First Horde

Takagi Estate – Dawn of the Sixth Day Since Integration

The sky was still pale, tinged with milky orange, when a rhythmic metallic sound echoed through the vast inner courtyard of the estate. Step after step, hundreds of synthetic boots struck the ground with absolute precision.

Two hundred and fifty B1 droids, perfectly identical and perfectly synchronized, stood in ten flawless ranks, their elongated heads turned forward in a waiting stance.

Their E-5 blaster rifles held to their chests, their light beige armor had been slightly modified: a black gear symbol with a golden human skull at the center was emblazoned on their left shoulders — Aurélien's emblem.

At the edge of the courtyard, Souichiro Takagi, dressed in his military attire, observed the scene with crossed arms. Beside him, Yuriko, his wife, more reserved but with eyes that betrayed intense curiosity.

"This is… more than I expected," he murmured.

"And this is only the beginning," replied Aurélien, a few meters from the couple, flanked by Saeko, Semiramis, and a black-and-gray droid with a far more angular design than the others.

The tactical droid stood tall, a silhouette larger than the B1s, its long arms equipped with precise fingers, and its ocular sensors glowed faintly red. A folded antenna ran along its back like a mechanical spine.

"This is T1-A01. Role: intermediate command, logistics management, coordination of autonomous groups. It is equipped with a real-time analysis module, a strategic computation core, and a radio countermeasure system," Aurélien announced in a clear tone.

The T1-A01 droid bowed slightly.

"Integration report: complete. Units are connected, organized, ready for simulation or real combat deployment. Lord Yamamoto."

Souichiro exhaled quietly, eyes narrowed. "You built them here? In the warehouse I gave you?"

Aurélien nodded.

"Three production lines operate 20 hours a day. Supply is automated. Each B1 takes five hours to complete, including calibration. The internal structure is standardized, critical components are 3D printed and assembled by me and the engineers I'm training."

Yuriko stepped forward. "And their loyalty?"

Aurélien turned his wrist slightly. His interface activated silently. "Coded into their cores. They have no free will, no open interface for unstable AIs. They obey me. And, by extension, those I authorize."

To his right, Saeko watched the scene with focused calm. Her gaze moved from the droids to her companion, then to Semiramis, who stood slightly behind, arms crossed, a half-smile playing on her lips. "An army without a soul," she murmured, mostly to herself.

Semiramis replied in a velvety voice, addressing no one in particular: "But an army that does not hesitate. And does not betray. That's already more than most kings can claim."

Yuriko glanced at the Assyrian woman but said nothing. She understood. The world had fallen. And this man was bringing not chaos, but order — cold, methodical, industrial order.

Souichiro stepped forward, stopping in front of the line of droids. A heavy silence settled, almost sacred, as the morning breeze brushed the mechanical uniforms. "With this, we could take back the streets. The hospitals. The bridges. Reclaim the city. Create a stronghold."

Aurélien nodded slowly. "My long-term goal was never survival. It's to reconquer. Stabilize. Then reshape."

Semiramis tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "He speaks like a king."

Saeko stared at her for a moment — not hostile, but with calm firmness. "He will become more than that. And you know it."

Aurélien stepped forward, raising his hand slightly. The 250 B1 droids raised their rifles in unison, placing them at shoulder height in a synthetic but perfectly synchronized military salute.

"We will now prove to these monsters that humanity is still fighting."

Two Kilometers from the Takagi Estate, City of Fujisawa

The sun was nothing more than a pale disc behind thick clouds, and the city seemed frozen in stifling anticipation, as if even the air were holding its breath. The hot asphalt of the main avenue shimmered slightly in the heat, but the men didn't sweat.

They were too focused. Too tense.

The Takagi soldiers had positioned themselves in the few buildings lining both sides of the road. The street was filled with machines, in flawless formation—B1 droids forming a beige, austere wall of metal. Two hundred and fifty units stood perfectly still, their narrow heads turned toward the urban horizon. Their assault blasters were raised, charged, and programmed to fire without hesitation. A few servo-skulls could be seen in the distant sky, serving as scouts.

Aurélien Yamamoto stood at the rear, flanked by Saeko and Semiramis. Behind him stood his first tactical droid.

