Zombie Domination-Chapter 75- Battle Team V

On the western front, Veronica narrowed her eyes at the chaos unfolding ahead.

"This is getting harder by the second," she muttered, clenching her fists.

Just then, Mira raised her hand high, Lightbloom ignited around her like a field of starlight. Petal-shaped lights burst from the air, blooming and scattering across the ground. The glowing petals floated gently for a second... before exploding in a series of rapid, rhythmic bursts, shaking the earth.

"Now!" Clarissa called out, her eyes glowing. "We strike together!"

Veronica didn’t hesitate, her body surged with energy as she activated her ultimate buff, wrapping herself and Rin in a radiant golden aura.

Both of them shot forward like twin comets. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

They launched a flurry of attacks at Mira, Veronica with a charged punch, Rin with her blade. But Mira was fast. She danced between their strikes, her light-petals trailing behind her as she summoned more explosive blooms.

One burst near Rin, boom! sending her flying back.

"Rin!" Veronica shouted, catching her before she crashed into debris.

From beside Rin, a white flame flickered to life, glowing brighter. It flowed into her wounds, slowly healing them.

"Thanks," Rin whispered, smiling through the pain.

Clarissa moved in next, lifting the surrounding rubble with her telekinesis, and launched a volley of stone projectiles toward Mira. But Mira clapped her hands, and with another blast of light, shattered the stones midair, turning them into glimmering dust.

Before she could recover, Veronica was there again, her gauntlet glowing.

Crack! Her punch connected.

Rin followed up with a clean slash across Mira’s arm.

Clarissa didn’t stop either. Dozens of small floating daggers zipped toward Mira.

But Mira detonated a lightburst from within, destroying the daggers mid-flight.

Rin darted in once more, her blade glowing, but Mira slipped to the side.

A flash of petals burst again, sending Rin and Veronica flying back.

A massive bloom of energy formed in Mira’s palm, too big, too unstable.

Rin pulled herself up, panting. "Clarissa... Veronica... I’m getting my flame back."

The three white fires that had been circling the battlefield converged on Rin, spiraling into her chest. Her body glowed blindingly bright, the fire fused into her.

Then, silence.

Her eyes opened, pale and fierce.

She whispered " [Ultimate Skill : Ashborne Vow]."

Her body ignited with white flames, her figure wreathed in swirling ash. She launched forward like a meteor.

Her sword met Mira’s lightburst, splitting the explosion in half.

Then came the relentless strikes. Slash after slash, Rin’s movements became a blur.

Mira tried to counter, summoning dozens of blooms at once.

But Clarissa’s telekinetic barrier wrapped around Rin, shielding her from the incoming detonations.

Rin kept going, her sword glowing hotter. She slashed, but missed.

Mira hurled a massive flower of light right at her chest, boom! Rin crashed backward.

But she smiled, bruised and burned.

"Finish her, Princess..."

Veronica didn’t need more encouragement.

Her body flared with white fire, brighter than ever before. With a fierce cry, she charged, her fist collided squarely with Mira’s chest, sending the woman spiraling through the air.

And finally, Clarissa’s last dagger hovered above her, then shot forward, piercing Mira’s heart.

The light in Mira’s eyes flickered... and went out.

She collapsed, petals scattering around her like ashes in the wind.

Clarissa stood silently above the fading body, her breath steady but her heart heavy.

"...Rest well, Mira," she whispered.

---------×----------

Meanwhile, at the southern gate...

Rayden stared wide-eyed at the towering, corrupted form of Frederik, his voice low with disbelief. "You’ve gotta be kidding me..."

"This is way out of hand," Clint muttered, bracing himself. "What the hell is that thing?"

Celestia stepped forward calmly, silver threads already glowing around her fingertips. "I’ll try to lock him down. Give him everything you’ve got once he’s open."

Without another word, she vanished in a blur [Phantom Step].

In a flash, her Silver Threads wrapped around Frederik’s limbs, anchoring him in place like glowing chains. His body jerked violently, trying to break free, but for a moment, he was still.

"Now!" Celestia shouted.

Rayden responded instantly, charging a sphere of light energy in his palms, Hurled it straight at Frederik’s chest.

Boom!

The explosion hit, but as the smoke cleared... Frederik still stood. Barely scratched.

"What—!?"

Frederik let out a guttural roar, then suddenly snapped the threads apart, throwing off Celestia’s bind like it was nothing.

"Shit," Rayden breathed. He raised his hands again. "Guess I’ve got no choice..."

A burst of fiery crimson enveloped his hands. In a heartbeat, he summoned his red blade [Crimson Oath] a glowing sword of red petals and sharp edges.

He slashed downward, but the blade didn’t even cut deep.

Frederik grabbed him mid-swing and hurled him backward. Rayden’s body crashed into a wall, hard.

