Ethan and Emily saw the zombie smashing its club towards them. But, just before it could land, a black blur cut through the air, smashing into the berserk zombie's head with bone-crushing force.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the rooftop as the massive zombie was flung backward, its monstrous roar of rage turning into one of pain and confusion. It crashed into the wall, cracking the concrete behind it as debris rained down.
Emily and Ethan, who had braced themselves for certain death, stood frozen in shock.
Their wide eyes turned towards the new presence—another zombie had appeared. But unlike the mindless ones they had been fighting, this one was different.
It stood tall, imposing, its blue, glowing eyes burning eerily in the dim light. Unlike the berserk zombie's grotesque form, this one exuded control and intelligence.
Ethan's breath hitched before realization struck him. His fear instantly melted into joy.
His eyes gleamed as he turned to Emily, grabbing her arm.
"Sis! We're saved! Big bro Kael is here!"
Emily's head snapped in the direction of the ruined staircase.
There, stepping out from the shadows, was Kael Veran.
His figure was backlit by the crimson glow of the blood moon, his dark coat swaying slightly in the cold night air. His sharp gaze swept over them, his usual smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
"You two look like hell," he said lightly. "You alright?"
Ethan didn't waste a second.
With a choked sob, he rushed forward and threw himself into Kael's arms, his small frame trembling.
"Thank you, big bro! Thank you for saving us!"
Kael exhaled, a rare softness appearing in his expression as he ruffled Ethan's hair. "Yeah, yeah. You don't have to thank me."
Emily, still gripping her daggers tightly, let out a slow breath. She met Kael's eyes and, after a moment of hesitation, muttered, "Thanks."
Kael's smiled at her slightly, but before he could respond—
A furious, earth-shaking roar erupted behind them.
The berserk zombie, now infuriated, shoved itself up from the cracked ground. Its bloodshot eyes flared with murderous intent, its muscles bulging as it prepared to lunge at the rare- spirit that had knocked it down.
Kael's gaze snapped to his spirit. His voice was cold, firm.
"End it. Now."
His rare- spirit didn't hesitate.
It lunged, closing the distance in a blink. A massive fist smashed into the berserk zombie's skull, slamming it into the concrete.
But it didn't stop.
With relentless brutality, the spirit grabbed the zombie's head and slammed it down again—again—again. Each impact sent shockwaves through the rooftop, the sheer force splitting the concrete beneath them.
Then—
A sickening CRACK.
The berserk zombie's skull caved in.
Its massive body twitched for a moment before going limp, its monstrous strength completely snuffed out.
Silence.
Emily and Ethan could only stare in disbelief.
The terrifying monster that had been slaughtering players like flies had just been handled like a child throwing a tantrum.
Emily turned to Kael, who stood there calmly, as if this level of destruction was just another day for him.
Ethan, still clutching his staff, finally exhaled. "Big bro… you're amazing."
Kael just rolled his shoulders, ignoring the awe in their eyes. He turned to Emily.
"Are there any other survivors?"
Emily's expression darkened immediately. Her fists clenched as she gritted her teeth.
Kael frowned. "What happened?"
Emily took a deep breath, then spat out, "That damn coward."
Kael's brows furrowed. "Who?"
Emily's voice was sharp with venomous anger. "The warrior. The one who was supposed to be leading us."
Kael's expression hardened. "He ran?"
Emily let out a bitter laugh. "He didn't just run. He used us as bait. The moment things got bad, he abandoned us—left us to die so he could escape."
Kael exhaled sharply. He'd had his doubts about that warrior, but this…
His gaze darkened. "We'll deal with him when we find him," he said flatly. Then, shifting focus, he added, "For now, let's check for survivors."
Emily took another breath before nodding.
As they descended the stairs, Kael's spirits were already clearing the streets outside, effortlessly tearing through any remaining monsters.
But something else caught Kael's attention.
His eyes narrowed at the broken-down basement entrance of the building.
"Let's check inside," he said, motioning for them to follow.
Emily and Ethan exchanged glances before nodding and stepping carefully behind him.
As they walked, Emily glanced at Kael. "How… how did you find us?"
Kael smirked slightly, then called forth a small, lean spirit—its green skin and sharp, glowing eyes revealing it as a goblin hunter spirit.
"I had him track you guys before the level even started," Kael explained. "I wanted to make sure that if something happened, I'd be able to reach you quickly. Once I finished dealing with my side of things, I saw the berserk zombie heading for your building. I sent my fastest spirits ahead while I rushed here with reinforcements."
Emily's eyes widened slightly in admiration. "You planned for this possibility in advance?"
Kael shrugged. "Just being careful."
Ethan's face practically glowed with admiration. "Big bro, you're really sharp!"
Kael simply chuckled.
As they reached the basement, the stench of blood became overwhelming.
Emily gagged slightly.
Bodies were scattered everywhere, their limbs twisted at unnatural angles, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.
The berserk zombie had butchered everyone here before storming upstairs.
Kael's voice was calm but firm.
"Search for survivors."
Emily and Ethan nodded quickly and began searching, moving debris and checking for any signs of life.
For a long moment—
Nothing.
Then—
A faint, desperate whisper broke the silence.
Kael froze.
Concentrating, he sharpened his senses—and then he heard it.
"…H…elp… m…e…"
His gaze snapped toward a pile of collapsed debris near the far end of the room.
His fingers tightened around his sword as he stepped forward.
"Someone's still alive."
Emily and Ethan rushed to his side as Kael began digging.
Beneath the rubble—
A bloodied, trembling hand reached out.
Kael grasped it.
"Hold on. You're not dying today."