Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

Coincidentally, the Remnant had seized control of the areas which surrounded their bunker complex in Oregon, and established a figurative force field out of their new weapon that would repel the undead from the area. Just in time to launch an attack on Elysium while Zane was there.

Without even needing to corrupt themselves with blood crystals, what remained of the United States Federal Government had found a way to combat the undead threat that had nearly wiped out all of humanity.

With this newly gained territory, the Remnant in Oregon began to fortify the area. Rapidly building fortifications and even managing to construct an air base to transport their men across the region via what little aircraft they still had under their control.

It was through this means that a small battalion of Marines equipped with Prometheus Power Armor and supported by M777 155mm Artillery were air dropped outside the vicinity of Elysium, where they quickly set up a position to lay siege to the settlement of what they considered being filled with sub-human outlaws.

There were no attempts to negotiate with the Goddess and her cult. Why would there be? To the Remnant of the old world government, anyone who was not of their own faction was to be considered an enemy. Even if they were living, breathing, human beings.

The initial attack was launched via 155mm Artillery, which was air dropped just outside the city along with the Marines who operated them. It was a devastating attack on Elysium, one which caused substantial damage to its buildings and the people who lived in them.

Within the first five minutes of the barrage, thousands lost their lives. And critical elements of Elysium's infrastructure, which had been previously identified by remnants of controlled satellites, were dismantled. It was a highly coordinated attack, meant to halt Elysian means of production, at least for a time.

And by mere coincidence, it was this attack that gave Zane the distraction he needed to escape from Lilith's clutches. Something that infuriated the Horde King more than just about anything.

Zane had jumped out the window while the woman was distracted, and quickly propelled himself over the Castle Walls. Rushing through the chaotic streets of the highest district within Elysium.

Luckily for Zane, the attack appeared to be centered around the secondary layer of the city. Which was where the majority of their industrial buildings were located. As well as the majority of their population.

There was just one problem. No matter how much Zane searched for his companions and called out their names, they were nowhere to be found at the top layer of the city. Meaning they must have wandered off to explore while he was in Lilith's custody.

No doubt, this was a matter that one might normally be sore over, that is, if they weren't quite literally facing an oncoming artillery barrage when they came to the realization. And because of this, Zane could only forgive the women for abandoning him while he hopped over the next series of walls to enter the area of the city where he suspected they had run off to.

Lady Luck had finally decided to bless Zane with her bounty. Because the moment Zane landed on the other side of the wall, he coincidentally found himself standing face to face with the women he was looking for.

At first, the group all just sort of stared at one another in disbelief. Before Zane quickly brought to their attention what was happening, interrupting the others as he demanded they leave Elysium immediately.

"The city is under attack. I don't know by who, but they saved my life. There is a Tier V Horde King here. She was waiting for me in the castle. She's currently distracted by what's going on, but is no doubt looking for me. We have to go now!"

Nobody said a word. They just all silently nodded their heads and followed Zane through the chaotic streets of Elysium as they quickly made their way to the exit.

---

Lilith chose not to follow Zane after he had escaped. She very clearly saw where he had run off to. And if she really wanted to claim his head, no amount of a head start could stop her from doing so. Instead, her thoughts had shifted to this nuisance that decided to reveal itself.

She was damn certain that the old world governments had collapsed under the initial onslaught of the undead following the outbreak of the virus that caused them to exist. And yet, that banner was unmistakable.

More than that, the government forces, which appeared to have been driven into hiding. We're not in a mere state of survival. No... They appeared to be investing in developing new and dangerous technology. Such as the unique sets of armor these Marines were clearly wearing. Armor, which undoubtedly enhanced their combat capabilities.

She had heard rumors of such things from her siblings. But until now, Lilith did not believe them, as they seemed more like a prospect of science fiction than reality. But then again, the world had changed vastly since the rise of the Horde Kings.

While Lilith was reflecting on all of this, Valeria entered the room and fell to her knees, apologizing to Lilith for not being able to contain Zane, or anticipating such an attack from an unknown and hostile force.

