Kyle was enthralled as much as all the others. He talked hushedly with his friend Michele. "Who is your favorite so far?"
"Has to be Torrent. His ability to control water is unmatched right now." Michele said happily.
Kyle had looked over that feed but decided it was a dud. Their power would wane once this rain stopped. Though red team was further along than blue due to it.
"And yours?" Michele asked absentmindedly.
Kyle didn't rightly know. He enjoyed Sandy. Her use of twin blades was enjoyable to watch as she killed the sea creatures. There was also Rod and his squad. The first ones he started watching. He just didn't respond and Michele didn't ask again as she continued watching her own feeds.
Kyle paid attention again as a portion of blue team was about to fight a massive wave of undead. Kyle brimmed with anticipation.
Rod was choking on anticipation. His worry making it hard to rest. None but the most tired slept as the timer came closer and closer to 24 hours. Tensions got even higher when a few scouts reported that the undead were already gathering around them. It seemed that the timer was leading towards when the attack was starting instead of just the event itself.
There were reports of hundreds just circling our location. Our defenses weren't ready. The rain making it hard to do anything outside. So that meant our first and only line was the building itself.
That wasn't to say we were doomed. Quite a few last minute people had arrived as well as the ones who has gotten here while we were gone getting the crate. I talked to one of them as I waited.
"Names Rod," I said to a guy wearing a thick leather jacket, "Nervous?"
"Who isn't? And I'm Mack." He replied. His piercing brown eyes never lost focus on the window and the rainy scene beyond. I couldn't see what was out there and most likely he couldn't either. But the unknown was more dangerous than the known at this point. Paranio and fear were everywhere.
"If you don't mind me asking is that jacket what you chose? And how'd you choose the name?" I couldn't help myself it was still something I liked doing and being so nervous myself I needed the conversation.
"The name was on the jacket when I found it. And no. This is what I chose." He pointed two fingers at a wall and moved his thumb down. I saw nothing happen. Confused I was about to ask till he pointed again and I focused. A new dent formed on the wall. "What?"
"I shoot invisible balls of force. They don't do that much damage but unlike many others abilities, this doesn't really drain me that much. Can still put an undead down just fine.
Frankly, I loved my item but still kinda wished I got something more interesting like Mack's. Shooting balls of force sounded cool. And the fact they were invisible meant so many cool applications.
I hadn't met them yet but heard two people had come in with the power to shoot balls of flame from their hands. Another shot lasers from their eyes. There were many more with cool items.
We learned quickly that items were in a sense bonded to their person. There was an idea to give one person a bunch of items and make them a killing machine. But that idea was a bust. The only known way wasn't something we wanted to do. Dying made the person drop their things and a new person could pick it up. If they held onto it for a while then it bonded to them.
My thoughts were interrupted as Mack spoke. "And you?" He asked for probably not the first time.
"Oh yes sorry. I have this." I showed him how it worked and he didn't seem entirely impressed till I used it to send myself straight up. I'd practiced this idea a few times and usually lost balance but put all my effort in as I pogoed around. Others looked and garnered a few giggles at the absurdity of someone being yanked around on a pole. For that is probably what it looked like. My grace wasn't quite there yet.
"Get down Rod 'n listen up." A familiar voice yelled. I did as asked as I lowered myself back down. My arms were a bit tired of trying to hold on, the force was still slightly too much for me. "Here is our plan. All ranged attackers are going to the roof where we have set up shelter from the rain. From there we'll rain down our own attacks against the horde. Hopefully thinning them down enough for our close-quarters attackers to fend off the rest."
"What if they get in,'' one yelled from the sideline.
Mason didn't even falter, "Then we rightly die. Any more stupid questions? No? Get to your positions. Remember to eat and drink. 'N lastly, don't die." She said this and immediately started giving more commands to specific people. Mostly Spring and Fist. I quickly downed a bottle of water. My mouth parched all of a sudden.
With everyone where they needed to be we waited.
A horn bellowed as the first of them arrived. "Start firing. Aim for the middle we don't want to waste energy." Mason hollered. I could see bolts of flame, small lasers, and many more projectiles of varying kinds flying toward the hoard encroaching on our position. The rain had mostly let up its onslaught now. Just normal amounts letting us see much better. I wished I couldn't. There was more than first thought. Instead of the hundred or so, it was more like three hundred. All shambling towards us.
