yournovel Chapter 1200: Hybrid Bon and the Phantom Thief
Chapter 1200: Hybrid Bon and the Phantom Thief
Bon looked at his new sword.
He had commissioned this from Diana’s Workshop and paid a hefty price for it.
"Finally... I can test this out in a real combat." He muttered.
Bon was unlike most survivors. He was rescued from the ruins of Dreadnaught Fortress like Arial, Hazel, and many others.
Right now, that fortress has been reborn as New Genesis Shelter. Still, because of the experimentation done to his body, his head, upper torso, and a few internal organs remained human, but the rest of him was machine...
He had limbs of alloy, joints powered by gears, and a chest protected by synthetic plating. No potion or spell could ever restore him. He had accepted that truth long ago.
Nonetheless, three days after Cinder’s arrival, or the Dragon summoned by Shane, Bon volunteered for a mission.
Apparently, supplies of Light Orbs had dwindled, and the System’s Marketplace prices had skyrocketed. It was now five times higher than before, not even counting the System’s tax.
The shelters needed those orbs to give light to many houses, many street lamps, and certain medical equipment.
Buying them was no longer sustainable. Collecting them directly from Flasher Zombies was the only option.
Bon gathered four Super Soldiers, veterans hardened by countless battles.
Together, they traveled to Rivershade Town, a place half‑ruined and crawling with the undead.
Just like many other shelters, the town smelled of rot and stagnant water, and the streets were littered with collapsed buildings.
"They should be around here... Stay focused." He reminded.
As expected, they found them after some time...
Fourteen Flasher Zombies wandering near the town square. Their bodies were grotesque, with swollen sacs of bioluminescent tissue bulging from their chests.
Bon’s mechanical eyes adjusted instantly, scanning their movements.
He knew the danger... once provoked, these zombies emitted blinding bursts of light, enough to disorient and even burn the retinas of unprotected fighters.
"Shades on," Bon ordered. This was a simple but certainly the best way to deal with the flashers.
Soon, the team slipped on their reinforced sunglasses, designed to block the intense flashes.
The Super Soldiers nodded.
One of them, a burly fighter named Kellan, muttered, "Fourteen of them... that’s more than usual."
Bon nodded and replied, "Doesn’t matter. We need those orbs. Booster potions, now."
Each soldier uncorked a vial of glowing liquid and drank. The potions coursed through their veins, amplifying strength, speed, and reflexes.
Bon didn’t need one... his mechanical body was already enhanced beyond human limits, but he carried one anyway, for the organic parts of him that still required support.
He swallowed it quickly, feeling the rush of energy blend with the hum of his cybernetic systems. As for the Super Soldiers they had five of them!
[ Ironroot Fortifier Effect (10 Minutes): Increases Physical Defense by 45%, reduces impact damage, and fortifies artificial limbs. ]
[ Flux Booster Effect (10 Minutes): Converts excess Spirit Energy into explosive heat. Each melee strike deals 20% Fire-type splash damage. ]
[ Frostveil Elixir Effect (5 Minutes): Passively coats the user’s skin with cryogenic membrane if needed, granting 25% damage reduction from acid, sludge, and mystical attacks. ]
[ Silver Pulse Stimulant Effect (3 Minutes): Doubles movement speed and nerve reaction time. Temporary sensory overload may occur afterward. ]
[ Warmheart Infusion Effect (10 Minutes): Temporarily synchronizes body and spirit energy, granting +40% output to all survivor abilities. ]
As soon as they charged forward, the zombies noticed them.
Their sacs pulsed and their orbs started glowing brighter, preparing to unleash their blinding attack.
"Move!" Bon shouted.
The team charged forward.
The first Flasher erupted in a burst of white light, but the shades held. Bon’s mechanical optics filtered the glare, allowing him to see clearly. He charged, his steel arm smashing into the zombie’s chest!
Bam!
He didn’t use his sword for now as he realized that he could have sliced their orbs in the process. He had to be careful!
Suddenly, their sac burst, spilling glowing fluid across the road!
Ssaaakkk~
The creature shrieked before collapsing to the ground!
"Orb secured!" shouted Maren, one of the soldiers, scooping it up.
Two more Flashers advanced, their bodies glowing like lanterns. Kellan swung his massive blade, cleaving one in half, while another soldier fired a burst from his rifle, piercing the sac of the second.
Both fell and just like that, their orbs clattered onto the ground.
Bon moved swiftly as well. His gears grounded as he dodged a zombie’s claw!
"You’re too slow buddy..."
