How Zombies Survive in the Apocalypse

“Kuuu…”

At the zombie’s voice coming from nearby, Sophia momentarily stopped in her tracks.

However, she showed no further reaction to the one shambling beyond the overturned vehicle.

Sophia soon crouched down and slowly emerged from beside that vehicle.

“Phew…!”

An exhausted sigh escaped her lips, weary from the constant tension.

This was already the dozen or so time she had to pass right by zombies.

A situation where the slightest mistake could lead directly to death had been unfolding continuously.

But even so, she had no opportunity to rest.

The residential area they had arrived at after passing the vehicles.

At its entrance stood a house surrounded by a white fence, and zombie voices could be heard even from beyond that fence.

This caused Sophia’s spirit to sink further.

There were far more zombies than she had expected.

They hadn’t even reached Glendale yet, but the path ahead was already far from easy.

“This way.”

To the dazed Sophia, Aiden indicated their next direction.

His tone was utterly indifferent.

Compared to her, who was moving under extreme tension, he showed not a hint of fatigue.

She should probably take a brief rest.

Sophia inwardly muttered to herself, but there was no one who shared that sentiment.

Not only Arian, but even the much younger Sadie obediently followed Aiden’s instructions without issue.

At this, Sophia tightly sealed her lips to stifle any complaints.

If even a child could persevere like that, she couldn’t be the first to voice weakness.

So without a word, she simply watched Aiden leading the way.

It was then that Aiden was about to turn the corner of the residential fence.

But right before that moment.

“Kiiie…”

Sophia saw a zombie suddenly emerge from around that very corner.

Sophia instantly clasped her hands over her mouth to stifle any screams.

Simultaneously, an ominous thought crossed her mind.

If that zombie made any noise, it could draw all the surrounding undead towards them.

However, in the end, Sophia’s concern didn’t come to pass.

Even before the emerging zombie could react, Aiden was already moving.

Twack!

In the blink of an eye, Aiden had circled behind the zombie and thrust his military sword into its jaw.

The zombie fell silent without even a chance to cry out, and Aiden carefully lowered its corpse to the ground.

Sophia couldn’t hide her astonishment at the smooth movement reminiscent of a movie scene.

Yet the others showed no particular reaction at all.

At most, Sadie had briefly aimed her crossbow in that direction.

“No more. Let’s continue.”

Aiden spoke.

With just those words, the group resumed advancing, leaving Sophia with a strange sense of dissonance.

No matter that three years had passed since the zombie outbreak, their actions seemed far too casual.

Was it strange for her to be startled by each of these occurrences?

Sophia briefly looked back at the fallen zombie corpse.

The zombie’s face was frozen in an expression of shock, unable to anticipate its own death.

And so they passed through the residential area and arrived at an unnamed hillside.

Atop the shallow hill was nothing but an ochre dirt path and a gray road cutting through it.

Apart from the scattered zombies standing like old trees, there were no other structures in sight.

It was a typical undeveloped area between cities.

Aiden alternated between glancing at the hill and his map before speaking.

“Once we cross this, we’ll be in Glendale immediately.”

At those words, Sophia’s eyes widened.

She hadn’t even realized they had already come so close to their destination, having been preoccupied with avoiding the zombies.

Aiden’s words continued.

“So let’s decide on our approach now.”

“Approach?”

“Designate the locations where there’s a high chance of finding your companions.”

Aiden held out his map.

The area Sophia’s companions had headed towards was the university district stretching widely on either side of Route 101.

To the north of the road was a medium-sized shopping area including grocery and convenience stores.

Across from it was the location of a university and hospital.

After careful consideration, Sophia pointed out a few spots on the map.

The first place she indicated was the shopping area north of the road.

“With this many zombies around, they likely couldn’t have easily reached the university side. That area is quite large in scale.”

“Alright. Then let’s start with the shopping area.”

Aiden’s group made a significant detour along the hillside to avoid crossing it directly.

While going straight over would have been a shorter distance, they couldn’t simply climb the barren hill without any cover.

They finally crossed into Glendale’s boundaries.

From their current position, the only thing separating them from the university district was a small residential area.

Thanks to the elevation difference, the residential area could be clearly seen from the hillside.

Observing the structure of that residential area, Aiden tilted his head slightly.

“This place… is rather peculiar.”

As if attempting to recreate a Venetian water city.

This was a residential area with artificial lakes intentionally constructed between the houses, like canals.

As a result, the backs of all the houses faced these lakes.