"Master… I'm sorry! Your prey has escaped. Shall I rally my forces to fetch him for you?"

Lilith did not even look at Valeria. Instead, her gazed was fixed into the distance, where she quickly pointed at the enemy and where they were hiding.

"It would appear that the American government still exists in some capacity, not only that, but they have made some very interesting toys. I'm not sure how they managed to pull it off. Getting artillery within range of Elysium without me detecting it in advance? A masterful feat if I have ever heard of one…. Perhaps they still hold command of the stars and skies....

As for my brother, there is no need to pursue the little bastard. Sooner or later we are destined to meet one another again… Instead, I want you to go fetch those fools who dare to launch an attack on your domain. For every soul that dies here, that is a waste of precious meat…. I will not tolerate those who attack my livestock, so bring them to me, won't you?"

The fact that Lilith was more concerned about her "livestock" than she was about getting her revenge on Zane showed Valeria that the Horde King was able to put aside personal grievances for the greater good of her ambitions.

And this sent shivers down the spine of the so called Goddess of Elysium, who quickly responded in the affirmative to her orders.

"Yes, Master… It will be done!"

After saying this, Valeria rushed off to relay the orders she had been given, leaving Lilith to her lonesome. The Undead beauty shifted her gaze from the enemy which was attacking, instead staring at her finger, which had a small drop of blood on it. It was not her own, rather it was Zane's, resulting from a small cut she inflicting upon him during their little scuffle.

Lilith did not, however, sniff, or even lick, the blood as she was inclined to do seeing how she was an undead monster which feasted on human flesh and blood. No, she quickly placed her other index finger over the drop of blood and channeled her energy into it.

Thoroughly crystallizing Zane's drop of blood into a gemstone that looked almost exactly like a red diamond. Once she had done this, Lilith smirked as she pocketed Zane's blood to save for a later date.

"You may have run from me, little brother, but I will accept this gift of yours as recompense for the time being. Perhaps I make a beautiful necklace out of it. No doubt that little harlot won't mind if I seize some of her gold for my own purposes."

Lilith then vanished into thin air, as if she had never been present in Elysium to begin with. No doubt returning to Necropolis to await the arrival of Valeria's "gift."

---

With Lilith refusing to pursue Zane, instead focusing on the big picture of capturing and interrogating the Remnant Forces who had made the foolish decision of attacking her food supply.

Zane and the girls were quickly able to flee from Elysium. Once outside the city's vast walls, they were able to rendezvous with their Humvee, which sat abandoned on the roadside, allowing them to drive back to Gravestone.

This was not a battle meant for them to partake in, nor did they plan to do so. At least not while they believed Lilith was still lurking within the city walls. But the drive back to Gravestone was long enough for the group to talk about a variety of issues.

They first spoke about what had happened to Zane while they were separated, and what the girls had learned on their own. Which included the terrifying and true nature of Elysium. Though this was followed by speculation on who had attacked Elysium and why.

"I guess we're not Elysium's only rivals…. Though using artillery? I honestly wouldn't expect such a thing… It seems so antiquated, doesn't it?"

Zane, however, disagreed. Unlike what Elena had said. Artillery was most definitely the best option for dealing with a settlement that was designed upon the concept of a medieval concentric castle design.

Sure this design might be ideal for keeping out the undead. But an artillery shell could be fired over the tall walls, and in doing so, deal a substantial amount of damage in a short amount of time.

Yet, there was a problem with this. Artillery was heavy… Very heavy… It was almost always pulled by trucks, if you're not including the self-propelled variants which were attached to a tank chassis of some kind. How the hell did someone manage to get an entire group of artillery within firing distance of a Tier V Horde King without her even knowing?

That just didn't make sense. Unless it was air dropped… But who the fuck was flying planes these days? Zane quickly dismissed the idea that somebody had actually airdropped artillery into the foothills outside Elysium and instead chose not to think about it any longer.

He was just happy that he had escaped from Lilith's grasp with his life intact. And entirely unharmed at that.