He then countered with a crushing kick that shattered its spine. In just a few moments, another orb spilled free.
The battle grew chaotic.
Flashes erupted one after another, turning the square into a storm of blinding bursts of light.
Normal humans would have been incapacitated, but the shades and potions kept the soldiers steady.
"Seven down!" Kellan roared.
Bon’s sensors tracked the remaining seven. "Stay sharp. They’re grouping!"
Indeed, the Flashers began clustering and their sacs were glowing in unison.
Bon realized their intent... a combined flash, far stronger than a single burst.
"Cover!" he commanded.
With this level of light, their shades and his filtering tech wouldn’t be enough to stop the lighting from burning their eyes.
They needed to hide quickly!
The soldiers broke formation just as the zombies unleashed a wave of light.
Whom~
Even through the shades, the brilliance was overwhelming. Bon’s optics dimmed automatically, preventing damage, but his organic chest burned with the intensity.
He gritted his teeth, forcing his body forward.
Thankfully, this wouldn’t last for long.
As soon as the light showed sign of weakness, Bon went out and targeted the largest Flasher... the one with its sac glowing like a beacon...
With a forward leap, he landed atop it, driving his steel fist into its chest.
Bam!
The sac ruptured violently, spraying fluid across his armor.
The zombie collapsed, and Bon seized the orb before it hit the ground.
Meanwhile, Maren and Kellan coordinated strikes, cutting down two more.
The last four zombies shrieked with their flashing orb sacs, which lit up erratically.
Bon raised his voice over the chaos. "Finish them! Don’t let them regroup!"
The soldiers surged forward.
Rifles fired, blades swung, and fists smashed their heads!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
One by one, the Flashers fell, and their orbs were harvested.
Finally, silence returned to Rivershade Town. Fourteen corpses lay scattered, their sacs ruptured as their orbs were collected...
Soon, the soldiers gathered the orbs, placing them into special containers.
Kellan wiped sweat from his brow. "Fourteen orbs... that should be half of our quota for the week..."
Bon’s mechanical eyes flickered as he scanned the battlefield.
"That’s true... We’re lucky to find them. Flasher Zombies are pretty rare nowadays..." He muttered.
"I hope we get a replacement on them soon."
"That’s true... Flasher Zombies were being hunted by almost all Shelters for the same reason. If the Vampires or the Dragon Army had similar items, then that would be amazing."
Maren sighed. Finding similar items from those two forces wouldn’t be easy...
At the very least, there was nothing coming into their minds right now.
"At least we didn’t lose anyone. Those flashes could’ve blinded us if not for the shades. Hahaha!"
Bon chuckled as well... "Well, preparation saved us. Remember that."
***
With the Light Orbs secured, Bon knew there was no point lingering in Rivershade Town.
Flasher Zombies wouldn’t spawn again for some time, and waiting here would only waste resources. "We’re done here," he said as he looked around...
"Let’s head back. Kill a few walkers or runners along the way if we see them."
The Super Soldiers nodded, carrying their gear as they prepared to leave.
Then, as they marched out of the ruined town, the streets grew quieter, only the faint groans of distant undead echoing through the air...
But soon, something unexpected stopped them.
Ahead, a group of survivors... fourteen in total, were moving cautiously along the road.
"Hmm?"
They looked weary with their clothes torn, but they just took out a canteen and drank some water before being energized again.
At their front was a man who noticed them first. He soon stepped forward, raising his hand in greeting.
"Yo... Friendly? My name is Niles," he said firmly. "We’re looking for New Genesis Shelter."
Bon was curious.
"Why?
Niles exchanged glances with his companions before answering.
"We’ve heard of its defenses, its walls, and... I mean, its leader. We want to become residents. We can work, fight, whatever is needed. We just want to try... I know many people wanted to be part of the shelter, but it should be fine to try, right?
Bon wasn’t in a position to accept or decline them. He wasn’t a commander, only a soldier. He radioed the situation to an outpost nearby.
The reply came quickly...
Lead them in.
Bon shrugged, turning back to Niles. "Alright. Follow us."
The group’s relief could be seen...
Just like that, they fell in line behind Bon’s squad, and together they made the trek back. It took quite some time since Zombies would appear from time to time...
When they finally arrived at New Genesis Shelter, Niles and his people froze in awe.
The sheer height of the walls was impressive... but what truly shocked them was the two statues flanking the gates... towering stone figures of Shane, Rank 1 Survivor and leader of Eclipse Revenant.
After all, just looking at it for a few seconds already gave them a buff!