Third-person POV.
Evelina and Thanatos approached the eastern gates of the military base, their tired eyes squinting in the morning sunlight. They hadn't slept all night, but their cultivation levels gradually enhanced their physical and mental capabilities.
They were not surprised to see the gates in ruins. The undead had breached the defenses long ago, yet the sounds of gunfire from rifles and machine guns continued to echo.
— Do you think we should leave this place? — Evelina asked, forming acid balls on the surface of her palms.
In that moment, they were closing in on the military base, their dread growing as they saw the increasing numbers of zombies.
— We're definitely leaving this place. This is totally fucked up! — Thanatos replied, approaching the zombie horde from behind.
Now, the majority of the undead were made up of hundreds of the strongest fighters, who were once ordinary soldiers.
— Oh, what a dire situation, — Evelina sneered as she squinted. Together with Thanatos, she reached the destroyed military base, observing the relentless onslaught of the undead amidst the sounds of continuous gunfire.
Low service structures had turned into burning wreckage, with concrete walls and structures losing their structural integrity during the battles. Across the lifeless, muddy ground, the unsettling undead moved fearlessly, unaffected by the sunlight. This horde of zombies displayed unusual activity for daytime, directly influenced by Morena's powers, rendering them unafraid of the energy of Light.
The zombies roared furiously and moved at a familiar pace, and they were led by a few intelligent zombies that hid between the rows.
The undead army quickly sensed the presence of Thanatos and Evelina, whispering in unison, — Braааins, brains to eat!
Thanatos shrugged at their growls and turned to Evelina, — The intelligent zombies are ordering their horde to destroy the power substations, to completely cut off the military base's electricity. So, we'll have to break through them to reach the surviving command center. Our girls must be there.
Evelina smiled beneath her black mask, though Thanatos couldn't see it. Without a word, she lunged at the zombie crowd, splashing them with acid and deftly evading their bites.
Thanatos wanted to reach for his sword, but then remembered that Morena had broken it.
«Darn it, what will I tell Nemesis? Morena owes me a new sword!» he cursed inwardly, covering his hands with Chaos energy.
He followed Evelina, killing zombie soldiers. Thanatos aimed where it was most convenient – either piercing their chests or exploding their heads with crimson energy.
As for Evelina, she fired small acid bombs, hitting a large area of undead. Delighting in the zombies' screams, the green-eyed brunette laughed, — Ha-ha-ha, perish, mindless trash!
Their teamwork allowed them to swiftly break through the weak undead ranks, as Evelina and Thanatos fought together.
They reached the last line of defense, that protected the transport hangars and the main headquarters.
Cleverly navigating past the fence, Evelina and Thanatos instantly encountered Emma, Samuel, and Victor, who were fully equipped and ready.
— Emma, how are things with you? — Evelina asked, hugging the small blonde in military uniform.
— Everything is extremely dire! Your elder sister was waiting for you, and we lost over a thousand soldiers as a result, — Emma worriedly spoke. Pointing at Victor, she added, — By the way, he became a cultivator!
At that moment, Victor leaned against a supporting column, smoking a hand-rolled cigarette with unknown contents. He was issued a assault rifle, several grenades, a radio, and protective gear covering almost his entire body, guarding against weak spots that zombies might attempt to bite.
Samuel and Emma had more modest tactical gear, as they lacked combat experience.
— And what can you do? — Evelina asked. She also kept an eye on the horde of zombies slowly breaking through the defense line.
Victor replied, — I can control the blood of other beings... Although it would be more accurate to say not control, but kill using the energy contained in the blood. I barely have any control over this process. And I have to spend a lot of concentration and strength on each zombie, which is extremely challenging.
— Thanatos, you're okay! — Agatha exclaimed joyfully, rushing out of the headquarters.
With a passionate kiss, Agatha hugged the white-haired guy, holding him like a plush toy. Despite the assurances of her two relatives about his well-being, she had been deeply concerned for Thanatos' safety all night.
Mysteriously, Nemesis and Spica appeared behind Agatha, who, due to Morena's barrier, couldn't see what was truly happening. Their instincts succumbed to the illusion where Thanatos and Evelina were merrily fighting the zombies throughout their absence.
Breaking the deep kiss, Thanatos caressed his girlfriend's back, saying, — I'm also glad you're okay, Agatha.
— I was so worried about you, my love! If you were to die, who would whip my ass and torture me? — Agatha exclaimed.
— Agatha, you're a support magic cultivator. I'd be delighted to torment you endlessly, — Nemesis grinned, approaching Thanatos. She pushed Agatha aside, embraced her younger brother, and whispered in his ear, — I missed you so much, Than.
