POV: Rick
The ridge was chaos, the air filled with snarls, roars, and the clash of weapons. Rick's knife was slick with blood, his muscles screaming in protest as he fought to keep the line intact.
"They're relentless!" Sarah shouted, swinging her crowbar with all her strength. "We can't hold them much longer!"
Rick gritted his teeth, scanning the battlefield. The berserkers were pushing them to the brink, their glowing veins pulsing like molten fire. Kane's forces were perfectly coordinated, each move designed to wear them down.
"Hold the line!" Rick barked, his voice hoarse. "We can't let them break through!"
But deep down, he knew they were on the verge of collapse.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna stumbled back, her crowbar slipping from her grasp as another berserker lunged at her. Her zombie gang surged forward, intercepting the creature with feral snarls.
"Thanks, guys," Jenna muttered, wiping sweat from her brow. "I owe you some serious head pats after this."
Carl was beside her, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. "Stay focused," he said, his tone sharp.
"I am focused," Jenna shot back, grabbing her crowbar. "Focused on not dying."
Carl didn't respond, his attention already back on the fight. Jenna couldn't help but admire his calm under pressure, even as the world seemed to be falling apart.
---
POV: Kane
Kane watched from his vantage point, his sharp eyes following the group's every move. They were holding, but barely. The cracks were forming, and Kane knew it was only a matter of time.
"They're nearing their limit," Theo said, his tone laced with satisfaction. "One more push, and they'll crumble."
"Prepare the final wave," Kane ordered, his voice calm. "But keep the girl alive. She's the key."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's heart pounded as the berserkers closed in. She activated her portal, sucking several of the creatures into the glowing void. But the effort left her drained, her knees threatening to buckle.
"Jenna!" Rick shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Can you keep going?"
Jenna forced herself to nod, though her vision swam. "Yeah. Sure. No problem."
Carl stepped in front of her, his sword flashing as he took down another berserker. "You're pushing too hard."
"Thanks for the update, Captain Obvious," Jenna muttered, her breath ragged. "I'll take a break when we're not about to die."
---
POV: Rick
Rick's mind raced as he tried to come up with a plan. They couldn't keep this up forever. Kane's forces were too strong, too coordinated. They needed a way to disrupt his control.
"Sarah!" Rick called, glancing at her. "What's the status on those traps?"
"Used up!" Sarah shouted back, smashing her crowbar into a berserker's head. "We're running on empty here!"
Rick cursed under his breath. They needed a miracle, and fast.
---
POV: Kane
Kane's smile widened as he watched the group falter. They were out of options, their exhaustion written on their faces. The end was near, and Kane relished the inevitability of their defeat.
"Send in the final wave," he said, his voice cold. "And make sure the girl doesn't escape."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna felt the ground tremble beneath her feet as a new wave of mutants emerged from the shadows. They were larger, faster, and more terrifying than anything she'd seen before.
"Oh, come on!" Jenna shouted, her voice a mix of frustration and fear. "This is just getting ridiculous!"
Carl tightened his grip on his sword, his expression grim. "Stay close."
Jenna nodded, her humor faltering. For the first time, she wasn't sure they'd make it out alive.