Aurora shook her head. "I’m not infected."
"Stay where you are. I’m not sure how long this light will last—be careful," Asta said, then stepped out of the train car.
This was the carriage with the fewest infected. Among them, only one had shown symptoms. The other cars, however, were overflowing with infected, most of them either NPCs or ordinary people, with a few low-tier espers mixed in.
When espers get infected, they’re much more troublesome than regular people—their special powers go berserk, becoming twice as destructive, making them incredibly dangerous.
"No... Did I... did I kill someone? That can’t be true! I can’t turn into a monster!"
In the adjacent car, it sounded like a moral battle was unfolding.
The people who had turned into zombies had now regained their senses. All their physical features looked normal again, except for the gray tint of their skin, which made them easy to identify.
"We’re all back to normal now—can’t we have some hope? I’m fine right now!"
Someone shouted. His mouth still reeked of blood; who knew how many people he had devoured?
If these people could see the live broadcast room, they’d know there was no turning back for them, because their broadcast windows had all gone pitch black. That meant once you’ve turned into a zombie, even if you regain consciousness, you’ll forever be nothing but a monster in the dungeon.
Asta stepped out, speaking coldly: "You may be able to talk now, but who knows how many people you’ll kill once night falls again? You don’t even remember how you killed the first time—you become a monster at night. And the words of a monster... can’t be trusted!"
"No point in talking—just kill them all!"
Just then, a girl was shoved to the ground by the crowd. She let out a soft cry, her voice charming and tender enough to make someone’s heart melt.
One hand clutched at her chest, the other braced against the floor. She lifted her gaze, lashes glistening with moisture: "C-Can you spare me? Please... save me..."
Her hand was practically buried between her breasts, and her face was truly enchanting. But there was no ignoring the gray hue of her skin.
Asta froze like he’d been struck by lightning—Boom!
He couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if Aurora spoke like that, too.
No! He would never let her sit on the ground like that. That beautiful dress of hers shouldn’t be soiled!
Aurora was already breathtaking, but if she ever looked that pitiful, she’d be even more devastating! Also, her chest would definitely be bigger than this girl’s!
No—what blasphemy! Unforgivable! Asta felt disgusted with himself for even imagining Aurora like that. She was the moon he couldn’t reach—how could he dare think such things?
He wanted nothing more than to slap himself twice and run back to cling to Aurora’s legs and beg for forgiveness. Of course, if Aurora hugged him back, that would be even better—she must be soft!
The girl, noticing Asta had frozen, smiled gently to herself.
Asta had a reputation for being a lecher, often protecting beautiful women even in dungeons. With her looks, she was confident she could make him fall head over heels.
But when Asta saw the expression on her face, the illusion of Aurora in his mind instantly shattered. His eyes narrowed. "You..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a giant fan nearly a meter wide spun. It sliced cleanly past the girl’s head and continued flying!
Asta’s eyes widened as he leapt to the side to dodge the spinning fan.
It reached the end of the car, then reversed course. Under the light, its metallic sheen glinted with a cold silvery-white—razor sharp and deadly!
"Get down!" Asta shouted. Everyone scrambled and crashed into each other like dominoes, falling flat to the ground in a chaotic pile.
The fan flew back to the front of the car, then folded in on itself, transforming into a dark blue cane.
So it had come from that cane all along.
The sharp clang of the cane striking the floor startled everyone. Their eyes simultaneously turned to the beautiful girl standing there.
Nyx gently stroked the silver-rose-embellished head of her cane and smiled at their stunned expressions.
No one knew who it was that suddenly gulped, and someone stood up, clearly dissatisfied, shouting, "What the hell are you doing? You almost slit all our throats!"
Nyx stepped forward, her cane striking the ground with a resounding clack. In a soft voice, she said, "This way is far more elegant. Truly, it’s ridiculous seeing you all stand here arguing..."
As she spoke, she reached where the girl’s head had landed. She placed the tip of her cane on top of it. Narrowing her eyes, Nyx suddenly drove the cane straight through the severed head. The sheer force of the blow caused the skull to shatter. The girl’s eyeballs bulged, her mouth opened wide in a silent scream, tongue dark red, as grayish brain matter spilled out—it wasn’t white, but a dull, sickly gray.
Nyx turned her head slightly, her gaze sweeping across everyone as her voice blew past them like the wind:
"A monster... should die."
It was unclear who shouted first, but the infected who had turned into monsters suddenly lunged at Nyx—and at the others, too.
They had regained their human intelligence but were attacking their companions.
"As expected, a monster is still a monster."
Nyx smiled. Large, thin blades erupted outward with a flick of her cane, layering together into a metallic fan.
She raised her arm, and the enormous fan soared into the air. A dazzling light arc streaked from her hand to the fan, crackling like lightning. At the same time, the fan surged forward, releasing thin blade-like strips from its body. They fluttered and danced like fabric, slicing through the necks of the zombies as easily as cutting through mud.
"You handle things here—I’m heading to the next car!"
Asta called out loudly.
Nyx smiled. "Try not to get distracted by beauty again."
Asta frowned. He hadn’t been seduced earlier... but Nyx wasn’t wrong either. He had been distracted—distracted by Aurora’s beauty...
He said nothing more and ran toward the front car.
"See, sis? How could someone like him ever change?"
Lily held Aurora’s hand and spoke softly.
"He’s a shameless flirt. You shouldn’t like him, Sister Aurora."
Aurora looked down at the child in her arms and replied gently,
"I don’t like Asta, Lily. You misunderstood."
"Then... do you child?"
Lily suddenly leaned closer, her small body practically hanging off Aurora as her eyes drooped, staring at the baby sleeping in Aurora’s arms.
Sleeping constantly, crying when not asleep, and always demanding attention.
"She’s... my child," Aurora said instinctively.
"No. She’s just an NPC. She’s not your child," Lily said, locking eyes with Aurora, her tone firm.
Aurora flinched slightly, her expression freezing. "Lily..."
Lily quickly hugged her. "I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just scared. I only have you... You won’t leave me, right?"
Aurora pressed her lips together, then slowly nodded.
"Anyone who hasn’t been infected—no matter your relationship to those who’ve turned—if they’ve become zombies, kill them. They’re monsters now. That’s a truth you can’t deny!"
Asta’s voice echoed as he charged in, delivering a message that instantly ignited the tense atmosphere of the train car. Chaos erupted as passengers began to fight. Some hesitated, while others threw themselves into battle like it was a grand performance.
Since the zombies no longer had the advantage of night, the ordinary people fought back with bloodshot eyes, their blades flying with ferocity.
As Ron’s group stepped outside, they were greeted by the thunderous clash of weapons and the endless screams of people.