Chapter 133: The Luminators
"Boss... it looks like this hotel is surrounded."
Liz hurried toward us, her steps quick and uneven, as though the ground itself might give way beneath her at any moment.
Robin and Frederick followed close behind, their expressions equally tense—tight jaws, furrowed brows, eyes flickering with unease.
There was no trace of their usual composure.
Henry had already ordered everyone earlier to pack their belongings as a precaution.
Though all our essential supplies were stored within Cassel’s portable space, we still carried a fair amount of equipment and necessities on hand.
It was a calculated decision—one born from experience.
Besides, it was clear that Cae intended to keep the existence of his spatial ability a secret.
A decision I wholeheartedly supported.
In a world like this, it was never wise to reveal all your cards.
A hidden trump card could mean the difference between survival and annihilation.
When we descended into the lobby, the sight that greeted us was suffocating.
It was packed.
Every inch of the large hotel hall was filled with people—survivors, fighters, stragglers—all gathered together, drawn by the same invisible force: fear.
They stood in clusters, whispering, arguing, clutching weapons, casting anxious glances toward the sealed entrances.
It seemed everyone had become aware of the threat lurking beyond the hotel walls.
Of course... with the relentless pounding echoing outside, the rising, grotesque howls of zombies, and the violent trembling of reinforced doors and walls, it would be impossible for anyone to deny what was coming.
A battle was imminent.
I stood silently with Cassel and the rest of the team at one side of the hall, observing.
Waiting.
Minutes passed slowly, stretched thin by tension.
Finally, Henry returned.
We had been waiting for him.
But the moment I saw his face, I knew—whatever news he brought, it wasn’t good.
"Boss... we’ve got a problem."
Cassel had sent Henry to scout earlier. Given his wind-based abilities, he was the most suitable for the task—fast, silent, and capable of retreating at a moment’s notice.
Of course, the other teams hadn’t remained idle either.
Everyone here understood one simple truth:
When danger reached its peak, alliances became meaningless.
No one would hesitate to abandon—or even eliminate—others to survive.
Even teammates.
So what about strangers?
My gaze drifted toward the two teams led by Zane and Victor.
As expected, they had formed a united front.
Of course, they had.
After what happened earlier, even knowing Cassel’s overwhelming strength, they feared something else more—
That he might kill them before the enemies outside ever could.
So, they chose safety in numbers.
A silent alliance.
As for our team, we remained—as always—isolated.
Well... not entirely.
The only neutral team, led by Caroline, still stood near us.
In addition, there were the original hotel occupants—the ones who had allowed us entry before.
Though, of course, their kindness hadn’t been free.
All four teams had paid generously with supplies and food in exchange for a temporary refuge—no more than two nights.
Now, with danger upon them and after witnessing Cassel’s strength earlier in the hall, they had chosen the obvious path:
Cling to the strongest... if you want to live.
Pathetic.
But understandable.
Still, now wasn’t the time to deal with parasites.
I turned toward Cae as he calmly asked Henry,
"What did you find?"
"Boss... you won’t believe what’s happening out there."
Henry’s face was pale—shockingly pale.
It was... unsettling.
In all the time I had known him, I had never seen such an expression on his face.
Henry—the cunning fox—was shaken.
That alone was enough to send a chill crawling down my spine.
He swallowed, his throat dry, his voice hoarse as though he could barely force the words out.
"The eastern and western sides are completely blocked. They look like zombies... but—"
"But what?" Robin snapped impatiently, unable to endure Henry’s unusual hesitation. "Spit it out already! Since when did you start stuttering like a rusted machine?"
I raised an eyebrow.
Since when had this old fox turned into a frightened chicken?
Something was very, very wrong.
Under the intense gazes of everyone around him, Henry cleared his throat.
Cassel, however, remained unchanged.
Calm.
Silent.
Indifferent.
It was as if he already knew everything.
As if nothing in this world could disturb that terrifying composure of his.
Finally, Henry managed to speak in one breath:
"Those zombies... they have some device—like helmets—attached to their heads. And they’re moving in formation... like a disciplined army. Also... there are humans stationed behind them. No signs of fear. No attempts to escape. No attacks from the zombies."
A heavy silence fell.
"It looks like... they’re controlling them."
