Wolf to the Rescue

The mutant zombie wasn't just strong—it was smart. The moment it closed in, it swung the massive metal pole like a club, aiming to crush Shubash in one brutal strike.

But Shubash's instincts kicked in. He stepped forward and threw a punch—BOOM! His giant fist met the pole with an explosive impact, shattering part of it into flying shards of metal.

The mutant staggered back, roaring in fury. Its bloodshot eyes burned with rage as it gripped the broken remains of the pole.

Before it could react, a sharp buzz of electricity crackled through the air.

Jhanvi was already mid-air, her sword gleaming with arcs of lightning. She moved like a flash of light, her blade slicing downward.

The mutant swung wildly in response.

WHAM!

The broken pole slammed into her side before she could land a strike. The force sent her flying like a ragdoll, smashing through the glass front of a nearby shop.

"Jhanvi!" Shubash roared, his fury boiling over.

He lunged at the mutant, throwing a devastating punch straight at its chest.

But the zombie was ready.

It reached out with both hands, intercepting Shubash's attack. Their fists met in a bone-crunching collision. A shockwave burst through the air, sending dust and debris flying.

For a split second, they seemed evenly matched.

Then—

Shubash was the one sent flying. The sheer force of the impact launched him backward like a cannonball, his massive frame crashing through a concrete wall.

Arjun, hovering in his insect form, felt a chill run through him.

"What the hell? That thing's stronger than them!"

The mutant, still unscathed, let out a guttural growl. It turned toward the wreckage where Jhanvi had landed, its enormous hands clenching into fists.

But before it could take a step—

ZAP!

A bolt of electricity shot out from the rubble.

Jhanvi staggered to her feet, blood dripping from her forehead, eyes burning with defiance. Her sword crackled with even stronger lightning, the power surging in waves.

"You're not so tough," she spat, wiping the blood from her lip.

The mutant snarled and rushed at her, swinging its fists with deadly force.

Jhanvi dodged the first strike by a hair's breadth, rolling to the side. As the second fist came down, she slashed her sword forward—ZZZT! The blade cut deep, sending electric shocks coursing through the creature's body.

The mutant howled, spasming as blue arcs of lightning crawled over its rotting flesh.

Then, a shadow loomed behind it.

Shubash was back. And he was pissed.

With a deafening roar, he charged, his fists growing even larger—monstrous, almost twice their normal size. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he swung with all his might.

BOOM!

His punch connected squarely with the mutant's jaw.

The impact was brutal. The zombie's head snapped to the side, its body lifting off the ground before it was sent soaring across the street.

It crashed through an abandoned truck, flattening the metal like a tin can.

Jhanvi exhaled, her grip tightening on her sword.

Shubash rolled his shoulders, his breath heavy. "Round two?"

The dust settled. The wreckage shifted.

And the mutant slowly started to rise.

Arjun, still watching from above, felt his tiny wings tremble.

"This thing… is a monster."

The dust around the wrecked truck swirled as the mutant pushed itself up. Its body was battered, its jaw hung slightly askew, but its glowing red eyes showed no pain—only pure, undying rage.

Then, it roared.

The sound wasn't just loud—it was deafening, a primal, guttural scream that sent chills down Arjun's spine.

Jhanvi tightened her grip on her sword. "This thing just won't die," she muttered, sparks flickering along the blade.

Shubash cracked his knuckles, his giant hands still glowing with power. "Then we keep hitting it until it does."

The mutant launched forward, closing the distance in seconds. It moved faster than before, its injuries only making it more aggressive.

Shubash barely had time to react. He swung first, a massive, earth-shaking punch aimed straight for the zombie's skull.

But the mutant ducked.

WHAM!

Before Shubash could recover, the zombie struck back with terrifying speed. Its massive fist crashed into Shubash's ribs.

CRACK!

The sickening sound of breaking bones echoed in the street.

Shubash's eyes widened as pain shot through his body. He barely had time to gasp before—

BOOM!

The next punch sent him flying again, this time crashing through a streetlight and rolling across the pavement like a broken doll.

"Shubash!" Jhanvi screamed.

The mutant didn't stop. It turned toward her, its monstrous form still twitching with leftover electricity from her last attack.

Jhanvi's heart pounded. She had seen Shubash take hits before, but never like this. Never so helplessly.

The mutant lunged.

Jhanvi reacted instantly, sidestepping just in time. The creature's fist shattered the ground where she had been standing, sending chunks of concrete flying.

She spun, her sword slicing upward.

The electric blade cut deep into the zombie's side. Sparks crackled, burning into its flesh.

But the mutant didn't even flinch.

Instead, it grabbed her sword mid-swing.

Jhanvi's breath caught in her throat.

No…

With inhuman strength, the zombie ripped the sword from her grip and tossed it aside like a piece of scrap metal.

Then—

BAM!

Its massive fist slammed into her stomach.

Her vision blurred.

The air was forced from her lungs. She flew backward, crashing through a metal shutter and slamming into the floor of a ruined store.

She gasped for air, pain radiating from her entire body.

Her arms trembled as she tried to push herself up, but her strength was fading.

