"Sir, we are about to be overrun! Do you want us to fall back and assume a defensive position? There are even runners coming for us!" One of the subordinates shouted in alarm as soon as the familiar shrieks pierced the air.
The leader remained calm, already strategizing countermeasures. He knew others were likely facing similar situations, but unlike his group, they wouldn't have the advantage of numbers. His camp consisted of roughly one hundred people, but half of them had never fought before. Thirty had some training, though only for a few weeks, while only about two dozen were seasoned veterans. Despite these limitations, they were still the largest faction in the vicinity.
There were rumors of larger groups, but within the thirty-mile radius they had explored, only two factions posed a real threat. The rest were nothing more than scattered scavengers, small groups of three or five barely scraping by. Fighting off a horde of thousands was a death sentence, and he had no intention of leading his people to their doom with reckless orders.
As he looked around, he came across a small roadway that had just been cleared. At the end was a tall, five-story structure, a perfect stronghold.
"Listen, everybody! Get inside the large yellow building after eliminating the last of the zombies. Before the crowd gathers, sweep every floor. The only way we can survive this is to burrow down." There was no room for debate as his voice resounded, powerful and authoritative.
More significantly, his people trusted him and respected him. They immediately formed a defensive line and advanced on the assigned structure. With his iron rod and huge mace in hand, the leader grabbed the lead and used raw power to pound through zombie skulls. The group's spirits were raised by his constant presence.
They arrived at the entryway in a matter of minutes. They weren't careless, though. After removing any remaining dangers, veterans entered first and gave the all-clear for the others to follow. The team quickly dispersed, methodically cleaning every floor and looking for structural openings that the undead could exploit.
As this was going on, the leader climbed to the roof, binoculars in hand, to look about. From this vantage point, he had an uninterrupted panoramic view of the city. What he saw chilled him to the bone.
Massive swarms of zombies surged through the streets, converging from all directions. The entire city was alive with movement—an eerie, unsettling sight.
In the center of it all, other groups had surfaced from the shadows, each attempting to outwit the undead. A slaughter was about to break out. He had no way of knowing how many would fall today. Although it was awful to lose human life, this was the nature of survival—risking all in the hopes of surviving.
...
...
...
"Do you believe that arrogant child will arrive? He should have been the most powerful group in the region, right? I expected him to be here by now!" A grouchy elderly guy groaned before pressing the trigger of his weapon. The shot was accurate and quick—almost unnaturally quick.
"Hey! You little brat! How many times have I told you to aim for the head?!"
"I-I'm sorry, old man!" The recruit, who had nearly caused a defensive breach, apologized instantly.
"Next time, pay attention! I will not think twice about putting a bullet between your eyes if you are bitten. Everyone's life could be lost because of your error. The group stiffened as they accelerated their pace as the elderly man's voice echoed through them.
"Old man, don't be so harsh with the new recruits; I might win their allegiance! As you are aware, our faction has the lowest casualties and the best training. We want to be hands-on, like real men, while you just sit back and waste ammunition." A stout man in his thirties laughed, mocking laughter in his voice.
There was tension beneath the lightheartedness of their banter. This partnership, a tenuous peace forced by necessity, had been a last-minute decision between the second and third strongest factions. Their total power was comparable to that of the leading faction. But in a society where eradicating competition was necessary for life, trust was limited.
"Real me? More like you are performing a circus!" The elderly man sneered. "I only need one bullet to show you who the real men are."
You could feel the tension between them. Although there was no overt animosity, they both understood that they would not think twice about taking each other out for resources if the chance presented itself.
"Calm down, old man! There's no reason to take a joke so seriously. The younger man smiled, then changed his voice. "How will we handle those dreadful screechers? They're closing in on our position swiftly. Should we wait out the stampede by hiding in a building?
A menacing chuckle escaped the old man's lips.
"Hehehe... Hahahahaha! Do you suppose I'm afraid of those wretched things? I have the perfect solution for them. Come on in! Just be careful you cover my six and stay behind me in case something unforeseen occurs. The so-called horde will be dealt with by me.
"Old man… you're not serious—"
"OYE! "Bring that thing here!" The elderly man ignored his companion's worries and yelled a command.
A large, hefty object was difficult for several men to push ahead. It had a large, intimidating shape and was covered in thick tarpaulin. It was difficult to move even with wheels because of its tremendous weight. As he observed them straining to move it into place, the younger man became intrigued.
The old man tore off the cover with a dramatic flourish, exposing the hideous device underneath.
It was a rudimentary yet fearsome war machine. It was a combination of desperate survival skills and old-world inventiveness, with a tank-like construction and sharp edges. When the younger man saw the full potential of this monstrous invention, his eyes widened.
A wicked grin spread across his face.
"So that's why you were so damn confident this time!" He laughed. "This...this might actually work!"
"Damn right, it will!" The old man smirked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now, let's see which faction truly reigns supreme today!"