"Immortal, my ass. If anything, I’d believe you were infected with the virus instead."

Ethan pulled me back, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and putting distance between me and Ezra. He was practically shielding me like I was some fragile baby animal.

"Don’t get too close, Sugar Star," he whispered. "If he’s infected, I’m the only one who can handle him."

If Ezra was carrying the virus, Ethan was probably trying to protect me from potential infection. Strength and immunity were two different things, after all.@@novelbin@@

Ezra raised an eyebrow. As he took a step closer, Ethan immediately drew his sword.

"If you don’t want those newly grown hands of yours sliced off, don’t take another step toward Cherry."

The sharp blade pressed against Ezra’s throat.

Ethan wasn’t bluffing. The killing intent radiating from him was real—he could and would cut Ezra down without a second thought.

But Ezra just laughed.

"Brats sure are cocky these days…"

Brats?

Ezra didn’t look much older than us—mid-to-late twenties, at most—yet he spoke like he had a good decade on us.

As they faced off, I glanced down the stairwell.

What I saw made me tap Ethan’s shoulder urgently.

"Ethan… look at that."

I’d been wondering why the first floor had gone so quiet.

Now I knew.

The rodent-like mutant creatures were sprawled out across the lobby floor, lying on their backs like they were full and satisfied.

The entire lobby was a grotesque scene of deep red bloodstains and torn human body parts.

Suppressing the nausea that crept up, I scanned the area—and spotted Kellyan in the most unexpected place.

"Sir Kellyan?"

"…Shh."

You didn't buy this chapter

Buy Now (5 coupons)