New Base-2

Eliza nodded and went over to Joseph, who was fighting a fourth-level zombie.

She immediately joined the fight.

The faster they finished off the small zombies here, the faster they could help Marcus.

Eliza nodded and went over to Joseph, who was fighting a fourth-level zombie. She immediately joined the fight.

This zombie was different from the others. It was quite large and heavy; its belly was swollen, and some parts of its skin were stretched to the point of bursting. It wore a torn lab coat and didn't have a single hair left on its head. Its shiny, sweaty, and infection-stained bald head reflected the light. His eyes were glassy and lifeless, but the dark fluid flowing from his mouth still revealed his appetite for the living.

The zombie suddenly lunged at Joseph, surprisingly fast despite his bulk. Joseph jumped aside at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a massive claw. Eliza gripped her sword with both hands and delivered a powerful blow to the zombie's back, but its thick skin and broad shoulders dispersed the impact. The creature roared, turned, and swiped at Eliza with a claw. Eliza jumped back to avoid the blow but lost her balance.

Joseph immediately took advantage of the opening. He plunged the sword in his hand into the zombie's swollen chest, but this only enraged the creature further. As it leaned toward Joseph, Eliza regained her balance, jumped up from a crouching position, and plunged her sword into the zombie's eye.

The sword was a little too wide, so it took some effort, but it finally pierced the bone and reached the brain inside. The zombie paused for a moment, its head fell to the side, and then its entire body collapsed to the ground.

Eliza and Joseph looked at each other, breathing deeply for a few seconds. They were covered in blood, but they were still standing.

"Are you okay?" Eliza asked.

Joseph nodded. "I wouldn't have made it without you."

"Marcus needs help," Eliza said sternly.

They both immediately turned toward Marcus and moved to rejoin the battle.

A young soldier fighting alongside Pete, Donovan, was struggling with a zombie, swinging his sword. He was out of breath, his forehead covered in sweat. While Pete was dealing with another creature nearby, he didn't notice a second zombie approaching Donovan from behind.

"Donovan! Behind you!" Pete shouted, but it was too late.

The zombie sank its jaw into Donovan's shoulder. The young soldier screamed and collapsed to the ground. Other zombies moved toward the sound. Pete rushed over and tried to pull him away, but Donovan's eyes were already glazing over.

"No... no..." Pete whispered, but Donovan's life was slipping away through his fingers.

In the distance, Eliza and Joseph had heard the call for help but realized they were too late. Donovan was gone.

One of them had fallen, leaving a shadow-like weight over them. But there was no time; the battle raged on.

Eliza and Joseph immediately turned toward Pete after Donovan's death. Pete was still in shock, but Eliza touched his arm, bringing him back to reality.

"Pete, pull yourself together! We need to take care of the others!"

Pete blinked and nodded. "Yes... yes, you're right."

The trio quickly organized themselves. Joseph led the way, with Eliza on his left and Pete on his right, and they advanced toward the remaining zombies. Donovan's absence only strengthened their determination to fight.

Though the remaining zombies no longer posed an organized threat, they were still dangerous. Joseph skillfully dispatched his enemies one by one with his sword, while Eliza swiftly slipped through gaps to deliver fatal blows. Pete struck with each move as if seeking revenge for Donovan, showing no mercy to his enemies.

Bradley, Tom, Pete, Edmond, Ray, Jenna, Malik, Nora, Liam, Hugo, and finally Elias joined forces to kill the zombies with all their might. They fought as if it were their last day. 

Some of them leveled up, some gained new abilities, but no one dared to rejoice. 

Because Donovan was dead, and the battle was not over yet.

After confirming that all the zombies were dead, Joseph approached Donovan's half-eaten corpse. He easily stabbed Donovan's head with his sword, eliminating the possibility of him coming back as a zombie.

Finally, there was not a single zombie left in the garden. A deathly silence fell over the garden.

But the real battle was still ahead of Marcus.

Eliza narrowed her eyes as she watched the blows Marcus was taking. Watching Marcus get knocked back with each vine strike made her throat tighten. She approached Joseph and spoke in a low voice.

"If we can't pull him out of there, Marcus won't last much longer."

Joseph nodded, turning his gaze to the crack and the vine roots surrounding the creature. He had heard Eliza shouting. "The zombie is connected to the energy of that crack. That's where its heart is."

Eliza turned her eyes to the other soldiers. "We need to get it out of the crack's range. But we can't pull it out directly. It will react."

"No," Joseph said. "But we can force it."

