"Chapter 191: Welcome to Zombieland"

A week of work flew by unnoticed. Most of Alex's time was spent at the arena, carefully overseeing the construction process and delegating tasks to ensure everything proceeded according to plan.

The first phase was the creation of a massive floating island above the Colosseum, which was to serve as the arena for future battles. After its completion, Alex's clones split into groups: some focused on equipping the island, while others ventured out to find monsters for the Arena.

However, these searches quickly turned into utter chaos. An army of clones roamed Helheim and Valhalla, causing an uproar among the local inhabitants. Instead of simply scanning monsters and recording their traits, the clones decided to haul living creatures back with them.

Their "prizes" included monsters of all kinds, even dragons. Alex suspected the clones were doing it on purpose since they had the ability to teleport the monsters but chose instead to conspicuously drag them around in full view of everyone.

Each day, a new valkyrie joined Alex at the arena to get to know him better. This clearly didn't sit well with Rebecca, who was stuck with the tedious task of sorting artifacts. There were so many artifacts that she soon began instinctively dividing them into two categories: trash and those that might be useful for the Arena system.

Meanwhile, the valkyries handling the selection of candidates—both gods and mortals—worked in a more measured fashion. Occasionally, they encountered candidates who behaved arrogantly. In such cases, Alex had to step in, giving them a hefty dose of reality or a small "wake-up call" to bring them back down to earth.

Brunhilde's job was no less demanding; she had to conduct interviews with every candidate for the Council, which consumed most of her day.

Construction of the Arena progressed rapidly, and the project began taking its final shape. Alex successfully developed a system of experience points and rewards in the form of gold. However, the most challenging part was creating a mechanism that allowed fighters to participate in the arena using their physical bodies.

Gods, being spiritual entities, had unique souls distinct from those of mortals. Alex worked tirelessly to ensure the system functioned properly and that no one was accidentally harmed. To test the system, several trial battles were held between gods and mortals.

One of the test participants was Adamantus, who volunteered. However, his repeated losses earned him the nickname "the god sitting by the fountain," a rumor that spread quickly. Soon, almost everyone called him that, and his perpetually sour expression only grew darker.

In addition, Alex had to deal with the persistence of gods who had participated in Ragnarok. They either wanted to fight their old opponents again or simply talk. Apollo, in particular, was a nuisance, constantly insisting, «Dracula must witness the new radiance of Apollo.»

If not for others escorting Apollo away in time, Alex might have delivered a few well-placed disciplinary blows to the sun god. For the more reasonable gods, Alex explained that the participants were present only at his request and had no plans to fight again. This worked—except with Apollo, who seemed incapable of understanding simple words.

The week was eventful, and at last, the long-awaited moment arrived: the Arena system was completed. The ceremony was attended only by the valkyries, Rebecca, and Alex himself. Standing in the center of the group, Alex gazed at the enormous floating island above the Colosseum.

The island was designed so its shadow wouldn't block the Colosseum. For the spectators' convenience, a retractable roof had been installed, capable of closing in case of rain or other unforeseen circumstances. Everything was executed to perfection.

Alex pondered the future of the system: perhaps it would not only unite gods and mortals but also lay the groundwork for the emergence of teams competing in tournaments. However, such a time was still far off. He could already envision grand competitions being held here in the future.

«Well, that's the end of this boring work,» Alex said, taking a deep drag from his cigarette.

«Finally!» Rebecca raised her arms as if celebrating her freedom. «I can't look at those artifacts anymore. Who would've thought there were so many of them?»

Alex smiled and patted her head. Despite her constant complaints, Rebecca had done an excellent job. He knew her grumbling was mostly for fun. Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was already evening. All that remained was to hand over the Arena's management to the newly formed Council, after which his tasks in this world would be complete.

Now, he had to decide who would accompany him on his new journey and who would remain behind. Alex already knew that Brunhilde and Göndul had decided to follow him. As for the other valkyries, he wasn't sure. Despite their spiritual connection, no one was obligated to join him.

«When are you planning to leave?» Brunhilde asked, gently squeezing his hand.

«I think right after the handover of the Arena,» Alex replied with a slight smile. «There's no point in delaying the next journey.»

