Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse

The mansion loomed before them, large and imposing, with its wide compound covered in overgrown grass.

Despite its disrepair, it seemed strangely well-kept — untouched by time and neglect, at least on the outside.

The high walls surrounding the property looked formidable, but Simon knew better than to assume that the mansion was empty.

There were too many signs of life — though not the kind that he'd want to encounter.

As they stepped closer, the unmistakable growls and guttural grunts of zombies echoed from within. It was clear. They weren't alone.

Simon paused, taking a moment to listen.

The unsettling sounds of the undead — roaming aimlessly, their hunger palpable — reached his ears.

The mansion, with all its potential as a home base, was a death trap until those zombies were dealt with. He'd need to clear the area before he could truly call this place home.

But for now, the idea of safety was just a distant thought.

"I should've brought the rifle," Simon muttered under his breath. The frustration in his voice was evident. If he'd been more prepared, things might've gone smoother.

The compound was large, but the gate was surprisingly simple, not locked, and only slightly rusted.

He reached forward and placed his palms on the cold iron gate, giving it a slow push.

The metal creaked loudly as it opened, the sound grating against the quiet of the apocalypse.

The groan of the gate seemed far too loud, as if it were drawing the attention of every zombie in the vicinity.

The moment the gate swung open, all hell broke loose.

Without warning, one of the zombies lunged from the shadows, its arms flailing as it bared its yellow, rotting teeth.

It was fast, faster than Simon had anticipated. Its clawed hands swiped at him, its breath rancid with decay, its tongue hanging out like a grotesque serpent. Simon barely had time to react.

Behind him, the woman gasped, stumbling backward and landing hard on her butt.

Her fear was palpable, and Simon heard her sharp breath catch in her throat as she tried to scramble to her feet.

But there was no time to help her now. The zombie was coming for him, and it wasn't about to wait.

Instinct kicked in.

Simon steadied himself, his eyes narrowing as the zombie closed in on him. He dropped into a crouch just as it lunged, its claws outstretched and ready to tear into him.

With a grunt, Simon thrust his fist forward with all the force he could muster. The punch connected with the zombie's stomach with a sickening thud.

Its eyes bulged, and a thick stream of saliva shot from its mouth, spraying across the ground.

For a brief moment, Simon thought he could hear the squelching sound of the creature's insides shifting. It stumbled back, momentarily disoriented from the force of the blow.

But Simon wasn't done. The zombie was still on its feet, though clearly struggling to stay upright.

Without hesitation, he drove his knee upward, slamming it into the creature's face. The impact was brutal, and the sound of bone cracking echoed through the still air. Simon thought he might've fractured its skull with that strike, at least that was what it looked like.

The zombie went limp, its body going slack as it crumpled to the ground. Simon stood over it, panting heavily, his chest rising and falling with the exertion.

He could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, his senses still heightened from the fight. Without hesitation, he smashed the Zombie's skull to pieces with his foot.

"Well damn," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. The usual notification popped up in his vision, but he ignored it.

His World ranking had increased again, though not by much — he wasn't interested in numbers at the moment. Not right now.

He glanced over at the woman, who was still sitting on the ground, her wide eyes fixed on him. There was a look of shock on her face, and Simon couldn't help but smirk. He couldn't blame her. The sight of a fight like that could rattle anyone.

"You scared?" Simon asked, the challenge in his voice playful, though it was laced with a hint of concern. He couldn't help himself; it felt good to have the upper hand for once.

The woman blinked a few times, seemingly coming back to her senses. She scrambled to her feet, brushing off the dirt from her jeans. "I'm fine," she said quickly, though her voice trembled slightly. "Just… surprised."

Simon couldn't suppress the small chuckle that escaped him. It was a nervous laugh, but there was a sense of satisfaction in it too.

"Good," Simon said, his voice softening as he wiped his bloodied hands on his pants. "We need to keep moving. There'll be more of them. They usually don't travel alone."

The woman nodded, her face hardening with resolve. Whatever fear she'd felt in that moment had clearly faded, replaced by the same survival instinct that had kept Simon alive through countless other encounters.

They both knew the world had changed, and it wasn't going to get easier. They would have to be just as ruthless as the creatures that roamed it.

Simon took a step forward, his eyes scanning the area around them. The mansion was still and silent, the sounds of zombies groaning from within reminding him that the job wasn't finished.

There were probably more inside.

The woman fell into step behind him, her movements tentative but determined. She didn't speak, but Simon could feel her eyes on him as they approached the mansion.

"We'll clear the rest of the compound first," Simon said, his tone serious. "Then we take the house. Slowly. Quietly. One step at a time."

The woman gave him a small nod, and together they moved toward the mansion's entrance, ready to take on whatever challenges lay inside.

Simon's mind was already working, calculating the best way to proceed. The zombies wouldn't be an easy fight, but he wasn't backing down.

They were going to take this place, and they were going to make it their own. If it was the last thing he did, they'd survive. He would make sure of it.