016 Terrible Tyrant

"Is this a live broadcast from the front line?"

 Anirudh stared at the computer screen, momentarily stunned by the scene unfolding before him.

 This live broadcast system, directly connected to front-line operations, was meant to be highly confidential. How had Chandan managed to access it?

 "I used my dad's account to log into the military's internal system," Chandan admitted, nodding grimly. His voice was tense, his words forced through gritted teeth. "I know it's against the rules... but I can't just sit here and do nothing!"

 "Don't worry too much," Anirudh said, placing a reassuring hand on Chandan's shoulder. "There are so many soldiers, tanks, and heavy artillery out there. No matter how powerful those zombies are, they'll be overwhelmed."

 In Anirudh's mind, the blood-colored creature resembling a Licker might be formidable, but with careful planning and a network of coordinated firepower, it stood little chance against the military. The creature's speed was an advantage, but its defenses were relatively weak, and it had already sustained injuries.

 "The real problem is that monster in the hospital," Anirudh muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on the screen.

 The two fell silent, focusing intently on the live broadcast.

 The screen displayed a fully armed military unit arriving at the blockade surrounding City's No. 1 Hospital Jeevan Daan Hospital. The blockade, initially established by reservists and local police, served two purposes: monitoring the monster's movements and preventing zombies from escaping into the city.

 Inside the hospital, a different nightmare awaited. Over 300 zombies—former patients and police officers who had succumbed to infection—lurked in the fog-filled halls, their numbers growing as the infection spread.

 Unlike the local reservists, the troops from New Delhi were clearly elite. They swiftly took over the blockade, reorganized the defense, and divided into multiple small teams. Tanks and armored vehicles provided cover as the teams spread out across the hospital grounds, cautiously advancing into the foggy danger zone.

 The City's No. 1 Hospital was vast, spanning over 200 acres, with numerous buildings and structures. The thick fog reduced visibility to a mere five meters, amplifying the danger posed by the zombies and the lurking monster.

 To monitor the operation, Chandan skillfully manipulated the computer, splitting the live broadcast into sixteen separate screens—one for each team. He focused on the screen showing his father's command team, turning off the audio from the others to avoid confusion.

 As the soldiers advanced, the first encounters with zombies began. Gunfire echoed through the fog as the armored vehicles and tanks attracted the mindless undead. The tanks plowed through the hordes, crushing them under relentless treads, while the soldiers opened fire, systematically eliminating the creatures.

 The standard military weaponry proved highly effective. Though zombies were only vulnerable to headshots, the soldiers' precise aim made short work of them. Some zombies fell instantly with their heads blown apart, while others were torn to shreds by relentless gunfire. Any still twitching were quickly finished off with sidearms.

 Progress seemed smooth. The soldiers, covered by the vehicles, cleared the hospital's outer perimeter and began infiltrating the various buildings—the emergency wing, outpatient department, and inpatient wards—each team cautiously moving deeper into the danger zone.

 But Anirudh and Chandan knew better. The deeper the teams ventured, the greater the likelihood they would encounter the monster.

 Then it happened.

 A sudden barrage of rapid gunfire erupted from the inpatient department. Unlike the controlled bursts used against ordinary zombies, this was desperate, panicked, and continuous.

 "Which team is that?" Anirudh reacted instantly, his heightened senses helping him locate the corresponding live feed.

 The screen showed a disorienting, spinning blur. The camera seemed to be tumbling wildly, as if the operator had lost control.

 "What's going on?" Anirudh asked, his voice tight with tension.

 Boom!

 A deafening explosion rocked the feed as a window on the third floor of the inpatient department shattered. A massive figure leapt out, landing heavily on an armored vehicle, crushing it under its weight.

 Nearby cameras captured the creature in horrifying detail: a giant humanoid monster, towering over three and a half meters tall.

 Its pale, zombie-like skin showed no signs of decay. Instead, its body was packed with grotesquely bulging muscles. On its chest, a massive, exposed heart pumped furiously, its arteries pulsating with a sickening vitality. Twisted ribs jutted outward like a cage, forming a protective barrier around the heart.

 The creature's face was even more horrifying. Bereft of skin, its sharp teeth and exposed facial muscles were laid bare, giving it a nightmarish appearance.

 Its right arm was particularly grotesque—over two meters long, with claws resembling oversized sabers. These claws glinted menacingly as they held a struggling soldier, whose helmet-mounted camera had captured the chaos moments earlier.

 "Tyrant... It's a Tyrant!" Chandan's voice trembled with fear as he recognized the creature. His hands slammed against the table in frustration. "How is this possible? How can it be here?"

 The monster roared, its guttural cry resonating through the speakers. Then, with terrifying speed for its size, it sprang into action.

 Bending its knees, it launched itself off the crushed armored vehicle, landing in the midst of one of the teams.

 What followed was a massacre.

 With a single swipe of its clawed arm, the Tyrant tore through three soldiers, ripping them into pieces. Blood sprayed like a fountain, painting the ground in crimson.

 Before the others could react, the monster grabbed another soldier, biting his head off with horrifying ease. Blood and brains dripped from its gaping maw as it chewed grotesquely.

 "Open fire!" someone screamed, breaking the stunned silence.

 Bullets rained down on the creature, joined by the heavy firepower of the armored vehicles. But as the smoke cleared, what Anirudh and Chandan saw chilled them to their cores.