Chapter 41: Zombie Wave (3)
The creature let out a shrill, ear-piercing screech, thrashing wildly as flames devoured its body. The sickening smell of burning flesh filled the air. Its agonized cries grew weaker until they were swallowed by silence, leaving only a pile of ash where the monster once stood.
Erza stood trembling, her whole body shaking as she sustained the inferno. Sweat streamed down her face, and an unbearable, stabbing pain pulsed in her head, like needles driving into her skull. Her vision blurred, her body screaming for rest, begging her to stop.
"No... not yet," she whispered hoarsely, her teeth clenched so hard she tasted blood. She couldn't afford to collapse now. Not here, not like this.
The fire roared on as she incinerated the last of the Night Stalkers. Finally, her strength gave out. She dropped to her knees, gasping for air, her body on the verge of shutting down. But before she could catch her breath, the ground began to tremble under heavy, pounding footsteps. A deep, ominous rumbling grew louder, closer. Forcing her head up, she squinted at the horizon, her heart sinking at the sight.
In the distance, an enormous wave of zombies surged forward, a black mass of unrelenting horror moving as one, like a living nightmare bearing down on her. She let out a shaky breath, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "I'm sorry... I couldn't protect you all," she murmured, her voice soft with regret. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for the end.
Then—BOOM!
A deafening explosion shattered the air, followed by a thunderous sonic boom from another direction. The ground beneath her quaked violently as shockwaves tore through the area.
Ten Minutes Earlier, High Above
Five bombers flew in tight formation over the ruins of New York City, accompanied by the roar of two fighter jets flanking them. Each jet left a loud sonic boom in its wake, slicing through the clouded sky.