Bai Li ducked beneath it, planted one hand on the creature's ribs, and vaulted over its back. Whisperfang flashed downward and opened a long cut from shoulder to hip.
The wound should have dropped a normal zombie instantly. Instead, the level 3 creature turned inside the cut. Flesh closed around the blade and trapped it. Bai Li's eyes sharpened. The zombie had deliberately swallowed her weapon into its own regenerating tissue.
Its hand came around toward her face.
Yan Cijin fired.
The bullet struck the wrist and knocked the claw aside.
Bai Li released Whisperfang rather than wasting time pulling it free. She stepped inside the creature's reach and struck its sternum with the heel of her palm. The evolved body folded slightly. She followed with a knee, then an elbow, then a sharp upward blow beneath the jaw. The zombie stumbled backward.
Whisperfang tore itself free when Bai Li called it back. The blade snapped into her hand just as the zombie charged again.
