A life, a promise.

"Go! Get out of here!" Lion shouted into the radio. The mercenaries' vehicles maneuvered through the undead horde — the third wave they'd faced, seemingly trapped in an endless sea of corpses.

The zombies moved slowly, and under different circumstances, they wouldn't be a real threat. But here, the sheer number of them was overwhelming, as if pouring in from every direction. Layer upon layer of undead pressed forward, threatening to break the group's spirits. Behind this relentless attack was the terrifying "Green-Haired Zombie Mother." Like a ghost, it stalked them from afar, commanding the horde and refusing to let them rest.

Their vehicles darted left and right through the narrow streets, attempting to shake off the Mother. Yet, it shadowed them effortlessly, as if the city were its own playground. Though it kept a cautious distance, the Mother's eyes burned with unrestrained hatred. In past encounters, it had barely escaped death at their hands. But this time, the moment for revenge had come.

A deep, rumbling roar echoed from the Mother, giving orders to the zombies. In response, the undead surged forward again, attempting to encircle the mercenaries' vehicles.

"Damn it, there are just too many!" Black Bear grumbled, watching the approaching wave with dread.

"Come on, you worthless scum!" Tiger yelled, tossing a grenade into the horde ahead. The explosion sent limbs and flesh flying, while Hound manned the machine gun on the car roof, raining bullets on the approaching undead.

"Python, cover the rear vehicles! Don't let them get surrounded!" Silver Fox shouted, her vehicle speeding through the narrow gap they'd carved out.

Jessica, her eyes icy, scanned the path ahead and joined in with her light machine gun, clearing their path.

The gap was slowly closing. Their vehicles struggled like animals caught in quicksand, unable to move forward. Despair flashed in Black Bear's eyes, then came an explosion, showering the windshield with bloody debris, intensifying the scene's brutality.

"Move! Move!" Snow Leopard yelled, his eyes bloodshot as he floored the gas pedal, desperate to reach an open stretch of road. A spark of hope flickered within him, a desire to survive.

Ahead, Jessica saw the vehicles stalled in the undead sea. She pulled the pin on another grenade and hurled it into the swarm, unleashing a fresh spray of blood and gore.

"Abandon the cars!" Snow Leopard shouted, pulling himself out through the window and climbing over the pile of corpses beneath the wheels. Silver Fox and Python had parked their car a short distance away, pausing their escape to help their team.

"Hurry!" Black Bear pushed Yang Tian forward, dashing toward the waiting vehicle.

Silver Fox, armed with a P90 submachine gun, continued firing, pushing back the zombies trying to close in. Yang Tian leapt onto the hood, wielding his M4A1 with precise accuracy. He knew that in this close range, calmness and precision were crucial to survival.

Suddenly, Black Bear felt a cold, clawed hand grip his ankle — a fallen zombie was holding him fast. He kicked it away, but others were closing in, one sinking its teeth into his shoulder. Blood poured from the wound as he fought back, spraying bullets in a desperate attempt to break free. Just then, Yang Tian's timely shots took down the surrounding zombies with deadly accuracy.

"Get moving, you big lug!" Yang Tian cursed, grabbing Black Bear by the arm, helping him navigate the blood-soaked ground, where corpses lay unevenly underfoot. But his own ankle was seized by another undead hand, and he quickly dispatched it with a well-placed shot.

"Go on without me!" Black Bear's voice was low, heavy in the blood-soaked air.

"What are you talking about? What are you trying to do?" Yang Tian felt a surge of dread at those words.

"I've been bitten. It's only a matter of time before I become one of them." Black Bear's face was pale, but he managed a strained smile. "Thanks for coming back for me. If you survive, please... take care of her. I'm trading my life for that promise."

Yang Tian stared at him, a deep sadness in his eyes, and then gave a solemn nod. Black Bear took a few grenades from his pocket, turning to face the oncoming horde, a complex smile on his face, and walked toward the sea of undead, alone.

In the gore-strewn battlefield, Black Bear's solitary figure vanished into the endless tide of death. Yang Tian's heart ached as he watched his friend disappear into the darkness, his final sacrifice etched into his memory.