Ain_Revenant

That night, Aegis Squad infiltrated an abandoned laboratory complex to capture a mutated zombie alive for research. The air reeked of rusted metal and decay.

"Make sure the trap is ready," whispered Major Pan Colman.

Lila nodded, checking her device. "Ready, just waiting for the bait."

Hart, tracking zombie movement, looked uneasy. "They’re smarter than we thought. We must move fast."

From the shadows, a massive mutated zombie with armor-like skin emerged.

"Wait for it to step into the trap," Pan whispered.

As the creature moved forward, Lila activated the device. Steel clamps trapped it, sending high-voltage shocks that made it thrash violently.

Before they could celebrate, Hart panicked. "Major, something big is moving behind us!"

From the ruins, a giant zombie with protruding bones emerged, smashing through a wall with unnatural speed.

"We need to move, now!" Pan ordered.

The squad hauled the trapped zombie into their containment truck, escaping as the complex collapsed behind them.

Inside the vehicle, Dr. Alaric muttered, "This isn't normal mutation. The virus is evolving too fast."

Hart nodded. "It’s as if someone designed them. But who? And why?"

Suddenly, a loud metallic thud echoed from the roof.

"What was that?" Lila asked, weapon raised.

Hart checked his tablet. "Something's on top of us! But it wasn’t detected before!"

Pan signaled. "Rico, stop the vehicle. Lila and I will check."

They stepped out and looked up. A tall, gaunt creature with razor-sharp claws clung to the roof, staring at them with soulless black eyes.

"What the hell is that?" Lila whispered.

The creature lunged with blinding speed. Pan and Lila dodged, but their bullets had no effect.

"Get back inside! Now!" Pan commanded.

They sprinted back, Rico hitting the gas.

Hart read his tablet. "This thing… it's like a predator. Faster, stronger."

Dr. Alaric whispered, "If this was made by Dominion, we’re dealing with a far deadlier bioweapon than I imagined."

The creature pursued them, closing the distance. Lila and Pan fired, but it dodged effortlessly. In one leap, it grabbed the steel trap containing the mutated zombie.

"It’s trying to take the zombie!" Lila yelled.

Pan hurled a smoke grenade, forcing the creature to retreat. The vehicle sped away.

Inside, tension remained thick.

"We can't keep running," Pan stated. "We need to fight back. And we need to find out what Dominion of Varex has really done."

Worst Zombie Day

November 28, 2058 – Before Dawn

A distant rumble echoed through the night. The survivor camp, their refuge for the past few days, trembled under the unseen force. From the watchtower, Pan could see colossal silhouettes moving through the trees, crushing everything in their path.

"They're getting closer! We have to act now!" Mira shouted from below.

There was no time to hesitate. Pan turned to the gathered survivors, their faces filled with fear. A decision had to be made.

Strategizing the Next Move

Pan raised his hand, signaling for calm. "Maybe I miscalculated. Instead of chasing an uncertainty and risking more lives, we should defend this camp."

Lila narrowed her eyes. "So we're not sending a rescue team?"

"That's not what I'm saying," Pan clarified. "We'll send a small group—just four people. The rest will stay here and fortify the defenses."

Mira seemed relieved by the plan. "Alright. Then we need the most experienced people for the mission."

Pan nodded. "Lila, Leoric, Hart, and I will go. Everyone else stays and ensures this place holds."

Fortifying the Camp

As the rescue team prepared, Mira and Professor Selman organized the camp's defenses. Their main stronghold was a four-meter-high steel wall enclosing the central area. Parts of it had already been reinforced with debris and wrecked vehicles.

"We need more barricades at the main gate," Mira instructed. "If they attack, we need time to hold them off."

Survivors quickly moved sandbags and wooden planks to strengthen the outer defenses. At several points, barbed wire was set up to slow down approaching zombies.

Professor Selman headed toward the watch post, where a few survivors were repairing the emergency alarm system powered by solar generators. "We need to see them before they reach the walls."

Meanwhile, the remaining survivors divided tasks—some kept watch from the towers, others ensured food supplies were secure, and a few tended to the wounded from previous battles.

The Rescue Team Departs

As dawn broke, Pan and his team left the camp, moving swiftly in a tight formation. They couldn't afford any mistakes.

"I don't like this," Leoric muttered from the rear.

"Neither do I," Hart replied. "But we need to find them before it's too late."

A few kilometers from camp, they stumbled upon the remnants of a battle—dried blood and torn zombie corpses littered the ground.

"They must be close," Lila knelt, examining the tracks. "These footprints are fresh."

A sudden rustling came from the ruins ahead. The team tensed, weapons ready.

From the shadows, something emerged.

Tall, gaunt, with glowing blue eyes, the creature moved with eerie precision—faster, more controlled than the undead they had faced before.

"Back away slowly," Lila murmured.

Before they could retreat, the creature let out a chilling roar.

From the surrounding buildings, more blue-eyed zombies appeared.

"We're surrounded!" Leoric shouted.

Pan clenched his jaw. "We need an escape route. Don't let them box us in!"

They sprinted toward a narrow alley. Hart hurled a grenade behind them, the explosion buying them precious seconds.

But from atop a crumbling rooftop, a lone figure in a Dominion of Varex uniform stood watching.

He didn't move. He simply observed, as if waiting for something.

"Damn it… Who is that?!" Lila hissed.

Pan locked eyes with the figure, his expression grim. "I think… he's controlling them."

And the blue-eyed zombies advanced in unison.

Chapter 35: Midnight Pursuit