novelraw Chapter 53: Zombies’ Kill Steal
Chapter 53: Zombies’ Kill Steal
Zorvax and Ophelia treaded cautiously through the dilapidated streets, once vibrant with life, now nothing more than a concrete graveyard. As they weaved through the city’s skeleton, Zorvax abruptly raised a hand, signalling a silent command.
"Hold up," he said, his voice a low rumble that echoed off the hollow buildings.
Ophelia stopped in her tracks, her gaze fixed on him. She watched as Zorvax’s eyes fell shut, his brow furrowing in concentration. There was a tension in his posture, a telltale sign he was tapping into the Zombie Ruler ability, reaching out to the undead minions that lurked unseen.
"What can you sense?" Ophelia asked, her voice barely louder than the whisper of wind through the broken city, her curiosity piqued.
A faint smirk appeared on Zorvax’s face like he savored a secret. "A clash has happened. Not far. Many of our kind have been silenced," he revealed, a note of intrigue lacing his words.
Ophelia’s expression brightened with interest. "Are we going after them? The ones responsible for the fight?" Her question was eager, almost impatient.
Zorvax nodded, his eyes snapping open with renewed intensity. "Yes, it’s an opportunity. We could gain more from this than any regular hunt."
Her hands moved to her guns, checking the chambers with practised ease, her movements a dance of anticipation. "We should make haste then," she urged, ready to follow his lead into the fray.
With Zorvax at the helm, they picked up the pace, their footsteps a synchronized rhythm against the debris-strewn ground. As they neared the source of the disturbance, evidence of the recent conflict became increasingly visible—bodies of fallen zombies littered the area, their final, grotesque expressions etched in the dirt.
"Take cover, and keep your eyes peeled," Zorvax instructed as they reached a wall pockmarked with the scars of battle. He pressed his back against the cool surface, scanning the horizon for signs of life—or the twisted semblance of it.
Ophelia crouched behind the wall, her breaths shallow and controlled. "Do you think they’re hunters like us?" she asked, gripping her weapons a little tighter.
"It’s possible," Zorvax replied. "Or something else entirely."
They peered around the edge of their shelter, and there, in the distance, was a group of figures. They moved with deadly purpose, clearing the remains of the zombies with efficient brutality.
"They’re skilled," Zorvax murmured, his voice low. "Probably as skilled as any soldier in the old world."
Ophelia leaned closer to Zorvax, her eyes scanning the landscape and the figures methodically eliminating zombies. "We could take them," she stated simply, a glimmer of anticipation in her gaze.
"Let’s hold on," Zorvax replied, placing a hand on Ophelia’s shoulder in a gesture to reinforce his words. "There might be a smarter way to get those points."
He glanced at her, a tactical plan forming in his mind. "I need you to assemble a sniper rifle. We’re going to harvest those points right before they make their kills."
Ophelia’s expression shifted from one of readiness for battle to focused concentration. She nodded, accepting the challenge. With fluid motions, her bionic suit responded to her intent, her guns morphing and reconfiguring into a single, sleek sniper rifle. To ensure stealth, she attached a silencer, the final piece clicking into place with silent efficiency.
Peering through the rifle’s scope, Ophelia waited for the precise moment, exhaling slowly. Then, she squeezed the trigger, a needle-thin bullet whistling through the air, its sound muffled by the silencer. Just before one of the figures could land their blow, the zombie’s head exploded, a small puncture wound the only evidence of her intervention.
Again and again, she fired her shots, a silent dance of death that stole the kills from the unsuspecting group. Each trigger pull was rewarded with a notification of points gained, adding up quickly.
---
[Zombie Points +500]
[Zombie Points +600]
[Zombie Points +700]
---
Zorvax couldn’t help but allow a thin smile to spread across his lips as he kept watch. "Well done," he praised quietly, taking satisfaction not only in the points but in the seamless execution of their strategy.
He reflected on how, just two weeks prior, humans struggled to fend off level 2 zombies. "Humans sure adapt quickly," he thought. "But so do we. And we’re always one step ahead."
As the last of the zombies fell to Ophelia’s hidden marksmanship, the group appeared visibly confused, their easy prey taken out right before their very eyes. Oblivious to the true source of their troubles, they began to look around, weapons raised.
The group of strangers continued their search, scouring the area with a sweeping gaze, their confusion evident in the way they huddled together, whispering and gesturing. Eventually, they seemed to accept that their unexpected help was just a stroke of good fortune, their shrugs and relaxed postures suggesting they believed themselves to be the cause of the easy victory.
As they began collecting the bodies of the fallen zombies, Ophelia tilted her head, watching them curiously. "Zorvax, what’s our next move? Do we go after them?" she inquired, her voice low but tinged with the readiness for more action.
Zorvax observed the group, his eyes narrowed in thought. A smile crept across his face, not one of mirth but of calculating interest. "No, we don’t attack. Not yet. Let’s see where they take those bodies. There’s more to gain from watching... for now," he said, his voice a whisper that carried only to Ophelia.
Ophelia nodded, her expression shifting to mirror Zorvax’s contemplative look. "You think they might lead us to something valuable?" she asked, her simple way of thinking always leaning toward the practical and immediate.
"Precisely," Zorvax confirmed with a nod. "Their base could be a treasure trove of resources—or information. Either could prove useful."
The pair hung back as the group started on their way, their steps casual, unaware of the silent shadows trailing them. Ophelia and Zorvax moved with care, keeping a safe distance while maintaining visual contact. They stuck to the less-traveled paths, their movements just a whisper against the backdrop of the crumbling city.