And because of this, the residential area wasn’t arranged in the typical layout, instead stretching out like the stems of a plant.

It was information not shown on the map, causing Aiden to pause briefly in thought.

It was then that Arian addressed him.

“Look over there.”

Arian pointed beyond the residential area.

The road on the other side, barely visible from their position on the hillside.

There, nearly a hundred zombies could be seen.

“What should we do…?”

Sophia made a troubled expression upon seeing this.

While the university and shopping area, their actual destinations, were not yet in view, that road was undoubtedly Route 101 cutting through the center.

If the road was in such a state, the situation at their destination would likely be no different.

For that reason, Sophia bit her lip slightly.

She hadn’t even entertained the possibility that her companions could be trapped amidst such a horde of zombies.

But for Aiden, this number was well within his expected range.

If Sophia’s companions were truly isolated among the zombies, there was no way they wouldn’t have made any noise at all.

Undoubtedly, someone would have used firearms to try and break through that crisis before becoming trapped.

So it was only natural for the zombies to have swarmed together like this, attracted by that commotion.

“We can’t proceed like this.”

Aiden muttered under his breath.

At his words, Sophia’s expression hardened.

To her, it sounded as if the junk dealer  was about to abandon the request.

However, Aiden’s following words were contrary to Sophia’s expectation.

“We’ll split up and act separately for now. You head north and approach from that direction. Don’t enter the shopping area yet. I’ll give you a signal before then.”

Aiden unfolded his map and indicated a route for the rest of the group.

Committing it to memory, Arian lightly nodded as she asked in confirmation.

“And you?”

“I’ll go this way.”

Aiden pointed towards the waterside residential area.

“I should be able to utilize those lakes.”

Due to its unique structure, there were limited entry points into the waterside residential area.

All paths required crossing bridges, and while such bridges existed in every direction, they couldn’t be compared to open ground.

So if he could lure the zombies there, those unable to swim would be trapped at those narrow chokepoints, unable to advance or retreat.

“Then what about you?”

Once Aiden had finished explaining, Sophia asked.

The tactic he had proposed did seem plausible.

If the lure was successful, the zombies would indeed become isolated within that complex residential area.

But there was one critical issue with that plan.

The person who lured the zombies would then have to escape through those very narrow, zombie-infested chokepoints.

It was no different from the mice’s paradox of who would tie the bell around the cat’s neck.

“Don’t worry. I have a way.”

However, Aiden dismissively brushed aside Sophia’s concern.

Whether he truly had a method, or it was mere arrogance.

Unable to discern which, Sophia could only open and close her mouth in silence.

Paying her no heed, Aiden urged his companions onward.

“Get moving. There’s no point in wasting more time here.”

“Got it. Let’s go then.”

Arian took the lead and set off.

Sadie silently followed behind her, while the momentarily hesitant Sophia belatedly moved to catch up.

Arian’s pace as she circumvented the waterside residential area was quite brisk.

While there were still zombies present in this area, she avoided them with an almost supernatural ability.

“Hey… are you really sure about this?”

In the midst of this, Sophia asked Arian.

Arian simply gave a light nod in response.

“Yeah. It didn’t seem like there were any mutants around.”

Of course, there didn’t appear to be any large buildings in that waterside residential area where mutants might reside.

But how could she be so reassured by that alone?

With that thought, Sophia briefly glanced back.

In the distance, Aiden was still standing in that same spot, removing his helmet.

Inwardly concerned about what might be beneath Aiden’s helmet, Sophia squinted her eyes.

But the distance was too far to make out his face clearly.

She could barely discern his figure, let alone his facial features.

However… just as she thought his skin tone seemed somewhat off…

“What are you waiting for?”

Arian’s voice called out to her from behind.

When Sophia turned in that direction, Arian had already walked about 10 meters ahead.

“Don’t fall behind. It’s dangerous.”

“S-Sorry.”

Sophia said as she hurried to catch up with Arian.

By the time she glanced back again, Aiden’s figure was no longer visible.

* * *

Some time after separating from the group.

“…This should do.”

Aiden had arrived at one corner of the waterside residential area.

The spot he was standing was the end of the residential area facing the lake.

While close to Route 101 in terms of distance, there was a lake separating them.

So even if he made noise here, most of the zombies would only linger across the lake, unable to reach this side.

It was the perfect position to lure the zombies.

Aiden reached for the bag slung across his back.

The large bag containing all sorts of weapons weighed dozens of kilograms.

