How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

After a while, Aiden and Arian were at the campsite where the wanderers were attacked by the mutant Beast.

Sadie stayed in Roman’s hiding place.

Even though Roman had gone out separately to search for the cougar, for now, Sadie was alone there.

Nevertheless, it was still better than entering this forest twice. The hiding place was safe enough for Aiden’s estimation, and Roman was a trustworthy figure.

In contrast, the summer forest was not a place easily trusted due to bugs, poisonous snakes, and more.

Even though they had to travel together yesterday, if there was no reason to bring Sadie, it was wise not to bring her.

“Now, let’s find the remnants of the Beast here.”

As soon as they arrived at the campsite, Arian said so.

To Aiden, it sounded quite absurd, so he asked.

“Remnants?”

“Yeah. Bones, flesh, teeth, or skin – anything that fell off its body, find it.”

“…Alright.”

Aiden still didn’t fully understand, but without saying much, he followed Arian’s words.

The first place Aiden checked was around the footprints they saw yesterday. It was clear that the cougar had been there, so there might be something left behind.

However, there was nothing left on the hard mud around the footprints, except torn pieces of clothing.

While searching the campsite, Aiden soon found something that seemed like plausible remnants among the broken camp supports.

Perhaps one of the people fighting the cougar had made a final struggle with this.

There was something like the fur of a Beast at the end.

Aiden approached Arian with it.

“How about this?”

“This is… fur? Well, that’s good enough.”

Arian grabbed a strand of fur and stared at it intently. Then, the bleached white fur slowly turned red and eventually turned into powder as if becoming ashes.

Aiden looked at the scene with confusion.

However, Arian casually pointed in the direction where the powder flew, as if she knew what Aiden was thinking.

“This way.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The direction where the cougar is.”

“…”

Aiden didn’t react to Arian’s words.

He never dreamed of finding the cougar in such a way, something like divination.

Then, as if Arian sensed Aiden’s confusion, she opened her mouth again with a smile that seemed to say she knew what he was thinking.

“Why, can’t you believe it?”

“Well… I really can’t believe it, but at the same time, I can’t not believe it either. I don’t know what to say.”

Arian chuckled as if she found Aiden’s confusion amusing.

After stopping her laughter, she spoke again.

“Believe me. Even if you don’t know the distance, the direction is certain. The cougar will be there.”

“Alright. Just wait a moment.”

Aiden took out a map and compass he had brought separately.

The direction Arian pointed was northeast, deeper into the forest.

Aiden carefully marked the current location and direction on the map.

“Okay. Let’s move.”

With that, the two confirmed their plans and started walking.

* * *

Moving through the dense forest, Arian was designating directions at regular intervals, similar to what she did in the beginning.

However, it seemed that the mutant Beast was also constantly moving.

The direction was always somewhat consistent, but not entirely.

“This time… it’s here.”

The direction, which initially moved slightly northeast, now sharply turned, pointing directly east.

“It seems to have gotten quite close.”

Aiden remarked as the direction sharply turned.

At the same time, Arian’s eyes focused on a dense thicket as if she could see something invisible.

“Just as you said. I found it. I can feel its presence now.”

Her detectable range is approximately 200 meters when not consuming blood.

In other words, it meant that the mutant Beast had approached within 200 meters of Aiden’s group.

“It seems like it hasn’t noticed us over there yet. Let’s confirm first. What about the bullets? Did you do as I instructed?”

“Of course.”

Aiden nodded.

Arian had requested Aiden to use special bullets. 

So, at the top of Aiden’s rifle magazine, five bullets were loaded with Arian’s blood smeared on the bullets.

“Alright. As I mentioned before, today, you just need to hit it with those bullets. Aim for the front or back legs? Don’t kill it. After all, that old man asked not to kill it.”

Arian reminded Aiden of the conditions set by Roman.

“That’s right. That was the request.”

“So, let’s just irritate that creature. Make it more afraid of us than that old man.”

