Chapter 1656: Chapter 1656

"If Maria can create a portal and bring supplies from there at any time, it shouldn't be hard to transfer resources into this world," Alma suggested, as everyone helped the survivors harvest vegetables and fruits from the farmland.

"Though... wouldn't it be better to help them awaken as Players and let them escape?" Arthur asked.

"That's not happening," Clarise replied. "We're not abandoning our world. Despite everything, this is our damned home... and we've got kids to raise."

"Unlike all the cowards who ran away, we haven't given up," Mark added. "Now that this miracle happened—now that you all showed up—we feel even more justified in staying."

"Y-Yeah..." James nodded.

Maria gazed out the window of Jenifer's office, which was filled with documents and books written and illustrated by survivors of the Apocalypse.

"Here's everything you need to know," Jenifer said, handing Maria a stack of books and papers. "But if you've got time, I can explain a few things and answer your questions."

"That would be ideal," Maria nodded. "Why is this world called Necroterra? Where did the zombies come from? When did all of this begin?"

"Necroterra, huh? Our world was simply called Terra before... no, it's still called that. That's how we refer to our home, this planet," Jenifer explained. "It was renamed because the zombies now rule us, and the Tower recognizes whatever name they've given it... despicably enough."

"Terra..." Emeraldine echoed softly.

"As for the zombies, we have no idea how they appeared," Jenifer continued. "But we know it started at least eight years ago. And look at us now, in just eight years, our world is in ruins. I remember how we tried to develop vaccines or weapons to kill them. Eventually, countries resorted to bombings, and large areas were nuked, which only made things worse. The radiation didn't just kill zombies, it mutated survivors, made them stronger, and gave rise to the Mutants... and the Zombie Lords."

"So nuclear bombs only made things worse in the end..." Maria said.

"Yes, they did. It was a desperate move. Humanity was running out of options. Some believed it was better to destroy the world than let the zombies inherit it," Jenifer sighed. "Some say it was a lab-made virus, a bioweapon. Others claim it's an alien parasite. And some believe it's divine punishment, a curse from God."

"So... is it a virus or a parasite?" Lucifer asked.

"I'm wondering the same," Partner added.

"It's both. It spreads through saliva and blood," Maria explained. "It behaves like a virus but can mutate into larger, virus-like organisms. That's what I've discovered from analyzing the zombies I've tamed."

"I'm honestly amazed you can tame them," Jenifer said. "I guess there really are powers beyond our understanding in the Tower. You saw one already—a mutant. They're bigger, stronger, and tougher. That bastard was burning and still kept fighting. He even used the flames against us. They're not as mindless as the others."

"And what about the Lords?" Partner asked.

"The Lords... I've only seen them twice in my life," Jenifer said. "The first time was three years ago, at the camp I lived in. From a distance, it looked human. But up close, you'd realize its red coat was actually its own flesh. It had long wings and a featureless, fleshy red head. It brought a horde of zombies, razed everything, and left almost no survivors. They don't just command zombies, they have strange powers. I escaped with a few children, but it was hell trying to hide and find shelter."

"Huh..." Maria nodded, recalling a presence she had sensed before, one that resembled that description.

"The second time was a year and a half ago," Jenifer continued. "I was scouting with a few others, searching for food in the ruins. This one was pitch black, with massive muscles and six arms. It wielded bone weapons and hunted Players to eat them. It had refined tastes, ignored us completely. We weren't even worth its time. Since then, I haven't seen any more Lords... just Mutants. They're far more common."

"Fascinating," Lucifer said. "To think this is a world where the original inhabitants lost everything, and it's now ruled by Calamities. But what does that mean for the Tower? Will it be consumed by the Tower Ruler?"

"It's strange," Maria replied. "Rather than being consumed, the world is simply recognized as one conquered by a Calamity. But does it matter? We're here now, and we'll deal with this nuisance. Jenifer, one last question, do you think there's a god of the zombies? Some kind of supreme authority?"

"I... don't know. We've never heard of anything like that," Jenifer said. "But look at these drawings. Someone who came here and died a few months ago had been documenting everything he saw. He traveled from Mexico all the way to California." Content orıginally comes from NoveI(F)ire.net

"Huh?" Maria flipped through the pages, discovering vivid illustrations of the monsters he'd encountered.

Among them was the largest, strangest, and most terrifying entity, something he called "The Flesh Pit."

It was a massive crater somewhere between Mexico and the U.S., surrounded by red and purple fleshy vegetation. Deep within the pit were endless tentacles, sharp fangs, and eyes.

He wrote that when he looked into it, he felt strangely drawn, dizzy. He only stopped himself from jumping in by stabbing his own hand with a pen.

"Interesting," Maria said. "Alright, I think I know where that Flesh Pit is. I've felt its presence."

"Y-You did?" Jenifer asked. "Wait... you're leaving?"

"I am. I'm in a hurry, moving through the worlds of the Tower," Maria said with a smile. "I'll come back for a meal before I go, so wait for me. I'll deal with the Lords and that Flesh Pit all at once."

"Do you need help?" Lucifer asked.

"Please, let us come with you!" Emeraldine said.

"I want to fight something!" Partner groaned. "You didn't let me kill those merfolk guys, and I've been itching for a challenge."