zeroy pointed to a nearby patch of dirt. "Forget it. Land there."
The crow obeyed, flapping to the spot exactly. Tilting its head, it hopped twice, eyes gleaming oddly in the sun, almost tame—as if awaiting orders.
The others stayed silent, watching curiously with hundreds of bloody eyes.
Patchouli adjusted her glasses. Her grimoire flipped open, violet arrays spinning at her fingertips.
Meanwhile Zeroy pulled a scanner from Kaina (Earth Blade)'s gear. A lance of blue light swept over the crow.
Moments later, results appeared.
Patchouli's amethyst eyes narrowed slightly, surprise in her tone. "Its feathers are smeared with virus, though inside... only traces in the meat it just ate. Its body shows signs of alteration, but no infection."
Zeroy's scanner agreed.
She arched a brow. "They've eaten so much tainted flesh, yet no infection... can these things purge the virus?"
Patchouli shut her grimoire, analyzing calmly. "Their physiology may naturally reject the harmful aspects of the virus. Some unknown trait... that said, it's only a preliminary guess."
Zeroy nodded, lips curving with interest. "How intriguing."
She holstered the scanner, gazing at the hopping crow.
"No need to cull them yet. But this is only the first test. Whether they stay alive depends on further evaluation."
Simply resisting infection wasn't enough. Could they threaten humans? That was the real test.
After all, they were still altered. Larger bodies, sharper claws. Even one could endanger a normal person.
Still, she saw no black mist of {evil} on them.
"Come on. Let's finish clearing the city, then check on the survivors."
...
A spectral blue flash. Thousands of survivors reeled as they were teleported to a barren plain.
They blinked, vision swimming, surrounded by strangers—hundreds, thousands of them, all dazed and afraid.
Normally, such upheaval would spark chaos. Old grudges, rivalries—screams and fights should erupt.
Albeit the clearing was silent.
Everyone was bound by unseen force. No movement, no words—only their faces could betray them.
At their feet, a pale-blue circle spun, glowing chains sealing their bodies and voices.
Oppression weighed thick, time itself frozen.
Their eyes brimmed with terror, sweat sliding unchecked down pale faces.
Then—from the city—a massive explosion shook the air.
Flames roared. A towering corpse mountain collapsed. Buildings toppled like blocks. Strange light flared.
They couldn't understand. Although they knew… something catastrophic was happening.
Ten minutes later, Tokonosu City fell silent.
Then—a dark cloud rose, drifting toward them.
A rasping caw split the air.
"Caw—!"
To the survivors of Tokonosu, it was a death knell. The sound they knew too well.
The flocks that always circled corpse mountains.
Pupils shrank. Hearts thundered.
Fear surged like a tide, bound tight by the spell.
Some strained against it, veins bulging, yet couldn't twitch a finger.
Some tried to scream—but no sound left their throats.
Helplessness gnawed at their nerves.
And from afar, the caws multiplied—like a chorus of ghosts.
On the horizon, black flocks advanced, wings blotting the sky, casting a suffocating shadow.
...
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