Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

To say that Evilyn had suddenly seen the light and become a true believer would be a major understatement. If it were at all possible for a ghost to fall to their knees repent, then that was exactly what Evilyn had done, with wide and bloodshot eyes.

From Zane's perspective, who had not heard the voice of his mother when he raised Gwen from her third death, it was as if Evilyn had suddenly lost her mind. Which was further enhanced by her incoherent rambling, and the tears flooding from her crazed eyes.

"Mother… It can't be… It's all religious nonsense… But… She can't be…. She just can't be…. Mother, I'm sorry!"

Zane was shocked that he has so quickly converted the ghostly Horde King, but this was confirmed by the system which sent him a message after Evilyn's thoughts began to restore and she herself verbally swore to follow her mother's will from now on.

---

[Quest Completed!]

[Rewards:

+100,000 XP

New Character Skin: Death's Heir

New Title: Death's Heir]

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Immediately, Zane was attracted to the character skin, which was a brand new feature which he had just unlocked by completing his first quest. It was with this in mind that he completely ignored Evilyn's mental breakdown, and instead entered his inventory where he saw the character skin.

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[Character Skin: Death's Heir]

[Description: As Death's only true child, your appearance should naturally fit the role. By applying this character skin, you are embracing your heritage and forsaking the last remnant of your humanity once and for all]

[Duration: Permanent]

[Note: Once Applied this character skin cannot be removed or swapped out]

[Apply: Y/N?]

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Zane stared at the character skin for a long time. His appearance would permanently change to properly match that of his mothers? What did that even mean? Luckily for him, there was even a preview feature built in, which Zane quickly looked at.

When gazed upon the new form he would have if he applied the character skin he was shocked at how minor the changes were. His physical features, no doubt due to his skill Dead Man Walking had already made him about as attractive as humanly possible.

But this skin would fundamentally change his hair, eye, and skin color. He would truly be as pale as a ghost. While his dark abyssal eyes would become a vibrant sanguine. As for his ink black hair, half of it would remain the same color, while the other half would shift to a pure white.

In other words, he would truly look like his mother. Zane did not hesitate. He was never all that attached to his appearance, as it was quite bland. In fact, it had already changed substantially since before the apocalypse began where he was a lean and lanky adolescent with a particularly average face.

What was one more change, since his looks had already been permanently transformed anyway? With a single thought, the change was applied, and Zane transformed in front of Gwen and Evilyn's very eyes.

The moment Gwen gazed upon Zane's new appearance she dropped to her knees and performed the sign of the cross. Before ultimately kneeling her head into the dirt as if she were unworthy of looking upon the true heir of death.

Her voice was filled with astonishment as she sung praises to Zane.

"I am unworthy to gaze upon you my Prince… Please…. accept my apologies. I know now in my heart that you are truly your mother's son…."

Gwen had shifted the way she referred to Zane and Death herself upon seeing the physical transformation that Zane had suddenly undergone. Something that Zane would not abide, as he did not feel like suffering through being some kind of messiah to the Horde Kings.

"It's fine Gwen, you can continue to speak to me as you always have… There is no need for such gestures…"

Gwen's back raised, but she averted her gaze from Zane. Perhaps it was because she was undead herself, but his newfound appearance was much more appealing to her than Zane had previously been. She could not even gaze upon Zane's face without feeling some form of embarrassment. And because of that she blushed and shifted her head to the side.

As for Evilyn, she was thoroughly convinced Zane was Death's son and heir, and crawled towards him with her pressed firmly against the ground, all the while begging Zane to save her from her mother's apparent wrath.

"Za- No… My Prince… I'm so sorry, I was blind! I didn't know... But now I do. Please spare this ungrateful servant!"

The sudden shift in the Ghost's personality was something that Zane couldn't understand. But in the miasma that came from Zane's hand as he resurrected Gwen for the second time. Death's voice spoke to Evilyn, and she was pissed that the ghostly beauty had dared to threaten her son.

Because of this, Evilyn was now a trying desperately to curry favor with Zane. Because only he could convince his mother to let her off the hook for her arrogance.

This all worked out in Zane's favor as he needed Evilyn to let her pass, and with his increased intellect he quickly caught on that his mother must have done something to help him behind the scenes. So he naturally played the part.

"Oh? You want forgiveness after so boldly threatening me? Death's one and only heir? I think an eternity in the void would be far too merciful for the likes of you!"

Evilyn was a ghost with no physical form, and even she felt a chill go down her spine when she heard Zane say this. She even screeched out loud. She was so terrified by the possibility. But before she could thoroughly beg, Zane's lips curled into a sneer where he expressed his conditions for forgiveness.

"If you want to earn my mother's forgiveness then you just need to do as you promised. First let me and Gwen continue our journey southward without harassment. Second, do not tell a word of our whereabouts to any of your siblings.

As far as anyone else is concerned you never saw us here. And third, do everything you can to actively hamper the investigation into my location and destination. Do these three things for me, and I promise you my mother will be very forgiving."

Evilyn behaved as if she had suddenly been given a bit of rope to hold on to as she was crashing over Niagra Falls. She naturally grabbed onto the opportunity given to him and swore to be ever loyal to Zane and his mother.

"Yes! Yes, of course! I will do everything in my power to repent for my sins! I am truly sorry for my actions. Please, go, I will not breathe a word of what happened here today to anyone!"

Zane nodded his head and silently motioned for Gwen to rise to her feet. Where she scurried after Zane, maintaining a respectful distance as if she were a schoolgirl chasing after her crush. She would not say another word to Zane until they reached their destination, nor would she meet his gaze directly.

Instead, occasionally casting her glance upon his back just long enough to avoid Zane's attempts to look at her.

---

Maya was snacking on a bag of chips while alone in the bunker. The girls had gone out for the day to continue in their efforts to level up. No doubt their resolve to get stronger had become thoroughly reinforced by Zane's departure.

Though they weren't putting themselves in any deliberate danger, they were dealing a serious degree of damage to Bartholomew's horde. As for Maya herself, she smiled and nodded her head the moment after Evilyn swore her loyalty to Zane.

She was now an excellent spy, and a saboteur for Zane to make use of, and Maya could not be any happier. Of course, what she was really happy about was that Zane had applied the character skin. It meant that he had thoroughly given up on his human half and embraced his role as her beloved son.

Because of this, there was a bit of blush on the girl's face when she saw what Zane now looked like. Going so far to make a shameless comment about her own beauty.

"Zane truly is mommy's baby boy… So stunning, so elegant, just like his mother!"

When Maya realized what she had said, she quickly shook her head, snapping herself back to reality. She couldn't help but feel embarrassed by her own words just now and decided to distract herself by jumping off her seat and running towards the fridge to get another cup of milk.

It was while she was reaching for the refrigerator's handle that she heard the entrance of the bunker open, and the voices of the pesky flies which orbited around Zane as they gushed on about how close they were to another level up.

Maya couldn't help but frown and mutter her thoughts beneath her breath as she sat back down in her seat, recomposing herself and her normal expressionless appearance immediately thereafter.

"Little harlots…"

After saying this, the girls entered the mess hall where Maya was seated and immediately greeted her like they always did.

"Maya, were you a good girl while we were gone?"

Maya sighed internally as she nodded her head silently with an adorable façade. Without Zane to keep her company this act which she played so perfectly had become utterly dreadful. But it was an act she was forced to continue. She had after all made a promise to Zane to look after the others, and Death would never break a promise she had made to her son.