— And I didn't, — Thanatos replied, turning to Spica, — Good to see you, Spica. What are your predictions for the near future?
— Nature will soon be saturated with decaying corpses of most soldiers, — Spica replied, hesitating to hug Thanatos. Their relationship was far from close, and embracing each other would feel extremely awkward.
— Hey, don't ignore me, little brother! We grew up together for seventeen years, so don't offend your vulnerable little sister, — Nemesis said sadly, expressing a feigned grievance.
— You can't be offended after I got offended by you first. It's like the musical chairs game rule, — Thanatos said with a smirk.
Together, they engaged in friendly banter, but after a few minutes, their conversation was interrupted by the anxious voice of the lieutenant colonel, who approached Agatha, — General-Major, we have serious problems! In half an hour, the zombie army will break the last remnants of defense, and we'll all perish.
Agatha swiftly transformed from a lovesick girl into a resolute woman, giving clear orders, — Now that Thanatos and Evelina have returned, start getting the trucks ready. Let the squads retreat slowly towards the hangars, using the last grenades. We will detonate the headquarters to distract the undead, and we'll leave the base using military vehicles.
— Understood! — John saluted, relaying the information through the radio.
...
POV Agatha.
As a General-Major and the head of the army staff, I bear a heavy on my heart as my brave soldiers sacrifice their lives to defend the last line of defense against the relentless undead horde on the base. The burden of responsibility is immense, and I cannot help but feel the weight of each life entrusted to me.
Regardless of the strategy, the zombies are closing in, leaving us with meager chances. It would be wiser to evacuate the base using military transport, as only a few hundred soldiers are left alive. However, I made the difficult decision to wait for Thanatos and Evelina.
In moments where the lives of those close to you hang in the balance, the power and authority I possess become paramount.
I simply couldn't hold together the dislocated battalions and squads without my high military rank. I earned the title of General-Major through diligent effort, having gone through a mountain of targets I killed at the government's behest.
But, in the end, my selfish and entirely unprofessional decision led to several thousand soldiers falling into the relentless undead's clutches. Now, as zombies, they seek revenge for my betrayal in pursuit of time. Time that allowed me to wait for the man I love...
Ah, I must admit to myself that I am genuinely a troubled woman with masochistic inclinations. And this gnaws at my conscience, but I won't stop. The world is no longer the same as it used to be. And I will commit any military and human crimes to preserve the lives of those close to me! The monsters destroyed the state, so I will live for love.
Currently, all the surviving people were sitting in the transport hangar, waiting for all the vehicles to be ready so that we could detonate the headquarters.
My heart filled with relief and gratitude when I saw that Thanatos and Evelina had returned unharmed from their operation in the forest. I cannot imagine life without their presence, although surviving Evelina's death would have been less difficult for me.
Gathering all our strength in the hangar, we prepared to blow up the main headquarters as a diversionary maneuver. The explosion would distract a significant portion of the horde, giving us a chance to leave the military base.
As I issued the final orders, my voice trembled with tension and hopelessness, — R-recheck the operability of the machine guns mounted on the roofs of the vehicles. If someone's weapon breaks during the escape, they'll condemn everyone in that transport to certain death...
Despite the internal fear, I knew that this risky plan was our best chance at survival.
Every step we took was a testament to the bravery and dedication of my soldiers, and I felt immense pride in their unwavering loyalty to the mission, even in the face of such darkness and threat.
Clasping my hands together, I began to pray for our success, for the lives of my loved ones, and for a future where we could rise above this apocalyptic nightmare.
While we made the final preparations, my emotions combined anxiety and hope. The battlefield was no place for the faint-hearted, and I had to lead my troops with unwavering determination and courage.
— All squads are ready, — John Grant reported through the radio.
My armored army Hummer was filled with close ones and the main force: Nemesis sat with the machine gun in the roof hatch; Thanatos was the driver; I sat in the front seat next to the steering wheel, giving orders through the radio; Spica and Evelina sat in the back of the vehicle.
I pressed the detonation button and issued the command through the radio, — Then let's go!
The army trucks, jeeps, and SUVs started driving out amid the sounds of a massive explosion, accompanied by shockwaves, deafening rumblings, and a dazzling fireworks display.
— Holy shit, this is insane! There are so many, — Evelina exclaimed, leaning against the thick glass, mesmerized.
— What are you surprised about, Evelina? — Thanatos asked, trying not to knock down the walking undead. He chuckled and amazed me with his next words, — There are only a few times more undead here than when you single-handedly destroyed four hundred zombies.
