The growling sound grew louder, and from behind the rubble, an evolved zombie appeared. Its body was large, with long claws and skin that resembled steel.
"Aim for the head and joints!" Pan shouted as he fired the first shot.
The creature attacked with terrifying speed, forcing the team to scatter. Rico and Cong shot from close range, while Pan ordered them to fall back to a safer position.
"Elis, stay behind me!" Dail yelled, pulling the girl away from danger.
After a fierce struggle, the zombie finally fell when Cong threw a grenade accurately. However, another growl echoed in the distance, signaling that they had to move quickly.
Pan issued a firm command. "We can't stay here. Move out now!"
November 13, 2058 – Night
The sky darkened faster than usual as Team Aegis moved away from Zona Beta. The ruined laboratory still appeared faintly in the distance, like a grim shadow of the disaster they had just left behind. The cold wind hit their faces, carrying the scent of death that was ever-present.
"We need to find a place to rest for the night," Pan said firmly. "This forest is too open. If evolved zombies find us, we won't stand much of a chance."
"What about that high area over there?" Cong asked, pointing to a small hill that looked like a natural fortress.
Rico nodded in agreement. "At least we can monitor movements from above. But we need to move quickly. I don't like this atmosphere."
Dail brought Elis closer, making sure the girl wasn't left behind. "You okay, Elis?" he asked softly.
Elis nodded, though her eyes kept scanning the surroundings with fear. "I... I just want us to get to a safe place."
Danger on the Hill
As they neared the hill, Cong suddenly stopped. "Major, there's something over there," he whispered, pointing to some bushes that were gently swaying.
Pan signaled everyone to be on alert. "Rico, check it out."
Moving cautiously, Rico approached the bushes, rifle raised. But before he could investigate further, a wild, emaciated dog leapt out, barking with a hoarse sound.
"Damn, just a dog," Rico muttered, lowering his rifle.
But then, the barking suddenly stopped, and the dog froze, as if it had heard something they couldn't.
"That's a bad sign," Alaric said with concern. "We need to get to the top of the hill, now."
Without waiting longer, the team hurried to the summit. As they moved, they heard the low growl again from the distance. The sound grew closer, making their hearts race.
Sudden Attack
When they were almost at the top, an evolved zombie appeared from the trees, moving with terrifying speed. The creature had a large body with prominent muscles, and its eyes glowed red like burning embers.
"They're coming!" Cong yelled as he fired the first shot.
The bullets hit the zombie, but it only staggered briefly before attacking again. Rico quickly joined in, firing a grenade that exploded in front of the creature, creating a large blast that shook the surrounding area.
"They're too strong!" Dail shouted while shielding Elis, who was crying in fear.
Pan quickly assessed the situation. "Alaric, Hart, take Elis to the top now! Cong, Rico, hold them off with me!"
Alaric and Hart immediately took Elis to the top of the hill, while Pan, Cong, and Rico tried to fend off the attacks. But the number of zombies kept increasing, and they were starting to be overwhelmed.
"Last grenade," Rico said as he threw the grenade towards the zombie horde. The huge explosion gave them a brief moment to fall back.
"Now!" Pan shouted. "We need to regroup at the top!"
Temporary Fortress
At the top of the hill, the team quickly constructed an emergency barricade with rocks and wood they found. Cong and Rico stood guard at the front while Pan ensured everyone was safe.
"They'll be back," Hart said as he checked his nearly empty gun. "We can't hold out long with supplies like this."
"Do we have any other choice?" Pan replied. "We hold out here until morning. After that, we move again."
Alaric, who sat next to Elis, tried to calm the girl down. "You're doing great, Elis. Not everyone can last this long. You're stronger than you think."
Elis wiped her tears and looked at Alaric with eyes still full of fear. "Will we be okay, Doctor?"
Alaric smiled faintly. "As long as we're together, we'll be okay."
A Shocking Event
Around midnight, the growl echoed from below the hill again. But this time, the growling was followed by the sound of heavy, steady footsteps.
Cong peeked over the barricade and was immediately startled. "Major, we have a big problem. That's not just an ordinary zombie."
From the darkness, a zombie larger than before emerged. Its body was covered in what appeared to be an organic shield, and its eyes glowed brighter. The zombie moved slowly but surely, emitting a threatening aura that left everyone silent.
"What is that?" Rico whispered with a trembling voice.
Pan clenched his fist. "That's a further evolution. We need to find a way to defeat it, or we'll all die here."
The zombie let out a loud roar and began approaching the barricade. Pan looked at his team with determination. "Everyone, prepare your weapons. This is going to be a long night."