Chapter 8: Brutal Fight

Chapter 8: Brutal Fight

Sam gripped the hammer tightly in one hand, his eyes locked on the lizard clinging to the ceiling. He dodged its snapping tongue, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

The moment came. With precise timing, Sam swung the pointed end of his hammer at the lizard's tongue. The creature recoiled, injured but not defeated.

Seizing the advantage, Sam hurled his hammer at the lizard, landing a direct hit. Enraged, the beast lunged at him, its mouth wide open, ready to devour him whole.

Sam swiftly drew his knife, prepared to meet the attack head-on. He aimed for the lizard's eye, but at the last moment, the creature jerked its head upward, attempting to bite his hand instead. Reacting quickly, Sam pulled back, barely avoiding the sharp teeth. As the lizard's jaws snapped shut, he took the chance to pierce its snout with his blade.

Struggling to keep his grip, he used his body weight and strength to hold the knife in place. The lizard was strong—perhaps stronger than him—but he refused to let go.

Reaching into the quiver on his back, Sam grabbed a mana arrow and channeled energy into it as fast as he could. With all his might, he drove the arrow deep into the lizard's eye.

BANG!

DING! Killed Level 11 Lizard

DING! Leveling up...

The mana-infused explosion sent a shockwave through the room. Sam, blood-soaked and panting, lay on the floor, his clothes torn by the lizard's claws. He forced himself to his feet, surveying the blood-drenched room. His bow and remaining mana arrows lay nearby, which he quickly gathered.

Among the carnage, something caught his eye—a crystal and an orb lying on the floor. There was no time to examine them, so he hastily stored them in his storage chain.

Then, he heard it. The distant cries of people, the guttural moans of zombies. The battle wasn't over.

Outside, the chaos was spreading. The zombies had breached the stairs to 2nd floor, but now they were moving upward, drawn by the sounds of battle.

Sam rushed into the lobby, where people were either fighting or locking themselves inside rooms. Ian stood among them, issuing commands while Blake and the others fended off the undead.

"Watch out for the traps!" Ian shouted as he led the group upstairs.

Sam followed, dodging past survivors who were taking down zombies where they could. The traps on the stairs slowed the horde, giving the fighters a chance to strike.

Sam unleashed his arrows, each one finding its mark. When his quiver emptied, he gripped his hammer and long knife, ready for close combat.

The notifications kept ringing in their minds—level-ups, kill counts, achievements. But there was no time to dwell on them. Only those confident in their skills, or desperate for strength, stood their ground. Others had barricaded themselves in rooms on the second floor, unwilling to risk death.

Roy, standing nearby, had also run out of arrows but had managed to take down a zombie with his last mana shot. Now, he wielded a long knife, standing beside Max, who fought with a sword and shield. The duo worked in sync—Max blocking attacks while Roy delivered finishing blows.

Garry, wielding a spear, enjoyed a range advantage, making quick work of approaching zombies. Blake, despite the disadvantage of his weapon, held his ground with unwavering determination.

"Fall back, Max!" Ian commanded.

Max bashed a zombie with his shield before stepping back.

WOOSH!

A glowing arc of energy swept through the air as Ian swung his sword, cleaving five zombies in half.

Max stepped back in to cover Ian as he caught his breath. There was no time to celebrate—more undead poured in.

Amidst the chaos, Sam noticed a black mouse darting toward Ian, its movements unnaturally fast. Without hesitation, he hurled his hammer, knocking it aside. He sprinted forward, using Garry as cover, and finished off the creature with his knife.

The team's coordination was improving. Max shielded Ian and Roy, while Sam and Ryan held the left flank. Garry fought on the right with Tristun and Brook. Three newcomers who had joined them in pursuit of strength assisted from the back, following commands shouted over the battlefield.

"Finish it!"

"Fall back!"

"Help over here!"

Adrenaline surged through them, sharpening their focus. Every call was met with swift action.

But then, the undead surged forward, their numbers growing dense.

"Ryan! Bomb!" Sam shouted.

Ryan nodded, stepping back toward Ian while pulling an explosive from his bag.

"Everyone, get back!"

Max channeled mana into the bomb before hurling it into the zombie horde.

Then, he raised his shield and focused his mana, forming a shimmering blue barrier a meter wide.

BOOM!

The explosion sent zombies flying, some slamming into the barrier, but Max's shield projection held firm.

Sam quickly assessed the situation. "Brook, with me! I'll cover the rear!"

The blast had scattered zombies in all directions. While the main force had been obliterated, a few had been launched behind their group.

"Cover me!" Max shouted, panting from exertion.

Ian and Garry moved in, cutting down the remaining zombies near Max. Ryan took a deep breath, steeling himself before launching into another attack.

The battle dragged on, every second feeling like an eternity.

When it finally ended, they were all drenched in blood. The newcomers clutched their stomachs, trying to suppress the urge to vomit. The stench of death was suffocating.

The bomb had left a gaping hole in the floor, a grim reminder of the destruction they had unleashed. But for now, the chaos had subsided.

For now, they had survived.