Maximo's case was different from what is transpiring now. First, Maximo was battling a zombie with his life on the line. Second, Maximo had pleaded for his help. Third, is that Nile knew that carabaos are not harmful, at least, before the apocalypse.

The three mutated animals were fighting because of their greed. Although it was their nature, Nile did not see himself as the saviour of everyone else.

Besides, they are already considered as dangerous animals even before they have mutated due to the apocalypse.

...

Nile approaches the body of the dead mutated lion. He draws out the Katana and starts to shave off the mane of the mutated lion. Its mane was the one that got mutated. Although Nile did not know what use this mane would bring him, he still decided to store it inside the storage space, the storage space had a lot of space for now, anyway.

Nile thought that the mutated parts of the animals might be useful in the future.

He did the same to the snake's mutated fangs and to the crocodile's mutated skin on its back. Of all the three, Nile could not come up with an idea on where to use the mutated lion's mane. The snake's fang could be used as a weapon, while the crocodile's rough skin on its back could be used as armour. But the mane? Nile did not have any idea where to use it. A winter coat perhaps?

Nile carefully uprooted the snake's fang using the tip of the Katana, who knows if the venom had also mutated? Although that was unlikely because if the venom of the snake had really mutated, the crocodile might not last that long.

Nile decided to play it safe and carefully uprooted the mutated fangs from the snake's mouth using only the Katana's tip. The fangs are pointed and curved inwardly. It was almost one foot long. The two mutated fangs were a good candidate for a dagger.

Nile uncoiled the snake's body from the crocodile. The crocodile's 'carapace' back had spikes growing in it like a porcupine. This might also be the reason why the snake did not release its coiled body on the crocodile earlier. It's not that it did not release the grip on the crocodile's body, it's just that it could not do so.

Nile noticed that something was wrong. He stood up and nodded in understanding. "I see."

Nile smiled under the black mask, he stared at the dead mutated lion and mentally said, 'stats'.

[Middle Stage Level One° Mutated Lion°

Soft Metallised Mane

Metallise tail brush

Status: Deceased.

]

Nile then looked down and stared at the dead snake's body, he then mentally said 'stats'.

[Early Stage Level One° Mutated Stripe Snake°

Metallised Fang

Metallised scale(evolving.)

Status: Deceased.

]

Nile nodded his head and put his attention to the crocodile. He did the same thing and mentally said, 'stats'. And just like what Nile had guessed.

[Early Stage Level One° Mutated Crocodile°

Spikey Armored Back

Metallised

Status: On the process of Evolving to Middle Stage Level One°

]

This f*cking crocodile is pretending to be dead.

Nile figured it out after seeing that the snake's body that had coiled the crocodile was full of holes. At first, he thought that the reason for the snake's death was because of blood loss.

But it seems that was not the case, the mutated stripe snake had actually died because of the holes in its body. Nile thought that aside from blood loss, another factor that caused the crocodile's death was the crushing coil of the snake's body.

But it seems that the crocodile was only pretending to be dead. Right now, Nile could tell that its eyelid was twitching.

"Who are you trying to fool?" Nile said angrily.

Nile became infuriated for being played by an animal. Nile raised his right foot and was about to kick this cunning crocodile lightly on its underbelly as an act of revenge. Alas, the crocodile was faster the moment it senses that a kick was approaching; it opened its eyes widely and bolstered out of Nile's reach.

Nile did not have the time to react or perhaps he purposely did not react, but the crocodile was long gone and only the bloody trails of its tail getting cut off remain visible on the ground.

Maximo was having a nap at this time and was startled by the sudden commotion. Hearing the commotion, Maximo stood up abruptly and both his ear and tail rose in the air like an alert dog.

After glancing left and right and finding nothing, Maximo strode towards Nile happily it's tail wagging behind. Maximo then lay in front of Nile as if asking him to hop on.

Nile stared at the direction on where the crocodile had run into and decided not to pursue it. First, the crocodile did not and could not harm him. Second, the crocodile might have only done that to preserve its life. Last, the crocodile had already run as fast as lightning.

Nile then boarded Maximo's back. Maximo stood up instantly after he felt that Nile had already sat properly on the saddle. Maximo 'mooed' asking Nile for a direction to take.

Nile decided to go and retrace their path before. He realised that the real overlords in this Barangay are the mutated animals and not the zombies.

Well, it might have been the zombies previously, but after the animals in the zoo mutated, it looks like there was a change of power. Nile did not know how they were able to survive until now, but it looks like they successfully surpassed the ordeal and had already taken back the authority from the zombies.

That might also be the reason why Nile only saw Level One° zombies in the outer area of the Barangay. Nile refused to believe that the crocodile is now the only living mutated animal around. There must be some that are hiding away from sight or some that have already migrated.

Nile decided to leave the mutated animals alone. He has nothing to do with them and even if he started killing them, what he can get are only their mutated parts which are pretty useless for Nile who has the System Store. H*ck the reason he looted the two dead bodies of the mutated lion and mutated snake earlier was that he thought their mutated parts might be helpful for Maximo's next evolution.

After experiencing the process firsthand, Nile had nothing to say except it was gruesome and unenjoyable. It was different from his actions of poking his fingers on the zombie's head before, at least during that time, he could gain strength and Apocalypse Point.

'Ahhh... How nostalgic.' Nile thought.

Nile and Maximo left the Mini Zoo, after that, they circled the whole Village of Hangin to search for zombies to kill.

Nile managed to kill four Level One° zombies.

Three of them are zombie animals while the remaining one is a human zombie that has retained some of its memory. The battle was bland as Maximo killed the three Early Stage Level One° zombie animals all by himself. Nile only decided to butt in when it was the human zombie Maximo was facing. The human zombie knew how to use a metal pole as a weapon and Maximo took hits every now and then. The human zombie that Maximo fought right now was stronger than the previous straw-hat zombie after all. Nile butted in and killed the human zombie with a swift slash in its head.

There is nothing much left to be done in this Village. The mutated animals had already done the purging. Nile just wanted to know what will happen after the zombie pets and the mutated animals reach and wreak havoc in this place.

Will the mutated animals here defend this place? Or will they flee just like the mutated animals in the Village of Ulhi?

(Previously Barangay Ulhi. Ulhi = Last)

As they were leaving the Village of Hangin (Previously Barangay Hangin), Nile and Maximo did not know that the bobbed tail crocodile had been following them since the incident earlier, observing their actions in the distance.

(Hangin= Wind)

...

Nile thought that by the time they arrive at the Town of Daan (Previously Lungsod of Daan) the pursuit between the mutated animals and zombie pets might be only one or two Villages behind them.

There are still other Villages after the Town of Daan. But Nile doesn't have the plan to go there, it will be a waste of time. He planned on Levelling to Level Two° while he's at the Town of Daan. The zombie pets will also arrive there right after, he will use that opportunity to farm again.

After reaching Level Two°, Nile planned on going to the next Town next. At least, he will not leave the Town of Daan before reaching Level Two°. The closer one is to the centre, the more dangerous it will be. With that, he needs to travel again on the road he had taken before.

Nile thought that it was better to confront the zombie pets at the Town of Daan. The Town of Daan has many high rise buildings that are great for sniping. The Sniping Slingshot will have a show in that place again.

Besides, Nile was a hundred percent sure that there are a lot of survivors there. They should be able to provide some help to him.

Of course, if possible, Nile doesn't want to meet any survivors anymore. It will just be too burdensome.