Not far away from the restaurant, Leon sent the zombie flying with a single hit from his sword.

Bang! It crashed into a warehouse, collapsing the wall with it.

Leon didn’t pause at all and immediately dashed in through the hole.

The zombie was faster than him, so he had to keep it pinned down if he wanted to kill it.

When he jumped in, the zombie was just rising to its feet. Without even waiting to reach it, Leon threw his weapon at it.

The heavy black blade shot through the air with so much force that it stabbed through the zombie’s chest and broke the wall behind it, exiting them from the building.

Leon dashed after them, reaching for his greatsword which was still stuck in the zombie’s chest.

With the zombie still being skewered, he raised the blade and slammed it to the ground.

Sickening wet cracks were heard as several bones in the zombie’s body snapped, and it was thrown a few meters away from him.

Unexpectedly, the zombie sprang to its feet, then attacked with its dreadful claws.

Leon blocked with his blade, even pushing the enemy back. However, before he could follow up, the zombie turned around and fled.

’Huh?’

Leon blinked, not expecting that at all. Before he knew it, the zombie had already escaped.

"Are you baffled? Oh dear, you haven’t seen anything yet."

Thyra chuckled, leaning against his arm as he took deep breaths.

"Aren’t all zombies mindless? That’s what I’ve watched in the movies."

The black-haired woman chuckled, her voice sounding like a divine song.

"Do you really think so? Then can you explain why they targeted the restaurant instead of those two?"

Leon’s brows furrowed as he answered. "Isn’t it instinct? The restaurant houses more people, after all."

"Hm, you’re right." She nodded, leaning her head on his shoulder. "However, you’re also wrong. They didn’t do that entirely out of instincts. It was because a higher-level zombie commanded them to."

This time, Leon was shocked. "Command? Are you serious?"

His gaze, which had been focused on the place where he had last seen the black zombie, immediately shifted to Thyra’s beautiful face.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the right state of mind to appreciate the nigh-perfect face she had.

"I suspect a Tier One Brain Zombie is at work. They’re the type to command armies of zombies. Not physically superior, but very intelligent as they evolve, and with the type of mana that can dominate and control those below them."

Leon felt his heart grow cold at her explanation. Mindless zombies were already a hassle. But intelligent zombies that controlled armies?

That would be a disaster.

Thyra still smiled. "You don’t need to think about the future yet. Right now, focus on getting out of the school, build your own forces and find your sister."

Her reassuring words calmed him a bit, and his trembling eyes steadied.

"I see. That’s why you suggested I get subordinates. Thank you."

He pulled her close and hugged her warmly. Not romantic, not lustful, but just a normal hug full of gratitude.

Thyra was surprised, but obediently melted in his embrace. She didn’t feel anything stirring in his pants this time, so she smiled and teased him.

"Ah~? Could it be that I’ve lost my charm? The great dragon isn’t rising~"

Leon stiffened, and before he could disengage, he heard footsteps approaching.

"What are you doing, hugging the air?"

Selene’s frosty voice was heard, followed by Thyra’s chuckle as she let go of him.

Keeping his expression composed, Leon glanced at the silver-haired girl.

"I am hugging my ghost girlfriend. What does that have to do with you?"

The girl’s expression darkened, while Thyra was amused by how Leon referred to her. Although the two humans obviously wouldn’t believe him, shouldn’t he know that she could hear him?

She suppressed a chuckle to avoid his ear twitching.

"Where is the zombie Samson claimed you fought?"

Reymond looked around, seeing nothing but few signs of a scuffle.

Leon shrugging and began walking towards the restaurant.

"It fled."

Reymond and Selene were shocked, but he didn’t say anything after that. Exchanging a look, the two of them decided to question him properly later.

When they returned to the restaurant, Samson had already brought out the students who were loaded with foodstuffs they could carry.

Some of them were pale at the sight of the corpses while others had even vomited their breakfast.

"Thank goodness! You’re okay."

Gwen smiled as soon as she saw Leon. He nodded at her with a calm expression, then looked at the corpses of close to a thousand zombies.

It was really a gory sight, with every inch of the floor painted with blood.

"So scary..." Someone whispered while hugging the two packs of instant noodles they were carrying.

"You guys must have leveled up a lot."

He said, turning back to the other four.

Samson shrugged. "That’s a given. I had to kill over a hundred anyway."

Selene didn’t answer, while Reymond just scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.

Only Gwen still answered. "Well, I did level up twice. My ability didn’t really work anyway."

Leon patted her shoulder. "Your usefulness will shine when we’re facing mutated beasts."

He knew of her ability, and he knew how dangerous it was. Even someone like him wouldn’t be able to defend himself of he was struck.

Gwen beamed at him, then turned to look at the others.

"Let’s get going before more zombies find us."

Leon, Selene, Reymond, and Samson nodded casually, while the other normal students trembled.

The group moved according to their previous formation, with the food carriers at the center of their formation.

They were attacked by a few straggling zombies, but Selene and Gwen took them down from a safe distance.

When they finally returned to the field house, everyone was relieved.

Selene directed them to load up the foodstuffs in the storage rooms in the kitchen area of the field house, while the rest of the team took a moment to relax.

Leon stretched his bones, then called his small team of five to his own private room.