Chapter 150: Second In Commands
Zack bent his knees, his right fist clenching tightly. The air around him seemed to grow heavy, compressing with the weight of his gathered strength. "покой, друг," Zack whispered in Russian. "Rest in peace, my friend."
Zack turned and swung his fist with everything he had. The air rippled outward, layers of pressure blasting forward like a tidal wave. Boom! The punch landed squarely on Andre's head. The colossal tiger crumpled to the ground, a crack splitting his skull as blood seeped out onto the dirt. His massive form stilled, lifeless but strangely serene.
The battlefield fell silent, every witness frozen in shock at the raw, unrestrained power Zack had displayed. Zack exhaled, straightened, and regarded the fallen warriors. "Bury them alongside their comrades," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "They deserve a proper monument."
Scott nodded, his expression somber. "Yes, Master." He had wanted to plead for Andre's life but knew it would have been futile. Andre had made his choice—his loyalty and pride demanded no less than an honorable death.
Scott's thoughts darkened further. He knew Andre and his men had defied their superiors by coming to fight the zombie tide. Even if Zack had let them live, they would have faced harsh punishment upon returning to their base. Disobeying orders, abandoning their mission, and sacrificing their squad—these were unforgivable offenses. As brutal as Zack's decision was, it offered Andre and his men something their own leaders never would have: respect and a dignified end.
However not everyone understood this perspective, however. "You... you killed them?!" Gwen, the ever-enthusiastic young woman who often fantasized about Zack as her future husband, forced her way through the gathered crowd. Tears of outrage welled in her eyes as she faced Zack. "They came all the way here to help us fight the zombies! How could you just kill them?"
At only eighteen years old, Gwen lacked the life experience to see the grim truths hidden beneath the surface. She couldn't comprehend the layers of cruelty woven into decisions like Zack's. But Scarlett did. "Shut up, Gwen!" For the first time, a flash of anger colored Scarlett's usually composed tone. The bespectacled young woman, calm and calculating as ever, stepped forward, her voice low but firm.
Zack's leadership over the Capital base was still new and fragile, and Scarlett knew the importance of maintaining authority. To question him now could only result in disaster, not just for Gwen but for everyone present. Yet to her surprise, Zack did not react with anger or hostility. He merely turned his attention to Scarlett. "You're Scarlett, right?" he asked, his gaze steady.
"Yes, Sir Zack," she replied, her tone respectful but unwavering.