Zombie Apocalypse: I Have Safe Zone Superpower

Chapter 665: Death

Her head tilted slightly to the side, her eyes closing as if the light within them had completely faded.

Silence.

A suffocating, terrifying silence.

Caleb’s breath hitched as he rushed forward, pressing his fingers against her neck to check her pulse.

A second passed.

Then another.

His face turned pale as he staggered back. "There’s... no pulse..."

The words shattered whatever composure remained.

Martha’s eyes widened in horror as she grabbed Ivy’s shoulders, shaking her. "Ivy! Wake up! Don’t do this!"

Ava rushed forward, her hands trembling as they tried to rouse her, panic overtaking them completely.

Even Annie, who had remained composed until now, felt her vision blur as tears welled up in her eyes.

Meanwhile... Roma’s body twitched again.

The itch had spread, turning into a burning sensation that crawled through her veins. Her vision blurred, dark spots creeping into her sight.

She tried to speak, tried to call out... but Ariana and Ferrero were too focused on Ivy’s lifeless form, too absorbed in the despair unfolding before them to notice her condition worsening.

Roma’s breathing grew shallow.

And then... everything went dark.

Her body went limp.

Ivy’s body lay motionless for an entire minute, unmoving, lifeless, convincing enough to deceive even the most cautious observer.

Ariana and Ferrero watched closely, their expressions slowly shifting.

A grin spread across Ariana’s face. "Finally... she’s dead."

Ferrero exhaled slowly, a faint smirk forming. "It’s over."

With that, they turned toward Roma and froze.

A sudden voice broke the silence. "She’s alive!"

The exclamation cut through the tension like a blade.

Both Ariana and Ferrero snapped their heads back toward Ivy, their expressions tightening with unease.

Sure enough, Ivy’s fingers twitched.

Her chest rose faintly. Then, slowly, her eyes opened.

Ariana’s brows knitted together sharply. "How is this possible...? This shouldn’t have happened."

She turned immediately toward Roma. "Do something... "

Her voice cut off. Roma wasn’t moving. At all.

Ariana’s heart skipped as she rushed forward, checking Roma’s pulse.

The moment her fingers touched the skin, her entire body froze.

"No... no..." she whispered, her voice trembling before rising sharply. "Roma is dead!"

Ferrero’s expression shattered as he stared at Roma in disbelief.

"That’s impossible," he muttered, his voice tight.

Superior beings could survive by transferring between human vessels, extending their existence indefinitely, but only as long as the vessel lived.

If the vessel died... everything ended.

Even with all their advanced knowledge and methods, they had never found a way to preserve the soul without a host.

Ferrero immediately tried to channel his power, attempting to revive her.

Nothing happened.

Roma’s body remained cold and still.

His eyes widened in horror. "What... what is happening...?"

Ariana’s gaze slowly shifted back to Ivy, suspicion blazing within her. She pointed at her sharply.

"It’s her. She distracted us... made sure we didn’t notice Roma at all. She knew something."

Ivy, who had remained still until now, slowly opened her eyes fully and pushed herself up into a sitting position.

Relief washed over her teammates, their breathing easing as faint smiles appeared despite the chaos.

Ariana stared at her, her expression twisted with confusion and anger. "What did you do?"

Ivy tilted her head slightly, a faint, knowing smile forming on her lips. "Guess."

Ariana clenched her jaw and glanced at Ferrero, who remained silent, his mind racing but unable to piece it together.

When no answer came, Ariana’s patience snapped. She turned back to Ivy, her voice turning icy.

"Do you not care about your friend’s life anymore?"

Ivy’s expression didn’t change. "What do you want?"

Ariana’s lips curved into a cold smile. "Your friend is under my control. If you don’t explain what you did... I won’t let her go."

For a brief moment, Ivy paused, her gaze flickering.

Then she spoke calmly, her voice steady. "Do whatever you want with her."

The words stunned everyone.

Ariana’s eyes darkened. "You’ll regret that."

Closing her eyes, Ariana focused, trying to activate the control she had planted within Mia.

’From the very beginning... I knew these weren’t the real threat,’ she thought coldly. ’The real move was happening elsewhere... and I prepared for it.’

When she was first distracted and brought in isolated place, she had wanted to retreat immediately.

’This is a planned ambush I need to report,’ she had thought back then.

But the relentless pressure from multiple attackers had forced her hand.

Surrounded, cornered, she had no choice but to fight.

And during that chaotic clash, whether consciously or not, she had planted a fragment of her soul inside Mia.

A silent leash.

As long as she willed it, Mia could be turned into nothing more than a puppet under her control.

That had been her ultimate insurance, her trump card, something she had saved for the perfect moment.

Yet now... as she stood there, staring at Ivy, her brows furrowed deeply.

"You’re truly heartless."

Ivy let out a soft chuckle.

"I’m not heartless," she replied, her gaze steady. "I’m just smart enough to know what’s worth it... and what isn’t."

Ariana’s eyes sharpened as she tilted her head slightly, studying Ivy as if trying to peel apart her thoughts. "So you’re willing to sacrifice her?" she asked coldly.

Before Ivy could respond, Ava stepped forward, crossing her arms.

"You’re overestimating things," she said bluntly. "We’re not that close. If Mia dies, we’ll just move on."

The words hung heavily in the cave.

Ariana narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line as she closed them briefly, focusing inward.

She reached out with her consciousness, attempting to grasp the fragment of her soul within Mia... but there was nothing.

It was as if an invisible wall had been erected, completely severing her control.

Her eyes snapped open, glaring sharply at Ivy. "You’re... clever."

Ivy gave a small nod, accepting the remark without pride or modesty.

Before Ariana could say anything further... Ferrero suddenly stiffened.

His hand shot up to his throat, fingers clawing at his neck as his breathing turned erratic.

His eyes widened in shock, his body trembling violently as if something inside him was collapsing.