The Yamanashi Strongholds fell within the day. Despite their efforts in trying to sabotage one another, the East and West suffered major losses due to the walking calamity that passed through their territory.

Ever since news about the Gigantic Omega Zombie spread to the far reaches of Japan, and the initial plan brought about by Kazuichi and his company only initially started. Then again, the results remained according to plan, except there were a hundred times more casualties.

With its first major victim, the Gigantic Omega Zombie was deemed a calamity and as the name suggests, it was an inevitable disaster. Many strongholds decided to go mobile, steering clear of the zombie thanks to their reliable scouts.

A couple of days later, Kazuichi and his group returned to their stronghold, reporting everything they came across to the residents to give them a heads-up. From now on, Kazuichi decided to increase the number of scouts that roamed their perimeter, reporting twice as usual every day.

On the off-chance that there will be sightings of the Omega Zombie, everyone will flee from the stronghold and look for another location.

"Then again, that’s only in the worst-case scenario. We’d like to avoid that as much as possible." Kazuichi let out as his eyes scanned his expansive living room. His bloodshot eyes couldn’t help but squint at Ayaka who was once again visiting his humble stronghold.

"And why are you here again?" Tris seemed to read Kazuichi’s mind when she asked the elephant in the room. This was a matter of their stronghold, after all. Why was a stronghold leader from another stronghold present in this meeting?

Without saying a word, Ayaka softly smiled while pointing at the cup of coffee balanced in her hands. It gave off a natural and nostalgic aroma whenever she took a sip. "Why can’t I be here? This is about the Gigantic Omega Zombie, right? In fact, with all the information I have, shouldn’t I always be present in these types of meetings?" Ayaka responded.

It’s not like Tris meant any offense when she asked the question. She knew that the Scarlet Blood Stronghold narrowly avoided the calamity that is the Gigantic Omega Zombie a couple of days ago. They were lucky that the walking calamity changed its course before it could set its sight on her stronghold.

A couple of strongholds weren’t that lucky, however, and they fell into the hands of the walking calamity without putting up much of a fight.

.

Back in Kazuichi’s living room, the squad had finally gathered once again, with Tris and Amaya sitting together opposite the stronghold leader himself. As for Jurou and Ayaka, they were having a silent battle as to who would sit beside Kazuichi.

Then there was Arisu who silently sat beside Kazuichi without uttering a single word.

"We have to do something about this." Pursing his lips, Kazuichi felt like his soul was being sucked dry from his body. Of course, this wasn’t the first time he had to take the lead, but apparently, he still hasn’t overcome his shut-in self. Anxiety slowly ate away at his sanity.

In the middle of the couches was a table with a huge drawn-out map of the center of Japan. Traced lines of red seemed to run through each prefecture with no definite pattern. This was the path that the Gigantic Omega Zombie was taking in real-time.

Based on its speed and its unpredictability, everyone knew that the Gigantic Omega Zombie could reach the Kazuichi Stronghold in a month or two minimum. And at present, who knows how many strongholds and small shelters —have already fallen to its wrath?

Clearly, they couldn’t just sit around and twiddle their thumbs forever. If there’s a stronghold capable of denting the Gigantic Omega Zombie, it was the Kazuichi Stronghold.

— — — — —

A couple of days ago, on the outskirts of Yamanashi Prefecture

The Yamanashi Prefecture was known for its four strongholds which stood as pillars— an inspiration to the other strongholds and shelters nearby. At their peak, they were deemed as the strongest, then the infighting transpired and all that was left were the remnants of a once-bustling civilization.

However, another thing the Yamanashi Strongholds were known for was their black markets and the crazy amounts of rare materials that circulated underground. They were known as the black market district with all the illegal trades going around.

This wasn’t known on the surface level, but those with connections know that the Yamanashi Prefecture is the place to go if they are looking for something.

Despite all the shady business that seeped deep into the prefecture, there was something else that the Yamanashi Prefecture was known for, and this was only know amongst a select few who were deep into the subject of the undead. Scientists and researchers who were studying the meteorite all know that the Yamanashi Prefecture was the centerfold of something far more sinister than the black market.

It was the heart of all underground and inhumane experiments known to man.

Kazuichi was this close to unleashing one of the experiments that the West Yamanashi Stronghold was working on, it just so happened that he decided to turn a blind eye from it since they had a mission at hand.

Had he stopped for a second and contemplated the trapdoor that seemed to exist out of place, he would have unraveled a small opening to the darkest secret of the Yamanashi Prefecture.

The Kodoku Experiment.

With the untimely attack of the Gigantic Omega Zombie, everything seemed to have been buried under the rug, and the classified barbaric experiments wouldn’t have clawed their way out the surface.

But such wasn’t the case.

The trapdoor held a secret, and that secret was unleashed to the outside world like Pandora’s Box waiting to lay waste to whoever comes across it. It was by far the worst experiment anyone could’ve done in the world which was already in the midst of apocalypse as it is.

As the trail of dust left the Yamanashi Stronghold and as the Gigantic Omega Zombie paraded to its next target, a hand clawed out of the rubble, right where the trapdoor was once held shut.