To this day, Anirudh still didn't fully understand the so-called Yin-Yang Life and Death Force. All he knew was that this power was incredibly strange and overwhelmingly powerful.
Now, under the shroud of that eerie black mist, the twisted abomination's flesh was not only decaying and shriveling but was also seemingly enduring unbearable torment. The creature writhed and screamed in agony, completely oblivious to Anirudh charging toward it at full speed.
"Strike while it's down!"
Noticing that the abomination hadn't detected him, Anirudh felt a surge of relief and determination. Taking a deep breath, he pushed off with his right leg and leaped like an agile ape. In one swift motion, he landed behind the twisted monster and locked his left arm tightly around its neck.
Chandan might not be in mortal danger for now, but his combat capabilities were disabled. Meanwhile, Lakshmipati and the others were surrounded by a swarm of zombies and could barely protect themselves. At this critical juncture, Anirudh could only rely on himself.
Unarmed and weaponless—his black-and-white brush had disintegrated due to his overuse of abilities—he had only one option left to kill the twisted creature.
Squelch!
Before the monster could react to the searing pain, Anirudh reached for the handle of the fire axe embedded in the back of its skull. Gripping it tightly, he yanked it out with all his might.
The axe had been deeply lodged in the creature's skull, and as it came free, a sickening, wet sound echoed through the air. Purple-red blood, mixed with foul-smelling brain matter, sprayed from the gaping wound, drenching Anirudh in gore.
Roar!
The excruciating pain jolted the twisted creature back to awareness. It roared furiously and swung its massive, malformed right arm to grab Anirudh on its back. However, the grotesque mutations on its arm—covered in tumors and twisted fingers—made it impossible to grip properly. It could smash enemies with brute force, but reaching behind itself to grab Anirudh was a futile effort.
Anirudh, clinging to the creature's neck, tightened his hold.
"Die already!"
As the monster's first attempt to grab him failed, Anirudh grit his teeth, raised the broken fire axe with his right hand, and swung it down with all his strength onto the back of the creature's head.
Squelch!
The already severe wound on the back of the creature's skull worsened under Anirudh's relentless attack. More blood and brain matter poured out, soaking him further.
Roar!
Even with such grievous injuries, the monster's tenacity was terrifying. Despite its brain matter spilling out, it roared in fury. Its massive arm, now unable to grab, shifted to a hammering motion, slamming into Anirudh.
Thud!
The blow sent a shockwave of pain through Anirudh's body. Though weakened, the monster's rage-fueled strike carried immense power. It felt like a massive iron hammer smashing into his back. Pain radiated through his torso, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Even so, Anirudh refused to release his grip. Gritting his teeth, he held on tightly to the monster's neck to avoid falling. Summoning all his strength, he swung the axe again, landing another devastating blow to the same spot.
This time, the creature's skull cracked slightly, and if Anirudh could land a few more strikes, he could likely split it open completely.
But it wasn't that simple.
Sensing its life in danger, the monster grew even more frenzied. It raised its massive arm and smashed Anirudh again, sending shockwaves of agony through him.
Crack!
Bones shattered under the relentless assault. Anirudh's vision blurred, and blood spilled from his lips. Yet, he held on, refusing to let go. Summoning every ounce of willpower, he raised the axe once more.
What followed was a brutal exchange. Anirudh hacked repeatedly at the creature's skull while the monster's blows rained down on him, each one threatening to crush him entirely.
Victory or death—it was a question of who would fall first.
And yet, battles are rarely fair.
Bark! Bark!
Amid the chaos, the sudden sound of feral barking broke through the clamor. Two massive mutated dogs charged out from behind Anirudh. Leaping through the air, they sank their fangs into his back and leg.
Squelch!
With one hand locked around the monster's neck and the other gripping the axe, Anirudh was defenseless against the new threat. The dogs tore through his flesh, ripping chunks of muscle from his body. Waves of pain and weakness crashed over him, pushing him toward unconsciousness.
"Anirudh!"
Just as his vision dimmed, Chandan, bloodied and pale, staggered into view. Summoning his last reserves of strength, Chandan kicked one of the dogs away. With his uninjured left hand, he grabbed the other dog, activating his frost ability.
A surge of icy energy exploded outward, encasing the dog in a block of ice.
Roar!
Before Chandan could catch his breath, the monster turned its fury on him. With a roar, it swung its arm like a massive hammer and smashed it into Chandan's chest.
Thud!
Chandan's body crumpled under the force of the blow, his chest collapsing inward. The sickening sound of bones snapping filled the air, and he spat out a torrent of blood as he fell to the ground.
Roar!
Even as Chandan lay on the verge of death, he used his remaining strength to grab the monster's right arm, channeling his frost power. Ice crept across the limb, freezing it solid.
"Anirudh, kill it!" Chandan roared with his last breath.
Fueled by rage and desperation, Anirudh let out a primal scream and swung the axe one final time.
Crack!
With a resounding crack, the monster's fractured skull gave way. The fire axe drove deep into its brain, shredding it completely.
Boom!
The creature convulsed violently before collapsing like a toppled tower, its body hitting the ground with a deafening thud.
Anirudh, utterly spent, released his grip and collapsed beside the lifeless corpse. Nearby, Chandan lay motionless, his breathing shallow, his chest crushed.