Luckily they were slow. Making them easy targets. As well as not needing to aim. Just throw a rock with your eyes closed and you'll hit something. That wasn't an exaggeration as someone quite literally started throwing rocks at high speeds. Their ability letting them throw objects near perfectly and with greater strength. If I remembered correctly her name was Ballist. Short for ballistic.
I watched in wonderment as the undead were killed one by one. The wave of projectiles cutting through them. "Keep it up." I heard Mason yell. "They are almost to the pits." She added.
The long-range attacks weren't the only thing we did. Someone aptly named Spade had well... a spade. It could dig up large amounts of dirt effortlessly. It more or less moved it with magic. They were a latter addition but quickly went to the task of digging a trench around the place. It just filled with water but would still slow the oncoming horde. We wanted to add spikes of some sort but didn't see the point.
One by one some creeps fell into the deep water. Being sent further in as more fell on top of them. And then more and so on till it was filled. It didn't take long for the pit to fill up. The water being displaced rushing around and knocking even more on the ground. Those that did fall were trampled by the next row.
After 30 minutes of the projectile onslaught, it mostly petered out as those doing so got tired. Their energies sapped. The first to go were the fire throwers. Their attacks dealt the most damage, even with the rain, but subsequently took more energy to use. Still, this wasn't the end.
Scouts had found a nearby gas station that had fuel still. As well as having taken some from old cars. The fuel was old but would still burn. "Now!" Mason yelled as barrels were rolled out. Their caps were shot off by Ballist. Their throws pinpoint. And then after the barrels hit the horde one last fireball was thrown and lit it. The fire quickly spread around. The water trying its best to put it out. The fire magically infused won out in the end and set ablaze the surrounding area.
All but Mack took a break. His invisible shots costing him nearly nothing. The respite didn't last too long as the horde pushed forward. Now they were on the parking lot. A line of cars had been pushed to make a half-decent barricade. Once people rested the hail of fire started again. But all were too tired and just as it started it ended.
"Frontliners it's your turn," Mason yelled out. "Get ready. And stand fast." We were ready at the car barricade and started attacking anything that could get over it. I was ready as I'd ever be. With the rain not being as lethal as before we went out the doors and waited.
"Watch out, a big one." Someone yelled from the roof. I didn't see- A hulk smashed through the line of undead. Bones and flesh flying everywhere. It was Mud who met the charge. The eyes of the large undead focused on Mud. If it could grin it probably would have. The pace of the hulk picked up. That was its first and last mistake. Mud left his shield hanging in the air hiding behind it as the big undead slammed into it with the force of a truck. The shield was left slightly askew and the undead was cut in twain. Mud yelped as its body and blood covered him. Though he was saved from being squished by Dirt's force shield. Mud retrieved his shield and went back to the line. Cheers followed the easy kill.
They were cut off as that wasn't the only one. Three in total came crashing towards us. Fist and I went towards one as another was attacked by the other squad. The first punch came from the hulk towards Fist. The massive hand was stopped by an invisible force for a mere moment before shattering it. That moment was all Fist needed, sidestepping and throwing his own into the outstretched arm. The punch slammed into the elbow of the hulk, bending the arm considerably. A blow that would have been crippling to a human was shrugged off and Fist was backhanded to the side.
Angel was there to ward off undead and heal Fist. Most normal undead were shunned away from Angel. But with so many pushing forward it didn't do much but slowly burned them from the inside. The walking corpses smoking in the rain.
I didn't do nothing, I rapidly attacked the Hulk with quick stabs. One attack destroying its left eye. Something I didn't expect was it to grab onto my staff and throw me around. I held on as much as I could being thrown around but my grip was slick and I was launched backwards. My rod was still elongated and stayed as such as it was used to attack an oncoming Fist.
Fist easily dodged the clumsy attacks and finished the job he started completely dislocating the arm her fist hit. And with another quick attack the arm fell off. My staff clattered to the ground. I tried something. Reaching my hand out I commanded it to come to me. I swore for just a second it moved. But no luck. Instead, I got up and started towards it. My body aching already.
