Henry Tailsman stood before James Heller, a sly grin spreading across his face. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he took in Heller's imposing figure, the weight of the situation hanging between them. "Well, well, well... it's like looking in a mirror," Henry remarked calmly, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

James Heller, already on edge, furrowed his brow in irritation. He hated mind games, and this strange man was clearly trying to play one. His frustration mounted, the tension in his body coiling tighter.

Nearby, Agent Jonesy shifted nervously, sensing the potential explosion between the two men. He muttered under his breath, his voice filled with unease. "Yeah, maybe I should get out of here." Without waiting for the situation to escalate any further, Jonesy turned on his heel and bolted back toward Piltover Academy, not wanting to stick around for what was about to unfold.

Henry watched him go, his expression unreadable before his attention flicked back to Heller. "You look so much like my opponent," he continued, his tone calm but laced with a hint of dark humor.

Heller's patience was wearing thin, his anger rising. He glared at Henry, his voice sharp and biting. "This isn't a game, asshole. You wanted someone to face your opponent? Well, here I am."

But Henry didn't flinch. He took a measured step back, his gaze steady as he observed Heller with an unnerving calm. His voice softened, almost too casual as he delivered a cryptic warning. "You think you're ready for what's inside that container? You think you've got what it takes? You're about to find out just how wrong you are. Because what you're about to face... well, it's something you'll never see coming."

Henry signaled toward the vehicle holding the small container, and the engine rumbled to life, repositioning the door to face Heller directly. From inside the container came the sounds of powerful, desperate banging, as though something monstrous was struggling to break free.

The door creaked open, the metallic groan of the hinges filling the air with a foreboding tension. Heller's muscles tensed instinctively, his arm morphing into a deadly blade. He braced himself for whatever was about to emerge. With a sudden thunderous roar, the creature inside lunged forward at terrifying speed. Heller narrowly dodged the attack, his reflexes saving him by mere inches.

The creature landed heavily, its form shrouded in dust and shadows. It rose to its feet slowly, and as the haze cleared, Heller finally got a good look at what he was facing. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Before him stood a zombified version of himself—twisted, grotesque, and dripping with malevolent power.

"What the fuck?!" Heller cursed, taking a step back as his mind struggled to comprehend the horror in front of him.

The zombified James Heller let out a bloodcurdling roar and charged again with unnatural, erratic movements. Heller barely managed to dodge the creature's wild onslaught, shoving it hard toward the convoy. The creature stumbled but quickly regained its footing, its eyes fixed on the real Heller with a murderous intensity.

Henry approached calmly, watching the scene with dark satisfaction. He held a device in his hand, clearly controlling the zombified creature. "Impressive, isn't he?" Henry said with a dark pride, his voice smooth and almost playful.

Heller's fury boiled over, his voice trembling with anger as he demanded answers. "What the hell did you do to him?"

Henry's smile widened, his tone almost conversational as he began to explain. "I'm glad you asked. This version of Heller was once just like you—determined, relentless, driven by vengeance. He went off to face his former mentor... or should I say, your former protégé, Alex Mercer. If that's his real name, anyway."

Heller's jaw clenched at the mention of Mercer's name. His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "He's not my fucking protégé."

Unfazed, Henry chuckled lightly and continued, as if he were recounting a trivial story. "This version of you fought Mercer, but he lost. Instead of killing him, Mercer gave him a little... gift. A virus from a vile Mercer had developed. It drove him insane, twisted him into something far worse, something far more powerful. And in the end, he became strong enough to kill Mercer himself—not that Mercer realized what he had created until it was too late."

Heller muttered darkly to himself, a grim smile tugging at his lips. "Good riddance, you piece of shit."

Henry nodded slightly, his smirk still in place. "Yes, good riddance indeed. But I assume there's another Mercer out there, isn't there?"

Heller's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How the hell do you know there's another Mercer out there causing damage?"

Henry's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with a knowing look. "I have my connections. I know much more than you think. Enough to understand what's really going on."

The air between them shifted as Henry's tone grew more serious, his gaze locking onto Heller's. "But enough talk. Are you sure you want to go up against a mirror of yourself? You still have a chance to walk away."

Heller, unafraid and filled with determination, met Henry's gaze head-on. "Walk away?" he scoffed. "Hell no. I know I can beat myself."

Henry's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction. "Have it your way," he said quietly.

With a press of a button, Henry released his control over the zombified Heller. The creature, now fully unleashed, let out a horrific screech as it locked onto its target. Its corrupted, twisted blade mirrored Heller's, but its form was grotesque, warped by the virus that had consumed it.

Heller readied himself, his arm once again transforming into a sharp, deadly blade. He glanced at his monstrous doppelgänger, a grim smile crossing his face as he taunted, "You wanna dance? Then let's fucking dance."

