Zombie Domination

Chapter 440: Chapter 440- Brother

The helicopter’s rotors faded into the distance, the sound growing thinner and thinner until it was nothing but a whisper against the wind.

Nox stood at the edge of the shattered throne room’s outer balcony, his dark hair whipping around his face, his pale eyes fixed on the retreating aircraft. The black helicopter carrying Julian and his women was now just a speck on the horizon, disappearing into the crimson-tinted sky.

A small smile curved his lips.

"Seems everything went smoothly," he murmured.

Behind him, the mutant woman’s red eyes narrowed. Her wings twitched, spreading slightly as if preparing to pursue. Her claws clicked against the broken marble floor.

"You let them escape," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "You helped the Ghost get away."

Nox turned, his pale eyes meeting her crimson gaze. There was no fear in his expression, only calm, almost bored indifference.

"I didn’t let them do anything," Nox said. "They escaped on their own. I just... didn’t stop them."

Darwin stepped forward, Subject Zero’s pale body crackling with crimson light. His empty white eyes fixed on Nox with predatory hunger.

"You think I’ll let you run too?" Darwin said. "After everything you’ve done? You destroyed my Reapers. You helped the Ghost tear down my faction. And now you think you can just walk away?"

He raised his clawed hand.

"I’ll kill you where you stand."

Nox laughed.

It was a soft sound, almost gentle, completely at odds with the violence that filled the throne room.

"Kill me?" He shook his head. "You can’t even touch me."

Darwin’s aura flared. Crimson light exploded from his body, the temperature dropped, and the shadows lengthened. He lunged—

And passed through Nox.

His claws swiped empty air. Nox stood exactly where he had been, untouched, unmoved. His body flickered slightly, like a heat haze over hot asphalt.

"What—" Darwin’s empty eyes widened.

"Dark Matter," Nox said simply. "My body exists in a state of quantum uncertainty. You can’t touch what isn’t fully here."

The mutant woman’s red eyes narrowed. She stepped forward, her clawed fingers extending, her wings spreading to their full span.

"Then I’ll tear apart the space around you," she said. "Let’s see if your uncertainty can survive that."

Nox glanced at her.

"You’re strong," he admitted. "Stronger than most. But you’re also... new. Your fusion is unstable. Your body hasn’t fully accepted what you’ve become." His pale eyes flicked to Darwin. "Both of you."

Darwin’s jaw tightened.

Nox smiled.

"So I’ll say goodbye now. I don’t have time to entertain both of you."

He stepped backward, toward the edge of the balcony.

"Goodbye."

The mutant woman lunged. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Her claws closed around empty air. Nox was gone—not invisible, not teleported, but simply... elsewhere. A patch of darkness on the balcony’s edge shimmered, then faded, then disappeared entirely.

The mutant woman stood at the edge, her red eyes scanning the horizon, her claws still extended. But there was nothing. No trace. No shadow. No body.

"He’s gone," she said quietly.

Darwin stared at the empty space, his fists clenched.

"He used the shadows," Darwin muttered. "Like the Ghost."

"No," the mutant woman said quietly. "Not like the Ghost. The Ghost manipulates shadows. Nox becomes them." Her red eyes tracked the fading darkness. "Dark Matter. I’ve heard rumors of that skill. It’s not supposed to exist."

Darwin turned to her. "Then how is he—"

"I don’t know." The woman’s voice was cold. "But I intend to find out."

She looked out at the horizon, where the helicopter had disappeared. The sun was setting, painting the clouds in shades of orange and red. Somewhere out there, Julian was flying to safety. Somewhere out there, Nox was watching. Somewhere out there, Kevin was waiting.

And here, in the ruins of Eclipse’s throne room, two monsters stood alone.

"This isn’t over," the mutant woman said.

"No," Darwin agreed. "It’s not."

They stood in silence, watching the sun set on their defeat.

Meanwhile, above the heights....

The helicopter cut through the darkening sky, its rotors a steady thrum that vibrated through the metal floor. Inside, the air was thick with exhaustion and the metallic scent of blood. Emma was stretched across one of the bench seats, her head resting on Fey’s lap, still unconscious but breathing steadily. Zoe sat near the window, her golden eyes half-closed, her wounded arm wrapped in makeshift bandages. Dori was beside her, checking and rechecking her pistol out of habit, her hands finally steady.

Julian sat apart from them, his back against the cabin wall, his broken sword across his knees.

Then the air shifted.

A patch of darkness coalesced in the empty space between Julian and the cabin door. It swirled, thickened, and then—

Nox stepped out of the shadow.

Zoe shifted, her body tensing, her hand already half-transformed into a claw. Fey’s hand shot out, ready to summon any liquid within reach.

"Relax," Julian said quietly. "He’s not a threat."

Dori’s eyes darted to Julian, then back to Nox. "He—he just appeared out of nowhere!"

Nox smiled. It was a thin, amused expression. "I do that."

At the cockpit door, one of Nox’s men glanced back. He was a broad-shouldered man with a scarred face and calm eyes. He looked at Nox, then at the others, then returned his attention to flying the helicopter.

Another of Nox’s crew, a woman with short-cropped hair and a tattoo on her neck, didn’t even look up from her equipment. She just muttered, "Boss is back," and continued her work.

Fey noticed. "Your people... they’re not surprised."

"They’re used to it," Nox said. He walked past Dori and Zoe as if they weren’t pointing weapons at him, and sat down across from Julian. "It’s been a long time."

Julian’s dark blue eyes met Nox’s pale ones.

"It has," Julian said. Then, after a pause: "Seems my worries were unnecessary."

Nox tilted his head. "You were worried about me?"

"I was worried you’d do something stupid."

Nox laughed a short, genuine sound. "I saved your life back there."

"I was already leaving."

"Same thing." Nox leaned back, his pale eyes studying Julian’s face. "I’ve been looking for you everywhere. And you ended up being so far from where I expected."

Dori, still holding her pistol but now aiming at the floor, looked between them. Her brow furrowed.

"Um," she said. "Do you two... know each other?"

Nox glanced at her. "Hmm? Didn’t he tell you?"

The women looked at each other. Zoe shook her head. Fey’s eyes narrowed slightly. Emma was still unconscious, so she didn’t respond.

Dori spoke for all of them. "Tell us what?"

Nox’s eyebrows rose. He looked at Julian with something between disbelief and amusement.

"You’re joking," Nox said. "You didn’t tell them?"

Julian’s expression didn’t change.

"I didn’t have the opportunity," he said.

"You’ve been traveling with them for how long? Weeks? Months?" Nox shook his head. "And you never found the time?"

"I was busy."

Nox stared at him. Then he laughed longer this time, louder, until a few of his crew glanced back with raised eyebrows.

"Busy," Nox repeated. "He was busy." He wiped his eye, still chuckling. "That’s rich."

He turned to the women, spreading his arms in a theatrical gesture.

"Very well. Allow me to introduce myself properly." He placed a hand on his chest and gave a small, mocking bow, still seated. "My name is Nox Aswelt. Friend of Julian. Or, you could say..." His pale eyes flicked to Julian, softening slightly. "Brother."

Fey’s eyes widened. "Brother?"

"Not by blood," Nox clarified. "But we grew up together. Survived together. Fought together." He glanced at Julian. "Back when he was still young and stupid."