Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

News quickly spread about the deaths of the Divine Sword Sect and their rivals in the area. Those remaining factions within the ruins of Beijing came to understand that an organized attack from the undead had obliterated them all.

It was their unfortunate luck, or lack thereof it that led to such a demise. After all, those who were aware that Horde Kings existed in this world naturally understood who was responsible for such death and destruction.

They, of course, had no idea that Zane was a Horde King, rather they suspected the slumbering ruler of Beijing had made his or her move on the two sects who must have done something to anger her. Because of this, the surviving factions in the region began packing up.

Whatever civilization they had built upon the ruins of the old world was no longer safe. Not with such a powerful monster awakening and in doing so casting its sight upon them. Because of this when Zane and Zhao Qiu came across the next faction in search of someone who could point them towards a legendary monster which was capable of flight, and carrying a passenger on its back. They found them in a state of distress.

Scurrying around like rats as they tried to make sure all their belongings that were remotely worth a damn were properly packed and stored away on their transports. Which were no longer cars, trucks, and the likes. But rather primitive carts pulled by tamed mutated beasts of the land.

This was a curious sight to Zane. He had, after all been isolated for the better part of two years. And because of this, was unaware that former fuel sources, like gasoline, had all but dried up. After all, even if the oil reserves of the earth were still intact. The infrastructure required to pump and process them was all but destroyed.

And if it wasn't and somehow miraculously remained entirely intact in some remote desolated corner of the world. Then there was nobody left who knew how to work with them. Because of this, transportation had returned to using beasts of burden.

The only problem was the beasts of the land had evolved into powerful monsters. Monsters which required someone like Lily to tame. They could never be domesticated, and if the user in charge of them were to meet their end, then the beasts would return to a feral state.

Making these beasts of burden a double-edged sword. One of which Zane eyed with curiosity as he silently studied them. He had chosen to let Zhao Qiu, a local, do the talking with the sect they had come across.

She quickly returned to Zane and shook her head before explaining the situation to him.

"After that mess with the Divine Sword Sect, all the survivors in the area are vacating the ruins of Beijing. They believe they will be much more capable of surviving long term out in the wilderness. Though building a new settlement poses its risks, it is much safer than risking the wrath of the local Horde King.

While the leaders of these sects won't admit publicly that Horde Kings exist, and are instead claiming a roaming horde of Undead caused the destruction you wrought. They know that a powerful monster lies slumbering in the heart of the forbidden palace.

They suspect that monster was the one who brought an end to the two sects you destroyed. And are now preparing to abandon the city altogether. Truthfully, this is a good thing for humanity. We have lived in the ruins of the old world long enough.

A world which now belongs to the dead. If they wish to survive long term and not go extinct altogether. They need to establish new cities and fortifications in the wilderness. Areas that are hidden from the eyes of you and the others like you.

It is unfortunate though that the public isn't yet aware of the existence of Horde Kings, otherwise they would have a much better chance of surviving. After all, what's exactly to prevent one of the other undead leaders from infiltrating and destroying a human settlement like you have done just now?"

Zane's response to this question was less than comforting for Zhao Qiu. After all, he had already come across one such case of a Horde King infiltrating human territory without the locals being any the wiser. Other than himself, that is.

She was the whole reason he was here in Asia to begin with. Having fallen for her charade himself, and damn near getting killed in the process.

"It's actually more common than you might think. Even we can't tell ourselves apart from the humans sometimes. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Horde King of Beijing was actually hiding among one of the so-called sects local to the area.

Or that would be the case if he or she wasn't busy fighting a civil war at the moment. The Horde Kings of the world have far more important matters to attend to than wiping out what remains of humanity. They would rather kill each other now that humans have been suppressed rather than finish the job they started.

Ironically, Horde Kings like to pretend like they are better than humanity. Somehow more united, if you will, and less foolish and emotional. Unfortunately, they have proven these last two years that they are the exact same as they were in life.

Petty, emotional, and irrational to an absurd degree. It's a damn shame that this was the best mother could do with such a failed species. A minor improvement at best."

Zhao Qiu was unaware of the fact that the dead were in a state of civil war until now and was quick to ask about this matter with supreme interest. All the while she and Zane began to walk off into the distance, no doubt searching for undead and living monsters to slay in order to raise their strength.

"Hold on a moment, the dead are in a state of civil war? What the hell could they possibly be fighting over? I mean we're all dead, right? Resources don't really mean shit to us right?"

Zane shook his head and looked into Zhao Qiu's dark eyes while scoffing. He had a wry smile on his face as he explained what had caused the war.

"You're new to this, so let me explain to you what I know. Albeit I'm not exactly an expert on the affairs of the other Horde Kings, as I'm sort of an outcast among them. But to put it simply they're fighting over petty differences in ideology.

Balthazar is the leader of the Undead, or the most powerful of them. The truth of the matter is mother created the other Horde Kings simply to bring human civilization to an end. She had her own reasons to do so.

But Balthazar has mistaken this as him and the other Horde Kings being her children, and worships my mother as if she is a living goddess. He is a fanatic in every sense of the word. Others like Lilith don't believe in mother's existence, and instead are more concerned with gaining power and resources than they fulfilling what Balthazar believes is my mother's will.

The reality is they are both wrong. Death is very real. She is my mother, and I mean that literally, unlike the other Horde Kings I was born part human, part dead, and eventually forsook my humanity entirely in pursuit of power.

Her "will" was merely to disrupt human civilization so we could reunite after I was separated from her at birth. She cares not if humanity lives or goes extincts. Nor does she care what the Horde Kings and the mindless undead minions beneath their command do. They were a means to an end, and they have served their purpose.

All she cares about now is my growth and wishes to support me in my endeavors. At the end of the day, the other Horde Kings are a bunch of fucking idiots if they have chosen to start a global war among themselves over something as foolish as religion.

Kind of reminds you of another moronic species doesn't it?"

After saying this, Zane walked off. Not caring a moment further about the civil war, or humanity's survival. All he cared about now was returning to North America, and reuniting with his mother and his girls.

But to do that he needed to gain strength and rise to Tier III. Perhaps then he could find a way to bend one of the local legendary flying monsters to his will. Or maybe slay it and resurrect it as his personal mount.

Either way, what Zane needed was strength. As for the local human survivors and their abandonment of the ruins of Beijing? That was none of his concern now was it? If the local Horde King wanted to come challenge him, then he would simply flee before they had the opportunity to do so.