Brunhilde nodded, fully understanding that his presence in this world was solely tied to his pursuit of the creature he was hunting. The other valkyries exchanged glances, contemplating whether to follow Alex or stay behind.

The twins, Hlökk and Alvitr, gave each other thoughtful looks. The idea of traveling to Alex's homeworld was tempting: they could relax and enjoy a carefree life there. They knew Alex would pamper them, which ultimately tipped their decision in favor of leaving.

Noticing their expressions, Alex decided to step in:

«Ladies, you don't have to follow me just because of our spiritual connection,» he said calmly. «You are free valkyries and can choose as you wish. If you're unsure, take some time to think it over before we leave this world.»

Alex's words gave them a sense of freedom, and each valkyrie began to reflect on her path.

The girls nodded, but some had already firmly decided to accompany Alex. His words nudged Hlökk and Alvitr toward their choice. Firstly, they could avoid unnecessary trouble and enjoy a carefree life. Secondly, they'd have the chance to try sweets from other worlds, which sounded incredibly enticing.

Brunhilde, for her part, advised her younger sisters to think carefully before making a final decision. She reminded them that if they left, it was unclear when Alex would return to this world. With guidance from their elder sister, the valkyries considered whether they should leave, but Alex didn't dwell on it. If all the valkyries chose to follow him, he would find a role for each of them.

Even for a valkyrie like Reginleif, who preferred solitude and the quiet of libraries, Alex could devise a suitable role. His home was filled with diverse personalities who could get along well. Moreover, he wasn't worried about their safety: the valkyries could enter his spiritual realm, where they would be under his protection.

«All right, ladies, take your time to decide. If you're coming, start packing. I'll handle the transfer of rights to the Arena in the meantime,» Alex said, waving a hand as he went off to take care of business.

Alex stepped aside and teleported to another location. He appeared near the building chosen as the Council's meeting hall. Glancing at the clock, Alex realized that most people had probably already left the building.

He wasn't particularly concerned about who was chosen for the council — he had completely entrusted that task to Brunhilde. Alex knew how thoroughly she approached selecting people, so he had no doubt about her decisions. When it came to the council members of humanity, he was at ease. As for the fighters for the Arena, or the so-called champions, the selection process proved more difficult. Many expressed their desire to participate, demonstrating teamwork skills and a love for battle.

What particularly surprised Alex was the proposal to invite prisoners from Tartarus to fight in exchange for limited freedom during the battles. Although he had an idea of who might have suggested it, he wasn't eager to discuss the matter.

Wandering through the hallways of the empty building, Alex sensed the presence of another person. More specifically, a god. He was surprised to find that Zeus was still there, even after everyone else had left. It was likely related to the completion of the Arena's construction. With a slow pace, Alex made his way to the balcony, where Zeus stood, watching the sunset.

«I see you've finished your work, Voldigoad,» Zeus said without turning around.

«You could say that,» Alex replied with a slight smile.

He was surprised by the changes in Zeus over the past week. It seemed that he had begun to reflect on things he hadn't noticed before. The loss of family members during the war had caused the old god to reconsider his views on life and the world. Alex understood that this was an important step for Zeus as an individual.

Alex approached the balcony railing, leaning against it with his back, and tilted his head, gazing at the stars. He preferred the light of the night sky to the sunset. For a while, they stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

«So, where will you go next?» Zeus asked, not tearing his gaze from the horizon.

«I don't yet know where my path will lead. My work here is done, but overall, it's far from finished,» Alex replied, exhaling smoke and continuing to look at the stars.

Zeus nodded, not continuing the conversation. His suspicions grew stronger: Alex clearly didn't belong to this world. Recalling Odin's words about other worlds, Zeus was becoming more convinced that someone with Alex's power couldn't have gone unnoticed. If Alex truly belonged to this world, he would surely have left a significant mark in the history of mortals and gods. Such immense power would inevitably attract attention.

«So, you're really not from this world,» Zeus finally spoke, still not looking away from the horizon.

«I never claimed otherwise. Though it took you quite some time to come to that conclusion,» Alex responded with a light chuckle.

Zeus smiled and shook his head. This conclusion was inevitable if one thought about it carefully, but the time for reflection only came recently. Nevertheless, understanding Alex's origins changed nothing. If not for his sudden appearance, this world would have long since fallen victim to Odin's plans, and no one would have even realized they were part of a sacrificial ritual.