They had won.
But it was a hollow victory.
Around them, more mutated dogs and zombies closed in, their eyes gleaming with hunger. In their current state, Anirudh and Chandan had no chance of survival.
Death loomed once more.
"Damn it! Am I really going to die at the hands of these things?"
Surrounded by a pack of mutated dogs cautiously approaching and flanked by a group of ten to twenty zombies, Anirudh's heart sank with a deep sense of unwillingness.
He knew that the mutated dogs were momentarily deterred by the grotesque monster's recent death, but this intimidation wouldn't last long. Once they attacked, both he and Chandan would be doomed.
The problem was that both he and Chandan were too severely injured to move. All they could do was watch helplessly as the mutated dogs and zombies closed in.
Woof!
Both zombies and mutated dogs had an insatiable craving for fresh flesh, and for evolved humans like Chandan and Anirudh, their blood and flesh were an irresistible delicacy.
When the mutated dogs realized their prey couldn't fight back, they could no longer suppress their bloodlust. With a collective leap, they lunged toward Chandan and Anirudh.
"It's over."
Even though Anirudh didn't want to give up, the hopeless situation forced him to sigh deeply and close his eyes, resigning himself to his fate.
But instead of the anticipated pain and tearing, a sudden burst of rapid gunfire shattered the silence.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The gunfire was quick and intense, distinct from the sound of an automatic rifle. It sounded more like the rapid firing of a handgun, akin to the intense shooting scenes from The Expendables.
Startled by the unexpected sound, Anirudh opened his eyes, only to witness an incredible scene.
A lean, black-haired young man dressed in a sleek black combat suit had appeared on the battlefield. He wasn't just fighting the zombies and mutated dogs—he was massacring them with surgical precision.
The young man held a handgun that seemed almost non-reflective, as though it weren't made of metal. His movements were a blur of speed and precision. In mere seconds, he had fired over a dozen bullets, each striking the heads of the zombies and mutated dogs, leaving them no chance to retaliate.
And this was only the beginning.
Within moments, he had already taken down seven or eight zombies and three mutated dogs. When his gun ran out of bullets, he calmly ejected the magazine, holstered the empty handgun, and reloaded with a fresh magazine from his belt—all in a seamless, fluid motion.
Despite his speed, two mutated dogs seized the opportunity to leap at him. But the young man, unfazed, sidestepped one and lashed out with a whip-like kick at the other.
Thud!
The impact was brutal. The young man's seemingly lean frame harbored terrifying strength. His kick exploded the mutated dog's head, sending blood and brain matter flying—some of it splattering onto his combat suit.
Even as his body became stained with gore, the young man's expression remained cold and indifferent. He swiftly turned and fired another shot, killing the second mutated dog before methodically taking down the remaining enemies.
Within seconds, the battlefield was silent. Over twenty zombies and five mutated dogs lay dead. The fight had lasted less than a minute.
"Who… is this guy?"
Watching the carnage, Anirudh was stunned. The young man's marksmanship, speed, reflexes, and raw strength were terrifying. Even with his mastery of body-enhancing techniques, Anirudh doubted he could match the black-haired youth.
And then, Anirudh noticed something even more baffling: the young man was holding a bowl of Chaat Papdi in his left hand.
What the hell?
In the middle of this deadly battle, the guy had been eating Chaat Papdi?
"Well, you're not dead yet? Tough one, aren't you? Like a cockroach," the young man remarked, finally noticing Anirudh. He looked mildly surprised before popping a piece of Chaat Papdi into his mouth with a bamboo skewer.
"By the way, cockroach-man, do you know where Virat is?"
"Who's Virat ?" Anirudh asked, bewildered.
"Virat"—
A weak voice interrupted. Turning, Anirudh saw Lakshmipati, Chandan's mother, and two guards staggering toward them. They were pale and exhausted, having survived the ordeal by sheer luck.
Despite the grim scene around them, Lakshmipati forced himself to stay calm. Taking a deep breath, he asked the young man, "Who are you, and why are you looking for Virat ?"
"I'm the bodyguard hired by his father to protect him," the young man replied bluntly, taking another bite of Chaat Papdi. "Now, stop wasting time and tell me where he is!"
"Virat led another group to break out toward the helipad," Lakshmipati explained. "But they ran into mutated Lickers. They're probably…"
"Dead," the young man muttered, his expression darkening. "Damn it! I shouldn't have snuck off. Now my mission's a total bust."
The young man had been hired by Virat 's father, who had paid a hefty price for his protection. But believing the military academy was secure, the young man had sneaked out to explore C City's culinary scene, indulging his love for food.
Now, Virat is likely dead because of his negligence.
Taking one last look at his bowl of Chaat Papdi, he sighed, finishing it in a single bite.
"If your mission's failed," Lakshmipati interjected, his voice steady, "how about taking on a new one? Protect us, and I promise you'll be compensated handsomely—more than what the Virat family promised."
The young man smirked. "Interesting…"
He extended a hand. "Call me Spade A from the Blackfire Company. Or just 'Fallen.' Task accepted."
But before the deal could proceed, a shadow streaked through the air, landing with a heavy thud.
A mutated Licker had arrived. The nightmare wasn't over.