Wasteland: I Awakened A Plant System - Chapter 83: Zombie Leader

Chapter 83: Zombie Leader

Chandan stepped forward immediately. There was no need for further explanation. Following the position Vikram had subtly indicated earlier, he placed his hand against a specific point on the wall.

Then, he pressed on it.

A dull mechanical sound echoed from within the wall.

“Rumble—”

The moment the mechanism was triggered, the entire ruin began to tremble. The tungsten steel wall in front of Vikram shook violently, far more intensely than the surrounding structure.

Then with a heavy mechanical sound the wall sank inward.

Slowly… it split open from both sides. A dark, narrow passage was revealed.

Inside was cold, silent and completely lightless. The scene was almost identical to the hidden path in the Wolf Spirit Ruins.

Vikram stared into the darkness for a moment, then asked calmly, “So this is where we go next?”

“Yes, Boss,” Alex and Chandan replied immediately, nodding.

Vikram gave a slight nod, then turned his head toward Sunil.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Do you want to go first?”

The moment those words fell, Sunil collapsed.

“Boss Vikram, I’m sorry… I apologize… Please let me go. I don’t want anything from this place. Just don’t make me go in…”

Sunil was no longer the same confident trader Vikram had first met. He had collapsed to his knees, his body trembling uncontrollably, his face pale, his eyes filled with pure fear. There was no calculation left in him—only the instinct to survive.

“Roar—”

Vikram was still wondering what kind of monster could make Sunil kneel and beg like that, while Alex stood firm in his belief in him, when a ferocious roar erupted from the passage.

The sound was violent and heavy.

It struck directly at the eardrums, making even Vikram feel a slight pressure.

In an instant, he was reminded of the Wolf Spirit Lord.

His gaze snapped back toward the pitch-black passage.

“Bang—bang—bang—”

The sound of metal being struck echoed continuously.

Something was approaching them, it was fast and powerful.

“No… close it! Close it quickly!” Sunil shouted, still kneeling, his face pale and drenched in tears. “If that monster comes out, you’ll all die!”

“Boss, don’t worry about him,” Alex said firmly, his eyes steady. “If we hadn’t met you, maybe this would be impossible… but not now.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?!” Sunil snapped back, his voice shaking. “It’s pitch black inside! Fighting an unknown monster in there is suicide!”

Vikram didn’t argue.

Instead, he asked calmly, “Where is the widest place in this building? Take me there.”

Sunil froze.

“You… you’re still thinking of fighting it?” His voice cracked. “Close the passage first, and I’ll tell you…”

But before he could finish—

“Boss, follow me,” Alex said decisively.

He turned and ran back toward the office area without hesitation. The others immediately followed.

Vikram moved as well.

“This place is too narrow,” he said calmly while moving. “If that thing comes out, we need space.”

As soon as they stepped back into the office area, the roar came from behind once more.

It felt closer, heavier and louder.

Everyone instinctively covered their mouths, not daring to make even the slightest sound.

Then, Vikram turned and looked toward the passage. From within the darkness, something moved.

“BOOM!!”

A massive impact echoed as a heavy figure slammed into the ground, the sound reverberating through the entire ruin.

The monster released from the mechanism did not stop just because they had gone silent. A deafening bang echoed from the entrance of the office area.

“Hoo—”

A low, suffocating growl followed.

Vikram slowly turned his head. The moment he saw it, his pupils shrank. At the entrance stood a massive Zombie.

It was at least two and a half meters tall, its body grotesquely disproportionate. Its hollow, decayed eyes moved left and right, scanning the surroundings as if searching for prey.

Behind it, the office entrance had been completely deformed.

The narrow doorway that once allowed only a single person to pass had been forcefully widened, bent outward by sheer impact.

Clearly, that earlier explosion of sound was breaking through. The creature’s appearance was far more disturbing than any zombie before.

Its head was wrapped in layers of yellowish-black bandages, tightly wound as if to conceal something beneath. No expression could be seen, only thick folds of fat forming unnatural wrinkles across its face.

Its upper body was bare, but unlike normal zombies, there was no exposed rotten flesh.

Instead, its skin was pale, bloated, and unnaturally smooth, like swollen meat.

From its body, a greasy, yellow-white substance slowly oozed out, glistening under the dim light.

Its lower body, in contrast, was short and stubby, completely mismatched with its enormous upper half. It looked almost ridiculous, yet terrifying.

But none of that was the real threat. In its right hand, it held a weapon. A massive hammer.

The hammerhead, made of a dense metal resembling tungsten steel, was even larger than a basketball. The handle, forged from an unknown alloy, was slightly bent under the weight but showed no signs of breaking.

Rebar twisted around the joint, binding the weapon together crudely yet effectively.

In the hands of that monster, it looked like a weapon meant to crush everything.

Vikram’s expression turned serious as the system information appeared.

[Zombie Leader: Violet Gold. The strongest entity in the Zombie Ruin. Possesses overwhelming strength compared to other zombies. Special Ability: Corpse Call—can summon nearby zombies to fight alongside it. Vision normal, hearing weakened. Weakness: Brain.]

[Tungsten Steel Great Hammer: Violet, the Zombie Leader’s weapon. A weapon formed from tungsten steel and manganese-silicon alloy. Possesses extreme destructive power.]

“Hiss…”

Vikram slowly drew in a breath, his gaze fixed firmly on the towering Zombie Leader.

“This thing is stronger than the Wolf Spirit Lord… and it’s even holding an Epic-grade weapon.”

