The Undead and Unstoppable Apocalyptic Queen novel Chapter 701

**TITLE: Kept Woman 701**
**Chapter 701 You Started It**

The world outside had become a treacherous expanse where safety was an illusion. The reality was stark: if Theresa managed to conceal a group of survivors several thousand meters beneath the surface, they might endure for six months, perhaps a bit longer. But the air they breathed was a ticking clock, and the insidious virus unleashed by the Starborn Order seeped into every crevice, every crack, relentlessly hunting them down. There was no escape, no sanctuary left. In this grim tableau, Theresa’s fate was sealed—she was as good as dead, along with everyone else.

He remained silent, his gaze drawn to the fresh insignia gleaming on his chest, a pristine SS Rank badge that caught the light. Theresa’s eyes flickered over it, a mix of admiration and something else—perhaps curiosity. “You got a promotion,” she remarked, a small smile playing on her lips, a fleeting moment of warmth in the chilling atmosphere.

“Thanks to you,” Sage replied, lifting the badge slightly, allowing it to catch the light more fully. “You’re the reason I’ve been able to climb the ranks. Now, I’m one of the Decision Makers in the Starborn Order.”

He recalled the days at the Production Company, where Theresa had decisively eliminated all three of the managers who had stood in his way. The manager of Workshop 1 had fallen in disgrace, while Workshop 3’s manager met a similar fate at her hands. As for the manager of Workshop 2, his downfall was even more tragic—his shipment had been incinerated by Theresa’s ruthless tactics. A perfectionist by nature, the weight of the pressure had crushed him, leading him to take his own life.

Sage had seized that opportunity, riding the momentum of his achievements straight to the office of the general manager. Just days ago, fortune smiled upon him again when Theresa had taken out Decision Maker 3, leaving a vacancy that he was quick to fill.

Theresa regarded him with that same easy smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Then, you owe me a meal.”

Her words struck him like a blow, reverberating in the silence between them.

The gentle demeanor he had worn moments before shifted, tightening into something heavier. Frustration bubbled to the surface, and he snapped, “Theresa, what on earth were you thinking coming here? Do you have any clue that you walked straight into a death trap? Why would you choose to provoke the Starborn Order?”

Without missing a beat, she shot back, “Because you started it.”

Sage froze, the weight of her words sinking in.

Yes, it was indeed him. He should have felt no anger. Between them, it was all a game of strategy and betrayal, where the winners took everything and the losers were left with nothing. No one was meant to show weakness, especially not now that he had emerged victorious. Yet, he found himself grappling with a gnawing frustration, a feeling that lingered even in his triumph. It was as if he resented Theresa for never giving him even an inch, for the way their rivalry had escalated to this point.

If only she had allowed him a single victory, if she had just softened her approach, perhaps he wouldn’t be caught in this web of revenge. From the very beginning, she had genuinely wanted to assist him. But why couldn’t she have eased up a little, offered him the chance to win just once?

“Hey, you’re not having second thoughts, are you?” Theresa’s voice sliced through his thoughts, her gaze sharp and unwavering. “It’s not too late to switch sides. Join us—the humans fighting for light and justice. Help me dismantle the Starborn Order, and I’ll still consider you human.”

Sage raised his chin, a smirk curling his lips, thick with disdain.

“You’re not seriously considering becoming one of those mindless zombies, are you? Brainwashed by the Starborn Order?” Theresa pressed, her tone incredulous.

“What’s so terrible about being a zombie?” Sage replied casually, as if they were merely old friends sharing a drink, sliding into the seat across from her with an air of nonchalance. “Being human is exhausting. All the scheming, the endless calculations—it’s a burden. Might as well embrace the simplicity of being a zombie.”

“Don’t you have parents?” Theresa asked, only to remember his past, the void he had shared with her. “Oh, right. You don’t have a mom or dad, do you?”

Sage’s silence was a heavy weight in the air.

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