The Next Wave

Alexia flashed the guys along with her into the system sanctuary. The battle against the evolved infected had left its mark, both physically and mentally. Though they had emerged victorious, every glance exchanged between them was weighted with the knowledge that the true fight was still on the horizon.

Alexia leaned against the table in the main hall, her katana resting nearby, its blade still faintly stained with the ichor of the infected. She couldn't shake the feeling that had settled in the pit of her stomach since the fight ended. The Command Field's strain had taken its toll, leaving her body aching and her thoughts sluggish. Yet, there was no time for rest.

Quinn stepped into the room, his usual calm demeanor hiding the fatigue etched into his features. His shadows flickered faintly at his feet, betraying his unease. "I and Alex checked the drones scouting the perimeter. No sign of movement, seems like we've taken care of the ones in city A. For now, we're clear."

[City A has been cleared. Host head next to city Z.]

[Reward: 100 Update points.]

Damien appeared next, his sharp gaze scanning the room. He carried an air of confidence, but Alexia had learned to read the tension in the slight crease of his brow. "Good. We need to use this time to regroup and plan. If I'm correct that wasn't a horde----it was a prelude."

Alex, who had been tinkering with his drone in the corner, snorted. "A prelude? You're telling me those freaks were just the opening act?" He didn't look up from his work, but the bitterness in his voice was unmistakable.

"Exactly," Damien replied. His tone was cold, factual. "Alexia has the system updated you on when the evolved horde will be here?" He asked. Alexia shook her head, opening her mouth to say something but was then interrupted.

[Next Horde will be in forty-eight hours.]

"The Horde is in forty-eight hours." Alexia stated.

Silence fell over the room.

Alex straightened, gripping his done. "Forty-eight hours? That's not enough time to recover, let alone prepare."

"We don't have a choice," Damien said. He crossed his arms, his piercing gaze locking onto each of them in turn. "If we don't prepare, we'll be caught at a disadvantage. And if we are then we're dead."

Quinn nodded; his voice steady. "Then we need a plan. Our supplies are running a bit low, we can't be on an empty stomach, we still have ammunition thanks to the system armory. We'll need to look for supplies, and fast."

"Where would we look?" Alex asked. "We've already picked this area clean."

Damien's jaw tightened. "There's a military outpost about seven miles west. It's risky, but if we're lucky, we might find weapons, food, or even intel on the horde's movement."

Alexia hesitated. "Seven miles west.... That's close to the city ruins. The infected there are worse than anything we've faced so far."

"Exactly," Damien said, his voice grim. "Which is why we'll split into two teams. Alexia, Quinn and I will handle the outpost. Alex, you stay in the space and prepare our defenses."

Alex looked like he wanted to argue but eventually sighed. "Fine. But don't too long, or I'll have to blow this place up to come outside."

Damien smirked faintly. "We'll be back before you know it."

The trio set out toward the military outpost. The air was heavy with the lingering stench of decay, and every sound seemed amplified in the eerie stillness.

Quinn took point, his shadows weaving ahead of them like a living map. Every so often, he'd pause, his eyes narrowing as he scanned their surroundings. Alexia followed closely, her katana drawn and ready. Damien brought up the rear, his energy field pulsing faintly around him like a shield.

They moved in silence, each lost in their thoughts. For Alexia, the weight of the upcoming horde pressed heavily on her mind. She couldn't shake the image of the glowing eyes of the last evolved infected, nor the way it seemed to anticipate their moves. These creatures were adapting, and it terrified her.

"Stop," Quinn said suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper. He raised a hand, his shadows recoiling sharply.

Alexia and Damien froze, their eyes following Quinn's gaze. Up ahead, partially obscured by the wreckage of an overturned truck, was a figure. It stood unnaturally still, its body hunched and misshapen.

"Is it one of them?" Alexia asked quietly.

Quinn nodded. "Evolved. And it's not alone."

As if on cue, two more figures emerged from the shadows, their grotesque forms illuminated by the faint light filtering through the ruins.

"Great," Damien muttered. "We can't afford to waste time on them."

"We won't," Quinn said. His shadows began to stretch and twist, reaching towards the creatures. "I'll draw them away. You two keep moving."

"Yeah, no" Alexia said firmly. "Not happening, we're not splitting up. We take them out together, fast and quiet."

Damien gave her a sidelong glance. "Fast and quiet doesn't usually end well these things."

"Then we'll just have to make it work," Alexia replied, her grip tightening on her katana.

The first creature lunged, its speed and agility far surpassing that of the regular infected. Quinn's shadows intercepted it mid-air, wrapping around its limb and slamming it into the ground. Alexia was on it in an instant, her katana slicing cleanly through its neck.

The second and third creature attacked simultaneously. Damien stepped forward, his energy field flaring as he deflected their blows. The ground beneath one of them cracked as Quinn used his shadows to yank it off balance.

"Alexia, left!" Quinn shouted.

She pivoted, her blade flashing as she struck the creature's exposed flank. It let out a guttural scream, its movement becoming erratic as Quinn's shadows constricted around it.

Meanwhile, Damien dispatched the final creature with a precise blast of energy, its body crumpling to the ground in a heap.

Breathing heavily, Alexia wiped her blade clean and glanced at her companions. "Everyone okay?"

"Fine," Damien replied. Quinn simply nodded.

"Then let's keep moving," Alexia said, "We're running out of time."