Chapter 26: The Host in the Darkness

November 23, 2058 – Midnight

The blue-eyed zombies attacked with unusual speed, forcing Regu Aegis to scatter. Cong and Rico shot at the creatures up close, while Elis took cover behind a large tree with Dail.

"We need to get to the lab now!" Pan shouted, trying to coordinate the team's movements.

After a fierce struggle, they finally managed to defeat the group of zombies and continued toward the large door of the laboratory. However, the atmosphere around the place grew even more ominous, and a foul stench began to fill the air. The large iron door of the laboratory now stood as the last barrier between them and the threat outside.

As everyone tried to calm down, a young woman appeared from the shadows near the entrance. Her short black hair, slender yet muscular build, and alert eyes were unmistakable.

"Who are you?" she asked sharply, aiming her weapon at the group.

Pan Colman raised his hand, signaling that they meant no harm. "We're Regu Aegis. And you?"

The woman slowly lowered her weapon, still cautious. "I'm Lila. I was supposed to be with Professor Selman, but I got left behind when his group left here."

Dr. Alaric stepped forward, his face filled with concern. "Left behind? What happened here?"

Lila sighed deeply. "This laboratory is hell. Many of us didn't make it out. Most are dead or have turned into one of them. I… I only managed to survive around the entrance. Inside, there's something worse."

"Worse?" asked Dail, his tone curious. Dail, who usually spoke little, stood near Rico, both of them holding their weapons in full readiness.

Lila nodded. "The Host. Something controlling all these zombies. It's like a queen ant. But… more than that. I'm sure it's a result of the Dominion experiment, and it can infect living creatures through water."

Rico glanced at Pan. "This explains the artificial rain documents we found. So, the Host is the key to all of this."

Pan nodded slowly, his gaze returning to Lila. "Do you know how we can destroy it?"

Lila lowered her eyes. "I only know where it is. But destroying it? That won't be easy."

Discussion Amidst the Threat

Regu Aegis and Lila gathered in a small room near the laboratory entrance. Jenna, who was holding a tablet to scan for nearby activity, spoke first. "There's significant movement in the main corridors. If we want to enter, we have to move fast."

"We can't leave here without dealing with that Host," Pan said firmly. "Otherwise, this outbreak will keep spreading."

"But we don't even know how to destroy it," replied Cong, checking his weapon. "And if we go deeper, we might not get out again."

Dr. Alaric looked at Lila. "Have you ever seen the Host?"

Lila nodded slowly. "Only once. It was in the main chamber in the center of the lab. Its body is huge, like a combination of all the creatures it's infected. But the most terrifying part is the worms that crawl out of its body. They move quickly and attack anyone who gets too close."

Cong sighed. "Great. So, we're up against an ant queen with worms."

Pan looked at his team one by one, making sure everyone understood the risks they were facing. "We have two choices: try to destroy the Host now, or leave and report everything to Selman at the survivor camp. Either way, we need to decide quickly."

Decision and New Obstacles

After a long discussion, they decided to try and destroy the Host. With limited resources, it was a big gamble, but they knew that leaving the Host behind would mean a greater disaster.

"We'll go in formation. Cong and Jenna up front with Lila, securing the path. Rico and Dail will provide support from the middle, while Alaric and I cover the rear," Pan commanded. "Remember, we don't have room for mistakes."

As they moved deeper into the laboratory, the atmosphere grew even more tense. The lights flickered, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the corridors. However, the tension quickly turned into chaos when they encountered a giant zombie with skin as hard as armor.

"That zombie again!" Jenna shouted, shooting without hesitation.

The bullets hit the zombie's skin but bounced off without causing harm. The creature moved slowly, but every step it took caused the floor to tremble.

"Target the joints!" shouted Cong as he leapt to the side to avoid an attack.

Dail, who was in the rear, pulled out a grenade from his bag. "I'll try this!" he said, throwing the grenade at the zombie's legs.

A loud explosion shook the room, and the zombie stumbled for a moment, giving Rico and Jenna the chance to target its lower body with precision shots. After a fierce struggle, the creature finally fell, but the rustling noise from another corridor told them that the threat was not over.

"We need to move now!" Pan urged, signaling the team to continue.

The Main Host

November 24, 2058 – Early Morning

After several minutes of walking in eerie silence, they arrived at the main chamber. The sight there took their breath away. In the center of the large room, filled with cables and shattered glass tubes, stood a huge creature with a bloated body and long tentacles extending from its abdomen. Small worms could be seen crawling out of its body, wriggling across the floor with swift movements.

"So that's… the Host," Rico whispered, his eyes wide.

The creature let out a low rumble, as if sensing their presence. Its tentacles began to move, and the blue-eyed zombies started emerging from the corridor behind them.

"Get ready!" Pan shouted. "This is it!"

Lila and Cong led the charge, while Jenna and Rico guarded the entrance to prevent more zombies from entering. Dail and Alaric provided support from behind, trying to find the creature's weak points.

"Aim for its abdomen! That's where the worms are coming from!" Alaric shouted.

With this information, the team began targeting the creature's abdomen. Shots and explosions echoed in the room as the creature thrashed with increasingly wild movements. Its tentacles slammed into the walls and floor, sending several team members flying.

"Come on, just a little more!" Pan shouted. The rustling noise from the back corridor made Pan turn quickly. "They're surrounding us!" he shouted. The blue-eyed zombies began emerging from the entrance, moving in a coordinated pattern aimed at the group's weak points.

Dail threw a smoke grenade toward the rear to slow them down. "We need to finish this now!" he yelled. Seeing the situation becoming more urgent, Pan signaled Lila.

"Lila, use your grenade! Aim directly at the Host!"

Lila nodded quickly, pulled a grenade from her belt, and threw it with high accuracy toward the creature's abdomen. A loud explosion shook the room, causing the Host's body to tremble violently. The worms that had been attacking started falling to the floor, dead in an instant.

Immediately, the blue-eyed zombies that had surrounded them began moving erratically. Some attacked walls or tried to bite other nearby creatures, including fellow zombies. Their focus shattered, making the situation more chaotic but giving Regu Aegis the advantage.

"They're no longer coordinated!" Alaric shouted. "Without the Host, they've lost control!"

Finally, after a fierce battle, the creature collapsed with a loud crash. The worms that had crawled out of its body began to die one by one, and the blue-eyed zombies stopped moving.

Out of the Darkness

With their bodies covered in wounds and heavy breaths, they finally managed to escape the laboratory. Lila, looking exhausted, gazed at Pan. "You did it. We stopped the Host."

Pan nodded, though his face showed the weight of the still-present burden. "This is just the beginning. We have to move on to the camp and tell Selman what happened here."

With renewed determination, they continued their journey toward the survivor camp, carrying with them the hope that their struggle had not been in vain.