The night fell on us and everything outside became pitch dark, The only sounds was the soft rustling of leaves and distant calls of nocturnal creatures roaming in the wildness. Me and my group have finally found a secluded area to begin setting up camp for the night. Laying low is key to help us avoid any danger while having to protect our new regiment of rookie soldiers. This was ideal to train their keen sense of awareness, and to instill the ideology of survival into their mind. The mood was tense amongst the new recruit, fear and doubt was written all over their faces but despite all this, they seems to to cope well and have been proving them self to be brave. The flickering campfire danced in the middle of the forest, the contrast of campfire and the pitch darkness that surrounded us, both gave it unsettling atmosphere and yet it provided our camp with a strange vibe of comfort helping lighten the tense mood of camp. We began to unload to prepare for supper as the moonlight gaze upon us.
"Let's keep it down and stay hidden. No surprises tonight people. I want everyone to go back home safe and sound," I instructed, my voice carried an edge of authority amongst the recruit.
"Got it, Ace. I'll fortify the perimeter to make sure of it," Keinan responded, already moving to the outskirt to set up barriers and traps.
Deborah nodded, her gaze scanning toward the pitch dark for any movement. "I'll take the first watch with my crew. Rest while you can recruits." She said with a friendly tone.
We began to settle around the campfire, seeking a moment of respite amidst our eerie surroundings. Suddenly, one of our guards, burst into the campground, he arrived out of breath with firewood in his hands and his eyes wide like he was trying to tell us something important.
"There's a group... approaching from the... north," he urgently said while taking a deep breath as he continue. "They look rough and seems to be human, they don't seem to carry any guns either."
My body began to tensed up upon learning of this information. Then out of the pitch darkness, sounds of footstep and rustle can be heard and into the bright flickering light of the fire groups of survivors suddenly stumbled into our camp: their ragged group of survivors look like they been through hell, I noticed a woman with brown pelt coat in a black pant. She looked weary yet defiant, she looks to be in her thirties as she steps into the light I immediately noticed her ginger hair and green eyes highlighted by the light of the fire. I knew hiding behind all the dirt and grime was a an alluring women.
"Who goes there?" Keinan shouted, as he clutched his weapon tightly at the ready.
"Please, we mean no harm. We came seeking help," The women said, her voice had a strained tone to it but apologetic at the same time. Her ginger hair framed her slender face, the firelight highlighting her grimy face indicating they had been on the road for some time now, but her busty curves was striking even with all that clothes she was wearing, the exhaustion in her eyes was discernible. Yet despite all that I still see hope burning in her eyes.
I stood up and stepped toward Keinan, moving my hand to lower his weapon, I remained cautious as I asked. "Who are you people? And why do you say you need help?"
"We're from a community a couple of miles northeast of here," Sarah began, her voice trembling. "Like I said, we saw your campfire in the distance and came here because something is hunting us. They're not like the other zombies. They can think. They can communicate."
My eyes narrowed, my mind racing. "Talking zombies? That can't... Hmm. Tell me everything you know."
"We're from a community a couple of miles northeast of here," she began, her voice is trembling as she recall everything. "Like I said, we saw your campfire in the distance and came here because something is hunting us. They're not like the typical zombies. These creature can think. They can communicate in their own way, this indicate they have a intellectual ability."
Sarah took a deep breath, glancing back at her weary companions before continuing. "We were part of a larger group in a community with good people, but one night, these creatures attacked us out of nowhere. Our home became overrun in a matter of minutes. No one saw it coming. It was like they had it planned out, like they communicated, coordinated. We've never seen anything like that before."
Her voice cracked as she spoke, her eyes wide and haunted, reflecting the horrors she'd witnessed.
"This sounds familiar," I muttered, considering the implications. " Do you mind telling us more? I need to know details."
I met Sarah's eyes, seeing the desperation etched deeply within them. Her sincerity was undeniable; she wasn't lying or making things up.
