Dust swirled in the heavy air as the group stood at the gates of Hybrid Mountain Stronghold, breathless and weary. Kazuichi's chest still heaved from the last confrontation, the crackle of electricity fading from his fingertips, and the remnants of his water manipulation hanging in the air like a cold mist. Yet, despite their efforts, the battle was far from over.
Kaito stumbled toward them, his body drenched in sweat. "We've been holding off the horde for at least an hour now... but there's more of them." His voice trembled with exhaustion. "Something bigger's coming. We don't know where they came from..."
A low rumble rolled across the valley, and Kazuichi's heart sank. From beyond the walls, a shadow emerged—massive and monstrous, a creature almost as large as the Gigantic Omega Zombie they had encountered before. It lumbered closer, each heavy step reverberating through the ground beneath them.