He quickly crouched down and began examining the ground where the vines fed and the directions in which they spread. "If we cut these three roots, it will lose its connection to the area. It will have to move."

Eliza understood. "Instead of attacking it, we'll shake its foundation."

Joseph stood up, his voice firm. "Ray! Malik! Sofia! Don't approach Marcus directly. We'll cut the three main roots around the crack. You just use your swords. Silence is still important."

Pete was still breathing heavily but had composed himself. "I'll help them too. I'll distract it to change the direction of the vines."

Joseph glanced around one last time. "Eliza, you take the second root. I'll go for the third. We have to move this creature."

Everyone took their positions with a quick nod. The plan was simple but risky: instead of killing the Leyroot Zombie outright, they would separate it from the ley point it was connected to. This would make Marcus' attack more effective.

Marcus was fending off the vines, breathing heavily, covered in blood. His eyes met Eliza's for a moment. She tried to say something with her eyes.

"Buy us some time. We're coming."

Eliza turned her eyes to the Leyroot Zombie. The zombie was still standing still, but the vines were attacking Marcus with fury. Eliza took a deep breath. "The time has come," she said to Joseph.

Joseph nodded. "The first root point is northeast, next to the stone pillar. Sofia and Ray, Malik, come with me!"

Eliza said, "The second one is on the western front. Elias, Nora, Jenna, come with me!"

Pete, Edmond, Bradley, and Tom were also directed to the third point. Each group began moving silently toward their designated root point.

Joseph's group struck first. The root was buried in the ground like a thick vein, but it began to be cut with swords. The vines suddenly shaked, and the Leyroot Zombie let out a piercing scream toward the sky. As the screams shook the ground, Marcus stumbled.

"AH!" he groaned, taking a vine blow to his shoulder. A deep wound opened, blood trickling down his shoulder.

When the second root was cut, the Leyroot Zombie this time launched vines from its back. Elias fell to the ground, but Eliza swiftly parried the zombie's attack. The vine wrapped around Marcus's leg, flinging him into a tree. The tree creaked as he crashed into it. 

Marcus's face was covered in blood. He clenched his teeth and struggled to his feet, lifting his mace with difficulty. "It's not over..." he muttered. 

When the third root was cut, Leyroot Zombie went berserk. Blue ley energy burst from its body, and the vines attacked the surroundings like mad. Marcus was struck in the chest, and his breath was knocked out. He fell to one knee, but did not let go of the mace in his hand.

Joseph shouted, "Now! Eliza, push him out of the crack!"

Eliza ran to Marcus's side. "Come on, Marcus! We'll do this together!"

Marcus clenched his teeth and, with Eliza's help, stood up. He gripped the mace once more and walked toward the creature. This time, the zombie had to take a step… It had to exit the crack.

The Leyroot Zombie moved for the first time. As it took a step, part of its vines withered, and its energy weakened.

Eliza whispered, "That's it!"

Marcus roared and threw himself at the Leyroot zombie with his mace, using his last ounce of strength. He swung his mace with all his might. This mace strike contained the power of several abilities.

[Shock Wave I: Causes a repulsive wave to spread in an "O" shape in the area where the user deals damage. Repulsion power +10%, repulsion damage +5%]

[Brute Force I: Melee Physical Damage +5%]

[Heavy Weapon Skill I: Physical Damage +5% when using heavy weapons]

[Adrenaline Hunger I: Attack Power +10%, Movement Speed -10% during combat] 

[Cannon Fodder: Attracts the enemy's attention, EXP +50%, POWER +1]

Each sharp tip of the mace could be seen piercing the zombie's brain in slow motion.

A zombie torn from Ley was powerless. But even in death, it died in a manner befitting a Leyroot zombie.

As it died, its vines flew in every direction like spears.

The most exhausted and helpless person was Marcus. Eliza stepped forward and swung her sword with all her strength at the spear-like vine. The part between her thumb and index finger was shattered due to the backlash, but she felt it was worth it to save Marcus's life. 

Then Eliza looked around; everyone was unharmed except for a few minor injuries. She then turned her head toward the Leyroot zombie.

Amidst the cracks, the creature's head split open, and blue ley energy scattered around. The zombie collapsed. Then all the remaining vines twisted and withered. 

The battle was over. A true silence fell over the garden. This time, it was the silence of victory. 

But not for Marcus...

"You killed a Leyroot Zombie!" 

"You gained an item!"

[Oakroot Shield Lv9 (Can be upgraded)]