True Apocalypse Game

All nine faces of Symbiotic Zombie Angie showed looks of utter shock. It couldn’t believe its own eyes.

But then, all nine heads shook in unison as it spoke haltingly:

"No... you’re not... the Divine Apostle... You just... look a little like him... You’re just..."

Despite the creature’s words, Shen Feng was now more certain than ever. ’The Destructive Shen Feng of that other world must be the version of me from this parallel world!’

"No... you *are* him... The feeling is... similar... But you’re not him... What in the world is happening?... Are there two Divine Apostles?" Even with nine damaged brains, the symbiotic zombie couldn’t figure out what was going on.

However, the way it looked at Shen Feng was now noticeably more submissive.

Apparently, the "Destructive Shen Feng" held an extremely high status in the eyes of the zombie Symbiote.

Seeing the confused look in the zombie’s eyes, Shen Feng had a flash of inspiration. He put on a deadpan expression and said:

"I am the Divine Apostle from another parallel world. I have come here to kill the version of me from this world and seize his power. If your answers satisfy me, I wouldn’t mind making you eternal as well."

Upon hearing this, all nine of Symbiotic Zombie Angie’s heads showed expressions of extreme shock, but then, they nodded.

One of the zombies making up the Symbiote, a seemingly gentle and cultured old man, spoke up:

"So, the parallel world theory is actually true... This constituent body of mine was once a theoretical physics professor at a university, so some remnants of knowledge still linger in his damaged brain... Your appearance validates these theories."

The nine heads’ cunning eyes darted about as they spoke in a unified, low voice:

"Honorable Divine Apostle, I hope you will keep your promise... As far as I know, this world’s Divine Apostle should be in Asia..."

"He used to control this world on behalf of the Master of the Void, ruling over billions of the living dead. He was connected to countless planets and the Cosmos, possessing supreme glory... But after the Master of the Void suddenly left, our connection to the Divine Apostle was also severed. The Transfer Tower was as if dead... However, this also allowed many Symbiotes to be born in this city... including me..."

Shen Feng nodded slightly.

This matched his earlier speculation. ’The Master of the Void has already left this world.’

’But why did it leave so suddenly?’

’Could the timing be related to the ambush on the Master of the Void back in the Tokyo Epidemic Zone, carried out by some unknown, mysterious, and powerful entity?’

He gave a look that prompted the creature to continue.

Symbiotic Zombie Angie continued:

"When the Master of the Void was still here and the Transfer Tower was still operational, all the living dead in the world were under the control of the Tower and the Divine Apostle. They became giant signal transmitters and emitters, unable to have their own thoughts..."

"When our connection to the Transfer Tower was severed, the original signal transmission system was instantly thrown into chaos. However, the signal links among many of the living dead remained intact, and thus, the Symbiotes were born..."

"A single living dead’s brain has undergone profound mutation. Its residual brain structure and conscious form are insufficient to possess a complete consciousness. But when several, dozens, or even hundreds of these incomplete brains are interconnected, the remaining brain structures are enough to form a complete and independent consciousness..."

"That is what a Symbiote is... In truth, we are merely independent consciousnesses that were secretly born while the Divine Apostle was dormant..."

At this, self-deprecating smiles appeared on all nine of the zombie’s faces. They were clearly well aware of the nature of their own existence.

’There must be a few intellectuals, like professors or teachers, among the nine zombies that make up the Angi Symbiote.’

"Why make sacrifices to the Divine Apostle? What’s his current condition?" Shen Feng asked.

This was the question that concerned him most: the current state of this world’s "him."

The nine-headed zombie reverted to its previous mode of speaking, with each "person" contributing only a few words. It seemed this was less taxing and didn’t consume too much energy.

"After the Divine Apostle became dormant... we lost our purpose... our meaning for existence... Though we gained self-awareness... we were very lost... But a few days ago... a strange signal suddenly came from the Transfer Tower... The signal told us... the Divine Apostle is about to awaken... but he needs offerings of pain... demanding we make sacrifices..."

Just a few days prior, the Angi Symbiote had suddenly received a signal from the Transfer Tower. Or rather, every Symbiote in the city’s ruins had received it simultaneously.

A sacrifice!

A sacrifice of human suffering would grant the Divine Apostle sufficient power.

He would awaken, replace the Master of the Void, and take complete control of this world and even the Cosmos. And those who made the sacrifice would receive the eternity he had promised.

"Based on my deductions, the sacrifice is likely meant to reawaken the Transfer Tower and resume signal transmission. Once the Transfer Tower is reawakened, the consciousness of we Symbiotes will probably disappear again."

Shen Feng raised an eyebrow. "Then why perform the sacrifice? Wouldn’t that kill you?"

The Angi Symbiote laughed loudly and said:

"Even if I don’t do it, some other Symbiote will. Rather than wait to be wiped out, it’s better to participate actively. That way, the Divine Apostle will see my sincerity and grant me the eternity he promised."

Shen Feng scrutinized the Angi Symbiote. ’Its personality seems so nonchalant now, but it definitely wasn’t like this in the beginning. It must have something to do with the nine zombies that currently make it up.’

’Back when it was composed of several hundred zombies, the Angi Symbiote’s personality was quite brutal, aggressive, and extremely cunning. As the number of its constituent zombies dwindled and it lost key components, the Symbiote’s personality must have changed dramatically.’

