Chapter 24- Boom
In the dead of night, the world was unnervingly silent. Only the distant groans of wandering zombies echoed faintly through the empty city streets. Julian stood watch at the edge of their campsite, the cold wind ruffling his hair.
He reached into his Inventory and pulled out the blood-red crystals they had collected, each one pulsing with a sinister, dormant energy. Placing them carefully on the cracked pavement before him, he decided to test a theory.
He extended his hand, shadows swirling around his fingers. "[Domination]."
A lone zombie shuffled out of the darkness, eyes vacant. It stood obediently before Julian, swaying slightly.
"Eat this," Julian ordered.
The zombie grasped one of the crystals with trembling fingers, raised it to its mouth, and swallowed it whole. For a moment, nothing happened.
Julian narrowed his eyes. "Is there no effect?"
The zombie’s body suddenly bulged grotesquely. With a sickening wet pop, it exploded, flesh and gore splattering in every direction. Julian instinctively threw up his shadow barrier, the dark shield absorbing the worst of the bloody spray. He had also wisely moved a safe distance from the camp.
As the remains settled, Julian noticed the crystal had fallen to the ground, shimmering faintly as if it were trying to merge with something. Wisps of ghostly energy rose from it.
He frowned, deep in thought. Maybe the zombie’s body was too weak to contain the crystal’s power... or does it require a different condition?
He stared at the crystal, a dangerous idea forming in his mind. But he shook his head. Testing it on myself would be reckless... too dangerous.