Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1119 1119: The Zombification
Previously on Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle...
Alora's grin vanished as the agony in her chest intensified.
Crimson liquid oozed from beneath her armor, her breaths growing labored.
"This…"
Panic seized the brigade as they dashed to her side, eyes widening at the injury.
"Princess!" Beatrice, her loyal second-in-command, shouted. "She's infected!"
The truth struck them like a thunderbolt.
This bite came from a Zombie Lord, far beyond ordinary ones. All knew Lord-tier infections operated on another level. Despite the Aegis Serum coursing in her blood, Alora's defenses merely delayed the corruption—they couldn't halt it without struggle!
"Use the injector!" Alora rasped, hand pressed to her chest.
A shieldbearer hastily rummaged through the satchel, extracting the dart capable of weakening even a Zombie Lord.
Soon the injector stood ready… That liquid represented her sole chance. It had to succeed!
Experiments had proven it effective, of course! Yet Anna hadn't tested it specifically on Zombie Lord's infection—only regular zombie ones.
Hands shaking, the soldier jammed the injector into her wound and activated it.
Thud!
The dart sank into her skin, unleashing the anti-virus agents.
"Aaackkk! Mom—"
Alora's scream tore through the air as the serum burned along her veins.
Far from comfortable!
Still, she gritted through it! At least the impact came swiftly!
Briefly, the corruption paused…
Dark veins snaking over her flesh pulled back a bit.
Yet she sensed it fell short…
"This sucks so bad… Why's this virus overwhelmingly powerful? My resistance plus the injector should've ended it by now." Alora grumbled.
Her gaze shifted to the team…
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three others crumpled, gripping their limbs.
The minor scratches dismissed in battle now pulsed with faint necrotic glow.
Infection had claimed them too.
"No…" Beatrice murmured, face ashen. "We never spotted it…"
The brigade halted, grasping the dire turn…
Victory's price mounted, with infection poised to claim further tolls.
"Inject them! Hurry!" Alora ordered, voice taut yet commanding.
Two injectors fired without delay, stabbing into the downed. Anti-virus surged, stalling the change.
But screams erupted as bodies twisted, infection resisting fiercely.
Beatrice gritted her teeth. "We can't linger. Fall back! Immediately!"
The command echoed, spurring frantic motion.
Shieldbearers hoisted the hurt, archers guarded behind, swordsmen cleaved wandering zombies lured by chaos.
The poisonous mist dissipated post-Zombie Lord's demise, yet peril lingered.
Alora staggered, propped by Beatrice.
Her sight hazed, world whirling. Infection clawed inside, devouring her essence.
The injector granted time, but safety eluded her!
"Don't… let me turn…" she breathed.
"You won't," Beatrice vowed fiercely, eyes hiding terror.
"We'll reach base. Anna will fix this."
Through devastated avenues they pushed, each stride defying hopelessness.
Camp flames still flickered, overlooked now…
Fire risks paled against current crisis…
Fallen corpses trailed behind, forsaken in flight.
One more dropped, toxin flooding lungs. Injector thrust into chest, yet virus outpaced it. His cry rang, then silenced…
Unconsciousness claimed him!
"Keep going!" Beatrice bellowed…
They pressed on, expressions hardened. Five injectors remained, each vital, each a fragile hope. Still, no guarantees!
Alora's breaths rasped harsher. Aura faded, vigor ebbed.
She understood the Aegis Serum battled hard within. Antibodies resisted stoutly, but Lord-tier virus overwhelmed!
Her team gazed desperately at her.
She led as princess. Her fall would crush spirits.
"Don't halt," Alora urged softly, straightening amid torment…
"We'll return… we must…"
The shattered city loomed without end…
No triumphant return as dreamed, but frantic dash for life.
Injectors deployed every few moments, piercing skin, securing vital instants.
Infected writhed, screamed, then stabilized, eyes frantic with dread.
Brigade hastened, but zombies soon barred the way!
Timely escape seemed impossible!
Beatrice called out once more…
"Hold formation! Shield the hurt! Carve a route forward!"
They rallied instinctively… United, they bulldozed the mob, hauling afflicted allies to refuge.
Alora's view darkened, yet awareness held.
Thoughts turned to Shane, Anna, Eclipse Domain.
Reach shelter, let Anna's alchemy prevail—hope lingered.
Deep down, reality bit: this infection surpassed all priors. Injectors merely delayed.
As retreat continued, hauling injured and depleting stocks, doom's shadow deepened.
Hunt triumphed, but bizarre Zombie Lord Virus exacted brutal cost!
Never meant to rage this fiercely!
***
Hope ebbed from the brigade…
Each retreat step weighed heavier, each infected cry eroded survival faith…
Beatrice urged relentlessly, driving ahead, yet hopelessness infiltrated.
Suddenly, wind gusted over wreckage.
A silhouette flashed skyward, initially mistaken for airborne zombie!
Surrender nearly beckoned!
But upward glances brought shock.
"Layla!" a voice yelled.
Her Telekinesis Talent famed her, but new Talent Crystal granted Flight!
She swooped down upon spotting them…
Clutched briefcases in arms. Landing roughly, she assessed casualties.
"I got the alert," Layla announced…"Brought extra serum!"
Relief exploded through the brigade.
"Thank you, Layla!" Beatrice's legs buckled, tension shattering.
"Yes! Alora first!" Layla directed.
Beside the princess she dropped, barely aware, flesh ashen, veins blackened by virus…
Layla's hands quivered briefly, then firmed.
Out came a sleek new injector, refined beyond their field versions.
"This packs more punch. Anna completed it yesterday."
Against chest wound it pressed, mechanism fired.
Thud!
Alora shrieked predictably, body bowing from surge…
Yet serum flooded veins as intended…
Infection jerked back savagely, dark lines withdrawing more.
Alora's breaths evened out!
"She's steadying!" Layla cried.
Cheers rose, fleeting joy.
Four others toppled together, seizing wildly. Wounds blackened rapidly, virus accelerating past countermeasures.
"Inject them!" Beatrice yelled.
Layla with shieldbearers dashed, dosing each. Needles bit deep, serum flowed, but virus raged fiercer.
Screams twisted, eyes bleaching…
"No… Too late," Layla breathed…
As anticipated, convulsions worsened, cries morphing to guttural growls…
"They're turning!"
Brigade stiffened, lateness dawning!
"Kill them!" Beatrice commanded, voice quaking yet firm…
Swordsmen advanced, steel gleaming...
Tears flowed as they felled longtime allies. Arrows skewered heads, shields crushed forms, silencing the four.
Silence blanketed, broken by survivors' gasps…
Alora's eyes fluttered open.
Fallen comrades' forms registered the grim deed…
Noting somber expressions, she mustered words.
"Don't… squander their sacrifice. Return now."
Layla assented…
"Alora holds steady temporarily, but danger persists. Need Anna."
Brigade surged forth. Ensuring Alora's salvation was paramount…
Thus they bore the injured, flanked securely, withdrawing.
Meanwhile, Layla soared overhead, scouting threats.
'Fiona... Good job sending a rat to follow them...'