LIGHTNOVELONLINE CHAPTER 73
Chapter 73: Summit of the Devourers
Lian Jie followed Sima Xiao into Nanxiang City's First Park, a place surprisingly untouched by the ravages of the apocalypse. The park was pristine, devoid of wandering zombies and the usual bloodstains. Lush greenery thrived, and the sounds of insects and birds filled the air, as if time had rewound to a pre-apocalyptic era.
As they walked along the shaded paths, Lian Jie’s heightened senses picked up more scents—the unmistakable aroma of his own kind. Several Level 4 zombies were nearby.
Lian Jie paused, a sense of unease washing over him. Sima Xiao, noticing his hesitation, offered a reassuring smile. "I told you I invited you here to discuss important matters," he reminded Lian Jie. "Did you think I would only invite you?"
Lian Jie considered this. It made sense that such a significant discussion would involve more than just the two of them. He dismissed his worries and continued onward.
The path opened up to a spacious park square, where a sight that both intrigued and unsettled Lian Jie awaited. Five monstrous figures stood gathered in the open space—a congregation of terrifying giants.
In Lian Jie’s eyes, Sima Xiao’s "important matters" seemed more like a summit of zombie kings. Including Sima Xiao and himself, there were now seven Level 4 zombies present. Such a number was staggering, considering even Lu Ming had struggled to find enough Tyrant Crystals for his own evolution.
Under Sima Xiao’s guidance, Lian Jie took his place in an unoccupied corner of the square. As he observed his fellow Level 4 zombies, he noticed distinct differences among them.
Lian Jie, Sima Xiao, and another zombie shared a similar appearance. They retained a human form, albeit with grotesque tentacles sprouting from their backs.
The remaining four, however, resembled colossal versions of the Tyrant. Towering at five meters tall, their bodies were masses of bulging muscles, resembling small mountains even when they squatted.
The Tyrant-like zombies embodied the classic image of high-level undead, hulking figures of brute strength and aggression. They were a stark contrast to the more humanoid Devourers like Lian Jie and Sima Xiao.
Sima Xiao’s voice, laced with a hint of arrogance, reached Lian Jie’s ears through telepathic communication. “After we Evolvers reach Level 4, we diverge into two distinct branches,” he explained.
“One type, like you and me, can assimilate human genes, gaining their superpowers and continuously perfecting ourselves as Evolvers. I call them Devourers.”
He paused, allowing the information to sink in before continuing. “The other type is an upgraded version of the Tyrant. They lack the special abilities of us Devourers; they are simply bigger, faster, and stronger. While not weak and still Level 4, they are fundamentally inferior to us Devourers. I call them Tanks.”
Sima Xiao waited for Lian Jie to absorb this information before adding, “We are the brains, and they are the brawn. We lead the zombie race, and they are merely our enforcers and guards.”
He flashed a sly smile and tapped his temple. “Oh, and by the way, it’s best not to mention this theory in front of the Tanks. Their brains aren’t exactly the sharpest tools in the shed.”
Lian Jie nodded in understanding, absorbing the revelation of this hierarchical structure among the evolved zombies. After a moment, he asked, “So, what do you mean by ‘Evolvers’?”
Unbeknownst to Lian Jie, his words were not confined to Sima Xiao’s telepathic channel. They reached the ears of all the Level 4 zombies present.
Another Devourer chuckled. “Evolvers? What’s that?” it questioned. “We just arrived today, following Sima Xiao’s invitation to discuss important matters. But he hasn’t explained anything yet, only mentioning that there weren’t enough of us.”
The Devourer narrowed its eyes, addressing Sima Xiao directly. “Are there enough now?”
Sima Xiao glanced at the darkening sky, contemplating. “With seven Tier 4s present, I assume everyone has a considerable legion of zombies under their command, correct?”
The Tanks responded with grunts and monosyllabic affirmations, their limited vocabulary evident.
Sima Xiao and Lian Jie exchanged a knowing look, a silent acknowledgment of the Tanks’ intellectual shortcomings. The stage was set for a crucial discussion, but the true purpose of this gathering remained shrouded in mystery.
Sima Xiao’s revelation left Lian Jie intrigued. The term “Evolvers” sparked curiosity among the other Devourers, who also questioned the mysterious “Holy Tower” and Sima Xiao’s motives for gathering them.
Sima Xiao, unfazed by the inquiries, addressed the group with newfound clarity. “I believe by now, everyone vaguely remembers the scenes when the apocalypse arrived, right?”
Many Level 4 zombies nodded, fragments of their past lives resurfacing in their minds. The image of the towering spire emerging at the onset of the apocalypse was particularly vivid.
“I can say this with certainty,” Sima Xiao proclaimed. “That tower is both the root of the apocalypse and the origin of us Evolvers!”
This declaration met with skepticism. “Do you have any evidence?” another Devourer, who introduced himself as Simba, challenged Sima Xiao.
Sima Xiao smiled enigmatically. “Of course, Mr. Simba. I have evidence, but I cannot show it to you.”
Before Simba could protest, Sima Xiao continued, “Devourers can consume the flesh and blood of Awakened ones and gain their superpowers. I believe you are well aware of this, Mr. Simba.”
Simba nodded in affirmation.
“Some time ago,” Sima Xiao revealed, “I devoured an Awakened individual whose superpower was Future Vision. I can vaguely perceive fragments of the future, and I have learned something.”
He turned to face the tower, arms outstretched as if embracing it, and declared with fervent conviction, “We originated from the Holy Tower, and we will ultimately return to it! When the black mist recedes, everything will come to an end! Only those who embrace the tower can attain ultimate redemption and eternal life!”
His voice boomed with newfound authority. “And now, those humans, those failed Evolvers, have seized the tower, the sacred land of us true Evolvers, the chosen ones! I gathered you all here today for one purpose: to annihilate mankind and reclaim the Holy Tower! And let the entire Nanxiang bask in the holy, glorious, and righteous evolution!”
The air crackled with the intensity of Sima Xiao’s declaration. The gathered zombies, both Devourers and Tanks, stood captivated by his words, their monstrous eyes fixated on the towering spire that symbolized their twisted destiny.
End of Chapter 73