Zombie Domination-Chapter 90- Trail

A week had passed since the celebration, and the group had remained at the outpost, helping where they could, strengthening the walls, and offering guidance to the survivors. But now, under the lingering darkness of an early morning sky, Julian and his five companions quietly made their departure.

They walked along the elevated ridge above the base, their footsteps light, the silence between them filled only by the rustle of wind.

Emma stretched her arms and yawned. "Why do we always have to leave at night? I mean... isn’t daylight a better idea?"

Aya responded softly while adjusting her glasses, "Because if Claus sees Julian leaving, he’ll cry and throw a fit. He’s gotten too attached."

Clarissa nodded. "Right. He’s been glued to Julian’s side like a little brother. It’d be a mess trying to say goodbye in the morning."

Julian gave a small smile, but his expression turned serious. "We’re leaving now because I have a bad feeling. And It’s time we moved forward."

Celestia, walking beside him, asked, "Then... what’s our next destination?"

Julian stopped, eyes scanning the vast open land beyond. "We’re going to destroy the insects that have been tailing us."

He lifted his arm and, with a soft hum, a black vehicle emerged from his inventory, Its engine roared softly as the doors slid open.

They all entered.

Veronica looked over from the passenger seat, frowning. "Wait... you mean someone’s been following us?"

Julian nodded once. "I’m not sure who."

Emma grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Well then, let’s go blow them up. I’ve been itching for a warm-up."

Celestia tilted her head. "So... are we heading straight into their territory?"

Julian shook his head as he started the vehicle. "No. We’re going to lure them. Let them come to us."

Julian drove the vehicle steadily through the dim early morning, the hum of the engine low against the silence of the outpost. As they neared the heavy steel gates, two guards stepped forward, signaling him to stop.

Julian rolled down the window, and one of the guards squinted in the dark. But the moment he recognized Julian’s face, he straightened up and saluted. "Sir, opening the gates now!"

The massive steel doors groaned as they began to part, revealing the vast, desolate wasteland beyond. Cold wind swept in.

Celestia looked out the window and sighed. "I think... I’m going to miss this place."

Veronica scoffed lightly beside her. "You would. I’ve had enough of bunkers and cold steel corridors."

Celestia smirked. "That’s a little dramatic."

Soon, they crossed the threshold, the gates shutting behind them with a metallic thud. The vehicle moved forward into the ruins of what was once a city, now a ghost town, silent and broken. Rubble lined the cracked streets. The remains of shattered buildings loomed on either side.

Then, from a side alley, a massive figure lumbered into view. A grotesque, hulking zombie with thick, mutated arms dragging along the ground. Around it, smaller infected skittered into view, their eyes glowing faintly in the gloom.

Emma leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. "We just left, and we’re already getting a welcome party."

Julian’s eyes narrowed on the road. "Anyone want to deal with this?"

A beat of silence. They glanced at each other.

Veronica was the first to speak. "Not me. It’s freezing out there. I’m not stepping into the cold unless someone’s dying."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Come on, don’t be such a wimp. Fine, I’ll warm things up then—"

"I’ll handle it," Celestia interrupted calmly, unbuckling her belt and opening the door.

Emma frowned. "Celestia, Veronica’s just lazy. Don’t listen to her nonsense!"

Clarissa chimed in from the back. "How about we play rock-paper-scissors for it?"

Emma groaned. "Ugh, no way. I hate leaving things to luck."

Julian kept his eyes on the approaching horde. "They’re getting closer," he said sharply. "If no one’s taking care of it... I’ll go myself."

Everyone inside the car suddenly burst into a panic.

"Wait, wait, wait!!"

Veronica leaned forward, her voice sharp but a little desperate. "Julian, you’re the driver, right? Just drive. The road ahead’s probably long. You don’t need to step out now."

"Yeah, yeah!" Emma chimed in quickly. "Leave this to us. We’ve got it, really!"

Clarissa, sitting calmly with a subtle, knowing smile, tilted her head. "Ohhh... so you’re both volunteering now? How noble."

"N-No! That’s not what we meant!" Veronica protested.

"Exactly!" Emma added, scrambling. "We meant—uh—we all should go out. As a team."

Clarissa turned her gaze to Aya, who had been quiet in the corner with her arms wrapped around her knees. "Right, Aya? You don’t agree with going out like that, do you?"