Arian said, remembering Roman’s conditions.

Today’s plan and execution were all in Arian’s hands. Both finding and dealing with the mutant Beast had to be done using her abilities. So, inevitably, Arian took the lead in the operation.

However, even in this situation, where Aiden was always following her orders, Arian leading the operation seemed quite familiar.

So, Aiden asked:

“Have you done this kind of thing often?”

“Hunting zombie cougars is the first time, but I’ve hunted many monsters.”

“Monsters?”

“Yeah. To put it simply… creatures like snakes that eat flames or wolves that carry lightning with them.”

It seemed that this was a story from when Arian was in a different world.

Among the monsters, many resembled beasts, so hunting them made her understand the characteristics of animals at some point.

“So, I’m trying to do it like back then. The difference is that this time, the guy doesn’t act like a zombie but behaves more like an animal.”

Roman definitely said that about the mutant Beast.

It wasn’t like mindlessly attacking like zombies but rather, it had the intelligence to chase after Roman while avoiding him.

Moreover, creating a territory in the forest and wandering through it was a typical behavior of cougars.

It might be somewhat similar to Aiden in that sense.

Although that part was puzzling, following a certain pattern during its lifetime was not something extraordinary for an intelligent mutant.

So, Aiden didn’t think too deeply about it and continued talking.

“But what’s the point of hitting it with these bullets?”

“Well… think of those bullets with my blood as trackers. If you hit the cougar with them, it will have trackers implanted inside its body.”

“Is there any difference from burning its fur?”

“Of course, it’s different. This just tells us the direction. But a vampire using their blood to track, especially their own blood, is on a different level. If you invest a little more blood, you can even share its existence up to its field of vision.”

To Aiden, it sounded like magic, or rather, it was undoubtedly magic itself.

However, still not believing in it, Aiden chuckled.

No, it’s undoubtedly magic, not something like magic.

Aiden, who still couldn’t believe it, turned the question back.

“Even the field of vision?”

“Well, honestly, it might not be possible since the target is a zombie. Anyway, it’s unnecessary. The important thing is to precisely know its location. That way, Roman can finish it off.”

“Alright. I have a rough idea of what you’re thinking.”

Aiden said.

Arian looked at the direction where the cougar was again.

“It’s moving. Let’s stick with it.”

Arian and Aiden moved toward the cougar.

While the cougar moved leisurely, Aiden’s group approached it in a straight line.

So, the distance was quickly shortened.

Before long, the cougar suddenly stopped moving.

“Okay. It seems like it noticed us.”

“In that case…”

Aiden quietly gripped his rifle.

But even after waiting for a while, the cougar still didn’t attack.

“It’s quiet.”

“That old man said so. It’s a cautious one. It seems true.”

Arian pointed with her finger in the direction where she felt the presence.

The direction wasn’t straight ahead.

“Instead of coming straight towards us, it’s making a circle and bypassing. It’s trying to confirm whether we are alone or several.”

Arian spoke, estimating the presence of the cougar.

Even if it discovers humans, it seems to keep a distance and assess the situation first.

It was more challenging than Aiden had thought.

So, Aiden asked Arian:

“So… what should we do?”

“Let’s retreat. Where is the nearest road from here?”

Aiden unfolded the map.

Fortunately, the road was not far away.

“If we walk a little to the south, it’s not far. But will it follow us here? It’s a cautious Beast.”

“That’s what we’re aiming for. It should be aware that we’re heading towards the road. Also, an open road is probably dangerous for it. So, before we arrive, it will definitely attack.”

It seemed like they would rather quietly retreat from here and make the creature anxious.

It was quite a plausible plan.

“Got it. Let’s do as you say.”

Soon, Aiden and Arian changed direction and headed towards the road.

Then, after a short while, the cougar’s behavior changed.

The creature, which had been following at a moderate distance, gradually began closing the gap.

“It’s coming. Behind to the right.”

Aiden hastened his steps upon hearing Arian’s words.

