Zombie Domination-Chapter 51- Test

During the journey, Aya sat quietly in the back of the jeep, tinkering with something small and metallic in her hands.

Celestia, noticing the faint clicking sounds, glanced over. "What are you working on?"

Aya jumped slightly, "I-I’m making some small explosives and maybe a flashbang or two... just in case."

Celestia raised a brow, slightly impressed. "You can craft that? Impressive."

"It’s thanks to my [Blacksmith] skill," Aya said, a bit more confidently.

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "Wait, don’t you also have [Eagle Eye]?"

Aya nodded. "Y-yeah... I have both."

Celestia blinked in surprise. "Two skills...?" Her gaze shifted forward toward Julian, then back to Aya. "Julian has more than one skill too, doesn’t he?"

Emma chuckled lightly. "Of course. They’re unbeatable."

Julian, still focused on the road, chimed in. "I’ve been investigating that, actually. Have you seen anyone at the military base with more than one skill?"

Celestia shook her head slowly. "Not that I know of. Either no one has them... or they’re hiding it."

Clarissa, seated beside Aya, spoke up thoughtfully. "Maybe... this is all just a form of forced evolution."

Celestia looked toward her. "What do you mean?"

Clarissa continued, "Think about it. Mass extinctions have happened before, like the dinosaurs. A meteor hit the Earth and wiped them out. But that disaster gave way for mammals to rise. It forced the world to change. Now, the zombie outbreak... this apocalypse... it could be our meteor."

The jeep grew silent.

Clarissa went on, her voice steady. "Maybe some humans are developing new abilities to survive. Two skills. Mutated powers. Maybe the world is shifting again, and we’re just adapting."

Julian smirked, eyes still on the road. "Interesting theory. If that’s true, then the zombies might evolve too... stronger, smarter... deadlier."

Aya shivered a bit. "I-I hope not..."

As night fell, the convoy of vehicles came to a halt near the edge of a collapsed overpass. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light across the ruined land.

Julian and the others decided to rest. The soldiers of Celestia’s unit began setting up camp, pitching tents and preparing a small perimeter for the night.

Julian, as always, constructed a large tent with practiced ease, flanked by his four companions, Aya, Clarissa, Emma, and Veronica. A few soldiers from Celestia’s unit cast sidelong glances toward them, their inner thoughts practically written on their faces.

"That guy... surrounded by beautiful women in a world like this... damn, I’m jealous," one soldier muttered under his breath while adjusting his weapon strap.

Celestia, standing tall with her usual calm authority, turned to her men. "Split into two groups. One will patrol the perimeter, watch for infected. The other group, start preparing dinner. We move again at first light."

"Yes, Lieutenant!" they answered in unison and quickly moved to their assigned tasks.

Meanwhile, Julian’s group gathered near the campfire to prepare their meal. Clarissa was slicing vegetables with precise, telekinetic finesse. Emma stirred a pot with visible excitement, Aya checked supplies with her data log, and Veronica, arms crossed, supervised like a drill sergeant.

Emma narrowed her eyes. "Why are you just standing there watching us?"

Veronica folded her arms with a smug smile. "I’m overseeing everything. Making sure there are no accidents."

Emma raised a brow. "These ingredients won’t slice themselves, you know. Help us out."

Veronica scoffed lightly. "I’ve decided I’ll contribute... as the official taste tester."

Emma sighed and turned her back. "Fine, then. No food for freeloaders."

"What?!" Veronica snapped, stomping her foot. "You can’t do that! I’m starving!"

Clarissa, stepped in with a gentle voice. "Alright, that’s enough. Veronica, why don’t you help me over here?"

Veronica grumbled under her breath but nodded and moved over to Clarissa’s side, reluctantly picking up a knife.

Soon, the delicious scent of cooked rations filled the air, mixing with the crisp night breeze.

Suddenly, one of the patrol soldiers ran up, face pale.

"Lieutenant Celestia!" he called out. "We spotted a group of mutated zombies approaching from the north. Roughly fifteen, and they’re closing in fast."

Before Celestia could issue an order, Julian stepped forward, stretching his arms with a nonchalant grin. "Let your men rest. I’ve been meaning to test my new power anyway."

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "Julian,You can’t keep taking all the fights for yourself. They need to learn how to handle these threats."

