30 Chapter 30

A burst of flare escaped her rifle muzzle as a torrent of bullets flew towards two of the hideous monsters.

PQ watched in astonishment as the creatures clenched their face in pain. They swung their thick arms violently, desperately trying to strike the female soldier who inflicted the damage. Once they dropped their arms, PQ saw the cause of their agony.

Steaming lead had lodged into their eye sockets and their delicate eyeballs were shattered and blistered.

The woman sprang into the air as she tossed her rifle onto the sidewalks, narrowly avoiding two elongated tongues ramming at her direction. Withdrawing two knives strapped onto her waist, she pummeled them deep into the fleshy tongue and dashed straight towards the source. Her knife tore through the two monster's tongue, slitting open a long, dreadful wound. By the time she ceased her running motion, the snake-like tongues of the two monsters had blossomed into 4 slices of flesh.

Finishing their respective battles, the two superhuman reentered the battlefield to assist their troubled teammates.

"Woah… Did you see that Glen? I can't even imagine myself fighting one of those monsters." PQ exclaimed excitedly, rubbing his hands together to demonstrate his fervent admiration. He wanted to become one of those superhuman on the battlefield, maneuvering through zombies like fish in the ocean.

Chuckling softly, Glen pointed towards one of the monsters with exceptionally long tongues. "I overheard conversations at the military camps near the obelisk. They call them category ones."

"Category one?" Murmuring the phrase, PQ wrapped his fingers tightly around his makeshift spear. "I wonder when I'll be able to take one down?"

"You'll get there soon PQ. Practice makes perfect." Glen grinned at PQ's youthful spirit, enjoying the one sided slaughter ongoing. "Go ahead. Why not give it a try?"

"Give it a try?!" PQ's displayed a stupefied expression, but deep down, his heart was itching to give it a go.

"Yeah. Of course!"

PQ hesitated. There were doubts lingering in his mind. "Should I? I don't really want to obstruct their combat…"

"Aren't you keen on joining the army? This is a chance to show them what you've got!" Glen encouraged, giving PQ a good pat in the back. "Remember. Only the strong can decide their future."

PQ felt that Glen had thoroughly read his mind. Every doubt he had were conveniently quelled by flawless answers. This only solidified his determination. After all, he could only search for his family if he was strong enough to neglect danger.

Glen's encouragement invigorated PQ. Securing his spear tightly in his palms, PQ dashed out into the battlefield.

Glen leaned against a pillar, gazing longingly as the young adult's silhouette vanished into the battlefield. Averting his gaze, he placed his hands into his pocket and close his eyes, as if pondering about the future.

"Good luck PQ. Hope I'll see you soon."

Erasing his smile, Glen returned to the traveling agency.

Swatting away several zombies with his massive hammer, the man in military uniform cussed aloud as a veiny arm rocketed towards him.

"Fuckin hell! These annoying critters."

Evading to the right, the man shifted his footing to gain stability. He raised his hammer and smashed the monster's arm into the ground, causing dark blood to splatter everywhere. But the overwhelming zombie horde surged towards him again, attempting to catch him off guard.

Just as he was about to back away to reposition himself, a rough wooden spear with a metallic tip penetrated the closest zombie to him.

"Hello Sir! I'm here to help you!" PQ announced his entrance while fending off a rampaging zombie.

Protected by a young fellow he has never seen before, the man chortled deeply as he composed himself instead of temporarily retreating. "You don't look familiar. Are you part of the new recruits?"

"No Sir… but I am eager to join you!" PQ replied with enthusiasm.

"Hahaha! I love your passion!" The man lifted his hammer, charging up for a dynamic attack. "Let this fight be your application! Are you up for the challenge?"

"Yes sir!" PQ bellowed as he thrusted his spear straight into a zombie.

Nodding firmly in approval, the man gained a sudden burst of speed and bulldozed towards the category 1 monster.

Observing the endless wave of zombies up ahead, PQ felt his blood boiling. Someone these infected were children still wearing their school uniform, but were now exuding violence instead of youth and innocence. Although these beings were once humans, he couldn't show any mercy to them.

