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

Blood and rotting flesh littered the ground, the smoke from explosions still hanging in the air. Pan gripped his weapon tightly, his eyes narrowing at the horde of zombies still rushing toward them. Dail, Mira, Ethan, and Sara stood ready near the vehicle they had brought from camp, weapons in hand.

"We can't hold them off much longer!" Lila shouted, firing her last bullet into the head of a blue-eyed zombie.

Dail glanced at Pan. "It's now or never! We use what we prepared!"

Pan gave a quick nod. "Deploy the emergency explosives!"

[Flashback – November 26, 2058 – Survivor Camp]

Inside the fortified camp, survivors were busy with various tasks. In a makeshift workshop, a small team led by Mira and Professor Selman gathered around a cluttered table filled with improvised explosives.

"So, this is what we have," Mira said, arranging several glass bottles filled with dangerous chemicals. "Gasoline, fertilizer, and a few other materials that can act as triggers. We need to make as many as possible in case of another emergency, like the last zombie wave that hit our base."

Selman nodded. "Good idea. The explosions won't be as strong as military grenades, but they'll be enough to break zombie lines when we're cornered."

Ethan carefully picked up one of the makeshift bombs. "So, this is what you were talking about earlier? Nice. I like it."

Mira smirked slightly. "These might just save our lives."

[Back to the Present – November 28, 2058]

Dail and Ethan rushed to the back of the vehicle, pulling out several glass bottles filled with flammable liquid. Mira and Sara stood ready with igniters.

"Let's turn this place into hell for them!" Pan commanded.

Lila and Leoric moved quickly, lighting the fuses on a few improvised bombs before hurling them into the zombie horde. Fire erupted in an instant, engulfing dozens of undead. Screams echoed through the ruins as their bodies melted in the flames.

From the back, Dail grabbed the grenade launcher they had brought. "Don't let them retreat!"

A grenade detonated right in the middle of a cluster of zombies on their left flank. Bodies were sent flying, some still crawling despite being torn apart.

Pan spotted an opening in the enemy lines and gave the order. "Now! Move forward!"

With perfect coordination, the team advanced, taking advantage of the chaos caused by the explosions. Hart and Sara secured the rear, ensuring no zombies could ambush them.

However, before they could reach the Dominion soldier's position, larger zombies began emerging from the ruins. These creatures were stronger, some even had bones protruding from their bodies like natural armor.

Mira cursed. "They still have a trump card?!"

"Take them down before they get close!" Pan shouted.

Leoric and Lila fired at the giants' heads, but as before, their skin was too thick for regular bullets to penetrate.

Sara grabbed one of the improvised bombs and steadied her aim. "I need cover fire!"

Ethan and Hart fired at the biggest zombie's knees, making it collapse. In that instant, Sara threw the bomb straight into its open mouth.

The explosion rocked the street, blasting the massive zombie into pieces.

Pan exhaled, but his focus quickly shifted back to the building where the Dominion soldier stood.

Chapter 37: Fire in the Darkness