«Then who are you really?» Zeus finally turned to Alex.

«Are you really refusing the prize?» Alex replied, smiling as he parried the question.

«What prize? If you leave, how will I ever get it, even if I'm right?» Zeus responded, gazing intently at his companion.

«Well, fair enough. I'm a demon. To be precise, the Demon King. And even more precisely, I'm the first demon created by the Creator,» Alex explained calmly.

Zeus frowned, processing what he had heard, and let out a heavy sigh. Alex was not a human, as he had assumed, but a demon. Moreover, the first demon — an equivalent of Adam for humanity. This thought made him pause: if a demon is the opposite of a human, then Alex definitely didn't fit the usual idea of a demon. All demons are inherently evil, even though there may be exceptions. But perhaps Alex was different because he was the first of his kind.

«I admit, I didn't expect that,» Zeus said honestly.

«Well, what can you do? But enough about that, time waits for no one. I'm here to hand this to you,» Alex said, extending a tablet for controlling the arena.

Zeus took the device, examined it, and quickly understood its purpose. Alex began to explain the tablet's functions: controlling the arena, summoning champions if they were far away, and other possibilities. Zeus nodded, listening attentively and remembering, as later he would have to pass this knowledge on to the other council members.

After explaining, Alex said his goodbyes and went back to find out which of the Valkyries had decided to follow him and which would remain. Reaching the exit of the council building, he cast a final glance at the structure, then teleported to his temporary resting room.

No sooner had Alex appeared than his arrival drew attention.

«A-chan, why didn't you say you were leaving?» Buddha, one of the present figures, exclaimed. «I would've come to say goodbye! Instead, you're acting all sneaky and disappearing like a ghost!»

Alex just smirked, sensing that his conversation with Buddha might take a while.

Alex saw Buddha, with Zerofuku standing beside him. A smile slid across his face — over the past week, he had grown accustomed to the unusual behavior of this god.

«I just didn't want to drag out the goodbyes,» Alex said, shaking his head. «I'm not fond of moments like that.»

«Where there's goodbye, there will also be a meeting, A-chan,» Buddha replied, raising a finger as though he were about to give some wise advice. «Your path may one day lead you back to this world. So it's worth saying goodbye properly.»

Alex listened carefully to Buddha's words, almost agreeing with him. But he knew this god too well to miss the hidden motive. Buddha didn't come just to say goodbye — his true goal was clearly to ask for more sweets.

This always happened when Buddha's stock ran low, and his eternal excuse sounded something like, «I have a family, they need to be fed too!»

Sighing slightly, Alex pulled out a box of treats and tossed it in front of Buddha.

«Here, take it. Now you can eat your sweets in peace and think of me,» he said with a touch of sarcasm.

Buddha eagerly lifted the box above his head.

«Now I'll enjoy these sweets and think of you, A-chan!» he exclaimed.

Alex almost choked on those words. What did he mean by thinking of him while eating sweets? That certainly wasn't part of Alex's plans. Catching the strange look from Alex, Buddha paused for a moment, repeated his words to himself, and realized that his sentence had sounded ambiguous. In his usual fashion, he immediately began to justify himself, but Alex just waved his hand, deciding to forget about the absurd incident.

Turning his attention to the Valkyries, who were scattered around the room, he addressed them.

«Ladies, have you decided? I have two options for you. If you want to leave but don't want to get involved in my work, you can head to my house in Orario and do whatever you like there. If you want to follow me, I'm fine with that. The choice is yours.»

Brunhilde immediately declared that she would follow Alex. She knew from his memories exactly what could happen if he got bored. Remembering the events in Night City and his campaign to glorify the Pasta Monster, she decided to prevent any potential chaos. Göndul also decided to follow him — it was always interesting with Alex.

Hlökk and Alvitr were uncertain. On one hand, they wanted to try sweets from other worlds, but on the other hand, the prospect of extra work didn't inspire them. While the Valkyries discussed their plans, Alex started gathering his things.

He approached the desk and returned it to its original state — a black cube — and stored it in his inventory. With each completed task, he was one step closer to his next adventure.

