Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse

The growls of the Zombies grew louder with every step Simon took, each footfall resounding in the dimly lit, decaying hallways of the mansion.

His senses were alert, tuned to every sound, every movement. Behind him, the woman's breathing was shallow, ragged, her heartbeat racing like a trapped animal.

She was struggling to keep up, but there was no time for hesitation. Every second that passed brought them closer to danger.

The mansion, once an elegant symbol of wealth and power, now stood as a monument to the apocalypse.

The walls were cracked, the air thick with the smell of decay. It was a place that no longer held any warmth, only shadows and the terrifying groans of the undead.

As Simon moved down the hallway, his eyes darted between the doorways and corners.

He could hear them — Zombies — shuffling through the mansion, mindlessly searching for any living flesh to devour.

He had dealt with this countless times before, but that didn't make it any easier. The fear of death was something he'd learned to suppress, but it was always lurking beneath the surface.

Behind him, the woman was struggling. Her footsteps were tentative, unsure. He didn't need to look back to know she was terrified.

It was written in the way she moved, the way her body stiffened at every creak and groan of the mansion.

Simon didn't have time to comfort her, though. In this world, comfort was a luxury few could afford.

Suddenly, the wall to his right exploded in a shower of plaster and wood. A Zombie lunged through the hole it had created, its rotting body moving with unnatural speed.

It was heading straight for Simon, its mouth open, ready to feast. Simon reacted instinctively, his body a blur of motion. With a practiced swing, he slammed his fist into the Zombie's face.

The sickening crack of bones echoed through the hall as the creature's skull caved in.

Simon didn't flinch. He never did. He grabbed the Zombie's head with his palm, crushing it with a single, brutal twist.

The monster's body fell limp, its life snuffed out in an instant.

The woman gasped behind him, her breath catching in her throat. Simon heard it but didn't acknowledge it. He wasn't here to explain himself. He was here to survive.

A familiar chime sounded in his ear, and a blue screen flickered to life in front of him. He dismissed it with a swipe of his hand.

It was just another notification from the screen, about his world ranking. But there was no time for that. Survival was all that mattered.

The sounds of shuffling feet reached his ears. Two more Zombies were coming. Simon could already hear their heavy steps, the low growls that signaled their approach.

The woman behind him stiffened, her body trembling with fear, but Simon didn't slow down.

He could feel her eyes on him. He could sense her uncertainty. She had never been in a fight like this, never experienced the kind of violence that he had.

But that didn't matter now. They were in this together, and that meant they both had to survive.

Without looking back, Simon closed the distance between himself and the Zombies.

He was faster than they were, stronger too. The first Zombie lunged at him, its mouth snapping open.

But Simon was ready. He sidestepped its clumsy attack, letting it miss him by inches.

The Zombie landed face-first on the cold stone floor with a thud.

Simon didn't waste a second. He stepped forward and stomped on the Zombie's head with all his strength.

The crunch of bone was deafening as the creature's skull collapsed beneath his boot. The body twitched once before falling still.

The second Zombie was already on him, its claws reaching for his face. But Simon was faster.

He ducked low and swung his fist upward, driving it into the creature's jaw with a force that sent it flying back. It crashed into the wall, leaving a dent in the stone.

The Zombie staggered but didn't go down. It was still alive, its crazed, bloodshot eyes locked on Simon with an insatiable hunger. But Simon wasn't afraid. He had faced worse than this. He stepped toward the creature, his body tense with readiness.

With a roar, the Zombie charged again, its claws outstretched. But Simon was already moving.

He slammed his fist into the creature's face, again and again, until its features were nothing more than a bloody mess of flesh and bone. The Zombie crumpled to the floor, its body twitching for a moment before going still.

Simon stood over the body, his breath steady, his heart racing but under control. He wiped his hand on his jacket, trying to remove the blood that stained his fingers.

The woman was standing behind him now, her eyes wide, her face pale. Her hands were shaking, still clutching the knife she had barely used.

"Are you okay?" he asked, though he didn't expect a real answer. In this world, "okay" was a relative term.

She nodded slowly, her lips parted as if she was trying to speak but couldn't find the words. Simon could understand. He had been in her shoes once. He had seen the horrors of this world before. He had learned to shut out the fear, to embrace the darkness. But that didn't make it any easier.

The woman finally spoke, her voice trembling. "How do you do it?"

Simon didn't answer immediately. He could see the question in her eyes, the disbelief.

How did he kill without hesitation? How did he survive in a world like this? The answer wasn't simple, and Simon wasn't sure if he was ready to give it.

But then he realized—maybe he wasn't just talking about survival. Maybe she was asking how he kept going when everything seemed lost.

He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the hallway.

"I don't have a choice," he said finally, his voice low and steady. "None of us do."

He turned, ready to move again, but not before offering her a final glance. "Keep up. Stay close. We're not done yet."