Footsteps.

Heavy. Slow. Relentless.

The mutant was coming for her.

Shubash groaned from the rubble, his body refusing to move. His ribs were shattered. He could barely breathe, let alone fight.

"We… lost?"

Arjun, still hovering in his tiny insect form, felt a deep chill spread through him.

"These two are strong, but they're not enough… this thing is on another level."

Then, something inside him snapped.

"No. Not in my sight."

His body shook as a sudden surge of energy coursed through him. His tiny insect form expanded—bones cracked, muscles stretched, fur sprouted across his growing body. His vision sharpened, his senses exploded, and his form solidified.

A monstrous wolf now stood in his place.

Towering like an elephant, its fur was dark as the night, shimmering under the dim light. Its claws dug deep into the pavement, and its golden eyes burned like twin suns. The sheer presence of the beast sent a ripple of fear through the air.

Then, Arjun let out a howl.

A deafening, spine-chilling sound that echoed across the ruins, shaking the very ground.

The mutant, mid-swing over Jhanvi, froze.

For a brief second, it hesitated, its glowing red eyes narrowing at this new predator. Then, with a furious roar, it charged.

Arjun launched forward, his paws thundering against the earth. Dust and debris flew as he closed the distance in an instant.

The mutant swung its massive pole, aiming for his skull.

But Arjun was faster.

He ducked, then leaped, soaring high above the mutant's reach. The air whistled around him as he came crashing down, his jaws wide open—

CRUNCH!

His fangs sank deep into the mutant's head.

A sickening crack echoed as bone shattered under his bite. The mutant thrashed violently, trying to shake him off, but it was already too late.

With one final snap, Arjun ripped the head clean off.

Blood sprayed as he landed gracefully, his paws crushing the lifeless body beneath him. The mutant's severed head dangled from his jaws before he tossed it aside like trash.

Then, he turned.

A fresh wave of zombies was closing in, drawn by the chaos. Thousands of them.

Arjun's eyes glowed.

With a deep, guttural growl, he charged.

His massive paws smashed the undead beneath him, flattening them into the dirt. He swung his claws, ripping through flesh like paper. A single swipe of his tail sent bodies flying into the air. His fangs tore into anything that dared to get close.

The horde was nothing.

Minutes later, the battlefield fell silent.

Arjun stood, his dark fur matted with blood, his chest rising and falling as he exhaled.

The once-threatening horde? Gone.

He turned back, his piercing golden eyes locking onto Jhanvi and Shubash, who were still recovering from the fight.

For the first time, they weren't looking at a weak survivor.

They were looking at a monster.

Before anything else, Arjun sprinted into an abandoned building. A few minutes later, he emerged wearing clean clothes, looking refreshed. He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled, feeling slightly more human again.

He turned to the others with a smile. "Are you alright?"

Janvi was still struggling to get up. Seeing this, Arjun stepped forward and extended his hand. She hesitated for a moment before grasping it, allowing him to help her to her feet.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice laced with exhaustion and wariness.

"Arjun," he replied simply, his smile warm but unreadable.

Janvi's eyes flickered over him, noticing his fresh clothes. Before she could question it, a strained voice interrupted them.

"Hey, you two! Help me out here! We can talk later!"

Both of them turned towards the source. Shubash was still trapped under the rubble, his face twisted in pain. Without hesitation, Arjun and Janvi rushed to his side, working together to free him.

Once they pulled him out, Janvi helped him sit down, her hands trembling slightly. But instead of resting, she immediately turned and hurried toward the other survivors, checking for signs of life.

Arjun crouched next to Shubash and extended his hand. "Hey, I'm Arjun."

Shubash grasped it firmly. "Shubash. And... thanks for saving my sister."

Sister? Arjun's gaze briefly flickered to Janvi. So, she's his sister. He nodded. "No issues, Shubash."

A moment later, Janvi returned, her face pale, eyes brimming with unshed tears. She shook her head. "No survivors."

The words hit like a hammer. A heavy silence settled over them. If they had been found sooner, maybe some could have made it. But here? In a world that had already crumbled, with no hospitals, no medicine... survival was a fleeting privilege, not a right.

Shubash let out a long breath, his jaw tight. He hadn't known these people before the apocalypse, but over the past week, they had fought side by side, facing death more times than he could count. And now... they were gone.

A deep, guttural roar shattered the silence.

Arjun's body tensed. The sound came from far away, but it was closing in. Fast.

Janvi turned sharply, her instincts kicking in. "The car is completely wrecked," she said after a quick inspection.

Shubash didn't waste time. He moved to a nearby vehicle, smashed the window with a practiced motion, and reached inside. A few wires, a spark, and within seconds, the engine roared to life. Janvi immediately climbed into the passenger seat.

Shubash looked at Arjun, who still stood outside. "You got anywhere to go?"

Arjun shook his head. "No."

"Then come with us. We're heading to the nearest military stronghold."

Arjun nodded and slipped into the backseat. Without another word, Shubash pressed down on the accelerator, the car screeching onto the road as they sped away from the horrors behind them.