Alex gave the Valkyries some time to think while he settled on the couch and continued his conversation with Buddha. The main topic of discussion revolved around which world Alex would travel to next and what he planned to do there.

«I'll act based on the circumstances,» Alex replied, lazily waving his hand. «First, I need to figure out exactly where I'm going, and then I'll see if there's any interference in that world and act accordingly.»

He mentioned that he'd love to visit Totsuki Academy during their food festival to try something delicious. Another option was a world where he could expand his weapon collection. As a last resort, Alex joked that he might go to Zelretch and simply steal the Gates of Babylon for his personal arsenal.

While Alex was discussing his ideas with Buddha, some of the Valkyries made their decision.

«We'll go with you. I'm curious to try sweets from other worlds,» said Hlökk, wrapping her arm around her sister Alvitr.

Alex nodded, knowing that Hlökk acted like a spoiled princess who loved being pampered. Over the past week, he had gotten used to the personalities of both sisters. Hlökk was the most easily offended, but Alvitr also enjoyed attention, though in a gentler way. Approaching Alex, the two Valkyries kissed him on the cheeks from either side, then dissolved into the air, moving into his spiritual space.

«So, this is how you decided...» Alex remarked, surprised since he had expected them to travel in physical form. But he quickly realized that this was even better: he wouldn't have to worry about secrecy until they found a suitable home.

Göndul came closer with a mischievous smile.

«I'll go with you too, darling. Did you think you could escape?» She quickly kissed Alex on the lips and vanished, joining the others.

The rest of the Valkyries followed Göndul, deciding to accompany him. Alex reassured them that if anyone wanted to stay behind, he could send them to Orario at any time. Now, only Brunhilde and Göll remained outside of his spiritual space.

Göll clearly didn't want to be left alone but was too shy to use Völundr with Alex. So, she decided to follow him in physical form. Alex hadn't expected nearly all the Valkyries to decide to come with him, except for two who preferred to stay as judges and commentators.

«Well, I guess it's time to go,» Alex said, addressing those gathered.

Rebecca seemed the most excited. The past week had been intense for her, and she was eagerly anticipating a fresh start. G.I.R. and MIMI clung to Alex's legs, not wanting to walk through the portal on their short paws, while Stitch settled on Rebecca's shoulder.

Calling Yamato, Alex opened the portal and turned to Buddha.

«See you, Buddha. As they say, if fate allows, we'll meet again.»

«You're right. Farewells are just an excuse for a new meeting,» Buddha replied with a wide smile.

After a short parting hug, Alex led his group through the portal.

On the other side, they found themselves in an empty alley. Alex quickly realized they had entered a modern world, but something about the surroundings made him uneasy. The street seemed too quiet for the time of day — by the sun, it was around two or three in the afternoon.

«So where are we?» Rebecca asked, looking around.

«Not sure yet. We need to figure out which world we've ended up in, whether there are supernatural beings here, and then we'll decide what to do,» Brunhilde suggested, considering their next steps.

Alex agreed with her words and realized that the first thing they needed to do was figure out where they were. While they were discussing their plans in the alley, a person appeared, swaying as though drunk. At first glance, he didn't draw much attention, and the group continued discussing how to act in the new world.

But Göll noticed the stranger and frowned.

«Brother, there's someone here,» she said, pointing to the strange man.

Everyone turned their heads in the direction she indicated. Alex squinted, carefully scanning the figure. One glance was enough for him to understand who — or what — they were dealing with.

Without wasting any time, Alex pulled a throwing knife from his inventory and threw it with precise aim straight into the stranger's head. The girls exchanged confused glances, surprised by his swift actions.

«Why did you kill him?» Brunhilde asked, frowning slightly, irritated by his quick decision.

«You'll understand soon,» Alex replied calmly and gestured for them to follow.

Approaching the body, Alex bent down to examine the victim. Half of the man's face was missing, and his clothes were covered in bloodstains. Alex immediately understood the situation they had found themselves in. Judging by his appearance, the deceased was of Asian descent, most likely Japanese.

The girls approached and, looking at the body, realized that Alex hadn't killed a human. The sight left Rebecca excited — she quickly figured out who they had encountered. Rebecca immediately deduced who Alex had killed, as zombie films were her favorite genre.

«So there are zombies in this world! Cool!» she exclaimed, grinning widely.

