Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night
Chapter 256: Retracing One's Steps Part II

The journey to Tahoe felt longer than it should have been. It was only about a 20 minute power walk considering Zane's current superhuman speed. But Gwen simply would not shut up the entire time they walked. Doing everything she could to endear herself to her "big brother."

As for the other two Horde Kings who were now in Zane's service, they remained utterly silent as they observed the strange phenomenon with a look of disgust on their faces. Even though Zane could have compelled Gwen to silence herself with a simple command. He decided to subject him to the torment of listening to her speak.

Whether as an act of penance in regards to his self perceived sins. Or simply because it was better than being left alone with his thoughts at this very moment. Only Zane really knew. But eventually he returned to Lake Tahoe.

Once more, memories of him and his lovers fighting a battle against not only the undead, but the forces of Elysium immediately flooded his mind. Forcing him to stop in his tracks just steps away from where Olivia had called down the thunder from the heavens to turn Darren into a pile of ash.

Even Zane was skeptical of his ability to resurrect the man, considering all the remained of him was a blast mark on the sidewalk. But Zane ultimately gave it a shot, raising his hand and uttering the command which would stir the dead from his slumber.

"Rise…."

And sure enough, the black mist formed from the palm of Zane's hand, falling upon the scorched earth where Darren had been slain, and in doing so, resurrecting the man's fully intact and unblemished body.

He, too, like his siblings knelt in disbelief as he found himself once more in the real world, rather than the endless void that one would replace themselves upon their demise. He wanted to look up to see who had brought him back to this realm, but in the end his voice was forced to speak without his consent.

"How may I serve you, my prince?"

By now, Zane had been through this process enough that he was quite honestly impatient with the process. He said nothing as he observed Darren's stats, which were quite a bit higher than that of Eliza and Zander, but still paled to compare to that of Gwen's.

---

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[Undead Servant]

[Darren]

[Rank: Horde King Tier I]

[Level: 30]

[HP: 1,500]

[Attributes]

[Strength: 23]

[Dexterity: 25]

[Constitution: 23]

[Intelligence: 23]

[Wisdom: 25]

[Charisma: 23]

---

After observing this, Zane surmised that Darren would probably be best utilized being used as the man in command of his archers. Making a silent mental note of this, Zane then began to walk northward towards Incline Village where he had effortlessly taken Beatrix's head. Giving only one command, like he had done with Zander.

"Follow…"

Darren instinctively stood up and followed the pack. He was just about to try and communicate telepathically with his siblings when Eliza clued him in on what was happening to him.

"Apparently the guy who killed us is mother's son… Like her actual son… He's been given the ability to raise us and command us. We have no choice but to follow. And yes, he can hear us, so think twice before saying something stupid…"

This news was shocking to Darren, but he quickly shut down any thoughts he may have had about complaining. Instead, he followed the small pack of Horde Kings which themselves flocked behind Zane with varying expressions.

Gwen was the only one excitedly chatting up Zane. She was genuinely doing her best to take his mind off of what he was forced to do as a result of his past mistakes.

"See… Things aren't so bad are they? You're not alone, Zane, not like you think you are. I mean you have us, right?"

Zane sighed heavily. It had only been a few moments, but the distance between Tahoe City, and Incline Village had already been passed. He stopped in his tracks in front of Beatrix's corpse. And instead turned his attention to Gwen.

He wasn't an idiot. Zane understood Gwen was trying to take his minds off of the fact that he had been forced to abandon the only real family he ever had. And because of this, he couldn't help but thank her, even if he felt miserable doing so.

"I get it… Alright… You're trying to help me take my mind off things. And I'm thankful. I just… I would prefer it if you left me before the time being. It may not seem like it, but I need some time to think to myself. So, I would appreciate it if you remained quiet for now. This isn't an order, but a personal request, okay?"

Gwen was surprised by this act of respect. At any moment, he could have easily told her to shut the fuck up. And yet he did not. Instead, he personally asked her for some time to himself. It may not seem like it, but to Gwen this was a huge thing. Zane was treating her like a companion, rather than a slave.

Which was more than she could have hoped for.

In fact, the other Horde Kings in the group were baffled by this. If they had been forced beneath the boot of any of their other siblings. They would never have tried to reason with them. They simply would have demanded obedience.

The Horde Kings operated on a level of Social Darwinism never before seen in human society. Sure, they showed respect for one another's territory, especially since humanity was still not wiped out yet.

