Yawning, I found myself already outside the forest. My Fortress now occupied nearly half of it, and the once-dangerous woods had become nothing more than my backyard.
I glanced toward the crumbling hotel ahead. Its structure leaned precariously, as if ready to collapse with a sigh. Not a single zombie in sight. Honestly, it was a bit boring.
---
Meanwhile...
Inside the makeshift shelter, the atmosphere was heavy with frustration. The group had worked tirelessly over the past week, pushing themselves to their limits. Tensions were high, and morale was low.
They were disgusted—by the world, by their circumstances, and by the sheer futility of their efforts. Each of them had witnessed death firsthand. They'd watched soldiers—strong, disciplined, and armed—fall one by one on the frontlines.
Zombies were everywhere. Though there hadn't been any massive hordes lately, the danger was ever-present. Whispers of the Demon Twins still echoed among the survivors. Many had watched their battles on salvaged phones, their skills unbelievable, their power overwhelming.
Trish,arms crossed, a mocking grin playing in her face and held a innocent looks...
"How the hell did they just suddenly get powers like that?" she said in a playful but bitter tone.
She chuckled darkly. "Hmm… do you think our little toy is still alive?"
Her voice dripped with mockery, not a shred of pity in her tone.
Lorraine giggled beside her. "I don't know. Maybe a zombie's chewing on him right now. Hell, we could've stepped on him for all we know."
Samminah didn't respond. Too exhausted for drama, she stretched lazily, her body aching, curves shifting as she prepared to sleep inside the tent.
Jasmine, frustrated, fumbled through her things. "Damn it… no cigarettes. Again." Her voice was sharp with irritation.
Rhian, lying nearby, didn't even glance at them. She was sick of hearing about that punching bag. All she wanted was peace.
Aria, still scrolling through social feeds on her cracked device, sighed. People were awakening powers left and right. Why hadn't she?
But while the group bickered and sulked, chaos crept behind them.
The stronger zombies were becoming more frequent. The military, already strained, could barely hold them off anymore. The shelter's defenses were crumbling.
At the frontlines stood Maria, the core of the military's defense. She was relentless, mowing down wave after wave of zombies with her rifle. Her hands were blistered, her body trembling, but she kept going.
They had already called for reinforcements—but there was no reply. None were coming.
Then, without warning, a massive meteor—nearly the size of a building—crashed nearby. It didn't make a loud noise, just a deep, disturbing thud that barely registered.
No one noticed it at first... not until the tide changed.
Zombies began to surge. More and more. The thin trickle became a flood.
Until now, the Demon Twins had kept the area relatively safe. This had been their domain. But now… something had shifted. Something big.
Thousands of zombies descended on the shelter.
Panic erupted.
Amidst the chaos, Maria felt something inside her snap—no, awaken. A surge of raw energy pulsed through her veins. Her skin tightened, her muscles stronger Her bones felt like steel.
She threw down her rifle.
Her fists clenched.
And when she struck—five zombies dropped, skulls shattered.
A soldier nearby screamed in shock and joy.
"Our leader… she's awakened! She's an Awakened now!"
Gasps rippled through the ranks. Eyes lit up with new hope.
Maria moved like a goddess of war, fists drenched in gore, her expression unshaken. Every punch broke bones, crushed skulls, tore through flesh.
Fear turned to awe. They watched her hold the line, alone, against hundreds.
But even as the pressure eased for the others, it only mounted for her.
Every zombie she killed made her stronger—but fatigue crept in. Her arms throbbed with injury, her body screaming in pain. Still, she did not stop.
She thought of the innocents. The civilians. The children in the shelter.
She couldn't stop.
Then—movement in the distance. Her blood ran cold.
Mutated zombies. Dozens. Maybe hundreds.
They were monstrous—towering nine feet tall, their bloated bodies covered in rotten flesh, eyes burning with unnatural hunger.
Her heart sank.
The troops behind her saw them too.
One by one, the soldiers broke. They dropped their weapons and ran. They didn't look back.
Maria stared, stunned, as her comrades abandoned her.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
So this was how it ended?
Still, she didn't run. She clenched her fists tighter, and in that moment, something changed again.
A white flame engulfed her fists.
Every punch now sent entire clusters of zombies flying. The earth cracked beneath her blows. She had awakened a second time—the first to ever do so.
But her body couldn't take it. Her muscles tore. Her bones cracked. Her skin split.
She had minutes left.
Still, she fought. Still, she refused to fall.
And just as the pain became too much, just as the world began to blur—
She froze.
From the smoke and chaos ahead… a figure stepped forward.
The Robots she saw in online...
And in front of her...
A Black Mask and Tall body extremely Lean one at that
He stood at the frontline, a cold aura swirling around him. His expression was unreadable. His presence overwhelming.
Maria sank to her knees, leaning against the wall, her vision swimming.
She watched as he moved.
It wasn't a fight. It was slaughter.
Zombies were torn apart like paper. Limbs flew. Heads rolled. The air itself vibrated with his every strike.
Maria could only watch and Gulp in fear on what's happening infront of her