Chapter 55: The Tables Turn

"Zombies! The zombies are in!" "It's over! It's all over!" "Run!" Screams exploded from the panicked crowd. Kenji's face twisted in rage. He aimed his gun and roared, "Stop right there, or I'll shoot you all!" But no one listened. The terrified survivors surged toward the helicopter like a tidal wave. Not even the looming muzzle of a submachine gun could stop them. Everyone knew what was coming. Better to gamble than to wait for certain death. "Da-da-da-da!" Kenji fired without hesitation. A bloody mist burst from a survivor's chest, but those around him didn't even flinch. As long as the bullets weren't hitting them, they felt no pain, no fear. After all, being shot was a clean death. Watching yourself get eaten alive, helpless and powerless to stop it that was far more terrifying. "Hurry, Young Master!" Kenji bared his teeth, the helicopter blades spinning faster behind him. He had to buy time for takeoff, especially with Akai sprinting toward them. Kenji raised his submachine gun, ready to mow down the oncoming survivors. If he didn't kill them, no one would escape today. Bang! A gunshot rang out. A bullet screamed past Kenji's face, close enough to sting his skin with its passing. Rookie! A complete novice! Never fired a gun in their life! Kenji was livid, but also relieved. If the shooter had been someone like him, Kenji would already be dead. Tch! A clueless amateur actually thought they could land a headshot? He spotted the shooter immediately a woman. She didn't hesitate after missing. She simply turned and fled. Kenji's scorn deepened. Fool! You don't even know to press the attack, to keep shooting! You gave me time to recover! Even worse, she wasn't running toward the helicopter. She was fleeing straight toward the incoming zombies. "If you want to die, I'll grant your wish." Kenji aimed at Kasumigaoka Utaha he could already see her collapsing, see her struggling, hear her screams as the zombies devoured her. Good. She and the others could serve as bait to distract the horde. Kenji grinned. But in the next moment, his smile froze. A shadow, like a ripple in water, suddenly appeared before him. That cold, handsome face was almost right in front of his eyes. "Spacing out?" Sosuke Kitahara's words pierced him like a blade. At the same time, Sosuke thrust his sword straight into Kenji's abdomen, as easily as if he were stabbing a zombie. "Ugh..." So fast! When did he ?! Kenji's eyes bulged as he stared down at the blade protruding from his gut. Blood dripped steadily onto the ground. Gritting his teeth, rage twisting his face, Kenji instinctively raised his submachine gun only to realize his hands were empty. Sosuke was already holding the gun. A brutal kick followed, sending Kenji flying. But Sosuke wasn't finished. As he wrenched the blade free, he twisted it cruelly. The moment the blade left, a geyser of blood erupted. Kenji crashed to the ground, convulsing violently as his life poured out of him. At that instant A determined figure stepped over Kenji's body without a glance and ran straight toward the helicopter. "Young Master..." Kenji, his face contorted in pain, strained his neck to catch a final glimpse of that fleeing figure. But a burst of gunfire cut his thoughts short. Sosuke Kitahara pulled the trigger, bullets ripping into Akai's legs. "Aaaagh!" Akai screamed, his hands still clinging to the helicopter. But the searing pain shattered his grip. With a dull thud, he toppled backward, spasming on the ground as blood soaked his pants. "I won't kill you either. Stay here, and struggle for me." Sosuke narrowed his eyes, throwing Akai's words right back at him. Without sparing him another glance, Sosuke turned away. There was no time to waste. He had to find the other three women, especially Yukinoshita Yukino, who was still injured. She better not die here. But when Sosuke turned, even he, battle-hardened as he was, paused in surprise. At some point, Haruno Yukino had climbed onto the stairwell roof. Kasumigaoka Utaha was halfway up the rope, firing two clean shots behind her, taking down the tall zombies closing in. One hand already gripped the edge of the rooftop. Haruno, leaning over, caught Utaha's other hand and hauled her up. "Damn, you two are too good at this." Sosuke couldn't help but laugh. He'd only casually suggested this plan, but their execution was so flawless it was as if they'd rehearsed it a thousand times. Only Yukino remained, trembling with tension. "Sosuke!" She let out a cry and threw herself into his arms. "Hold this!" Sosuke tossed his sword to Yukino, slung the submachine gun over his shoulder, and scooped her up by the legs. He felt the weight settle into his arms and drew a deep breath. Air filled his lungs, heavy with the metallic scent of blood and the stench of zombies. His cold face remained motionless, his black eyes void of emotion, locked onto the onrushing sea of zombies. To put it bluntly In a situation like this, an injured Yukino was a liability. By future survival standards, if they weren't close, she would have already been deemed disposable. It was cruel, but it was the truth. But... That was the logic of ordinary people who had yet to ascend. For Sosuke Kitahara, now an awakened one even if only at the first tier letting Yukino die here would be a disgrace. "Hold on tight!" "Got it!" Yukino clung tightly to his neck, holding on so fiercely it was as if she wanted to fuse into him. But Sosuke wasn't doing this to cop a feel. He felt nothing. She was holding tight simply to help him conserve energy. Facing the oncoming horde, Sosuke charged forward. His foot slammed onto the ground, launching his body into the air. He stomped on a zombie's head, using it as a springboard to leap toward the rooftop. The force crushed the zombie's skull like a balloon filled with dark red liquid, splattering gore everywhere. The emotionless zombies instinctively tilted their heads upward, snapping their jaws at the sky. If they could think, they would probably be wondering Is this even human? How can a human jump that high? On the rooftop, Haruno yanked Utaha up. The two of them collapsed, panting, their faces pale but alive. Suddenly, Haruno's heart skipped a beat. She whipped her head around. Under the azure sky, Sosuke soared upward, cradling Yukino like a hawk in flight, his body eclipsing the distant sun, the sky itself spreading like wings behind him. A moment frozen in time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh, you like the story? Wow, who knew. Go ahead, drop a review and throw some power stones maybe I'll be motivated to keep going. The story's already ahead on Patron. Go there if you want to catch up faster! [email protected]/_theon Change @ to "a"