Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night
Chapter 214: A Race Against Time

Made from the crafting materials of the grim forge, the small city that had been formed not out of the ruins of the old world, but was instead built entirely new within the secluded and defensible region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The fields of Elysium were perhaps the only thriving "metropolis" within the world, or at the very least within the borders of what had once been the United States of America.

Run by the so-called Goddess of Humanity, Elysium had the benefactor of a great healer, similar in a way to Angelica. However, her healing abilities were slightly different than Angelica, and because of this she could not cure the plague of death itself. Only wounds to the body.

This meant that the Fields of Elysium were protected by a powerful minority of awakened cultists, while the rest of the survivors lived in relative peace and prosperity within the mountain stronghold.

It was because the Fields of Elysium were located within the Sierra Nevada Mountains that their missionaries were able to so quickly traverse between the ruins of California, and the survivor communities spread across Northern Nevada.

As Gravestone itself was on the eastern side of this mountain range. Currently, the Goddess was strolling through the streets of Elysium. Her most faithful worshippers protected her as she mingled with the common folk.

There were of course visitors from other settlements that had come to trade with the Elysian people, but for the most part those who walked the streets of the crowded mountain city, wore the signature Greco-Romanesque style of apparel that displayed their status as a member of the cult.

Of course, among the Goddess's entourage was her personal aide, whose appearance was hidden by her signature white shawl. Yet her pristine jade like skin was on display from the shoulder down.

The Aide looked around, though one would not be able to see it due to how well hidden her eyes were. Clearly observing the local population as they walked about, and intermingled with one another.

Though she did not say a word, the Goddess looked over to her, almost as if she had, and was quick to speak her mind.

"Are you certain? No, I don't doubt your ability to gather intelligence. It just seems… Alright, if she is okay with it, then I have no problem proceeding with the plan. So, Lake Tahoe, huh? I'm not going to lie. It is indeed a good area to set up an outpost.

If you really think about it, then retaking control over the region's foremost fresh water supply would most certainly be a major force of influence for Elysium. But are you certain that we will be capable of dealing with the local Horde King without retaliation from the others?"

The woman in the white shawl silently nodded her head, and yet despite not saying anything, the goddess responded as if she had.

"Well, if I have your assurances about this, then I suppose there is nothing left in the way of beginning the operation. Should I go speak with my generals now? Or is there anything else that you need to report to me?"

Once more, utter silence existed between the two women, but after some time had passed, the Goddess nodded her head and smiled while she spoke her thoughts aloud. It was not a smile befitting of a woman with such a divine title. Rather, it was a sadistic and mischievous smirk more suited towards the devil.

"Really now? You say that your agents have encountered the scouts of Gravestone in the area? Well, this is interesting isn't it? I mean, then again it is not really all that surprising. They have built their settlement upon the ruins of Carson City, and Carson is much closer to Tahoe than we are. I suppose now it's a race against time to see who will seize the area first, huh?

Still, I will never allow those heretics to hold such a valuable resource! If that were to happen, then there is no doubt that many of my followers' faith in me will be shaken. In the worst-case scenario, many of them may become apostates and turn to that filthy pretender! And I will be damned if she steals my adherents from me!"

Despite being the goddess's aide, the woman in the white shawl could only silently shake her head at the sheer pettiness which her boss displayed on a daily basis. Nevertheless, the plans were now officially in motion.

The Crusaders of Elysium would be marching into the Tahoe area to slay the undead population and reclaim the lake for humanity. While at the same time, Zane was making moves of his own towards a similar end.

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While the Elysians were preparing to invade Tahoe and seize its vast fresh water supplies for themselves. Zane had received intel from his scouts regarding the location of another Tier I Horde King. Which just so happened to be in the same location.

If the Crusaders of Elysium were a mighty force of paladin and priestly archetypes. Then the residents of Gravestone were more among the rogue and hunter variety. Their strike teams were far less organized than those which the Elysians employed.

In fact, they did not stand to gain much from organized battles. Rather, their strike teams were focused on tracking, scouting, assassination, espionage, and ambushing tactics. They hit the undead where it hurt and ran before a proper response could be mustered.

Zane's party was naturally the sole exception to this rule. As he could command a horde of undead on his own, his tactics were designed to force the Undead into a long and drawn out battle, where he and the girls could focus their attention on the Horde King itself. Cut off the head of the snake, so to speak.

This could be accomplished simply because the Undead in Zane's group were no longer mindless Walkers, or even the barely intelligent Howlers. No, he had a horde full of highly intelligent Ghouls. Which were indeed a variety of undead that were fully capable of fulfilling orders, and acting on Zane's behalf without the need for him to perfectly micro manage everything they did.

It was because of this that Zane was the spearhead of Gravestone's operations. Whereas the other parties operated as little more than assassins, saboteurs, scouts, and guerillas. Hence why he simply needed to issue the order to track down another Tier I Horde King, and wait for a response.

And that is exactly what his scouts had done. Because of this, he was looking at a written report about the location, and estimated the strength of a Tier I Horde King from a nearby area called Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe was a valuable source of fresh water, one that had yet to be reclaimed by humanity. And because of this, Zane had always wanted to stake out an expedition and claim the relatively secluded area for himself.

Especially since it was less than an hour away from Gravestone. There was just one problem with this plan. According to his scouts, emissaries of Elysium had recently begun surveying the area. As if preparing to battle the local Horde King and seize the lake for themselves.

Knowing this, Zane could not very well allow their plan to come to fruition, and because of that he instantly gave an order to the scout which brought him these reports.

"Prepare the town's strike teams for battle. We are seizing Tahoe before the Elysians can! We must take that lake no matter how high the casualties may be! If we fail to achieve this aim, our access to fresh water may very well be cut off entirely! And I will be damned before that happens..."

Whether or not the Elysian Crusaders and the Army of Gravestone would come to blows over Lake Tahoe had yet to be seen. At the very least, it was expected that whoever seized the town first would have a better claim to the area should negotiations occur.