Aya flinched, startled to be pulled into the argument. "Ehh? Y-Yeah... I mean, I’m still sleepy... I don’t think I’m ready for a fight..."

"Hey, hold on!" Veronica pointed accusingly at Emma. "I never said I agreed to this! Emma was the one who volunteered, not me!"

Celestia sighed deeply and cut in before things got worse. "Enough. I’ll join the two of you. We’ll handle it together, so stop arguing."

Clarissa smiled again, this time opening the car door with a flick of her fingers, her telekinesis gently turning the handle and pushing it open. "How thoughtful of you, Celestia. Now, please... kindly escort our brave volunteers to the battlefield."

Emma groaned as she stepped out into the cold. "Ughhh, fine! I’m going, I’m going. Let’s get this over with..."

She turned to glare at Veronica. "Come on! You’re coming too!"

Veronica folded her arms stubbornly. "Hey! Wait a sec, I haven’t even put on my warm coat yet!"

Julian glanced at them one last time and said firmly, "Be careful."

Celestia turned to him, her expression calm but warm. "Thank you," she replied before stepping out of the car.

Veronica followed shortly after, shivering as soon as the cold night air hit her skin. "It’s freezing out here..."

Emma rolled her eyes. "They’re just low-level grunts. Quit whining and give us your buffs already."

Veronica sighed heavily, glaring at Emma with a look of reluctant resignation before raising her hands and casting enhancement buffs, first on Emma, then on Celestia.

Celestia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the approaching horde. "I’ll go first."

She activated her skill: [Silver Thread]. Silvery threads shimmered into existence, stretching out from her fingertips, twisting and dancing in the air.

With swift motions, she manipulated them to lash out and bind several zombies at once. Then, without hesitation, she invoked [Phantom Step], her body flickering forward at incredible speed.

As she darted between them like a ghost, her threads sliced through the undead with deadly precision, their decaying bodies collapsing in pieces.

Emma followed with a smirk, flames igniting across her body. "Time to burn you bastards!"

Her Pyrokinesis flared violently as she charged into the fight. Flaming orbs appeared behind her, spinning in the air before launching forward, engulfing zombies in a blazing inferno. Screams and roars echoed through the ruined street.

Veronica, observing from behind, suddenly noticed the large zombie starting to move. "Hey, that big one’s going in for an attack!"

Celestia was already prepared. She redirected her threads, coiling them tightly around the massive creature’s arm, locking it in place.

Emma, seizing the opportunity, compressed her flames into a searing beam and incinerated the zombie’s arm in a burst of fire.

Celestia, her focus unwavering, weaved her threads into the shape of a large, shimmering needle and launched it directly at the zombie’s head. The impact caused the creature to screech in agony, but it still wasn’t down.

Emma’s eyes narrowed. Her hands glowed as fire gathered into a sphere, hotter and more condensed than before. "Just die already," she muttered, hurling the blazing orb at the beast.

It struck true, exploding on contact and consuming the zombie in fire so intense its flesh charred and blackened instantly. With a final, guttural groan, the giant zombie collapsed, completely burned and lifeless.

Emma dusted off her hands and said with a smirk, "Too easy."

She turned to see Veronica already trying to slip back into the car.

"Hey! Don’t get in yet," Emma called out. "Help us grab the crystal."

Veronica let out a sigh but obeyed, reluctantly walking over to the charred remains and extracting the zombie’s crystal core.

Once they were done, the three of them climbed back into the car.

Julian glanced at them through the rearview mirror. "How did it go?"

Emma and Veronica answered at the same time but with opposing tones—

"Great."

"Awful."

Celestia, more composed, added, "The zombies were the same level as the ones we’ve faced before. So... not too bad."

Julian gave a small nod, then turned to Celestia with a calm, appreciative tone.

"Thank you for testing the area," he said.

Then his gaze shifted to Veronica. "Warm yourself up and get some rest."

Veronica, who was already curling up with her jacket, gave a silent nod.

Emma, feeling left out, whined from the backseat, "Ehh? What about me?"

Julian glanced at her with a faint smirk. "Good job, Emma."

A bright smile instantly spread across her face at the praise.

With that, the hum of the engine picked up again as Julian drove forward, their journey continuing into the ruins ahead.