— Oo-ooh, yeah! This damned forest 'gifted' me with a plethora of amazing sensations, — Evelina replied.
I got distracted by their conversation and accidentally squeezed the radio, yelling at Evelina, — What the hell were you thinking, idiot?! You went after a huge horde of four hundred monsters? Did you leave your brain at home or what?
Spica sat quietly behind me. She wrapped her arms around my defenseless body from behind and explained briefly, — She's a Third Star Cultivator, so she can handle weaklings like them.
I shrugged off Spica and raised my voice again, — What the fuck difference does it make?! I'm worried about my sister. It would be better if you kept quiet until I didn't remind your stupid head how you hit my beloved Thanatos!
— Hey, why are you so emotionally invested in me? Nemesis told me you weren't particularly concerned about your younger sister's possible death, — Evelina retorted with a hint of offense, puffing up like a little child.
Meanwhile, Thanatos continued evading the zombies, but some managed to leap onto the armored Hummer. That's when Nemesis came into play, shooting the potential threat with her machine gun.
— Dear babies, let's not fight among ourselves, — Thanatos mumbled, keeping an eye on the road packed with hundreds of zombies.
At first, I looked at the results of the successful explosion: about half of the zombies successfully ran towards the headquarters, falling for the diversion.
Then I turned to my younger sister and honestly admitted, — For several years, I was deeply convinced that you posed a significant threat to my relationship with Thanatos. But after having a threesome with Nemesis, I realized that you are incapable of privatizing it to yourself. Older sister welcomes brother's male polygamy, and I realized that Nemesis' "word" is above competition. Which means we can divide Thanatos between us, and I don't have to wish you dead, Evelina.
— Umm-m-m... — Thanatos glanced at me awkwardly and muttered, — Could you have turned off the radio before the passionate revelation?
I was dumbfounded and slowly lowered my bewildered gaze to my clenched hand, the finger of which was holding the speech transmission button.
— Hahaha! You got busted, ha-ha-ha, — Spica burst into laughter, addressing Nemesis, who was sitting behind the machine gun, firing actively, — Did you hear that, silly? They sold you out with all the details.
— Yeah, I heard, — Nemesis replied unenthusiastically.
— Y-y-you all three were doing s-something indecent? — Evelina asked rhetorically, blushing deeply and burying her face in the glass.
I knew Evelina well, and I understood that she was observing the zombies to distract herself from lascivious thoughts and dark envy towards me.
Spica mumbled for a couple of seconds before asking Nemesis something, — Don't tell me he shoved a dick up your vagina and burst the hymen?
— You're nobody to me! What do you care if I'm fucking around with my own younger brother? — Nemesis retorted, kicking Spica with her foot.
In principle, I was thinking the same thing. Spica asked such questions as if they had known each other for a hundred years... it was strange.
During the car escape, we engaged in heated discussions related to Thanatos. Fifteen minutes later, the column of military vehicles left the dangerous zone.
The Montok military base was lost to us. We also lost several vehicles with soldiers during this operation.
I gave the order to leave Long Island. One hour later, we bypassed the center of New York over the Throgs Neck Bridge and stopped near an empty gas station.
After getting out of the cars, the lieutenant colonel examined the condition of the soldiers and made several reports. Firstly, only 156 soldiers survived, among whom there were 18 stellar cultivators. It was tragic news but entirely predictable.
My own procrastination had condemned thousands of lives to certain death...
Secondly, we needed to find a new place to relocate the surviving military personnel.
Fortunately, Nemesis assured me that she had an impregnable fortress where neither the undead nor the army of demons would ever break through.
— Oh, it's a complete disaster! — I growled into the void due to emotional exhaustion. Thanatos patted my head, trying to comfort me, but I came up with a brilliant idea. I started gesturing to my beloved man, — You, me, the gas station - hot and wicked sex in the restroom!
— Agatha, it's a tempting offer, but I... — Thanatos tried to get away from me, but I grabbed him by the balls through his jeans and pulled him along.
Now he was an obedient boy, and I hope he'll punish me for such treatment, heh-heh-heh...
— Grr-rawr! My Thanatos was stolen by my own sister. Are you shamelessly taking him away from me right in front of my eyes? I hate you, army bitch, — Evelina shouted, stomping her foot on the asphalt.
I kissed my middle finger and showed her an indecent gesture, enjoying teasing my sister, — And I love you very much too, Evelina! That's why I ask you not to interfere with ours session of releasing sexual tension.
Hugging Thanatos tightly, I led him to the gas station, ordering the soldiers to leave the building and search the area for supplies or useful items.