Even as he said it, Henry sounded unconvinced—like a man forced to deny his own senses.
Controlling... zombies?
In a world where zombies were the absolute enemy of humanity...
There were actually people who didn’t just spare them—
But raised them?
Controlled them?
Weaponized them?
And more importantly—
Why were they attacking us?
"Testing, testing... one, two, three. Can you hear me?"
A loud voice echoed through the air.
A loudspeaker?
In a world where even the smallest sound could attract hordes of the undead...
What kind of suicidal idiot would—
My thoughts were cut off by a man’s voice—loud, manic, and dripping with unhinged amusement—as it rang through the speakers:
"We are the Luminators... and we welcome you to take part in today’s experiment."
Luminat- what?
The name stirred something faint in my memory.
Where had I heard it before?
"Since we are generous people," the voice continued, "we will offer you a choice."
A choice?
I didn’t like the sound of that.
"Those with supernatural abilities... step forward. Join us. Serve our great Lord."
The voice paused.
Then, a low, sinister chuckle echoed.
"As for the ordinary humans..."
The laughter stretched—long, twisted, inhuman.
"This is a new world—one meant for gods and the strong. Ordinary humans have no right to exist. Therefore... they will be offered as sacrifices to the servants of our god—the zombies."
My stomach turned.
"May their flesh nourish our undead brethren... and grant them the strength needed to spread our divine message across the world."
"What the hell is this insanity...?" I muttered under my breath, unable to hold back anymore.
Was this lunatic drunk?
Or had he swallowed the wrong kind of medicine?
"We will give you a few minutes to consider," the voice added lightly. "Consider... and say your goodbyes to this world."
"...."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
The voice disappeared, and with it, the air itself seemed to grow colder.
"Boss... what the hell is going on?" Robin asked, tension creeping into his voice. "Do we go out and fight? Or what?"
Cassel’s deep eyes stared into the void ahead.
Unfathomable.
"It seems to be some kind of religious organization," he said calmly. "And judging by their control over zombies... they must possess advanced laboratories and research equipment."
"...Ah..."
"Does that mean zombies can actually be controlled?" Frederick asked, his voice uncertain.
"Boss, if that’s the case, then why don’t we—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
A suffocating pressure suddenly descended.
I saw his body tremble violently, his knees nearly buckling as if something invisible had crushed the air out of him.
Sweat beaded across his forehead.
Then—
A voice rang out.
Deep.
Steady.
Unshakable.
"Zombies are vicious, lethal creatures. They cannot truly be tamed or controlled by machines."
Cassel.
The moment he spoke, the invisible pressure seemed to solidify.
"Once they evolve... their way of thinking will become increasingly similar to that of humans. Two different species—equal in intelligence."
His voice remained calm, but his words carried something far heavier.
Something... ominous.
"This world cannot sustain both."
A chill ran through me.
"From the moment the end began... humanity was sentenced to an endless war against them."
His words hung in the air.
Clear.
Logical.
And yet...
They carried a glimpse of a dark, inevitable future.
I knew he was right.
Zombies would evolve.
Even without crystals in their brains, they would still go through stages of growth, development, and adaptation.
Eventually, there would be zombies with intelligence comparable to a ten-year-old child.
A child might seem harmless.
But a child understands enough to survive.
Enough to learn.
Enough to become dangerous.
And one mountain cannot hold two tigers.
Even after Cassel died in the original story...
The world had continued to suffer.
Endless wars.
Relentless battles.
Humanity had never gained the upper hand—not in numbers, not in individual strength.
"This is true," Henry added, his tone regaining its usual lazy sharpness. "Even dogs—humanity’s most loyal companions—can turn on their owners. So what about creatures like these? Neither human nor animal. Their instinct is to devour humans."
He smiled faintly, a cunning glint returning to his eyes.
"Even if someone finds a way to control them now... I doubt it will last long."
I glanced at him with a hint of admiration.
As expected of him.
He had already moved past the shock.
Already reached the core of the problem.
Silence fell over us once more.
Around us, murmurs began to rise—fragmented, anxious discussions as the other survivors debated their next move.
Fear.
Desperation.
Hope.
All tangled together in a suffocating knot.
I clenched my fists slightly, my heart beating faster.
Then I asked,
"...So what’s the plan now?"