Alex smirked and began searching the pockets of the deceased, hoping to find something that would point to their exact location. Meanwhile, Brunhilde and Göll were trying to figure out what zombies were.

Rebecca eagerly took on the role of the storyteller, explaining in detail that zombies could be of different types: caused by artificial viruses, cosmic infections, and even mutations during the infection process.

«There are so many types, you could make movies about them endlessly,» she added enthusiastically.

While the girls discussed, Alex found a wallet in the inside pocket of the corpse. Looking through the documents, he realized that they were in one of the prefectures of Tokyo.

«So, where are we?» Rebecca asked, pulling a shotgun from her inventory.

«In one of the prefectures of Tokyo,» Alex replied, then turned to Göll. «As much as I hate to say this, you'll have to move to my inner world. It's too dangerous here, and I don't want to risk your safety.»

Extending his hand, he offered her assistance to avoid any possible objections. Göll hesitated for a moment but then nodded, agreeing with his decision.

Göll realized that this was neither the time for doubts nor embarrassment. She touched Alex's hand and found herself in his inner world. There, she was met with an unexpected sight: her group of sisters were sitting as if in a movie theater, watching what was happening through Alex's eyes.

Meanwhile, Alex had already begun to piece together the general picture of the world they had found themselves in. However, before drawing any conclusions, he needed to verify some crucial information.

«MIMI, connect to the satellite and find out where Fujimi Academy is located,» Alex instructed his small analyst.

«Why are you asking about that academy?» Rebecca asked curiously.

«Remember our conversation about the pillars of the world? If I'm not mistaken, there might be a couple of them there, if not all of them,» Alex explained, continuing to think through the plan.

Rebecca nodded, understanding how serious the situation was. Brunhilde, who knew nothing about the «pillars of the world,» started asking questions, and Rebecca patiently explained everything she knew.

While the girls discussed, Alex lit a cigarette to help him focus. The decision came quickly: they needed to get to the roof to avoid any unexpected zombie attacks. Without saying a word, Alex lifted Rebecca and Brunhilde by the waist and effortlessly jumped to the roof of the nearest building.

There, they heard horrific screams. Looking down, the girls saw a nightmarish scene: zombies were tearing their victims apart and devouring them.

«Looks like it's not as peaceful here as we'd like,» Rebecca remarked grimly, watching the carnage.

Alex remained silent, waiting for MIMI's confirmation. After a few seconds, the response came: Fujimi Academy did indeed exist in this world.

«Alright, ladies, time to move. Rebecca, attach the suppressor to your weapon, and no explosives. These zombies in this world are blind, but they track sound. G.I.R., MIMI, only close combat. Stitch, don't leave mom's side and take a suppressor from her. Brunhilde, what weapon do you use?» Alex's orders rang out clearly.

«Any weapon, but I prefer a sword or spear,» Brunhilde replied, tapping her finger on her chin.

Alex pulled a spear from his inventory and handed it to Brunhilde. Realizing she'd need to hold back, Rebecca took out an assault rifle with a suppressor and handed extra suppressors to Stitch. G.I.R. and MIMI armed themselves with energy weapons. Alex, staying true to his preferences, drew his Marasamu katana and fastened it to his belt. Finally, he threw on his favorite blue coat.

«Ready? Then let's go!» he commanded.

Lifting the girls, Alex began leaping from roof to roof until Fujimi Academy appeared on the horizon. After the final jump, he landed on the school grounds.

Setting the girls down, Alex quickly surveyed the area. Nearby were the bodies of teachers who hadn't yet turned into zombies.

«Here's the plan: we'll split into two groups. I'll take G.I.R. with me, and the four of you will go together. Check every corpse — a headshot is mandatory,» Alex warned.

Rebecca nodded in agreement. Although Brunhilde still didn't fully understand who zombies were, she also agreed. Alex decided it would be better to leave the explanations to Rebecca, as a practical example would be more effective.

Before splitting up, Alex crushed the heads of all the dead teachers to prevent them from turning. Rebecca gave him a smirk and finished off a couple more of the motionless bodies.

After separating, Alex set out to find two key figures: the clumsy blonde nurse, who would surely be a «pillar,» and the dangerous swordswoman with purple hair, who could become a valuable ally.

To be continued...