POV: Carl
The world seemed to narrow, the chaos of the battlefield fading into the background as Carl focused on Kane. His grip on the sword tightened, his muscles coiled like a spring. He could feel the weight of Jenna's trust, the group's survival, and the need to stop Kane pressing down on him.
"This ends now," Carl said, his voice steady.
Kane tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing. "You think you can defeat me? You're nothing but a shadow clinging to purpose."
Carl didn't respond. He surged forward, his sword slicing through the air in a precise, devastating arc. Kane blocked it with his staff, sparks flying from the impact, but Carl didn't let up. He attacked again and again, each strike more forceful than the last.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna leaned heavily on her crowbar, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she watched Carl and Kane clash. She wanted to help, to do something, but her body felt like it was made of lead.
"Come on, Carl," she muttered, her voice barely audible. "You've got this."
Her zombie gang was still fighting Kane's controlled forces, their snarls and growls blending into the cacophony of the battlefield. Jenna managed a weak smile. They weren't perfect, but they were hers.
"Alright, team," she said softly. "Time to pull out all the stops."
She straightened, summoning every ounce of strength she had left. Her portal flickered weakly, but it held, opening behind Kane. Jenna grinned, though her vision was swimming. "Let's see how you like this."
---
POV: Kane
Kane felt the pull of Jenna's portal, his footing faltering slightly. He growled, his glowing veins pulsing brighter as he fought against it. "You're resilient," he said, his tone cold. "But you're only delaying the inevitable."
Carl used the distraction to close the gap, his sword slashing toward Kane's chest. Kane deflected it, but the force of the blow sent him stumbling back.
"You're out of tricks," Carl said, his voice calm but sharp. "It's over."
---
POV: Rick
Rick was fending off the last of the berserkers, his knife flashing in the dim light. He glanced toward the center of the battlefield, his heart pounding as he saw Carl and Jenna cornering Kane.
"Come on," he muttered under his breath. "Finish it."
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna's legs gave out, and she dropped to the ground, her vision darkening. The portal was draining her faster than she'd expected, but she refused to let go.
"Carl," she croaked, her voice barely audible. "Do it now."
Carl glanced at her, his jaw tightening. He nodded once, his grip on his sword tightening. "I will."
---
POV: Carl
Carl surged forward, his sword gleaming as he aimed for Kane's core. Kane raised his staff, but the energy was faltering, his movements slower and less precise.
"This is for all of them," Carl said, his voice low. "For every life you've destroyed."
With one final, powerful strike, Carl's sword plunged into Kane's chest. The glow in Kane's veins flared brightly, then began to dim. Kane staggered, his staff slipping from his grasp as he fell to his knees.
"You…" Kane said, his voice weak but defiant. "You think you've won?"
Carl didn't respond. He pulled his sword free, stepping back as Kane's body collapsed to the ground.
---
POV: Jenna
Jenna felt the portal flicker and close as Kane fell, her body sagging with relief. She managed a weak grin, her voice shaky. "Told you… we had this."
Her zombie gang let out triumphant growls, their glowing eyes fixed on the remaining controlled forces. Without Kane's influence, the controlled zombies faltered, their movements becoming erratic.
Jenna glanced at Carl, who was standing over Kane's body, his sword still in hand. "Nice work, Mr. Stoic," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're officially promoted to team MVP."
Carl turned to her, his expression softening. "Stay awake, Jenna."
"No promises," Jenna muttered, her vision darkening. "But I'll try."
---
POV: Rick
Rick ran to Jenna's side, his knife still in hand. He knelt beside her, his expression grim. "She okay?" he asked Carl.
"She'll live," Carl replied, though his voice was heavy with exhaustion.
Rick nodded, his gaze shifting to Kane's still form. "Is it over?"
"For now," Carl said, his eyes narrowing. "But we've still got work to do."
---
POV: Kane
As darkness closed in, Kane's lips curled into a faint smile. "It's never over," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "The stone… will awaken."