As this revelation emerged, his trusty spear gradually extended in length, becoming more menacing than before. In addition, the piercing metal blade at the tip of his spear grew broader.

The mysterious power surging through him was altering his weapon in more than one dimension. The flimsy wooden handle in his hands began to slowly pry open his fingers. What used to be a narrow leg of a stool had increased in circumference, growing into the thickness of a pole.

'Glen was right. Engaging in battle does make you stronger.' PQ remembered Glen's teachings.

Ecstatic at the newly discovered growth, PQ mustered up every speck of courage accumulating in his soul.

If he wanted to reunite with his family, he must be willing to go through rigorous conditions.

With this motive pressuring his mind, PQ slashed at the oncoming danger.

Although the humans were in favor of winning the battle, causalities began to occur as zombies overwhelmed defenses using sheer number. A soldier who had been bitten a few minutes ago began to convulse violently as the light in his eyes faded away. Foggy grey enveloped his pupils. Growling inhumanely, he pounced towards his comrade.

Fortunately, the real threats on the battlefield had been eliminated as the two superhuman came out victorious. Several category one monsters were slain, their carcasses mortally dismembered. In the distance, more squadrons of reinforcements rolled in to sweep through the zombies.

"I don't want to die… My family is waiting for me! I have a daughter and a wife…"

Tears trickled down a soldier's face as he kneeled on the ground. There was a horrid bite wound etched into his calves, hindering his movements. Realizing that the bite signified his doom, the female superhuman approached him.

"You did your best soldier. Your family will receive adequate compensation and will be under our protection." She promised, handing the soldier a grenade. "I'll give you the choice."

Seconds later, a detonation reverberated throughout the battlefield, creating a scorched area void of life.

By then, people within the supermarket were evacuated to the roof where few soldiers had discreetly entered from. Distributing weapons to few citizens willing to fight, they unloaded their firearms onto the hordes of zombies below to ease the workload of the main force.

Soon, the brutal battle was over. Civilians within the supermarket were successfully evacuated and the causalities were kept minimal.

Blood were shed, but a victory was a victory.

Soaked in the blood and innards of zombies, PQ trudged out the battlefield with heavy steps. His trusty spear had been broken in half, dyed in crimson red.

At the outskirts of the battlefield, familiar figures ran up to him, embracing him despite his morbid appearance. Stunned for a second, PQ closed his eyes to accept the warmth. His friends had been fighting along side the soldiers, allocated with pistols and melee weapons. Many civilians trapped in the surrounding buildings had also participated, free from the shackles of danger.

It was obvious that the military were also extremely low on manpower, or else they wouldn't have generously distributed lethal weapons in mass.

"Where's Glen and Maggie?" PQ's chapped lips exhibited sparse cracks when he spoke. He had never been so exhausted before, but this exertion of energy made him feel alive.

"They left already." Teresa answered in a shaky tone. Dappled in stains and blood, her small stature was fatigued.

Persevering, PQ fought through the relentless soreness and pain as he plodded into the traveling agency. The freckled young man and his beautiful lover was nowhere to be seen. Curled up in front of the messy counter, Charlie's golden retriever raised her furry head to greet PQ, picking up a glossy piece of paper. He scrubbed her fluffy fur, retrieving the page clearly torn off from a magazine.

There were a few messages scribbled down with a pen in an elegant, cursive font.

'Farewell.' PQ read out. 'Heading to the obelisk was the right choice.'

The ink smeared onto the paper was inanimate, yet it carried such weight and emotion.

PQ's vision scanned through the final line of words.

"But be careful who you trust. Remember, the devil was once an angel."

Glen whispered, leaving a bittersweet taste to tinge the atmosphere. Relishing the inseparable companionship of one another, they passed by the apartment complexes and lush greenery located in the suburbs. In the horizon, the tangerine sun that brought warmth had begun to descend.

"Weren't they so lovely?" Enjoying the mesmerizing sunset, Maggie uttered as she gazed deeply into Glen's hazel brown eyes.

"Yes. Yes they were love."

The freckled young man gently kissed the beautiful young lady nestled in a wheelchair. Their silhouettes vanished in the distance, heading to seemingly nowhere.