Apocalypse: System of lotteries



Ming ran his fingers over the clay figure, noting its striking resemblance to himself. This was one of David's odd moneymaking schemes from long ago. This was hardly surprising for an Earth Elementalist.

"Is this camp inhabited by you alone?" Ming asked, his eyes scanning the surrounding setup. It hardly seemed like a long-term encampment, but that was understandable; constant harassment by zombies wouldn't allow for much stability.

"Including me, there were three of us here just moments ago, "Lofir replied. He handed Ming a bottle of water and gestured to the King-class zombie bound to the car. "The other two... are inside this creature's belly now."

"Ah," Ming murmured, accepting the water.

Lofir turned back to them, his voice trembling slightly. "When we first arrived on this map, we failed to complete the kill in the given time, so we were left stranded here. Perhaps I've been luckier; I've managed to survive until now." He paused to wipe his face, his voice cracking as he glanced at the zombie on the car roof. "At least... I've fared better than the other two."

Ming gave Lofir a reassuring pat on the shoulder, remaining silent. Such was the way of life and death.

Lofir lifted his head, his eyes red but his smile genuine. "After killing this zombie, I can finally leave this place. No more living in constant fear, no more nights spent in terror. Thank you!"

"It's alright," Ming replied. After a moment, he added gently, "The world outside might be even more brutal than this. If you wish, I can sever the limbs of this King-class zombie. If you want to leave, you can kill it. If not, it won't be a threat to you."

"Thank you, but..." Lofir gestured to the zombie's belly. "The three of us promised each other that whoever got out would find the others' families and deliver the remaining supplies to them. So, I must honor our agreement."

Ming nodded understandingly. "Understood."

"Guteman, where are you planning to go? It seemed as if you entered through the mist. I admire your courage to venture beyond it. Most people simply survive day to day, lacking your bravery."

"Perhaps I'm naturally restless," Ming replied. "I'm planning to head to S City."

Upon hearing this, Lofir pointed in a direction. "Follow that road straight ahead. You have a drivable vehicle; if all goes well, you should arrive in about four hours. At the latest, by tonight. I used to work there, and I often drove back and forth to my hometown on weekends."

"Thank you," Ming expressed his gratitude.

Moments later, Ming dragged the King-class zombie, now stripped of its limbs, to the ground. After bidding farewell to Lofir, he led an army of zombies across the city. Along the way, he gathered the remaining undead, forming an imposing procession moving southward, beyond the mist.

From a high vantage point, Lofir watched, utterly stunned by the scene unfolding before him. He now understood why 109 was so formidable. Guteman was an incredibly powerful puppeteer, so powerful it took one's breath away.

He waved, wishing Ming safe travels, "Godspeed."

On the road, Ming reclined in the backseat, preparing both mentally and physically for what lay ahead.

Outside the car, the puppet Black Hair Pig Demon sidled up to Euryale. "I have wine and tales to share, all for free. My voice is quite charming~"

Euryale's gaze turned the Black Hair Pig Demon to stone on the spot.

Ming did not intervene with the pig's antics. That was just its nature, unchangeable. Perhaps it was a form of communication between puppets.

The puppet Red Horse Knight bumped into the now stone-form Black Hair Pig Demon, chiding, "How dare she petrify you! If I were you, I'd teach her a lesson."

The Black Hair Pig Demon glared at the Red Horse Knight and threw a punch, knocking him to the ground. "Mind your own business! Trying to pick a fight with me?"

Ming rolled down the car window, admonishing them, "If either of you damages the other, you'll be compensating me."

Hearing Ming's words, the two ceased their quarrel. As dusk approached, Ming stepped out of the vehicle and looked up to the sign above the highway toll gate, which read: "Welcome to S City."

He promptly spread a map over the car's hood, pinpointing their location on the city's northern edge. Heading south would lead them to the main urban area.

Ming selected four zombies and tasked Kubo with driving training; communication between zombies should, in theory, be more efficient. Meanwhile, Ming sat to one side, summoning a chef puppet to prepare a meal, allowing himself some rest and recuperation.

Euryale was quietly nibbling on a cake. Red Horse Knight seemed as though he wanted to speak but swallowed his words. Black Hair Pig Demon's gaze was fixated on the roasted suckling pig, drool dripping from its mouth.

[Your Napoleon stared at the Black Hair Pig Demon. "Thinking of eating your own kind? Do you really have the stomach for it?"...Black Hair Pig Demon licked its lips, "Back when I was raising pigs, I'd eat one roast suckling pig every day."]

[Your Foodie nudged Napoleon, "Eat up. He's just feasting his eyes on it. Ask him if he dares to take a piece."... Black Hair Pig Demon lowered its head, "You two, what wrong did you commit to end up as frogs? I'm really curious."]

[Your Napoleon rotated its eyes, "The story of my parents is none of your business."]

"~~"

Ming took a bite of his bread, then stored Black Hair Pig Demon and Red Horse Knight in a separate space. They weren't needed to hover around during mealtime. Euryale was different – after much bonding and understanding, she had become more mature. Moreover, her appetite was small.

With her cake in hand, Euryale swam closer and asked, "Boss, why aren't we heading into the city?"

"We don't know the situation inside. Let's first send a few zombies to scout."

Ming glanced at the zombies being trained to drive. The reason for his hesitation was simple: caution. Always be cautious.

After a while, dinner was over, and Kubo had successfully trained the four zombies. Indeed, communication between zombies was efficient. Their language might be unified in the form of 'heh heh~', but the volume, tone, and rhythm constituted a sophisticated communication system.

[Your puppet Kubo looked at you. "Done. They are smart and drive well."]

[…]

Ming nodded and snapped his fingers, signaling the four zombies to drive away.

Crash~ The car's front collided with the toll booth.

[Kubo shrugged. "Unexpected."]

[…]

A moment later, the car, with its jerky motions, got back on track and headed toward the city center. Ming summoned a spiritual energy giant eagle, grabbed its legs, and ascended into the sky. From this bird's-eye view, he surveyed a portion of the city.

Skyscrapers stood tall everywhere, their structures crisscrossing. The buildings hadn't suffered from any earthquake damage. This confirmed Ming's suspicion that when the Rule initiated the earthquake, it targeted specific areas. What surprised him was the absence of any dividing mist.

So, this city... was it merely a dead city in a post-apocalyptic world?

He soon descended back to the ground and activated his Puppet Eye, connecting with the driving zombie. His vision shifted, and he could distinctly feel the serpentine movement of the car. Indeed, when it came to driving, Kubo was naturally more gifted. The vehicle it drove was both fast and stable.