Fist was a demon. Quickly attacking and getting out of range with the help of well-timed force shields from Dirt. It took a quick glance to see that the other Hulk had fallen. A sword decapitating it. I put a new note to myself to finally talk to the other squads after this. They seemed like a good team.
Fist took a hit on his forearms. I heard a crunch as bone was broken. Dirt was getting tired. His nose was bleeding from repeatedly blocking such powerful blows and he wasn't fast enough or didn't have the energy for another shield. I grabbed my rod and using the ground as a fixed point slid under the hulk and launched the other end straight up. The rod pierced the jaw and killed it. I felt relief for the barest moment.
"I had it." Fist said with fervor. Though I could tell he was in a lot of pain. His arms already starting to heal. With the hulks down we moved back joining the rest. For some reason, the other undead ignored us as we fought the hulks. Giving a large berth as we battled. But with that ended the swarm closed in. The moans growing ever near.
I attacked as the others ran back to base. When it was my turn the hole had already closed. "Shit." I tiredly whispered. Yells called my name. I wasn't worried. I ran towards the undead and used my staff to launch myself clear over them. I too could jump high. Not the only one Spring. I thought as I soared. The problem was the landing. I tried to buffet myself by extending the rod out but was coming down too fast and my muscles strained as I was yanked down by gravity taking back control. But I was alive and that's all that mattered. Only as I was safely on the ground did I think I could have just slid down it like a pole. Lessons learned and all.
We fought them for what felt like hours, our last barricade of whatever we could get our hands on being slowly dismantled. With the ranged attackers having a respite they started to attack again. Trying to thin out the horde before they reached us as we were slowly being pushed back.
That is when it happened. There was a scream and yells coming from inside. They were barely heard due to the battle raging on around me but I heard it. And wasn't the only one. "They got inside." Many voices screamed.
Without thinking I used my staff to launch myself backwards, an unfortunate fleshy being my springboard, towards the entrance rolling inside. What I saw was pandemonium. The non-combat people yelled and ran around as about a dozen fast undead attacked. I had forgotten about the disguisers. They had somehow gotten inside.
I again launched myself towards one. I spun slamming my extended rod into the head of one the neck snapping and it falling down. I still wasn't used to aerial combat and slammed into the now dead dead body and got back to my feet. Not many others left the front line. They were already losing the fight and couldn't risk doing what I did. I paled as something new rushed from the back of the store. They were small and fast. As well as numerous, at least 50 of them rushed towards us. We were doomed.
The little creatures ran towards someone and- went right past them, and another. Until they reached an undead and started climbing them. I finally noticed they weren't a new creature. But toys. A horde of toys. Bunny walked around the corner, her nose bleeding, and the stuffed bunny in her hand. I had talked to her a bit ago and found out that the original bunny she had made come alive was still up and kicking. They either had an absurd time limit or stayed permanently. And she had clearly been busy making an army of her own.
They didn't do much in the way of damage but with their numbers they allowed the panicking people to regather and fight back. The toys tripped some and gouged out their eyes. It didn't take long to end the incursion inside and find and repair the break-in. A vent had been breached and was their entrance. Now it was filled with random objects and a swarm of toys to try and clear it out.
"Thanks for the rescue Bunny. We should talk more after this." I was happy to see my first friend. I wasn't happy though to see a few bodies disappear in a gross sludge that melted away into nothing. Only 2 people had died but that was 2 too many.
I couldn't think about that as I rushed back to the front. The remaining toys joined in as Bunny commanded them to attack. They did the same thing being ignored by the undead they were able to aid in the battle considerably.
I got back to a battered but alive front line. Slashes formed and healed just as quickly as bodies grew tired from the effort. We rotated people out as we could refreshments were served. Even Mason was out there. Giving commands and taking swings with a baseball bat. I didn't know where she had gotten it from but she swung with anger in her eyes.
The once massive horde was slowly dwindled into nothingness. The bodies like the two fallen dissolved into nothing. The only way to tell that a fight had occurred at all was the damage to the area. The tired and bloodied people. And the loot.