"Scout report received. The enemy appears to be organized into a tactical formation of three waves. Suggestion: a certain level of intelligence seems to be forming within the undead creatures."

Aurélien nodded, accepting that nothing in life was ever simple."Adjust the front-line formation for optimal firing coverage. Priority: containment. Objective: hold the line."T1 wasted no time repositioning the army.

At their side, Soichiro Takagi, impassive, observed the front through binoculars. His wife Yuriko, despite wearing a tactical vest, retained a near-royal bearing. They had placed their trust in Aurélien, and now that gamble would be tested.

"They're coming," declared one of the scouts posted on a rooftop, his voice transmitted via radio. "Estimate: one thousand enemies. Front line at 500 meters."

Then came the sounds—a deep rumble, like thunder made of groans, panting, and disorganized footsteps. The chaotic roar of a starving horde, made of dead flesh and instinctive hatred.

Aurélien stepped forward. His coat flapped in the wind."Engagement authorized. Fire at will."

The first shot came from a B1 on the far left. A red beam sliced through the air and ripped the head off a zombie that had crossed an intersection. In one second, the entire droid line opened fire. A storm of energy blasts erupted like a laser hurricane.

Zombies dropped by the dozens. Their charred bodies collapsed on the asphalt in sprays of black blood. But they didn't slow. The moving mass crashed against the line of fire like a wave against a seawall. Each shot mowed down a body, but every fallen corpse was replaced by five new figures.

The Takagi soldiers took position, shouldered their rifles, and began shooting with deadly precision. Rounds cracked, casings fell, and blood splattered across half-destroyed storefronts.

Saeko, standing just behind the first line, watched with her sword at her side. She hadn't moved yet."The droids are holding well. Their rate of fire is impressive," she observed, eyes narrowed.

"They were made for this," replied Semiramis with a smirk. "But let's see how long they last against chaos. Sometimes it only takes one domino to fall for the rest of Order to follow."

Aurélien, arms crossed, stared unblinking."The battle is just beginning, but the data we're gathering is valuable."

The first wave of zombies—shamblers, slow and some missing limbs—was nearly annihilated in under eight minutes. The B1s advanced in small steps, maintaining the line. T1 continuously transmitted tactical data, redeploying units according to pressure points on the front.

But then—

The second wave burst from the side alleys. Thinner, faster zombies. Some still wore athletic or emergency service gear. Their muscles were hypertrophied, their speed akin to Olympic sprinters.

The Hunters. At the sight of them, Aurélien felt a phantom pain in his prosthetic arm. The Hunters had left a bad memory.

They charged the droids with animal fury, leaping onto them like predators. Several B1s were torn apart in the blink of an eye, ripped from the ground before they could adjust their aim.

A group of ten sprinters leapt directly onto the left flank, dismembering the few droids still holding the already weakened position. Seeing this, Soichiro didn't hesitate to use his carefully conserved supplies. Grabbing his radio, he ordered,"Sato, use all your grenades to plug the breach. The front must not collapse!"

On the roof of the building nearest the breach, several men hurled grenades at the group of Hunters. Blood and flesh scattered across the zone with the explosions. This gave T1's droids enough time to reestablish the line.

Then Saeko leapt.

Katana in hand, she sliced through the air and intercepted a charging zombie. Her blade severed its neck in a burst of bone and black blood. She pivoted, dodged a bite, and plunged her sword into the temple of a second. Her predatory smile reappeared in the action.

"Leave the Hunters to me," she said into her earpiece. "Cover my flanks."

A B1 squad adjusted its fire to match her movements, creating a bubble of flame around her to prevent her from being overwhelmed.

Semiramis, for her part, remained still, observing. She looked at Aurélien."Your toys learn fast. It's... impressive."

Aurélien responded without taking his eyes off the battlefield."They're the first stage of my plans. This battle will lay the tactical foundation for future fights against the undead."

Minutes stretched on. The sprinter zombies grew in number and aggression. Over a hundred were eventually identified, each causing breaches and losses. The droids fell by the dozen, but not without retaliation. Each destroyed unit took down at least three enemies. They retreated and reformed as needed, avoiding further overruns.

