Chapter 30: Attack from the East 3

November 24, 2058 – Late Afternoon

The sound of approaching footsteps near the survivor camp's walls made everyone tighten their grip on their weapons. Pan stood on the watchtower, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness beyond. The survivors below the walls held their positions, their bodies tense after the previous battle. But as shadows emerged in the distance, something felt off.

"Just them?" Lila asked, standing beside Pan. Her face still showed vigilance, but now with a hint of confusion.

Outside the walls, only about forty blue-eyed zombies were advancing. They didn't charge wildly as usual but instead stood still, staring at the camp with vacant yet ominous gazes.

"They're just standing there," Jenna observed from below, her sniper rifle aimed at one of the zombies, though she didn't fire.

"Could they be waiting for something?" Rico asked, scanning them through binoculars.

Pan narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of the situation. "They're not moving like before. No attack pattern. It's like…" He paused, thinking. "It's like they're just watching us."

The Mystery of the New Horde

Professor Selman joined them on the watchtower, carrying a tablet displaying scanner data. "This is unusual," he said, pointing at the screen showing the zombies' brain activity. "Their activity isn't as high as before. It's as if they're being controlled just to… observe."

Cong, standing near the main gate, looked impatient. "We can't just leave them there. What if this is a trick to weaken us?"

"Maybe," Pan replied. "But we can't risk attacking without a clear reason. We'll monitor them first."

Mira, who led part of the survivor group inside the camp, approached with a grim expression. "If they're not attacking now, it means they're waiting for the right moment. We need to reinforce our defenses while we have time."

Pan nodded. "Agreed. We'll strengthen the walls, make sure there are no gaps in our perimeter. Everyone stays on high alert, but don't shoot unless I give the order."

The Decision to Eliminate Them

However, as night fell, Pan realized that allowing the blue-eyed zombies to keep watching was too much of a risk. He gathered the entire squad and the camp leaders in the tactical room.

"We can't wait any longer. They're not attacking, but they're also not leaving. If they're gathering intelligence or waiting for new orders from another host, we need to eliminate them now before they become a bigger threat," Pan said firmly.

Lila nodded in agreement. "I agree. Their numbers match our strength. If we move quickly and in an organized way, we can take them out before they realize what's happening."

Selman added, "If you decide to attack, make sure no one comes into direct contact with them. Their parasites may still be active."

"Then we set up a formation. Jenna and Rico will provide long-range support from the watchtower. Cong, Lila, and I will lead the assault from the main gate. Mira, you and your team will secure the perimeter. We can't let a single one of them escape," Pan ordered.

The Coordinated Attack

November 25, 2058 – Early Morning

At dawn, the attack began. Jenna and Rico fired precise shots from the watchtower, taking down several zombies in the front line. The rest of the zombies started moving, but before they could reach the walls, Cong's grenades exploded in their midst, breaking their formation.

Lila and Pan led the ground assault with automatic weapons, taking down the zombies one by one. The other survivors held the perimeter, ensuring no gaps in their defense.

"Don't let them get close to the gate!" Mira shouted, blasting a zombie trying to crawl toward the walls with her shotgun.

The battle was short but intense. One by one, the blue-eyed zombies fell under the coordinated attack of Aegis Squad and the survivors. Their black blood soaked the ground, but not a single one managed to get close enough to the walls.

"The last one, over there!" Rico called out, taking the final shot.

As the gunfire ceased, silence settled over the battlefield. Every blue-eyed zombie had been eliminated, and there were no signs of another horde approaching.

The Silence After the Storm

Pan stood in the middle of the field, surveying the battlefield now littered with the bodies of the fallen zombies. He let out a long breath and turned to his team. "Good work, everyone. We took them down."

Cong cleaned his rifle with a slight smirk. "For once, we had a clean victory."

Selman approached with his scanner. "No activity detected in the area. Looks like we're safe for now."

But Pan knew better than to celebrate too soon. "We may have won today, but we need to ensure this place stays secure. From now on, we keep watch and make sure no new threats appear."

A New Hope

The survivors got back to work, repairing the walls and clearing the battlefield. The atmosphere in the camp felt slightly lighter, though caution remained high. Rico, standing guard in the watchtower, gazed into the distance. "This time, no one's watching us."

Pan walked up beside him and patted his shoulder. "Let's hope it stays that way."

But far away, beyond the dark mountains, something was moving. Something larger than anything they had ever faced before.