Yet Aiden smoothly set it down on the ground using just one hand.

“Kiii…!”

It was then that the groan of a zombie reached Aiden’s ears.

Aiden briefly turned his head in that direction.

The front door of a nearby white house was wide open, with a zombie poking its head out.

A zombie wearing what had once been a neat suit, its buttons torn off, and a faded white shirt.

Upon making eye contact with Aiden, the zombie approached him.

Not to chase after prey, but rather…

Either sensing something amiss about Aiden, or disturbed by the sounds he was making.

The zombie shuffled right up beside Aiden, letting out a drawn-out ‘Kiii’ sound.

“…”

Ignoring the zombie, Aiden rummaged through his bag.

Soon, he retrieved a stun grenade and a small personal alarm.

Both were the last remaining items Aiden had in stock.

But he didn’t hesitate to use them.

This was precisely the moment when he needed them, and in any case, he could replenish them through trades in Phoenix if he secured enough supplies.

“Then…”

Aiden surveyed his surroundings.

Once he detonated the stun grenade to draw the zombies and hid the personal alarm in a suitable spot to contain them, his task here would be complete.

“Grruuu…”

Another gravelly sound came from beside Aiden.

The zombie was still standing right next to him.

While showing no intention to attack, it seemed to be suspiciously observing Aiden’s actions, like a patrolling police officer wondering what he was up to here.

“…Perfect timing, then.”

Seeing the zombie, Aiden spoke.

He stood up and walked into the house.

And the zombie followed Aiden into the building as well.

Aiden headed straight for the garage.

Fortunately, the door leading to the garage wasn’t locked.

Once the zombie had followed him in there, Aiden turned around to face it.

“Kiiiii…!”

Startled by Aiden’s sudden approach, the zombie let out a sharp cry.

But Aiden then attached something to the back of the zombie’s neck.

It was a personal alarm on a strap.

However, since the alarm was facing the zombie’s back, the undead itself couldn’t tell what had been attached.

“This should do it.”

Aiden activated the personal alarm dangling from the zombie’s back.

Immediately, a loud ringing sound began, causing the alarmed zombie to start running wildly within the garage.

After observing the zombie for a moment, Aiden closed the garage door and stepped outside.

He then retrieved the stun grenade, pulled the pin, and tossed it skyward.

Boooom!

an explosion powerful enough to knock out a healthy person resounded across the previously tranquil lake.

Reacting to this, zombies came swarming in from all directions.

The zombies that had been densely packed on the road began prowling along the lakeshore.

Even those within the residential area emerged en masse.

Those zombies soon pursued the frenzied footsteps and ringing alarm coming from within one of the houses.

“Kieee!”

“Kuuu…”

In an instant, a sea of zombies had flooded the area across the lake facing Aiden.

Some were even pushed into the water by those behind, flailing helplessly.

The maneuver was a success.

With that assessment, Aiden leisurely crossed the bridge leading into the waterside residential area.

His movements were conspicuous, like a salmon swimming upstream, yet not a single zombie attempted to stop him.

After exiting the waterside residential area, he stepped onto Route 101 itself.

The road that had been packed with zombies, and the shopping area beyond, had become significantly clearer.

* * *

“Did it work?”

Having successfully lured away the zombies, Aiden reunited with his companions north of the shopping area.

Seeing the now cleared shopping area, Arian let out a brief sigh, while Sophia’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Looks like it went well?”

“You could say that.”

“Then…!”

At the prospect of finally being able to find her companions, Sophia’s voice rose.

But Aiden cautioned her against getting too ahead of herself.

“But don’t be too hasty. There are still likely some remaining.”

No matter how Aiden had lured the zombies with sound, he couldn’t have drawn out every single one inside the buildings.

So to search the interiors, combat would inevitably be necessary.

Understanding this, Sophia nodded heavily.

Aiden then had Sophia temporarily fall back with Sadie.

It was because he and Arian would need to take the front positions for any combat within the confined buildings.

As Sophia retreated to the rear, Aiden asked the Arian beside him.

“…Anything?”

At his question, Arian’s gaze took on a distant gleam.

“There is. Over there.”

Arian’s finger pointed towards one building.

It wasn’t a restaurant or grocery store, but rather a fitness center.

A low, wide structure about two stories tall, but not the kind of place supplies would be present.

Had something happened here, forcing them to take shelter in such a place while avoiding zombies?

“Let’s go.”

At Aiden’s words, Arian nodded in agreement.

They immediately headed towards the gym.