Before she could continue, Emma leaned over with a playful smirk and whispered, "Just let him go, Lieutenant. He’s like a kid who just got a new toy, he won’t sleep until he’s tried it out."

Celestia blinked, unsure whether to sigh or smile.

Julian cracked his knuckles, the faint spark of lightning flickering at his fingertips. "Be right back."

The mutated zombies snarled and roared, their grotesque bodies shuddering with twisted rage. Their eyes glowed faintly in the dark as they charged forward like rabid beasts.

Julian stood his ground, calm and composed. "Let’s see what this power can really do," he muttered.

He activated his newly acquired skill [Lightning].

In an instant, crackling electricity surged around him, dancing along his limbs and wrapping his body in a veil of living thunder. He could feel it raw, destructive power coursing through his veins. His eyes narrowed as a smile formed.

With a sudden dash, Julian closed the distance between him and the first mutated zombie. His katana flashed, enhanced by lightning, and carved cleanly through the creature’s torso in a sizzling arc.

The others lunged at him, but Julian was already on the move.

He blurred between them with incredible speed, every swing of his blade electrocuting and cleaving, leaving charred, motionless bodies in his wake.

"Hmm... let’s try something different."

He sheathed his katana and extended one hand. Sparks gathered in his palm, swirling until they formed a condensed orb of lightning. He launched it toward the group, BOOM!—the blast erupted, engulfing several mutated zombies in blue flames and leaving them scorched.

Julian nodded in satisfaction. "That destructive output... not bad at all."

Then he tested his mobility. Lightning crackled around his legs, and he burst forward with a sudden jolt of speed, easily outpacing the creatures. "Fast too," he muttered, darting behind a zombie and delivering a brutal, electrified punch that sent it flying.

As the last of them collapsed in smoking heaps, Julian stood in the middle of the battlefield, unharmed, surrounded by the fallen. He exhaled, lightning fading.

"Efficient for offense... but what if I mix it with my shadow skill?" he pondered aloud, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Would they clash, or fuse into something more?"

Before he could explore further, Emma’s voice called out from the camp. "Julian! Dinner’s ready! Come eat before it gets cold!"

He turned toward her voice. "Alright."

After finishing their dinner, Celestia stood and addressed the group. "Get some rest. We still have a long way ahead tomorrow. The rest of you, take turns on patrol."

"Yes, Lieutenant," her soldiers responded in unison, dispersing to their duties.

Julian and his group, however, remained seated around the campfire. The flames crackled gently, casting a golden glow over their tired but content faces.

A moment later, Igan approached with a few steaming mugs in his hands. "Hot chocolate?" he offered with a casual smile.

Clarissa, Emma, Aya, and Veronica gratefully accepted.

"Thanks" Julian said.

"No problem," Igan replied as he took a seat nearby.

Reinar strolled over, hands in his pockets. "Hey, I want some too."

"Make it yourself," Igan shot back, not even looking up.

"Stingy," Reinar muttered with mock disappointment.

Cassian, sitting beside them, chuckled. "Here, I’ll make you one."

Reinar grinned and gave him a friendly nudge. "Now that’s a real friend. Unlike someone."

Igan rolled his eyes but smirked.

Hike joined the fire circle next, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry if we being noisy..."

Julian shook his head. "You’re not."

Reinar scoffed. "Noisy? You’ve barely said a word."

Then came a small, shy voice. "Excuse me..."

It was Mira. She gently sat down near the edge of the fire, wrapping her hands around her own warm mug.

They all sipped the hot chocolate in comfortable silence for a moment, letting the warmth soak into their bones. The fire crackled, wind rustled the trees, and for once, there was peace.

"We really owe you all," Hike said suddenly. "For everything."

Julian waved it off. "Don’t keep thanking us."

Julian then looked at Mira. "It was your skill that led us to you, wasn’t it?"

Mira nodded shyly. "Yes..."

Julian smiled. "It was impressive."

Her cheeks turned a shade pinker. "Thank you..."

"She’s always been like that," Hike said, glancing at Mira.

Celestia’s voice suddenly cut through the moment. "Alright, everyone. It’s late. Get some rest."

"Yes, Lieutenant," they replied, though none made a move yet.

Reinar stretched, cracking his neck. "Still not sleepy. What do you guys say... horror stories?"

The group paused.

And then, with a smirk, Veronica leaned back and said, "This should be good."

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