The cluster of survivors immediately followed Emily, forming a tight-knit group holding hands, while a few others nursing injuries trailed behind.
After a brief moment, Emily spotted another warehouse with a closed door and took the initiative to investigate.
She halted at the nearest warehouse—designated for food storage. Emily quickly set up another explosive device and retreated as the door shattered, sending rough debris flying through the air.
Suddenly, a pained groan emanated from within the warehouse, the sound echoing through the wreckage.
Was it a human? Or a zombie?
Distinguishing between the sounds was challenging, particularly with novice zombies who sometimes still mimicked human behavior.
Emily's senses were on high alert as she cautiously approached the damaged entrance of the warehouse.
The survivors huddled closer, their expressions a mix of anticipation and anxiety. With a determined yet cautious stance, Emily gripped her weapon and peered into the dimly lit interior.
Emily took a sharp breath and approached cautiously. The groans and cries of pain echoed once more, not from just one individual but dozens.
The food storage warehouse was dimly lit, requiring her to get closer to ascertain the source of the sounds.
"Please! Help us here! Anyone, please help us!"
The desperate voice of a young woman pierced through the darkness, filling the air with a sense of urgency.
Emily's gloved fingers instinctively brushed against her holstered weapon as she hastened her steps. Her heart raced, anticipation and trepidation intertwining as she readied herself for whatever lay ahead.
Her breath caught in her throat as she entered the dimly lit warehouse, her senses alert to every detail.
The scene that greeted her was a shock. Dozens of figures lay sprawled on the floor, writhing in pain and letting out agonizing moans.
Emily's eyes widened as she surveyed the scene, her heart sinking at the sight of so many injured.
The majority were adults, their expressions a mixture of pain and desperation, while a few children clung to their caregivers, their tear-streaked faces reflecting their suffering.
Moved by the distressing scene before her, Emily swiftly lowered her weapon and approached the wounded with a mixture of caution and compassion.
She knelt beside a woman who appeared to be in her forties, her voice softening as she spoke.
"I'm Emily The Phoenix, a Slayer Knight. We're here to help," she assured, her tone gentle yet resolute. "We'll do everything we can to alleviate your pain and get you to safety."
Their faces pleaded for help as they gazed at Emily, prompting her to quickly assist. She was about to lift one of the children when her hand was abruptly yanked, causing her to crash to the ground.
Emily swiftly regained her footing, her right cheek throbbing from the impact. In the same instant, the inhabitants of the warehouse lunged at her once again, their once-pleading expressions now twisted into horrifying grins.
They had deceived her. They had undergone the transformation into zombies.
"Ohhhh, fuuuuucccckkk!!!" she cursed aloud, her frustration and surprise evident in her voice.
Emily's realization came abruptly as she felt a sharp pain when one of the children attempted to bite her hand.
The zombies surged forward with unexpected speed, and Emily swiftly withdrew her weapon.
Responding swiftly to the immediate danger, Emily's training kicked in. She focused on the closest zombie, her movements fluid and calculated.
With a determined yet grim expression, she lunged forward, her weapon slicing through the air. The blade found its mark, severing the man's neck with a gruesome finality.
Blood splattered across Emily's face and clothing, an unsettling testament to the brutality of the situation.
The gruesome spectacle seemed to fuel the other zombies, who charged forward in a frenzy. Emily's heart raced as she pivoted and unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches, each strike aimed at incapacitating her attackers.
Her body moved with a practiced precision, a testament to her combat skills honed through rigorous training.
Amidst the chaos, Emily's mind remained clear and focused. She expertly exploited the weaknesses of her opponents, targeting joints and vital areas with lethal accuracy.
The sounds of impact, grunts, and the eerie moans of the zombies filled the air, creating a chilling symphony of violence.
"Ohhhh, fuuuuucccckkk!!!" she cursed aloud, her frustration and surprise evident in her voice.
Emily's realization came abruptly as she felt a sharp pain when one of the children attempted to bite her hand. The zombies surged forward with unexpected speed, and Emily swiftly withdrew her weapon.
Responding swiftly to the immediate danger, Emily's training kicked in. She focused on the closest zombie, her movements fluid and calculated.
With a determined yet grim expression, she lunged forward, her weapon slicing through the air. The blade found its mark, severing the man's neck with a gruesome finality.
Blood splattered across Emily's face and clothing, an unsettling testament to the brutality of the situation.
The gruesome spectacle seemed to fuel the other zombies, who charged forward in a frenzy. Emily's heart raced as she pivoted and unleashed a barrage of kicks and punches, each strike aimed at incapacitating her attackers.
Her body moved with a practiced precision, a testament to her combat skills honed through rigorous training.
She pulled out her explosives and hurled one towards the cluster of zombies crawling out of the breached wall.
The explosion tore through their bodies, successfully obliterating them, but more zombies emerged from another direction, their relentless advance showing no signs of abating.
The food storage warehouse's walls were riddled with openings, serving as a conduit for the undead to pour through.
Emily continued to deploy her explosives, each detonation producing a destructive blast that temporarily halted the onslaught.
Her movements were calculated, her aim precise as she strategically aimed for the areas where the zombies were most concentrated.