In Ross City and nearly fifty other cities, every screen was fixed on one location: the Ruin City Forbidden Zone. When the apocalypse struck, technology took a massive hit, but it didn’t stay down for long. Just five years into the chaos, scientists and engineers—smarter than the greatest minds the world had ever seen—began to emerge.
These individuals had awakened with new talents and classes that enhanced their intelligence far beyond normal limits. As a result, technology advanced rapidly. This progress came with both benefits and dangers, reshaping the world in unexpected ways.
A few hours ago, Klaus made an appearance on both the City and Regional ranking charts. His battles quickly became the talk of every city. Media houses across the Northern Union broadcasted his fights, and within hours, Klaus’s fame skyrocketed. People were astonished by how quickly his name spread, not just in Ross City, but beyond.
But then, chaos erupted. Out of nowhere, Klaus, who had been ranked 90th on the City chart, shot up to 35th. At the same time, his position on the Regional chart soared from 360th to 102nd. The entire Northern Union went into a frenzy.
Amidst the chaos, the military redirected their satellite feed to the Ruin City Forbidden Zone just in time to capture Klaus’s clash with seven Zombie Generals. The video was broadcast across every screen, captivating viewers as if they were watching a live tournament.
With technology now more advanced than ever, the world watched in awe. Klaus, however, remained unaware of the spectacle his battles had become. He was too busy fighting for a few more points, oblivious to the chaos unfolding in the cities far behind him.
When Klaus took down the first Zombie, everyone watching held their breath in shock. But then, as if it were nothing, he went on to slaughter the others with ease. This left the audience even more stunned.
In a lush room, five individuals in army uniforms watched the battle, their expressions filled with disbelief.
“What do we know about him?” asked a figure with a white beard and a bald head.
“His name is Klaus Hanson,” one of the officers replied. “He awakened about two weeks ago and lives with his mother in Ross City. His father was the Mad Hunter, who went missing six years ago.”
“That’s all?” the white-bearded figure pressed.
“Yes, General. There’s not much else. Aside from his recent rise to fame, we don’t know much about him.”
“Good,” the General said with a nod. “That will make things easier. Send men to the Ruin City borders to welcome him when he comes out.”
“General, we can’t do that,” one figure in a white navy uniform quickly interjected.
The General’s brow furrowed. “And why not?”
“The higher-ups issued a direct order,” the navy officer explained. “We can’t recruit him unless he chooses to enlist on his own. We’re also forbidden from interfering in his affairs. Furthermore, once the battle ends, we’re to redirect the satellite.”
A tense silence fell over the room. The only sound was the steady thumping of their hearts, which seemed to slow as the weight of the situation sank in.
All they could do now was watch as Klaus fought against the remaining Zombies, powerless to act.
–
–
–
In another place, two individuals watched the battle with shocked expressions. One of them suddenly broke the silence. “You said he’s just an Ascended?” the figure asked, still trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
“Yes, sir,” replied a young man dressed in a neat, tight-fitting suit. “He awakened about two weeks ago. Within a few days, he ascended, and ever since he’s been hunting. He entered the Forbidden Zone three days ago.”
“And you believe he’s the one who saved Anna?” the man asked again, his eyes still glued to the screen where Klaus, with his white hair, was battling the Zombie Generals like a seasoned expert.
“Yes, sir. I followed the younger madams a few hours ago when I noticed them sneaking out. They met up with some other young people, and from what I overheard, it seems they know this young man.”
Daven Ross, the patriarch of the Ross family, pondered this for a moment. “Henry, do you think we should bring him to our side? Give me your honest opinion.”
Henry, the butler of the Ross family, sighed before answering. “I don’t think that would be wise,” he said carefully.
Daven raised an eyebrow at the response. “Oh? Why not? Explain.”
“From what I’ve observed,” Henry began, “this young man doesn’t seem like someone who would follow orders easily. He was a nobody before, but now that he’s gained some fame, arrogance will naturally come. That’s expected. However, there’s something different about him—he may become the kind of person who channels that arrogance in a good way.”
Daven leaned back in his chair, intrigued. “What makes you say that?”
Henry nodded thoughtfully. “He’s still new to the cultivation world. He doesn’t know much about it yet, so he’ll probably spend time trying to figure things out. And what better way to do that than by joining the strongest academy in the world?”
