Investing in My Harem in the Apocalypse Makes Me Stronger

Cain’s vision distorted as he spun through the air before crashing onto the road.

Before he could fully recover, the Zombie King appeared above him.

Flesh Armament spread across its right arm until hardened tissue almost reached the shoulder.

The fist then descended.

Cain immediately rolled aside.

BOOM!

The pavement collapsed where he had been lying moments earlier. Fragments of stone struck his back as Cain pushed himself upright and quickly retreated before another attack could reach him.

The Zombie King followed with another violent burst of speed.

Cain narrowed his eyes when he noticed that the creature had suddenly become stronger again.

However, he knew better than to believe it had somehow recovered.

It was actually quite the opposite.

The Zombie King was burning through the remaining energy inside Bottomless Furnace at a much faster rate.

’Trying to finish me before you run out of energy?’

Cain raised the flat side of his sword.

The next punch struck the blade with tremendous force.

Bang!

The impact nearly tore the weapon from his hand, while his wrist fractured from the pressure traveling through it.

Cain stepped backward.

Another fist immediately followed.

He avoided the first strike, but the second smashed directly into his ribs.

Crack!

Pain spread throughout his entire side as several bones fractured at once.

Cain gritted his teeth and answered with a slash across the Zombie King’s chest before immediately creating distance.

His breathing had become noticeably rougher.

The fight had reached the point where every additional minute became more dangerous.

He could still continue as the Undying God Body would keep repairing him for as long as sufficient energy remained, while Ruin Dragon Force could still be pushed even harder if necessary.

But continuing now would be reckless.

Cain had never planned to defeat the Zombie King by mindlessly fighting until one of them collapsed first.

His eyes shifted toward the distant road.

”RON!”

A figure immediately appeared ahead as Ron had been waiting the entire time.

Cain looked back toward the Zombie King and poured another burst of Ruin energy into his sword before swinging it across the creature’s body.

The Zombie King raised its reinforced arm to block.

Bang!

The impact still forced it backward half a step.

However, that was more than enough.

”Let’s do it again!”

Ron arrived beside him.

Cain immediately jumped onto his back without needing to explain anything.

This time, Ron did not complain either.

Wind Mana exploded beneath his feet as he accelerated away from the battlefield, carrying Cain with him for the second time.

Behind them, the Zombie King released an enraged roar before immediately chasing after them.

Ron pushed his speed higher.

Unlike before, he did not waste his breath complaining right away. His expression was strained as he focused entirely on running, while the muscles throughout both legs had already begun aching from the previous escape.

Cain placed one hand against his shoulder.

Pale green light gathered around his palm before Greater Restoration entered Ron’s body.

The accumulated damage throughout his legs gradually eased, allowing Ron to maintain his speed without completely tearing apart the muscles he had already pushed beyond their normal limits.

Ron immediately released a satisfied breath.

”That feels fucking good.”

”Pause!”

Cain made a weird look as he continued, ”That sounds wrong.”

”Huh?” Ron raised an eyebrow before quickly realizing what Cain meant. ”Fuck, why would you even think about it like that? I’m obviously talking about being healed.”

”I know, but I’m literally riding on your back and you said it with that expression.” Cain shook his head. ”If there were people around, they might think something was wrong with us.”

”...”

Ron became silent.

So did Cain.

Cough!

For several seconds, only the sound of their footsteps and the Zombie King destroying another obstacle behind them could be heard.

”Let’s not talk about it again.” Ron coughed once awkwardly and shifted the topic.

”You’re right.”

Subsequently Ron increased his speed again.

The Zombie King continued pursuing them through another section of the city, smashing through abandoned vehicles and anything else that obstructed its path instead of slowing down to go around them.

Cain watched it from over Ron’s shoulder.

Something had changed.

The distance between them was gradually increasing.

During their first retreat, Ron had been forced to maintain nearly his maximum speed just to prevent the Zombie King from catching them.

Now, Ron was already exhausted from doing this once before, yet the creature was having even more difficulty keeping up.

Cain’s lips curved upward.

’Got you.’

His plan was working exactly as he had hoped.

They continued running long enough for Cain’s condition to improve considerably.

Most of his broken bones had already repaired themselves, while the more severe internal injuries were no longer affecting his movements.

His Mana remained the greatest problem.

Undying God Body could repair physical damage at an absurd speed, but Mana could not simply appear from nothing.

Every serious injury had consumed part of his reserves.

Maintaining his (Ruin Dragon Force) skill at such a high output had drained even more.

Cain stopped using Greater Restoration once Ron’s legs had stabilized enough to continue without immediate danger.

He needed to preserve as much Mana as possible for what should be the final confrontation.

Several minutes later, Cain tapped Ron’s shoulder.

”Enough.”

Ron slowed slightly.

”You sure?”

”Yes.” Cain nodded.

”You said that last time too.”

”And I’m still alive, aren’t I?”

”You being alive isn’t the only thing that matters!”

Cain ignored him and jumped down.

His feet struck the pavement before sliding slightly.

He then turned toward the approaching Zombie King, while Ron continued farther down the road and created some distance between them.

Cain immediately noticed the creature’s condition.

Flesh Armament no longer covered either of its hands as its normal gray fingers were exposed and several wounds across its body had stopped regenerating completely.

One arm hung slightly lower than the other, while the injuries contaminated by Ruin energy remained dark and partially open.

Cain raised his sword.

The Zombie King suddenly stopped several meters away.

For the first time since their battle began, it did not immediately attack.

Both of them simply stared at each other.

Cain’s clothes had been almost completely destroyed around his upper body. Blood covered his face and arms, while several wounds beneath his torn shirt were still slowly closing.

The Zombie King looked no better as its previously normal-looking body had become covered in deep cuts and dark patches of deteriorating flesh.

Ruin energy remained around several injuries, while chunks of flesh were missing from one forearm.

Cain smiled faintly.

”You finally understand?”

A low growl escaped the Zombie King’s throat.

Cain stepped forward.

This time, he attacked first.

The Zombie King raised its arm as Energy Reinforcement immediately began gathering around the limb.

However, it was too slow.

Shhk!

Cain’s sword entered the forearm before the reinforcement could fully stabilize.

The blade cut nearly halfway through the flesh.

The Zombie King immediately pulled away and responded with a punch.

Cain raised his left arm.

Bang!

Pain spread through the limb as the bone cracked beneath the impact.

However, it did not completely break like before.

Cain’s eyes immediately sharpened.

At the beginning of the battle, that same punch would have shattered his entire arm.

The difference between them had finally narrowed enough.