Clint jumped in, only to be smashed aside like a ragdoll, barely conscious before he hit the ground.

Celestia reappeared beside Frederik, still weaving her thread, desperately trying to bind him again. She managed to slow him, but his hardened skin was almost impenetrable.

Frederik roared, eyes locked on her, and lunged.

He struck Celestia full force.

But Shadow Shield activated just in time, blocking the blow, though it shattered instantly.

Celestia didn’t waste the chance. Her threads shifted, forming a massive needle-like lance, then pierced through Frederik’s shoulder, making him stumble for the first time.

He turned and slammed her, sending her flying.

Rayden rose again, panting, his eyes glowing with fire and pain.

"...I didn’t want to use this," he growled. "But you’re not giving me much of a choice."

He spread his arms wide.

And ignited.

Soulburn.

His body erupted in purple flames, twisted and volatile. His skin began to sizzle as smoke rose from his shoulders. But he didn’t flinch.

"Let’s have some fun, Frederik," he snarled, and charged.

His first punch connected, Frederik’s skin began to melt where the impact landed. He screamed.

Rayden grinned viciously. "Let’s see who drops first, huh?"

Each strike burned through them both. With every hit Rayden landed, Frederik’s flesh melted, but so did Rayden’s own hands.

"Captain!!" Clint screamed as he regained consciousness, watching in horror. "Stop! That skill will kill you!!"

Rayden didn’t stop. "Skills aren’t meant to be pretty, they’re meant to end fights."

Frederik growled and activated his Gravity Crush, forcing Rayden down to his knees. The pressure cracked the earth around him.

"Damn it, this guy still has that power?" Rayden groaned.

Frederik summoned another ability, and dashed in for a devastating strike.

But just before it landed, silver threads lashed out, halting him in place.

Celestia, bloodied but standing, glared at him. "Stop using stolen powers like they’re yours."

With Frederik stuck again, Rayden slammed his fist into his gut, flesh melted and sizzled.

Clint threw a healing potion toward him, but Rayden batted it aside.

"Too late for that," he growled, steam rising from his shoulders. "I’m ending this."

Celestia narrowed her eyes. "What is that skill?"

Clint clenched his fists. "It’s called Soulburn. Every time he attacks, it eats away at both him and the enemy. Eventually... it leaves nothing behind."

Celestia went pale. "That’s... monstrous."

Rayden roared, gathering all of his purple fire into a single vortex. His body burned, arms scorched black, but he didn’t stop.

"This is for my squad, you bastard!!"

He launched forward.

Boom!

The blast engulfed Frederik, Rayden’s blades floated midair and stabbed into him from every direction.

And then, the final blow, Rayden’s fist, burning like a comet, punched through Frederik’s chest.

The purple energy exploded from within, ripping Frederik apart until there was nothing left.

Rayden stood amidst the fading embers, chest heaving, his body covered in burns and ash.

"...It’s finally over," he muttered, dropping to one knee as the strength left his legs.

"Captain!!" Clint rushed forward, barely catching Rayden before he collapsed entirely.

"Don’t get too close, you idiot..." Rayden growled weakly. "You’ll get burned too..."

Clint didn’t back off. He held on tighter.

"I don’t care," he said, his voice trembling. "I’m not losing anyone else."

Rayden chuckled hoarsely. "You’re such a damn fool... A captain’s job is to protect his squad, no matter the cost..."

Tears welled up in Clint’s eyes. "Then what about us?! What about Naria?! She’ll be devastated if you die..."

Rayden closed his eyes, a tired smile spreading across his face. "Then tell her... her captain died fighting like a badass."

Celestia approached, silent for a moment, then spoke with deep respect. "Your bravery will never be forgotten, Captain Rayden."

He looked up at her, and even through the pain, managed a grin.

"...I think I’m ready to rest now. Time to see my squad again..."

The purple flames on his body began to flicker back to life, swirling faster, burning hotter. They started consuming him.

"No! No, no Captain!!" Clint screamed, holding him tighter.

Rayden didn’t struggle. His eyes drifted closed, his breathing slowing.

But then—

A pulse of crimson light erupted from his chest.

[Crimson Oath] his second skill, still faintly glowing nearby, flashed brilliantly. The red aura around it surged outward, wrapping around his body.

And just like that, the purple flames stopped.

They hissed, cracked... and then were neutralized, dissolving into harmless smoke.

Rayden blinked. "Wait... I’m not... dead?"

He looked at his hands. His skin was burned, yes, but his body was intact.

"...Seriously?" he muttered.

Clint pulled him into a tight hug, unable to hold back his sobs. "Captain—! Damn it, I thought you were gone!"

Rayden let out a breathless laugh, then said.

"...Guess I’m not ready to meet my squad just yet."