“You believe he’ll join the Celestial Mountain Academy?” Daven asked.
“Even if he doesn’t want to, they’ll come for him,” Henry replied. “I’ve already seen two of the academy’s students with Miss Anna just a few hours ago. It seems they’re trying to recruit him. That kind of attention can turn anyone arrogant.”
Daven frowned slightly. “So what do you think we should do?”
“It’s simple, sir,” Henry said with a calm smile. “Miss Anna is the key. She seems to hold Klaus in high regard. She didn’t even reveal his identity when his mother asked about him. We should let her build a connection with him. Through her, we can establish ties with him as well.”
Daven nodded slowly. “You think other families will try the same?”
“Absolutely,” Henry said. “The Felin family has already made a move. We must rely on Miss Anna to ensure we’re not left behind.”
Daven Ross sat in silence for a moment, contemplating Henry’s words. The flickering images of Klaus battling the Zombie Generals continued to play on the screen in front of them, but his mind was elsewhere. He knew Henry’s advice made sense. The boy was powerful, and determined, and clearly had the potential to become a major force. But he also wasn’t the type to be easily swayed or controlled.
Finally, Daven spoke. “Alright, we’ll follow your suggestion. Let Anna handle it. But I assume she won’t agree to our arrangement easily, so make sure she has everything she needs and stays out of their business. Whether this succeeds or fails will depend on her charm.”
Henry nodded with a smile. “Sir, what about Lady Lucy? She seems to have taken an interest in this boy,” Henry added suddenly.
Daven Ross chuckled lightly at Henry’s observation. The idea of his daughter Lucy being interested in Klaus amused him more than it surprised him. He knew Lucy was strong-willed and independent, much like Anna. The thought of her showing interest in a boy—especially one who has just awakened amused him.
“Oh, really?” Daven asked, his tone still light with amusement.
“Yes, sir. I’ve caught her a few times scrolling through posts about him. She seems curious, at the very least,” Henry replied. As a diligent butler, he paid close attention to such details.
“Well, she’s 18 now,” Daven said with a shrug. “She can do as she pleases. Just keep an eye on them and make sure they’re safe.”
Daven turned back to the screen, just in time to see Klaus deliver the final blow to the last of the Zombie Captains. His shocked expression intensified, and then suddenly, his eyes widened.
It wasn’t just him, everyone watching the screen held their breath when the colossal monster appeared from within the Ruin City.
–
–
–
Klaus’s heart raced. He straightened up, scanning the area for the source of the roar. The air around him felt heavy, thick with an intense pressure that made it hard to breathe. His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he braced himself for what was coming.
A massive figure emerged from the shadows of the trees, shaking the earth with every step. This creature was unlike anything Klaus had ever seen before. It was towering, easily twice the size of the Zombie Generals, with thick, dark fur and glowing red eyes filled with malice. Its claws were long and razor-sharp, and its body radiated an aura of raw power and bloodlust.
Everything about the monster screams bloodlust and danger. Klaus could sense that the aura coming from the new breed of Zombie standing before him was that of a Terror grade Tier 5 Zombie, the strongest creature in the Ruin City.
Klaus muttered under his breath as he stared at the monstrous Zombie. “What kind of monstrosity is this?” The creature stood about 3.4 meters tall, its sheer size both daunting and bewildering.
Its body was a grotesque amalgamation of fur, rotten flesh, and bone-like armor, resembling a nightmare made real. Klaus knew he had to act quickly. He reached for his sword, feeling its familiar weight and the sharp, cold flash of light as he swung it.
Since awakening his Sword Aura, Klaus felt a deeper connection with his weapon. He knew that in terms of sheer strength, he was no match for the colossal monster charging toward him. His only chance was to strike first and avoid letting it land a blow.
He tightened his grip on the sword and closed his eyes. Instantly, his heartbeat slowed, and he became acutely aware of his surroundings—the wind, the thudding footsteps of the monster, and the subtle link forming between his mind and the sword.
Although he was not fully synchronized, the connection was strong enough to guide him. With a sudden jolt, Klaus’s eyes snapped open. He swung his sword upward with precision.
A thin arc of ice shot out from the blade, streaking toward the giant Zombie. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a deafening thud, the Zombie split in half and collapsed to the ground.