Like herbivores sensing the pursuit of predators.

It was when the road entered a radius of just a few hundred meters.

“—–!”

Along with the roar of a tearing Beast, a giant figure emerged from behind the trees.

So massive that you could believe it’s not a cougar, but a tiger..

Seeing that colossal body, Aiden was convinced.

This was indeed the mutant Beast Roman had mentioned.

Thud!

With a sound like tearing apart, Arian blocked the way in front of the creature.

Arian’s eerie crimson machete not only tore through the cougar’s front legs but also threw its massive body backward with tremendous force.

“Graaa!”

The thrown tiger landed on the ground a bit away, threateningly roaring.

Exposed muscles, torn fur, and bones protruding from the ripped belly were vividly visible.

The face of the creature, from the right jaw to the eye, was completely stripped of skin, probably the result of Roman taking its right eye.

The cougar, hesitating about what to do next, stared at Arian with its remaining eye.

But Aiden didn’t give it time to think.

Aiden’s rifle, waiting right behind, spat fire.

Bang!

Like a bullet embedded in rotten flesh, the bullet pierced through the cougar’s front leg and torso.

After that, the cougar sensed the threat and attempted to escape.

It changed direction like a snake, flexibly avoiding.

Immediately after that, Arian followed.

Slash!

With a speed surpassing even the reaction time of a Beast, her jungle sword cut through the cougar’s hind leg as it turned.

Then the cougar screamed like a wail, but like any other animal, it didn’t sit still.

As if nothing had happened, it disappeared into the thick bushes in an instant.

“Now, is it done?”

Looking at the trampled ground where the cougar had disappeared, Aiden asked.

Arian nodded as if satisfied.

“Yeah. The preparations are done.”

* * *

The next day.

“You want me to wait here and snipe?”

Roman, who had come outside to catch the cougar, asked Aiden.

He was standing by a small river in the forest.

Aiden had confirmed the cougar’s location.

Today, he asked Roman to take care of the sniper role as he planned to lure the creature to this riverside.

For Roman, it was an unbelievable request.

The guy who just went to search for the cougar yesterday, what on earth was this about?

However, Aiden’s attitude was firm.

“Yes, sir.”

“How on earth do you plan to lure that thing?”

“There is a way. Please trust me.”

“Heh… This is… “

Frustrated by Aiden’s lack of proper explanation, Roman clicked his tongue.

But Aiden pretended not to notice and conveyed only what needed to be said.

“Are you prepared with the gun?”

“Yeah. Will this do?”

Roman revealed the gun he had brought.

A .50 caliber military sniper rifle.

It had firepower more than enough for hunting the cougar.

“More importantly, can you handle it if it comes attacking?”

There was no issue with the weaponry. So, if there was any cause for concern, it would be the person using it.

That’s why, with a bit of suspicion, Aiden asked Roman.

“Of course. If that thing really shows up, I’ll stake my honor and make sure to kill it.”

Roman declared with a determined face.

He seemed quite confident in his sniping skills.

“Understood. Then I’ll make my move too.”

Leaving Roman behind, Aiden entered the forest.

After going in for a while, Arian, who was waiting in advance, revealed herself.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s get started.”

“Good. Since the creature is still nearby, it won’t take long.”

Arian nodded and concealed herself.

Roman assumed that Arian was hiding with Sadie.

In reality, it was Arian who led the cougar here.

However, her role wasn’t to be the bait.

Instead, she became an intense threat, compelling the cougar to flee this far.

After yesterday’s incident, the cougar, recognizing Arian’s fear, would remember her scent and try to avoid it as much as possible.

But Arian, in real-time, tracked the cougar’s location and chased it at a speed that the creature couldn’t escape.

In the end, her goal was to drive the creature to this riverside.

Truly a Beast hunt made possible by a vampire, not a human.

In this Beast hunt, Aiden’s only task was to guard this path.

So, Aiden silently stroked his rifle, waiting only for Arian to return.