But given the chance to fully subjugate one another, they would take the chance to do so. Might be right among the Undead. This was why it was so surprising to Eliza and the others that Zane had actually asked nicely, almost as if he was asking for a personal favor from Gwen.

And though Zane didn't realize it, this simple gesture of respect had gone a long way towards making them reconsider their fate as something dreadful. With this said, Gwen forced her friendly smile and nodded her head, responding to Zane's wishes as he desired.

"I'm sorry, you're right… I'll remain silent until you call upon me, big brother…"

After saying this, Gwen took a step back to join her other siblings as Zane focused on Beatrix's corpse. Like so many of her other siblings, she had been beheaded by Zane. And just like the others he had raised from the dead, she too returned to the realm of the living with her body intact and unblemished.

Beatrix found herself kneeling before Zane with a bitter smile on her face. It was just as she had thought right before her second death. Life was truly unfair… However she too was compelled to ask Zane a similar question as her other siblings. Which Zane ignored until after he had seen her stats.

---

[Undead Servant]

[Beatrix]

[Rank: Horde King Tier I]

[Level: 25]

[HP: 1,000]

[Attributes]

[Strength: 20]

[Dexterity: 20]

[Constitution: 25]

[Intelligence: 20]

[Wisdom: 20]

[Charisma: 20]

---

This was rather surprising to Zane. Although Beatrix may look like a sophisticated older woman. And also speak like one. She actually had the stats of a proper tank. Meaning out of all the Horde Kings he had resurrected so far, she was the most ideal to lead the charge of his shield wall.

Once Zane had come to understand this, he turned around and headed towards Truckee. The journey was no longer than any of others that he had made while retracing his steps, but was made entirely in silence.

Zane resurrected Jett in the same way he had done the others. With a simple command to rise from the Grave, the undead middle school boy's body was reconnected and reforged into one without injury or decay.

Like the others, he was confused at first, but knelt before Zane and announced his loyalty with the utmost sincerity even if he had not wanted to do so. Meanwhile, Zane simply ignored him, and gazed at the boy's stats.

---

[Undead Servant]

[Jett]

[Rank: Horde King Tier I]

[Level: 25]

[HP: 1,000]

[Attributes]

[Strength: 20]

[Dexterity: 23]

[Constitution: 22]

[Intelligence: 20]

[Wisdom: 20]

[Charisma: 20]

---

Zane did not have an immediate use for Jett. His army was growing larger with the day, and was even larger than a Roman Legion at this point. With the limited number of Horde Kings beneath his command, he would have to dedicate more thought to how to use them and their skills.

But that was a worry for after he visited Virginia City and resurrected the last of the Horde Kings which he had already slain in his travels.

After a long and silent journey to the old western town. Zane stood at the sight where he had dueled Lawrence. Uttering only a single command to the man, as he had done several of the others.

The journey to Virginia City was a brief one. And Lawrence's body was just as recognizable as it had been during his life. Or I guess you should say, undeath…. Although a bleached skeleton, the skeleton was still wearing the old western Sheriff getup that Lawrence had worn when he fought Zane.

And once more, with a simple command to rise from the dead, Lawrence was reborn just as his siblings had. His head was reconnected to his body, and his skin was restored to a flawless state. He too kneeled before Zane and swore his fealty, while Zane gazed at his stats, which like so many of the others were at the bottom of the barrel.

---

[Undead Servant]

[Lawrence]

[Rank: Horde King Tier I]

[Level: 25]

[HP: 1,000]

[Attributes]

[Strength: 23]

[Dexterity: 20]

[Constitution: 22]

[Intelligence: 20]

[Wisdom: 20]

[Charisma: 20]

---

With Lawrence raised and following Zane. He now had seven Horde Kings beneath his command. Ideally, he could use the best of them as his party members, much in the same way he had used the girls. But there would still be two left over. Which he could dedicate to leading certain units in his Horde.

But such a thing would require more thought on Zane's part. And for the time being they had a long road ahead of them. After all, aside from Bartholomew who was well beyond Zane's capabilities to contend with. Zane had effectively taken out all of the Horde Kings in northwestern Nevada.

And yet, there were a number of small towns, and Tier I Horde Kings from here to Vegas. Which was ultimately the long and lonesome road which Zane had chosen to take on his quest to gain more power.