Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

It did not take Allie long to catch up with Zane. In fact, due to her superior speed he could have been given a thirty-minute head start and she would have caught up with him damn near instantly. Level IV Horde Kings was a power that Zane did not have the means to contend with in the slightest.

And the way she caught up to him in an instant was clear evidence of this reality. Zane quickly found himself backed into a corner when the Allies began gnashing her teeth and shouting at him. He had not even reached the edges of her domain before she caught him.

Because of this, Zane was quickly searching in his system for a means to escape her, all the while she expressed her fury at him.

"You are one lucky little shit. Did you know that? You just happened to fall into my clutches when all hell broke loose among my siblings. But that doesn't really matter. I'll survive the war, it's minions like you who will be fighting on the front lines!

But even so, you won't live to see the carnage! I have orders from Lord Balthazar himself; you are to be executed on the spot! Sorry kid, I'm sure we could have gotten along well if you hadn't been such a heretic. But this is it the end of the line!"

Allie was just about to take Zane's life when he saw a life saving item in his store. It was a teleportation stone. One time use only, and would send him to a random location in the world. Considering the fact that the Earth was 75% water, the odds are he would find himself stranded in the ocean.

But fuck it, anything was better than being left at the mercy of a ruthless Tier IV Horde King like Allie who had orders to end his life. Zane wore a smug smirk on his face as he purchased the Teleportation stone, and in doing so bankrupting himself of his gold on the spot. He did not hesitate to activate it, but not before leaving behind one last remark.

"I'm afraid I have more luck than you think, goodbye Allie!"

After saying this, Zane teleported out of thin air. Shocking Allie whose hand was but an inch away from taking his head. When she realized that Zane had escaped under her watch, the Allies were furious, but more than that filled with dread. If Balthazar learned of this, she would not go without punishment.

But then again, with the current civil war taking place between the Horde Kings, she felt as if he had bigger fish to fry at the moment.

---

Zane found himself rolling down a mountainside. Having lost his footing the moment he reappeared within the world. He had no idea where he was, or what situation he had found himself in. But nevertheless, he did not have time to figure out as he spun in midair to stick the landing.

He then slid down the mountainside, one that was full of snow, as if he were skiing. Trying to traverse his path to some place safe. All in an attempt to understand his current situation. Of course, as much as he had proclaimed he was lucky. The moment Zane came to a stop at the bottom of the mountain, he realized his luck was in the reverse position.

Zane found himself gazing upon a valley below the mountain, which was filled with structures which he recognized. The architecture was, after all that of the eastern world. But more specifically, the flags which flew from the rooftops of the buildings were one that Zane would instantly recognize as an American who was rather educated on the world.

When Zane fully understood where he had been teleported to, he immediately cursed beneath his breath. While speaking the name of the country aloud.

"Oh, shit…. Of course I'd end up in the fucking Democratic People's Republic of Korea…. I am so fucked!"

And just as Zane had suspected, he was well and truly fucked. As a military transport caught sight of him, wandering on the mountainside. Very quickly, soldiers armed with North Korea's locally produced AK Variant hopped out of the truck and pointed their weapons at Zane.

Such firearms had no effect on him, as he had reached a superhuman level of existence. But at the same time, Zane did not want to have to fight his way out of North Korea. And because of this, he very quickly raised his hands. Finding himself quickly captured and dragged into the vehicle.

No doubt where he would be transported to some dark cell for the purpose of interrogation. Because of this, Zane remained entirely silent. He didn't speak Korean after all, and he did not want these people to find out he was American.

The United States of America was, after all the hated enemy of the Kim Regime, and he had just miraculously appeared in their territory. Still, as Zane was driven to Pyongyang for interrogation. He could help but laugh at the sick joke.

Of course, the isolated nation of North Korea would be the only human civilization that would not be affected by the Undead Plague and the rise of the Horde Kings. I mean seriously, what kind of cruel cosmic humor would it have to be for North Korea to become the last bastion of human civilization in this apocalyptic world?

Surely enough, Zane's theory was proven correct, as he found himself transported into Pyongyang, which appeared as if it had not been affected by the apocalypse in the slightest. He was taken into a holding cell.

Where eventually a group of military officers approached him. They had brought more than one translator with them, as they did not know what language Zane spoke, or where he was from.

He, after all, had not carried an ID with him since the beginning of the end nearly a year ago. Thus, he sat there silently. Waiting for the English translator, who was the first to speak to interpret the words of the man in charge of his interrogation.

"Who are you? Where are you from? And how did you get into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea? As far as we know, the world outside our borders is destroyed. So then how? How have you survived?

And how have you entered our Glorious Nation?"

Zane took a long pause before responding. He honestly did not know how to respond to this line of interrogation. And because of this, he was quick to ask for a personal request, even if he doubted they would oblige him the courtesy.

"Do you guys have any cigarettes? I mean…. It's been a long time since I have had a smoke, and I'd be more inclined to answer your questions if you showed me some proper respect…"

The worry and anxiety in the eyes of the officials led Zane to believe that they were lacking answers about what was happening in the outside world. And that they needed him to talk. If that was the case. He wanted something in return.

The officer in charge began shouting at one of the guards standing at the door in a language Zane suspected was Korean. Though he did not understand what the officer had said, the soldier quickly walked over and handed Zane his pack of cigarettes. Albeit with a nasty look on his face.

Zane, whose hands were bound by cuffs, slowly and cautiously reached forward and grabbed one of the cigarettes. Taking a whiff of the sweet smell of tobacco which he had not been able to enjoy in nearly a year. He then stuck the device in his mouth and asked for a light.

Which the female translator was quick to do so on his behalf. After taking a long and hearty drag. Zane expelled the smoke from his lungs before answering the initial questions of the interrogator. Albeit with a false identity.

"My name is Zachary Smith. I'm from Canada. Or what remains of it? How did I get here you ask? I get the feeling you would believe me unless I showed you. But before I do that, we have a lot of things we need to discuss about what's going on out there.

So, where should I begin?"