POV: Jenna
Jenna's head was pounding, her vision blurred as she staggered to her feet. The blast from Kane's staff had knocked the wind out of her, but she refused to stay down.
"Okay," she muttered, swiping dirt off her face. "That was a cheap shot, glow stick."
Her zombie gang regrouped around her, their growls low and feral. One of them nudged her shoulder as if urging her forward. Jenna managed a weak grin, patting the zombie on the head. "Thanks, buddy. You're my favorite today."
She looked toward Carl, who was back on his feet and advancing on Kane with grim determination. "Alright, Carl," she said softly. "Let's end this."
---
POV: Carl
Carl's grip on his sword tightened as he faced Kane. The man—or whatever he was—had a presence that radiated power, but Carl didn't flinch. He stepped forward, his movements precise and controlled.
"You've already lost," Kane said, his voice calm but cold. "You just don't know it yet."
"Funny," Carl replied, his voice steady. "I was about to say the same thing."
He launched himself forward, his sword slashing through the air. Kane deflected the blow with his staff, sparks flying from the impact. But Carl didn't let up. He pressed the attack, each strike more forceful than the last.
---
POV: Kane
Kane's smile faltered as Carl's attacks grew more relentless. The man was skilled—far more than Kane had anticipated—and his determination was unnerving.
"You're strong," Kane admitted, his voice low. "But strength without purpose is meaningless."
Carl didn't respond, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. Kane barely managed to block the strike, his glowing veins pulsing brighter as he summoned more energy.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna watched the fight with bated breath, her hands trembling as she clutched her crowbar. Carl was holding his own, but she could see the strain in his movements. He couldn't do this alone.
"Alright, Jenna," she muttered to herself. "Time to do something dumb and heroic."
She turned to her zombie gang, her expression serious. "Okay, team. I need you to keep those controlled zombies off Carl's back. Can you do that?"
The zombies growled in response, their glowing eyes fixed on the enemy. Jenna nodded, a flicker of pride in her chest. "Good. Go get 'em."
Her zombies surged forward, their snarls echoing across the battlefield as they tore into Kane's forces. Jenna tightened her grip on her crowbar, her heart pounding. "Here goes nothing."
---
POV: Rick
Rick was struggling to fend off the last of the berserkers, his knife flashing as he fought. He glanced toward the center of the battlefield, where Jenna was charging toward Kane.
"What is she doing?" he muttered, his stomach twisting with dread.
"She's being Jenna," Sarah said, smashing her crowbar into a mutant's head. "Which means she's either about to save us all or get herself killed."
Rick clenched his jaw, his focus shifting back to his fight. "Let's hope it's the first one."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's portal flickered weakly as she summoned it behind Kane, the glowing void pulsing faintly. She was running on fumes, but she didn't care. She had to do something.
"Hey, glow stick!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "Over here!"
Kane turned, his glowing eyes narrowing. "You never learn, do you?"
"Nope," Jenna replied, her grin defiant. "But I've got style."
She swung her crowbar with all her strength, aiming for Kane's staff. The impact sent a jolt up her arms, but it was enough to knock the staff slightly off balance.
---
POV: Kane
Kane staggered, his staff slipping from his grasp for a brief moment. It was all Carl needed. The man lunged forward, his sword slicing toward Kane's chest.
Kane barely managed to dodge the strike, his glowing veins pulsing brighter as he summoned a blast of energy. The shockwave sent both Carl and Jenna sprawling, but Kane's movements were slower now—less precise.
"You're persistent," Kane said, his voice tight with frustration. "But persistence won't save you."
---
POV: Carl
Carl pushed himself to his feet, his sword steady despite his exhaustion. "It's not about saving myself," he said, his voice low. "It's about stopping you."
He glanced at Jenna, who was struggling to stand. She gave him a weak thumbs-up, her grin lopsided. "You've got this, Carl. No pressure or anything."
Carl's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "Stay back."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna watched as Carl stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light. Her heart pounded as she realized he was preparing for a final strike.
"Go, Carl," she whispered, clutching her crowbar. "Finish it."