19 Surrounded by Death
Kael stepped out of the decaying building, his boots crunching against the cracked pavement as he emerged into the ruined city.
His eyes swept across the desolate landscape, taking in the collapsed structures, shattered windows, and rusted remnants of cars left abandoned on the roads.
The blood-red glow of the ominous moon above bathed the city in a ghastly hue, making the ruins feel even more sinister.
Kael's gaze flickered over his surroundings.
The streets were eerily silent, but he knew that silence meant nothing here.
Danger could appear at any moment.
His spirit horde moved behind him, their glowing blue eyes shining eerily in the crimson-tinted darkness.
Each step he took, they followed, moving like ghosts, their presence deathly silent despite their numbers.
Kael's stomach twisted with unease.
The city was a graveyard, but the dead here refused to rest.
A sudden, shrill screech cut through the dead air.
Kael's muscles tensed as he turned toward the sound.
Two zombies had spotted him, their rotting faces twisted into hungry snarls.
They sprinted toward him, their clawed hands outstretched, their movements erratic and wild.
Kael barely had to think.
He flicked his hand toward his Elite Spirit Zombie.
"Take care of them."
The Elite Spirit Zombie didn't hesitate.
With unnatural speed, it lunged forward, meeting the zombies head-on.
RIP!
One of the zombies was torn apart instantly, its body splitting in half as the Elite Spirit Zombie's claws cleaved through flesh and bone.
The second barely had time to react before it was grabbed by the throat and slammed into the pavement.
CRACK!
Its skull shattered against the concrete, its body twitched violently, then fell still.
Kael exhaled sharply, impressed by how easily his Elite Spirit Zombie dispatched them.
But before he could relish the moment—
[System Notification: Your location has been revealed to zombies within a 100-meter radius.]
Kael's eyes widened.
"Already?!"
Had it really been 10 minutes?
A distant chorus of groans echoed through the streets.
He turned his head.
Shadows shifted between the broken buildings, figures lurched from alleys, and then—
A wave of zombies emerged.
They came from all directions, their unnatural screams piercing the night.
Kael's heartbeat quickened.
"Form a perimeter!" Kael commanded.
His Spirit Zombies moved swiftly, forming a tight circle around him.
The first wave of zombies rushed forward.
The Elite Spirit Zombie moved first, launching itself into the horde, tearing through their ranks like a blade through water.
Kael barely had time to process the carnage before another two zombies fell, their spirits rising from their bodies.
Without hesitation, Kael extended his hand brushing against them.
"Collect."
A dark mist swirled as the two souls vanished into his grasp, absorbed into his Spirit Storage.
Then, the battle truly began.
The zombies clashed against his summoned horde, turning the once-quiet street into a blood-drenched battlefield.
Limbs were torn apart.
Heads were ripped from bodies.
The sound of flesh being shredded, of bones crunching, of inhuman wails filling the night—it was a brutal, chaotic symphony of death.
Kael watched in awe.
His Elite Spirit Zombie was a monster among monsters, decimating everything in its path.
It was unstoppable.
Until—
From the corner of his eye, Kael saw something move unnaturally.
A zombie… but different.
It walked with purpose.
Not erratic. Not mindless.
Its red eyes locked onto him.
Kael's Spirit Zombies moved to intercept it.
But then—
WHOOSH!
In a blur of motion, the irregular zombie beheaded one of Kael's summoned spirits instantly.
Kael's stomach twisted.
That was no normal zombie.
It moved too fast, struck too hard.
Another Spirit Zombie lunged at it—only to be cut down just as effortlessly.
Kael's brows furrowed.
"Another Elite Zombie."
The battle was still raging, but now—
His Spirit Horde was diminishing.
Kael's eyes hardened.
"Engage that one," he ordered.
The Elite Spirit Zombie obeyed immediately, launching itself at the new threat.
The two collided with immense force, their claws ripping into each other, neither giving an inch.
Kael gritted his teeth.
Kael's fingers twitched.
He could fire a Mana Bolt, but the two zombies were too close.
If he missed, or if his own summon got caught in the attack—
It wasn't worth the risk.
Then—
Kael's blood ran cold.
Across the street, another Elite Zombie had entered the fray.
Kael turned in time to see it cut through another one of his Spirit Zombies like paper.
His forces were dwindling.
His eyes darkened.
"I need to act—now."
Kael charged a Mana Bolt, pouring extra power into it, watching the battle for an opening.
Then—
One of his Spirit Zombies stumbled into the line of fire, blocking his view.
But Kael had no choice.
"Now!"
He fired.
The Mana Bolt tore through the air, its dark-blue glow lighting up the battlefield.
Just as it was about to hit the Elite Zombie—
It moved.
With unnatural reflexes, the creature tilted its head, the Mana Bolt missing by mere inches.
Kael's eyes widened.
"It dodged?!"
The bolt slammed into the street instead, blowing apart the pavement in a violent explosion.
The Elite Zombie turned its head slowly, its glowing red eyes now locked onto Kael.
A low growl rumbled from its throat.
Then—
It screamed.
And launched itself directly at him.
Kael's heart pounded.
He charged another Mana Bolt, but from the corner of his eye, he saw his Elite Spirit Zombie still locked in combat with its adversary.
Kael's mind raced.
He couldn't fight both at once.
"I need a way out."
As he was thinking, an idea flashed in his mind.