Now everything made sense. Sunil’s fear. His desperation. His refusal to go deeper.

“This isn’t normal at all…”

Vikram’s eyes moved from the grotesque body to the massive hammer in its hand. The sheer size of that weapon alone was enough to make anyone hesitate.

“The zombie is about two and a half meters tall. With its arm span and that hammer… its attack range is at least four to five meters.”

A single swing could cover a massive area.

“System, show me its stats.”

[Ding, Zombie Leader Stats: Strength 62, Speed 35, Stamina 40, Reaction 40]

Vikram’s expression grew serious.

“Strength sixty-two…”

That alone was overwhelming. But then he quickly analyzed the rest. “Speed thirty-five… slower than me.”

He immediately opened his own panel.

Host: Vikram

Strength 46

Speed 46

Stamina 48

Reaction 47

A faint smile appeared.

“My stats are balanced… except for strength, I’m ahead in everything.”

Then his expression sharpened again. “No, this isn’t the time for narcissism. This monster isn’t unbeatable… there’s a chance.”

His mind began working rapidly, forming a battle plan.

The Zombie Leader’s strength was terrifying, but its size and weight limited its speed. That meant it relied heavily on wide, powerful swings. If he could avoid direct hits and control its movement, the advantage would shift.

His eyes moved toward the Sprout Team.

This fight was never meant to be one-on-one.

Vikram’s mind quickly settled into clarity as he finalized the plan.

First, the Guardian Sprout would take the front. Not to defeat the monster, but to hold it. Its role was to block the initial impact, absorb the force of the hammer, and most importantly—use its vines to slow the Zombie Leader’s movement. Even if it couldn’t completely stop those devastating swings, reducing their power and controlling its position would already shift the battle in their favor.

Then came the Warrior Sprout.

It would be the main attacker. It would wait for openings created by the Guardian Sprout and strike at weak points. Joints, neck, limbs—anywhere that could destabilize the monster. Every strike had to matter.

The Archer Sprouts would maintain constant pressure from a distance. Their role wasn’t just damage, but disruption. Targeting the head, the eyes, the face—forcing the Zombie Leader to react, to hesitate, to lose focus.

The Fire Mage Sprout would be the turning point. That bloated, greasy body was practically fuel. Once ignited, the damage wouldn’t just be immediate—it would continue burning, weakening the monster over time.

The Water Mage Sprout would assist in control. Slowing its movements, affecting its footing, making it harder for the Zombie Leader to swing freely or maintain balance.

The Light Mage Sprout would remain the safety net. Any injury, any infection—instantly purified and healed.

And the Healer Sprout would continuously support everyone, ensuring endurance remained high throughout the fight.

Finally Vikram tightened his grip on the M416.

He wouldn’t rush in. He wouldn’t waste bullets. He would control the battle.

He was going to command, and only when it required, he would fire.

His gaze locked onto the Zombie Leader.

Everything was ready.

Now, it was time to begin.

Vikram didn’t rush forward. Instead, he calmly raised his hand.

“Alex, Chandan—fall back. Gather everyone behind. No one interferes unless I say so.”

His voice was steady, leaving no room for doubt.

Alex didn’t hesitate even for a second. “Yes, Boss!”

He immediately pulled the others back, signaling them to retreat and form distance. Chandan followed quickly, dragging along the hesitant Survivors, even pulling Sunil up from the ground.

Within seconds, the entire group moved away from the center, clearing the battlefield.

Only Vikram, and the Sprout Team remained at the front.

Then, Vikram gave a slight signal. No shouting. No unnecessary movement.

Yet instantly, the Sprout Team responded.

The Guardian Sprout stepped forward, positioning itself directly between Vikram and the Zombie Leader, shield raised, vines subtly spreading across the ground.

The Warrior Sprout moved slightly to the side, blade lowered, body angled—ready to strike at any opening.

The two Archer Sprouts split apart, taking elevated positions on broken desks and metal structures, bows already drawn.

The Fire Mage Sprout and Water Mage Sprout positioned themselves at opposite flanks, creating a controlled zone.

The Light Mage Sprout and Healer Sprout remained slightly behind, glowing faintly, ready to support at any moment.

All of it happened in silence, yet with perfect synchronization. Not a single movement was wasted, not a single command needed to be repeated. It was as if they had trained together for years, every unit knowing exactly where to stand, when to move, and what role to play.

Behind them, Alex, Chandan, and the others stood frozen. Their eyes widened, their breathing slowed, and even Sunil, who had been trembling in fear just moments ago, forgot to panic. They had seen strength before, they had seen killing before, but this… this was something entirely different.

This wasn’t chaotic survival or desperate fighting. This was coordination—cold, precise, and disciplined. It felt less like a group of living beings and more like a perfectly organized army executing a battle formation.

Every position was calculated, every role clearly defined, every movement seamless. No one spoke, not because they were told to remain silent, but because they simply didn’t know what to say. There were no words that could properly describe what they were witnessing.

Only one thought remained in their minds—this was not something normal humans could achieve.

At the center of it all, Vikram stood calmly, his posture relaxed yet firm. His eyes were locked onto the Zombie Leader, observing every slight movement, every twitch of its massive body. His finger rested lightly on the trigger of the M416, not rushing, not panicking, simply waiting.

And at that moment, something had changed.

For the first time since its appearance, the monstrous Zombie Leader was no longer the dominant presence in the room.

It had met something far more dangerous than itself.