Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 62: A Mutation

Simon coughed, each breath scraping painfully against his ribs as he struggled to push himself off the ground. Dust and debris clung to his clothes, and his muscles screamed in protest.

That punch had caught him completely off guard, a blow that reminded him of just how fragile his body could feel in moments like these.

Above the sound of his labored breaths, Adrian’s laughter echoed through the air. It wasn’t just a laugh — it was the kind of mocking, heartful cackle that sent chills down Simon’s spine.

"You look surprised," Adrian’s voice purred through the lingering interface. His tone was smug, dripping with amusement.

"I’ve always had a fascination with experiments. Ever since I was a child, I wondered: what would happen if you combined zombie DNA with human DNA? A childish curiosity, maybe. But this Apocalypse gave me the perfect laboratory to test my theories."

Simon wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his crimson eyes flickering with anger as he staggered to his feet. "So, what? You’re playing god now?"

Adrian’s smirk widened, his face flickering slightly on the holographic screen. "Why not? You talk about Exceptions, the rare individuals with abilities beyond normal comprehension, people perfectly attuned with Zombie power. But why wait for chance to grant power? I decided to create my own. The thing you’re facing now,"

He gestured lazily toward the hulking figure entering the passageway, "is one of my crowning achievements. A hybrid. The perfect combination of man and monster."

The abomination lumbered forward. Its hulking body pulsated with grotesque veins, some glowing faintly green against its rotting skin.

The remnants of its humanity were faint — a pair of unrecognizable, dim eyes glared at Simon, filled with raw, primal rage. Its roar split the air, shaking the walls around them as if the entire building were groaning in protest.

But even its roar came at a cost. Blood spurted from its torn vocal cords, though the damage healed within moments, the flesh knitting itself back together as if mocking Simon’s existence.

Adrian’s voice continued, sharp and clinical, as though giving a lecture. "You see, Simon, one of my most interesting discoveries during these experiments is that humans aren’t so different from zombies. Deep within our DNA, there’s a fragment — tiny, insignificant to most — that links us to these creatures. And when amplified? Well, you get... this."

The hybrid surged forward, its sheer speed creating a shockwave that rattled loose bricks from the walls.

Simon barely managed to brace himself before the creature was upon him, both feet aimed directly at his chest. He raised his blood-forged blade, trying to deflect the strike, but the abomination’s strength was beyond anything he had faced before.

The force of the impact sent him hurtling backward, his body smashing into the stone wall with a sickening crack.

Simon crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. Pain radiated through his chest, and blood trickled from his lips.

For a moment, he thought he might black out. But as he lay there, something stirred within him. His blood — his essence — began to move.

The crimson liquid trailing from his mouth didn’t fall to the ground. Instead, it hovered in the air, spinning violently before shooting forward like a barrage of spikes.

The blood projectiles tore through the air, aiming for the hybrid’s exposed flesh.

The first spike struck its shoulder, the second pierced its chest, and several more embedded themselves deep into the creature’s body.

The hybrid let out a guttural scream, its monstrous form writhing in agony as black, viscous blood oozed from its wounds.

Simon gritted his teeth, forcing himself to his feet. His breaths were heavy, each one dragging in and out like he was lifting a weight with his lungs. But his resolve burned brighter than ever.

"Still watching, Adrian?" Simon growled, his voice low and steady despite the pain wracking his body.

Adrian’s image leaned back in mock relaxation, his hand tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Oh, I’m here. I just wanted to see how you’d hold up against my little creation. I must say, you’re full of surprises. That blood manipulation of yours — fascinating. But I wonder..." Adrian’s smirk returned. "How long can you keep this up?"

Simon’s grip tightened on his blade, the blood-infused weapon glowing faintly as he poured more of his essence into it. His eyes narrowed, the fiery determination within them unwavering. "Long enough to put an end to this twisted experiment of yours."

Adrian chuckled, the sound cold and detached. "Confidence. I admire that. But, alas, I’ve seen what I needed to see. This was merely a test, after all. A little game."

He gestured toward Simon with a lazy wave of his hand. "Good luck. I do hope you survive. It would be such a waste if you didn’t."

With a flicker, the holographic screen vanished, leaving only the guttural growls of the hybrid and the oppressive silence of the passageway.

Simon wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind already calculating his next move. The hybrid staggered but didn’t fall, its regenerative abilities already working to undo the damage Simon had inflicted.

He clenched his fists, feeling the blood within him churn like a storm.

"If you think this is where I fall, Adrian," Simon muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the creature’s snarls, "you’re dead wrong."

He took a step forward, his blade raised and glowing with a blood-red aura. The hybrid roared again, charging at him with unrelenting ferocity. This time, Simon stood his ground, ready to finish what Adrian had started.

The hybrid roared once again, shooting forward with enough power to throw caution into the wind. It shot forward, stopping not even once as it’s claws skidded toward Simon, however the Vampire leapt out of the way, letting the monster inflict more damage.

Blood began to whir around his palm, casually forming a long blade and he made a dash for the Monster - stabbing it right on it’s back before letting the blood detonate.