"Tier 3 zombies…" Ethan let out a breath, eyes still on the corpse at his feet. "Their strength, speed, and durability are all a big leap above Tier 2s. But the worst part? They've started protecting their heads. That makes them way harder to kill."
He glanced over at Chris and Henry. The two of them, with Pumpkin darting between their legs, were steadily cutting down the remaining zombies, using the overturned tables and scattered lab gear for cover. For now, they were holding their own.
Ethan walked over to the Tier 3's body and crouched beside it. He reached into the shattered skull and pulled out the crystal core.
It was noticeably larger than the ones from Tier 2s—dense, glowing faintly with energy. Even without activating True Sight, he could feel the power pulsing inside it.
He wiped it clean on his sleeve, then, without hesitation, popped it into his mouth and swallowed.
A surge of raw energy exploded through his body.