The Takagi soldiers held firm, repositioned under T1's orders, abandoning shelters before they were overrun by the cannibal horde. A defense in depth, slowly grinding down the enemy.

A servo-skull issued a report:"74% of the horde eliminated. Progress slowed. Front line stabilized."

Aurélien inhaled deeply. The fight wasn't over, but they had held.

He activated the general channel."This is Yamamoto. Maintain formation. Victory isn't about crushing the enemy. It's about surviving each wave. We still have a world to rebuild."

Among the ranks, a one-armed B1 kept firing, its motions jerky but resolute. A Takagi soldier, unable to escape his building in time, detonated a grenade, taking a dozen creatures with him.

Saeko returned to Aurélien, covered in blood but still standing, her eyes gleaming."Your machines are efficient. But they don't replace a good sword."

Semiramis smiled."Nor a good strategy. Nor unshakable resolve. You're improving, Aurélien. You're becoming less a technician... and more a soldier."

He didn't respond. He was watching the horizon.

Because he knew this was only the beginning.

And on his path of conquest, more enemies would come. Worse. Smarter. More organized.

But for now… they would win today.

The gunfire had slowed. The crossfire from droids and soldiers kept the zombies at bay, but the tension didn't fade. Something was coming. Something more terrible than anything they had faced so far.

And suddenly, a roar erupted.

It wasn't human. It wasn't an animal cry. It was a howl of primordial rage, amplified by stretched vocal cords and inhuman muscular power.

The ground trembled.

The droid lines shivered.

Then they appeared.

Five monstrous silhouettes emerged from the smoke of battle. Each stood at least three meters tall, their backs hunched, arms as thick as tree trunks, skin covered in cracked bone-like plates. Their jaws appeared dislocated by mutation, opened in a perpetual snarl.

The Brute Zombies

The first one lunged forward like a raging bull and crushed three B1 units with a single punch. The droids disintegrated in a shower of mechanical parts.

The Brutes struck, shoved, smashed. A second one grabbed a droid by the legs and hurled it against a wall like a crude club. The impact exploded it in a shower of sparks.

Aurélien reacted instantly.

"BX squad, form an encirclement. Priority: Brute targets. Saeko, Semiramis, and I will engage."

Ten BX droids—his elite models—rushed forward. Taller, more heavily armored, equipped with vibroblades and reinforced blasters. Their movements were precise, trained, almost acrobatic.

Aurélien stepped to the center of the formation, drawing his cane-sword with a smooth gesture. A monomolecular steel blade slid free from its sheath. Behind him, two mechadendrites extended, their ends transforming into slicing hooks and combat tools.

Saeko positioned herself on his left, blade drawn, eyes hard. She had seen firsthand how dangerous these creatures could be. Her companion had nearly died facing one.

But today, they were much stronger.

Semiramis, calmer, pulled a black crystal vial from her sleeve. A swirling green liquid moved inside—acidic and alive."Allow me to open the show," she said with a cruel smile.

She tossed the vial with elegant precision. It shattered against a Brute's head. The acid hissed instantly, eating through flesh, muscle, and finally bone. The creature let out a grotesque shriek before collapsing on its side, convulsing as its brain melted like butter on fire.

The other four showed no hesitation at the death of their comrade. They charged forward, roaring.

Aurélien attacked the first. He dodged a punch that would have shattered a wall, slid beneath the strike, and drove his cane-sword into the beast's armpit, slicing through the tendons. The creature screamed in pain but barely staggered.

One mechadendrite lashed out, coiling around its neck, delivering a paralyzing electric shock. The other slashed through the air and pierced its right eye, drilling deep into its skull. Now that Aurélien had full access to resources and a functioning production chain, his tools exhibited vastly greater lethality.

He leapt back just as the Brute fell to its knees, then to the ground, its ribcage crashing down with a thud.

To his left, Saeko spun like a whirlwind.

She danced with death—slicing extended arms, dodging punches, climbing up her opponent's torso to plunge her blade into its throat. The Brute grabbed her by the leg, but she twisted free, slashing its wrist, then drove her katana into the creature's beating heart, bursting it under the blade's pressure.