"What is the purpose of the Transfer Tower? And what signals were you transmitting, and to whom?" Shen Feng continued to ask.

’There couldn’t be just one Transfer Tower in Mexico City. There’s probably one in every major city.’

’According to the Angi Symbiote, they were components in a massive communication system, broadcasting and transmitting signals under the control of the Transfer Tower.’

’Originally, Shen Feng hadn’t understood why the Master of the Void wanted to conquer Earth and turn everyone into zombies. After all, what was the point of conquering an empty doomsday world? The Cosmos was full of lifeless, garbage planets.’

’Now it seemed that this signal transmission was the Master of the Void’s true objective!’

Hearing Shen Feng’s question, the Angi Symbiote’s faces took on a blank expression as it said:

"I don’t know. By the time I gained consciousness, I was already free from the Transfer Tower’s control. None of my constituent bodies retained any relevant memories..."

Shen Feng gave the Angi Symbiote a long, hard look, not entirely believing its words.

’Even its professed loyalty to this world’s "Destructive Shen Feng" was questionable.’

Having experienced so many apocalypses and encountered all sorts of powerful conscious entities, and adding to that his own mastery of Hypnosis Technology, Shen Feng’s understanding of individual consciousness had reached a profound level.

’Would these Symbiotes, having finally gained self-awareness, truly want to return to the Transfer Tower’s control?’

’Still, the Angi Symbiote is only made of nine components now; it probably doesn’t know much more. To get to the bottom of this, I’ll have to go to the Transfer Tower myself.’

’Besides, the original goal of this doomsday mission was simply to complete a thorough investigation of the situation. Once that was done, I could leave. And I was planning on doing just that.’

’But that was when I thought the Master of the Void was still here and this world was fraught with danger.’

’Now, it seems the Master of the Void is gone, the "Destructive Shen Feng" is dormant, and all that’s left are a few straggler Symbiotes. Maybe saving this world isn’t impossible after all.’

’Of course, I can’t do it all by myself.’

With this in mind, Shen Feng turned to Reyes and Colin, who were standing guard at the top of the stairs, and asked:

"Are there any other survivors? What are your plans now?"

The two men exchanged a look, nonplussed.

After being saved by this Asian man who had appeared out of nowhere, they had come directly here and witnessed the bizarre spectacle of that Symbiote monster submitting to him. They hadn’t had a moment to think about the future.

After a moment of contemplation, Reyes spoke up:

"We can’t stay in Mexico City any longer. We’re planning to find a way out of here and head south to Colombia. We heard that some friends there, along with the army, have built a Shelter in the rainforest. It’s supposed to be easy to defend and hard to attack. A lot of survivors have made it there."

Most of the people who survived the Evil Spirit Virus pandemic are Immune.

And often, these Immune even prayed to be infected by the virus.

Because being Immune meant that if they were ever caught by zombies, their fate was to be devoured and torn limb from limb while still alive.

It was a fate truly worse than death.

The zombie population in Mexico City was just too dense. After today’s events, they understood that if they stayed any longer, it was only a matter of time before the zombies got them.

After all, those Symbiotic zombies were far too clever.

When Shen Feng heard Reyes mention that their "friends" and the Colombian military had built a Shelter in the rainforest, he couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.

’Nice. Very South American.’

Colin added:

"They also started a radio station called ’Lighthouse Radio Station.’ They say it can use the remaining satellites to broadcast a signal across the entire American Region. We listen to it all the time."

As he spoke, Colin ran over to an electronics counter, grabbed a radio, and inserted two slightly damp batteries. Then, he carefully turned it on and tuned it to a specific frequency.

A gentle Mexican guitar tune immediately drifted out from it.

"It’s the only station still broadcasting, and it’s incredibly well-rounded. It’s divided into sections for news broadcasts, rescue information, music, movies, and a lot more."

Reyes said with excitement.

The Lighthouse Radio Station was the beacon of hope that kept them going.

Shen Feng nodded slightly. In the various doomsdays he had witnessed, he had seen plenty of humanity’s will to survive—more tenacious than a cockroach’s—so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

"Sir, I’m Reyes, and he’s Colin. May I ask your name...? Are... are you planning on going to the Lighthouse Base with us?" Reyes asked, his voice filled with hope.

’It would be incredible if this mysterious and powerful man traveled with them.’

Shen Feng said in a low voice:

"Just call me Shen."

Colin quickly beamed and said:

"Mr. Shen! Thank you for saving us. We hope you’ll come with us..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he was suddenly hit by a ringing in his ears, accompanied by a wave of dizziness.

Reyes, beside him, was experiencing the same thing and immediately pressed his temples.

Shen Feng’s brow furrowed as he looked up toward the ceiling of the underground mall.

He could feel a powerful magnetic field suddenly manifest, its source moving rapidly in their direction.

It was accompanied by the sound of footsteps—chaotic, yet possessing a strange, unique rhythm.

’Zombies have appeared upstairs. A horde. At least several thousand, maybe even tens of thousands!’

The Angi Symbiote, which had just been lost in cunning thought, suddenly paled collectively. A look of horror appeared on its faces as it stammered:

"That’s... the Hannibal Symbiote!"

A unified, bizarre voice then echoed from above the underground mall, as if thousands, or even tens of thousands, of people were calling out in unison:

"Hee hee... found you."