Outbreak Chronicles: Dead Pandemic

Chapter 307 - Deadly Variant Awakening
Day ???

???

(Kato’s View)

Huh?

Where am I?

Ah, that’s right. I got a headache and I succ.u.mb to the pain...If that is the case, then that means I died? So this is the afterlife? But that is strange, I don’t think this is what the afterlife is described by many, even the so-called Heaven and Hell is not even similar here. I don’t even know if this the place they call Nirvana either.

One thing is sure and that is, I am floating in nothingness. There is nothing around me and nothing beneath and above me, not even the sky and the ground. So, what the hell happened and why am I here? If I am dead, how come this is just nothingness?

”You are overthinking things, Kato. Death is momentary and once you die, there is nothing else for you to feel. The fact that you are still able to feel what is happening to you means you are still alive.

I looked around me in panic as someone else is talking in this nothingness. It was a familiar voice though I can’t pinpoint whose voice it was due to the echoes and some sort of distortion happening all around me after that voice started speaking. Also, the voice seems like it is not just speaking in the air, it was like it is speaking inside my head.

”Who are you?!” my voice echoes around the place but it seemed like no one else is in here to listen to whatever words I said. It seems it just passed through space due to the silence that happened after asking.

I tried looking around for anyone who just made a little conversation with me but there is no one else around here except for myself. I tried to walk in the air but since there is nothing for me to step on, I can only paddle myself in the air like I am swimming. I can’t even tell if I am moving since everywhere around me is the same and nothing else is there for me to make as my landmark if I ever made progress.

”Are you that desperate to escape reality, leaving everyone behind? Despite everyone worried about your wellbeing?”

”No... I have to do so, to avoid inconveniencing everyone in the group. This matter of my problem is mine alone and no one should bear the burden with me too!”

”Ha! What a selfish bastard you are, no wonder they will be ready to abandon you if needed to be.”

Whoever said that hit me to where it hurts. Yes, I don’t have anything left with me. Even with the prosthetics being made out by the weapon suppliers we know, I know it won’t be the same as my original arms and legs that were amputated.

”It’s better to accept it... Accept everything, your flaws, and everything, and just drag yourself to the bottom of the murky world. No one will question and you will no longer feel the need to be responsible for your actions, just accept the reality.”

Soon enough, the person speaking in my head or my ears or wherever they are has finally appeared. To my surprise, it was myself who was sitting in the usual wheelchair over there. The one who was always reminiscing the past even though he is still a young man.

”Just give up on everything including your dreams and go die.”

”This guy is probably right...”

...

Day 333: 7:50 P.M

Osaka Streets

Equipment: Melee: Piyavka Machete, Piyavka Cleaver

(Kyosei’s View)

Roku tried his best to keep Kato on hold. But when he said that we have to prepare the weapons, I already assumed the worst. It has a very low chance of success which is why they gave us the preemptive action in case things go wrong.

”Everyone, get out. I will handle this thing. If possible, be sure to get everyone near here to safety just in case,” I said and pulled out my Piyavka Machete and waited for the attacks. With Roku stopping Kato from doing his rampage, we can only hope that this won’t escalate too badly.

Then, all of a sudden, a red flesh starts growing on Kato’s severed legs and arms. It was like a bud growing into the soil but unlike a new bud growing, this was rapidly growing and it is slowly transforming into an arm that has a weird look and started to deform into the usual arm. His legs also do the same.

Without waiting for action on his new limbs, I raise the Piyavka Machete and started chopping off the growing ”arms”. But the moment the Piyavka Machete landed on the skin of the growing arm, it didn’t work, and instead, it just produced a ”tink” sound, refusing to even scratch the arm.

”Damn! It’s a hardening mutation! Singularity-sama, you can’t it even with the Piyavka weapons!”

Kato’s arms started to move and his legs twitch a bit after I attacked it causing me to immediately fall back from it and ready my arsenal.

”It looks like the process failed, Singularity-sama! I have to restrain him and bring him outside the base to avoid further damages and casualties.”

He wrapped the whole body of Roku using the tentacles and immediately carried him out by flying above the walls and bringing him outside.

I followed Roku and when I arrived at the place where he dropped off Kato’s body, I noticed something wrong with Roku and that’s when I noticed that his tentacle arms that he usually displays and used earlier are no longer around Kato’s body nor already on Roku himself. It was already broken...

”Be careful Singularity-sama! His mutation has finally been completed! He will perform massive damages if he gets too close to you!”

”I know. Back off a little bit! Assist me whenever you can if necessary!”

”I obey, Singularity sama!”

Although I know that it will be hard, this is already on another level. With the situation right now, we will be killed instead!

”Kato! You motherf*cker! Who permitted you to go on a rampage after everything we have done, you will go and die becoming a motherf*cking variant?! Wake up, you stupid nerd!” I angrily shouted as the figure of a variant who looks similar to Kato standing on the street, looking at me menacingly.

”Singularity-sama, he is releasing toxic fumes on his body and if you directly inhale it, you will be poisoned! Also, avoid combat please! This isn’t something even us can handle!” Roku is trying to stop me.

”I won’t be stopping unless that bastard dares to return to us!”

With the Piyavka Weapons in my hands, I rush forward and went for the attack.

”Return to your senses, Kato!”

BANG!

My piyavka Machete rebounded the moment it hit the hands of the variant Kato. He blocked it with his hands.

I didn’t notice much what changed on Kato but when I got close, I noticed that he has crystals of blue color appearing on his body. Did he just create those using the core of the Banshee that was just crushed to cure him?!

I didn’t stop my attack and went to use the Cleaver this time around. His head turned around and I noticed that it also has crystals growing on his face. It was like it is turning into a mask. His teeth are also getting sharper. Normal people will get scared, I didn’t get the feeling of that and instead decided to chase him down.

Raising the cleaver, I started attacking and the moment the blade was about to hit the b.a.r.e skin of Kato instead of his hardened skin, he retaliates. I made quick attacks and I tried dealing fast attacks against him however, every time I swing and attack, he will immediately dodge and will counter attack. It slowly became harder for me to deal with his moves that before I can even finish what I was about to do, he raised his hands and knocked me off the ground.

I was sent flying and I landed on the walls causing me to spit blood. I also felt like the bones in my back has been broken the moment I landed. The mere movement can cause tremendous pain in my whole body.

The Variant Kota slowly approached me, with his inhuman red eyes and blue limbs, he has turned himself into a new Variant.

I thought I was about to die as blood slowly flows out from the back of my head and I felt my whole body shook. As the Variant Kota stares at me, Roku and Nana appeared to attack him. Causing him to leave.

That day, we lost Kato, and also during that day, a new Variant was born.