She nodded gratefully. "Of course. But pls will you help us after we tell you everything? We need supplies to continue on our journey, we wont ask for much."
I said, "Of course we will. Don't worry. Now, tell us more about these creatures."
"Thank you so much. We'll share everything we know." Sarah said with a sigh of relief.
I then turned back to my group, a bad feeling gnawing at my gut. "We can't ignore this threat. They could be on their way already. Deborah, tell the men to triple the guard and let them know to be on high alert."
Deborah's eyes widened in response, but she quickly nodded, her expression resolute. "Understood, Ace. I'll get on it immediately."
"I want constant communication between all patrols. If anyone sees or hears anything unusual, report it immediately."
Deborah's voice cut through the night air like a whip, each command crisp and decisive. Around the camp, people began to move with purpose, with top-priority focused on their task. Men and women hustled to their posts, checking weapons and fortifying defenses around the camp, their faces set with resolution.
I observe the group and I noticed that they seemed tired, their faces pale, their bodies weary & malnourished from their harrowing journey. Their mouth dry and withered, their appearance is in poor state. Amidst them, a small child caught my eye. He stood near the simmering pot of stew, eyes shadowed with a weariness no child should have to know. His mouth hung slightly open, a thin line of drool escaping his mouth as he watched the food with a raw mix of hunger and desperation. The sight tugged at my heart, a heartbreaking reminder of the harsh reality we were all struggling to survive.
Feeling a pang of empathy for them, I gestured subtly to Deborah. "Give them something to eat," I instructed, knowing that a meal could be a mean to gain their trust in their current state.
Deborah nodded, quickly ordering the men to bring a warm meal of stew and fresh bread. She and two of our men approached Sarah and her group with a welcoming smile, handing out bowls of food.
As the bowls were passed around, one of Sarah's companions, a young woman named Lily, looked down at the food, her eyes welling up with tears. "I... I can't believe this," she said, her voice trembling. "It's been so long since we've had a proper meal."
Another man, older and grizzled, clutched his bowl tightly. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice breaking. "You have no idea what this means to us."
Sarah herself had tears streaming down her face as she took her bowl. "We were beginning to lose hope," she admitted, her voice choked with emotion. "This... this gives us strength."
Deborah placed a comforting hand on Sarah's shoulder. "We understand," she said gently. "You're safe here, and we'll do everything we can to help."
The young boy, no older than ten, looked up at Deborah with wide eyes. "Are we really safe now?" he asked; his voice small and fearful.
"Yes, you are kiddo," Deborah assured him with a warm smile. "Eat up and rest. You see that guy in the white coat over there?"
The boy nodded, his eyes wide.
Deborah continued with a smile, "He will take care of any monster."
The boy looked over at the me, then back at Deborah. "Is he stronger than the mutants?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and awe.
Deborah's smile broadened. "Oh you bet, but he doesn't like to brag so keep it a secret," she said with a wink, "But I know for a fact that he's the strongest man alive."
Suddenly, I noticed the same little kid looking at me; his eyes gleamed with such familiarity that I started to wonder if he might be my long-lost child. The thought was so absurd that I quickly turned away, trying to suppress a nervous chuckle.
As they devoured the meal ravenously, the warmth and nourishment start to bring life and color to their body. Tears continued to stream down their faces, mingling with expressions of relief and hope.
"We didn't know if we'd make it," Sarah confessed between bites, her voice shaky but filled with sincerity. "Thank you for this, it's been months since we had a decent meal."
I nodded quietly, my heart heavy with the weight of their gratitude and the responsibility their arrival had brought to our camp. This encounter was more than a meeting of strangers; it was a reminder of the fragility of life in this new world and the bonds that could form even amidst chaos and uncertainty.
As they finished eating, Deborah offered them blankets and a place by the fire to rest. They accepted gratefully, settling in for the night with a sense of security in our company. The night air seemed a little less eerie with their presence to be honest, their stories of survival etched into the fabric of our own heart.
