Ominous silence filled the area around the outskirts of what was once the West Yamanashi Stronghold. The mountain of eliminated zombies just added to the dreary atmosphere surrounding it.

Cautiously, Arisu and Kazuichi stopped short in their tracks, wondering why something so unusual was present in that area. For all they knew, the West Yamanashi Stronghold had already been abandoned for weeks now, and no human dared to stay near it.

"What is that? Do you see it, Kazuichi?" Arisu pointed at the mountain of corpses.

Kazuichi instantly noticed it. Amongst the pile were dead bodies of Hybrids and Omega Zombies. Whoever killed them claimed them as its price and piled them up to save them for later. It’s like watching a human-like squirrel store its acorns in a single place.

And just as they suspected, the entity behind the pile was sitting on top of it, seemingly snoozing as its body heaved up and down. Quite frankly, Arisu and Kazuichi didn’t notice it at first since it didn’t bear any bloodthirst towards them.

Adding to that, it was completely besmirched with dirt and grime, making it blend in with the mountain of dead bodies where it sat. That’s why Arisu and Kazuichi only noticed him after some time.

"Don’t tell me... he got rid of all that... just by himself?" Kazuichi still couldn’t believe it. In a hushed tone, he asked Arisu if he was a Hybrid or not. Honestly, he couldn’t tell so he had no choice but to ask Arisu who has an extraordinary sense of smell.

"What do you think?" Kazuichi asked for a second time since Arisu seemed to be confused as well.

"I think... he’s a Hybrid. But the smell is so saturated with an Aberrant... I’m not sure. I’m going with a Hybrid though, he doesn’t seem like an Aberrant to me."

"Are you sure it’s a he? I mean... it looks like a girl to me. Her body’s too thin, and the bone structure too..." Kazuichi trailed off when he noticed that Arisu was glaring at him. Flinching, he took a step back, wondering what he did wrong for Arisu to react like that.

"Right, wouldn’t you know how a woman’s body looks... right." Arisu commented, shrugging off her shoulders as she took a step forward.

Despite the dangers that emanated from the assumed Hybrid, Arisu decided to talk to it, hoping that it could be reasoned with so they could potentially invite it to the Kazuichi Stronghold.

After all, the entity was strong enough to kill multiple Aberrants, Hybrids, and Omegas. Someone, or something that strong would be a valuable asset for the stronghold.

"Take it slow, Arisu, we don’t know what that woman’s capable of." Kazuichi warned.

Nevertheless, the two of them approached the woman (after taking a closer look, Arisu realized that Kazuichi was indeed right in his assumption), putting their guards up just in case it lashed out in an instant.

So far, they haven’t detected any bloodlust seeping out from it. They continued their careful approach.

So far, still no bloodlust.

Fwoosh~!

Although Kazuichi didn’t feel any bloodlust from the woman sitting on the pile of cadavers, he sensed some sort of certain danger, causing his body to subconsciously activate his Blood Art.

Within the battlefield with the background of a ruined citsycape, and wherein the sunlight couldn’t penetrate the darker clouds that seemed to suddenly loom in the area, a flash of light glinted, causing Kazuichi to dart out of the way as the attack almost connected.

The movement caused distant growls of mindless zombies to be heard. As it turned out, the pile of dead bodies still had struggling zombies therein, and the sudden movement caused them to groan out of nowhere.

The air became thick with the scent of decay, and Arisu felt overwhelmed as she covered her nose with both her hands. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Amidst the ruins, two figures stood poised for combat: Kazuichi and the woman, both hybrids, each a terrifying testament to the merging of strength and horror.

"Kazuichi, are you all right?" Arisu asked as she too, prepared for combat.

However, Kazuichi responded by raising his hand in a gentleman-like manner, gesturing for Arisu to stay where she was since he’s going to take care of it.

Kazuichi’s eyes glinted with a predatory focus, his Synthesis Blood Art coursing through his veins. With a thought, muscle fibers erupted from his skin, enveloping his entire body in a grotesque yet awe-inspiring display of power. His form swelled, muscles writhing and pulsing with an otherworldly energy. He felt the surge of superspeed and super strength, his body vibrating with barely contained potential.

Opposite him, the woman stood tall, her eyes cold and calculating. Apparently, she was a Bulwark type zombie, her torso a fortress of impenetrable muscle. As she readied herself for the impending clash, her chest expanded, and her defenses solidified, creating a nearly indestructible barrier. Her muscles gleamed under the dim light, an unyielding wall of flesh and sinew.

Without warning, Kazuichi exploded into motion. The ground shattered beneath his feet as he launched himself forward, a blur of speed and power. The woman reacted instantly, her own movements a symphony of fluid grace and unyielding strength. She met his charge head-on, their clash creating a shockwave that rippled through the air, sending debris flying in all directions.

Kazuichi’s fists, each strike capable of shattering steel, collided with the woman’s impregnable defense. His blows landed with the force of a freight train, but the woman’s torso absorbed the impact with unnerving ease. She countered with a swift, brutal punch, aiming for Kazuichi’s head. He ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, and retaliated with a sweeping kick that connected with her legs, sending her skidding backward.

In panic, the woman hissed, extending her hands as if to taunt Kazuichi that she was unharmed. Without warning, Kazuichi lurched forward, each step resounding as the ground fractured beneath his feet.

The woman regained her balance effortlessly, her eyes narrowing as she assessed her opponent. Kazuichi’s speed was astonishing, but his strength, formidable as it was, could not breach her Bulwark defense. She needed a new strategy, and quickly.