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 – Early Dawn

Gunfire echoed through the narrow alleys of the ruined city. Pan, Lila, Leoric, and Hart ran as fast as they could, trying to evade the horde of blue-eyed zombies closing in on them. Their breaths were ragged, while the relentless growls and pounding footsteps chased them from behind.

"To the right! Into that building!" Pan shouted, pointing at a structure that still stood firm among the wreckage.

They rushed inside, shoving old shelves against the door to barricade it. But the zombies gave them no time to breathe. Loud thuds filled the air as the creatures slammed against the entrance, desperate to break in.

"This is insane! They're not stopping!" Leoric said, cocking his weapon.

Lila glanced at Pan. "It's now or never! We can't hold out here for long."

Pan nodded and tapped his communicator. "Dail, it's time."

In the distance, the roar of engines broke through the ruins. From behind a crumbling building, four figures emerged, armed and ready to disrupt the swarm surrounding Pan and his team.

"Let's light them up!" Dail shouted, unleashing a barrage of bullets at the zombies fixated on the barricaded building.

Mira, along with two additional camp members—Ethan and Sara—followed closely behind, their shots precise and deadly. Bullets tore through undead skulls, dropping them one after another.

Pan and his team heard the gunfire outside. "They're here! This is our chance!" Hart exclaimed.

"Open the door! We're moving out now!" Pan ordered.

Leoric and Lila quickly pushed aside the makeshift barricade and charged out, weapons raised. They merged with the second team, now forming a full squad ready to turn the tide.

With both squads united, the advantage shifted in their favor. Dail and Mira led the right flank, while Pan and Lila covered the left. Ethan and Sara secured their retreat path.

The zombies hesitated, momentarily disoriented as their primary targets changed. In that brief opening, the squad struck hard, wiping out the undead one by one.

"Focus on the big one!" Lila shouted, pointing at a towering zombie that seemed to be leading the horde.

Mira fired a shot straight into its skull, but the creature only staggered. "Not enough! We need something bigger!"

Leoric reached into his pocket, pulling out a small grenade. "I've got just the thing!"

He pulled the pin and hurled it at the giant zombie's feet. A small explosion shook the ground, sending the creature stumbling. Pan seized the opportunity, unloading a full clip into its head until it finally collapsed, motionless.

"Clear the rest! Leave no survivors!" Pan commanded.

Dail and Mira moved swiftly, gunning down the remaining zombies. Ethan and Sara swept the area, ensuring none were left standing. Minutes passed like hours, but at last, the growls faded into silence.

Pan exhaled heavily, surveying the street littered with lifeless corpses. "We did it."

Lila patted his shoulder. "For now. But we still don't know who's controlling them."

Dail scanned the surroundings. "We need to get back to camp before something worse shows up."

Pan nodded. "We take a different route. No more unnecessary risks."

As they prepared to move, Mira suddenly froze, staring up at a building. Her face paled. "Pan… we're not alone."

On top of a tall building, a lone figure in a Dominion of Varex uniform stood, watching them from afar.

From the ruins, more zombies began to emerge.

"Get ready! This isn't over!" Pan shouted.

Chapter 36: Counterattack