"We heard about a Kingdom and their leader named Ace, so we came to this area seeking for his help," Sarah continued, her tone steady despite the obvious fatigue etched on her face.
Deborah stepped forward, her gaze sharp and assessing. "How did you hear about this?"
Sarah's words carried a tinge of hope against skepticism. "Survivors spoke of it, a big kingdom, a safe place for humanity. Most were skeptical, but with little left to lose, I led those who held onto that little hope to journey here."
Keinan shifted beside me, his voice low but firm. "What's the situation with these mutants? How did they plan?"
Sarah exchanged a knowing glance with her group before turning her attention back to us, her voice tense yet serious. When they attack us they didn't just attack mindlessly. They communicated and strategized. It was unreal and the way they moved, like a calculated predators stalking their prey with tactic."
Her eyes flickered briefly to her companions, who nodded grimly in agreement. "We were having a big party that night, celebrating our new crop and successful harvest that's when the scream began and chaos erupted. Before we knew it, they were upon us. They didn't charge blindly like the usual zombies. Instead, they flanked us, cutting off our retreat routes, before using the the zombies horde to corner us." She sigh and started to sob as she continue i noticed her hand trembling '' it was like they knew and waited for us to let our guard down"
One of Sarah's group, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, interjected with a horrifying grimace. "They were fast too, faster than regular zombies. We fought tooth and nail to break free, but they kept coming from all direction. It felt like we fell right for their trap."
I felt a chill run down my spine as their words sank in. This was the same type of mutant we have fought before on our journey to the kingdom last year "Go on," I said. Sarah nodded, her eyes gazed at the flicker of the campfire as she continue down the memory lane. "We managed to break through their line, but not without losses. They pursued us relentlessly, their eerie moans mixed with shouts—a disturbing blend of human-like grout and the moans of the undead."
"Luckily we managed to escaped by hiding into an old warehouse," Sarah continued, her voice growing hoarse. "They banged against the doors, trying to force their way in. It was a miracle we found a back exit and slipped away amidst the chaos and used the cover of dark to escape."
Sarah and her group shared a silent exchange, the weight of their ordeal was evident in their tired eyes. "Since that day, we've been on the move, always watching our backs," Sarah concluded, her gaze steady on me. "And not to long in our journey we came across some traders as they told us about a safe haven, a kingdom for survivors, we didn't believe it at first. But our situation grew desperate, so we took the risk and headed here."
Sarah and her group exchanged solemn looks, weariness etched into their tired eyes. "Since that day, we've been on the move, always looking over our shoulders," Sarah explained, her gaze steady on me. "Not long into our journey, we encountered some traders who spoke of a safe haven, a kingdom for survivors. At first, we were skeptical, but as our situation worsened, we decided to take the chance and thats how we ended up here.
My mind raced with even more questions. Talking mutants suggested a level of evolution or mutation similar to what we had encountered before. This fact meant they could plan, anticipate, and potentially organize on a scale that could pose significant threat to humanity.
As I exchanged glances with Keinan and Deborah, their expressions mirrored my concern. "Change of plan," I stated firmly. "We're moving out in thirty minutes. Let's head back to our kingdom!"
Keinan nodded, already packing up his gear, while Deborah gave a quick nod, her eyes scanning our surroundings for any immediate threats. The urgency of the situation had everyone on high alert. We needed to regroup, gather intelligence, and prepare.
The safety of our people depended on it.
Balance Update:
Good Karma Points:=(restoring faith in humanity by welcoming group of malnourished survivors + 5 billion) 25B
Bad Karma Points:=1B
Ace Lackey's:
Ibliss: Guarding Kingdom gate, cant be summoned.
Cronus: Guarding Kingdom gate, cant be summoned.
Reaper: Can be summoned.
Demoniac: Can be summoned
Dawn Jester: Can be summoned
Undead Soldier: Can be summoned, 2000 unit
Samael: Can be summoned