Seeing her prevail with such brilliance, Aurélien was glad he had shared the Cambell family's swordsmanship manual with her. It allowed both of them to reinforce their bodies with mana.

The BX droids provided covering fire, finishing weakened Brutes, distracting attacks, encircling them methodically. But a third Brute managed to grab a BX and repeatedly slam it into the ground. Even reinforced, the unit gave in with a sickening crunch. Yet a well-placed shot pierced the creature's right eye, sending a surge of energy straight into its brain.

Aurélien, splattered with black blood, turned toward the last viable creature.

It was heading toward Semiramis, drawn by the scent of her flesh. Her black coat fluttered softly in the dust as she slowly drew a second vial.

"Want to play?" she said, tossing the vial to the ground. A green vapor hissed out, spreading around her. The Brute kept advancing, growling.

Then it froze, confused. Its veins darkened. It stumbled, vomited a thick fluid, and collapsed face-first, dead before it even understood what had happened."Even the dead can't escape my art. One drop is enough."

Aurélien smirked. "You really know how to make an entrance."

"I prefer efficiency. And you? You seem to be enjoying yourself," she replied with a smile.

The ground was littered with corpses. All five were down, defeated or dying. The BX units secured the area while the Takagi soldiers began stabilizing the line with the surviving droids.

Saeko joined Aurélien, still panting. She looked at him intensely, her face streaked with blood."You're alive."

He nodded. "And you?"

She nodded back. "I am your blade. As long as you stand, I will stand."

Semiramis approached as well."We make a beautiful ensemble, don't you think? It's almost... artistic."

Aurélien looked over the silent battlefield. The monsters' corpses still smoked, blasters crackled with residual sparks. He reactivated his radio."Yamamoto here. Brutes have been neutralized. Line is secure. Evacuate the wounded, lock down the flanks. We've won this battle… but not the war."

As night fell, the fires of combat cast the shadows of heroes across the ruins.

And in their wake, the future marched on—resolute.

Then his system, usually silent, came to life:

[Quest complete: Eliminate 1000 zombies, either directly or via your creations (1000/1000)]

[Reward received: Droid B2 manufacturing blueprint]

[Reward received: D79 Pelican (Halo) manufacturing blueprint]

[New quest issued: Eliminate 10,000 zombies (0/10,000)]

[New quest issued: Identify the true cause behind the massive influx of mana into the world core]

Aurélien was deeply intrigued by that last quest, but he knew he wouldn't be able to solve it any time soon. He didn't even control Japan—how could he investigate the world in an apocalypse? He still needed time to further understand mana, making this a long-term objective.

As silence gradually settled over the ravaged battlefield, with only the occasional sporadic shot echoing, and the droids and soldiers gathered the wounded, a cold breath passed through the ruins—almost imperceptible.

Aurélien felt a strange tension, a prickling deep in his mind—a shiver of warning that came from neither his senses nor his implants. He slowly turned his head.

Far, far away, at the edge of visibility—atop a collapsed building half-swallowed by urban overgrowth—something watched.

A skeletal silhouette, almost pathetic at first glance. A body as thin as a starving child, but with a huge, deformed head, its skull swollen, veined in red and crusted over. Its eyes glowed with a supernatural blue, like will-o'-the-wisps.

It sat on the shoulders of a monster.

A Brute—far larger than the others—five meters tall, with blade-like bones protruding from its arms, rusted chains around its torso, and a prominent external spine. Its eyes were blank, like a trained dog waiting for orders.

The grotesque little being slowly tilted its head.

Its gaze met Aurélien's, even from a distance.

Cold rage. Deep hatred. Intellect.

Then its lips twisted into a grimace, and without a word, it placed a deformed hand on its mount's neck.

No words.

But the giant Brute growled, stood upright, turned around.

And began to walk away into the shadows, stepping over the debris with heavy, rhythmic strides, carrying its rider like an exiled king.

Aurélien said nothing, but his gaze hardened.

He knew what he had seen. And what it meant.

This was no longer just an infection. No longer blind mutation.An emerging intelligence was taking root in the heart of this cannibal horde.

Humanity was drifting ever closer to the brink of extinction.