Chapter 12: The Mutant cat
The morning sun cast a faint glow through the windows of the dormitory as everyone gathered in the mess hall. The atmosphere was tense—while food was still plentiful, the danger outside was increasing. Zombies were becoming more aggressive, and more mutant creatures had started appearing.
Sam sat with his bow resting against his leg, glancing around the room. Blake, Ryan, Ian, Max, Garry, and several others were present, some fighters, some support staff. They had all come together for a discussion that could change their situation drastically.
Ryan crossed his arms. "We've been contacted by other dorms and even the female dormitory. Some groups are surrounded, and the number of zombies near their buildings keeps growing. We can't just sit here and wait for them to overrun us."
Blake nodded. "We're growing stronger every day, but if we don't secure allies, we'll be overwhelmed sooner or later. If we help others now, they'll be more willing to join us."
Max clenched his fists. "Anna's in the female dormitory. They've got supplies, but a mutant cat is making things worse. They're running low on ammo and can't clear the threat themselves. If we don't do something, they won't last long."
Ian tapped his sword against the floor. "We don't have enough people to send a huge team, but we can split up. Some of us will assist the female dormitory while others help the nearby hostels clear zombies and strengthen their positions. If we do this right, we increase our numbers and make our situation better in the long run."
Garry nodded in agreement. "We can't keep relying on just ourselves. The more people who can fight, the better."
Sam exhaled. "I'll go to the female dorm with Max and Ian. We'll deal with the mutant cat and check on their situation."
Ryan looked around. "Garry and I will lead another group to clear out the zombies around the nearby dorms and help survivors. The more people we get organized, the safer it'll be for all of us."
Blake stood. "I'll stay back and coordinate things here. We need to maintain security while the rest of you are out. If things go wrong, we regroup. No unnecessary risks."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The decision was made. Fighters checked their weapons, and the support staff began preparing extra supplies. Soon after, they all moved out, each group heading toward their respective missions.
Sam, Max, and Ian moved cautiously through the campus pathways toward the female hostel. None of the buildings were abandoned—each one had survivors, and each one was surrounded by zombies. The three of them had to weave through alleyways and side paths to avoid attracting too much attention.
Max held his shield tightly, his sword at the ready. Ian carried his legendary sword, gripping it firmly. Sam kept his bow drawn, a mana arrow nocked as they moved forward.
Meanwhile, back at their hostel, Ryan and Garry led a small group to clear zombies from around the nearby buildings. Their goal was to reduce the zombie numbers, making it easier for trapped survivors to escape or reinforce their defenses. Some students had already shown interest in fighting, and today's efforts would determine if they could truly hold their own.
Sam, Max, and Ian approached the female hostel, where the sound of groaning and shuffling feet filled the air. Unlike their own building, which had been mostly secured, this hostel was still overrun with zombies. To reach the mutant cat, they would have to clear a path through the infected.
Max readied his shield and sword. "No way around it. We go through."
Sam nocked an arrow. "Take them out quickly. We can't let them pile up on us."
Ian gripped his legendary sword tightly. "Let's move."
The first zombie lunged at them—a former student, its uniform still partially intact but covered in dried blood. Sam let loose an arrow, piercing its forehead and dropping it instantly. The noise drew more of them from the hallway.
"Here they come!" Max shouted as he stepped forward, bashing a zombie with his shield before slashing down with his sword. The undead staggered, but Ian swiftly followed up, decapitating it in one clean motion.
More zombies poured in from the rooms. Ian and Max held the front line while Sam provided cover, shooting precise arrows into their skulls. One zombie lunged at Ian from the side, but he turned just in time, driving his sword through its chest and twisting the blade to sever its spine.
Sam fired another arrow, but his supply was limited. He switched to his long knife and slashed at a zombie that got too close. Max shoved another into a wall and crushed its skull with a heavy downward strike.
"We're almost there!" Ian called out.
The trio fought their way up the stairs, stepping over the fallen bodies of the undead. As they reached the second floor, they could hear the distinct growl of the mutant cat waiting for them. The Cat had cleared most of the zombies on this floor and evolved
Max whispered, "That's not a normal cat."
Sam raised his bow, drawing the mana arrow back. "Let's see how tough it really is."
Before they could react, a blur of black fur shot forward. The cat dodged Sam's arrow entirely and lunged at Max, claws scraping against his shield.
"Shit! It's fast!" Max grunted, barely holding his stance.
Ian stepped forward, his legendary sword glowing faintly as he swung at the cat. The creature twisted unnaturally, dodging the strike and countering with a swipe that forced him back.
Sam quickly fired another mana arrow, this time striking the cat's side. The explosion forced it to drop, landing awkwardly.
Max took the opening, slamming it with his shield. The force sent the cat skidding across the floor.
"Now!" Sam shouted.
Ian dashed in and plunged his sword into the mutant's exposed belly. The cat thrashed, letting out a horrific screech, before Sam fired another mana arrow straight into its head, ending the fight.
The three of them stood there, panting.
Max was the first to move, wiping the blood from his face. "Let's go. I need to see Anna."
Ian nodded. "Yeah, we need to check on them."
Sam nudged the corpse with his foot. Picking up a small stone from the head of the mutant cat, Sam studied it briefly. He didn't know its purpose, but he had a feeling it would be useful later. "Let's find the others and get out of here."
Meanwhile, in another part of the campus, Ryan and Garry's team were already making progress, helping a group of trapped students and clearing out zombies. They had managed to secure one of the smaller dormitories, and more students were now willing to fight. The tide of survival was beginning to shift in their favor, but they knew this was just the beginning.
They didn't feel like heroes. They just felt lucky to be alive.