Chapter 88: Underground Subway.

Words : 1031 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

The next day, Rex was already stationed by the subway entrance, scanning the dimly lit surroundings where the Aegis Sentinel squad had been wiped out the night before. Several other squads were positioned around nearby subway entrances, ready to intercept in case the Void Crawler emerged. Just in case, the hulking Mauler Juggernaut was on standby too, its massive frame looming nearby, ready to respond if any other giant infected decided to make trouble while they were down below. Rex tapped his foot impatiently. "Cleo! We’re waiting on you! Come on, I can’t wait to get down there and have my ass handed to me!" He called out, grinning, though he was only half-joking. Cleo had kept him waiting nearly an hour while finalizing updates to the assembly factory construction. Cleo finally appeared, letting out an exasperated sigh as she joined him. "Alright, I’m ready. Let’s get this over with," she said, though the look in her eyes was steely. Rex turned to Squad 201, his face serious but his tone still light enough to keep the soldiers on edge. "Squad 201, listen up! Today, the princess herself," he gestured grandly at Cleo, " will be joining us down there. So I want you all to show her what we’re made of. We’re going to take out that zombie boss and make it look easy!" He pointed dramatically at the dark, gaping subway entrance . "Now move out! Clear those tunnels before anything ugly down there has a chance to stain the princess’s beautiful eyes!" While Rex looked entirely pleased with himself, Cleo just rolled her eyes, barely hiding a smirk. He always had a flair for the theatrical, and by now, she was well past being surprised by it. Following the orders, Squad 201 began descending into the subway in a wave formation. The first team of five slipped in, moving quickly and quietly. A minute later, another team followed. Cleo observed their tactical movement with a hint of surprise. "I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to be so methodical with this," she said, her eyes tracking the steady rhythm of the deployment. Rex shrugged, grinning. "Hey, we can’t just rush in there like idiots. The infected have the home-field advantage down there. If we all charge in at once, we’re sitting ducks. But if we go in waves, each team has the space to react. Keeps things tight, controlled." Cleo raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Well, shall we? Lead the way, my lord," she added, giving him a small, sarcastic bow. Rex laughed, then returned the bow with exaggerated courtesy. "With pleasure, my lady." Together, they descended into the subway, darkness swallowing them as they moved deeper. The only lights came from the flashlights mounted on the Aegis Sentinels’ helmets, casting eerie shadows along the rusted tracks and crumbling walls. Rex’s night vision kicked in, turning everything into shades of green, but the atmosphere remained oppressively still. When the dust finally settled, Rex flexed his wings, sending rocks and debris flying off in every direction. He lowered his gaze to Cleo, checking for any signs of injury. " You alright, Cleo?" he asked, his tone soft but urgent. Cleo took a steadying breath, nodding. "Thanks to you," she replied. But before they could even take in the extent of the damage, a low, guttural roar echoed through the darkness. Rex glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight: the explosions had attracted a horde of infected, and now hundreds, no, thousands of drone zombies were swarming toward them, their eyes glowing with hunger in the shadows. Rex grinned, drawing his newly upgraded Claymore. "Well, it looks like the whole city came out to give us a warm welcome. Can’t blame them; being this handsome is a curse." Cleo shot him a look, rolling her eyes as she summoned her weapons. " This might not be the best time for jokes, Rex." "There’s always time for a little humor, my lady!" Rex laughed, spinning his claymore as its laser-coated edge hummed to life. Cleo’s enhancements had made it deadlier than ever, the blade now glowing with a lethal golden sheen. Cleo shook her head, focusing on her own preparations. In each of her hands, she summoned a short sword, while four more swords floated in a formation behind her, each blade crackling with a different elemental energy: flames flickered along one blade, electricity arced from another, acid dripped from a third, and the last was cloaked in a black, shadowy flame that sent shivers down Rex’s spine. He decided he probably didn’t want to know what that one did. Rex swung his Claymore, cleaving through the first wave of zombies that lunged toward him. "I’ll take the front! Cover my flanks!" With a powerful beat of his wings, he launched himself into the heart of the horde, slicing through dozens of zombies with every swing. His wings battered the infected away like they were nothing more than leaves in a storm, clearing space as he tore through the swarm. Rex fought like a force of nature, a whirlwind of raw power, scattering limbs and bodies as he pushed forward. Meanwhile, Cleo took a more graceful, lethal approach. She ran along the wall of the collapsed tunnel, her movements precise and fluid, slicing through the heads of zombies with an almost effortless elegance. Each step was calculated, and each strike was deadly. When she landed back on the ground, her floating swords formed a protective sphere around her, spinning and weaving to create a deadly barrier. Flames incinerated anything that got close, lightning arced out and stunned the infected, acid melted through rotten flesh, and the shadowy flame seemed to consume the very life of any zombie foolish enough to approach. For a few intense minutes, the two of them held their ground, carving through the horde as wave after wave of infected fell. But just as they were beginning to tire, Rex caught sight of movement in the distance. His scanners detected several movement sources that weren’t hostile, and his HUD detected them in a green color. Rex finally could breathe since the reinforcements were finally here.

Chapter 88: Underground Subway.

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