The two James Hellers stood poised for battle, the air between them thick with tension, ready to explode into violence.

The Variant of Agent Jonesy sprinted toward the entrance of Piltover Academy, where Nora, The Foundation, and the Original Agent Jonesy were waiting. Nora, visibly relieved, rushed to him, embracing him tightly as soon as he reached them.

"Are you okay?" Nora asked, her voice filled with both worry and relief.

The Variant Jonesy gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm good."

As the Variant Jonesy looked up, he caught sight of the Original Agent Jonesy standing beside The Foundation. The two Jonesys locked eyes, each taking the other in for a moment. The Original Agent Jonesy, true to his Fortnite roots, stood with a serious and focused demeanor, but there was a hint of his usual energy and enthusiasm in his posture. The Variant Jonesy, more sarcastic and laid-back, quickly broke the tension with a grin and a joke.

"Well, this is weird. It's like looking into a funhouse mirror," the Variant quipped, flashing a playful smile.

The Original Jonesy smirked slightly, his tone serious but not without warmth. "You look like you've been through a lot. Name's Jonesy, but you probably know that."

The Variant laughed lightly. "Yeah, I got that. Nice to meet... me."

Before the banter could continue, Nora cut through the conversation, her voice urgent. "We need to clear everyone out of here. That fight could spill over any second."

The Foundation nodded in agreement, his voice low and steady as he assessed the danger. "Their battle could end up here, and with that thing no longer under control, it's too dangerous to stay. We need to move everyone deeper into the building."

The Variant Jonesy didn't hesitate. He turned to the gathered crowd, his voice rising to alert them. "Everyone, head back inside! Move deeper into the building, now!"

Nora quickly activated her comms, her tone firm and urgent. "We need to get the civilians deeper into the building! Everyone, help get them to safety!"

Vi and Master Chief exchanged a glance before moving quickly to find civilians and direct them inside.

Master Chief's voice was calm as he spoke into his comms. "Cortana, how many civilians are in the building?"

Cortana responded swiftly. "There are 217 civilians still inside. We need to move quickly. More hands will help get them to safety faster."

Outside, Wraith created a rift as she ran, darting into the deepest parts of the building and opening paths to safety. Mirage, alongside Bangalore and Loba, directed civilians through his decoys. The real Mirage was busy guiding a civilian inside, while across the building, Octane sprinted, shouting at civilians to get to safety. Loba, Lifeline, and Bloodhound were on the opposite side, ushering more people to safety and ensuring they moved deeper into the building.

Meanwhile, Michael entered a room where Emily Torres was speaking with Claudia and Maria Auditore.

Emily looked up, her worry evident. "What's going on?"

Michael's voice was calm but urgent. "It's not safe here. We need to move. Now."

At the far end of the building, the Variants of Arbiter and Master Chief stood waiting for Wraith. As she arrived, Arbiter nodded approvingly. "This is good. The rifts are set," he said gravely.

Wraith activated her rift again, disappearing through it and reappearing outside, where she directed civilians toward safety. "Use these rifts to get to the deep end of the building. It's safe there!" she commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Ezio Auditore, helping more civilians inside, approached Wraith and looked at the rifts with curiosity. "How many can go through?" he asked quickly.

"As many as we need," Wraith explained calmly. "Don't worry. Master Chief and Arbiter are waiting for them on the other side."

Ezio nodded and turned his attention to a nearby woman whose face was filled with fear and uncertainty. Gently, he placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice soft with reassurance. "You'll be safe. Use the rift. I'll make sure you don't fall."

He held her hand, guiding her toward the rift with care. As she stepped through, the scene shifted to the deep end of the building, where the Variants of Master Chief and Arbiter were stationed, waiting for the civilians. The girl stumbled out of the rift, her balance faltering. Arbiter quickly caught her, his voice filled with concern. "Are you alright?" he asked.

The girl nodded, her breath unsteady but relieved as Arbiter helped her to her feet.

Meanwhile, outside, the battle between Heller and his zombified variant raged on. The air was filled with tension as the zombie screeched loudly, sprinting toward Heller with its blade arm slashing viciously. Heller parried the attack with his own blade, the impact sending sparks flying. With a powerful shove, Heller pushed the zombie back and charged forward, transforming his arm into claws.

Heller's claws raked across the zombie's torso, but the creature barely reacted, its corrupted form seemingly immune to the damage. In response, the zombified Heller swung its grotesque blade wildly, forcing Heller to dodge each attack with precision. But the zombie was relentless. As it made another swing, Heller narrowly dodged, but before he could fully recover, the zombie's arm transformed into a whiplash, slicing across his torso with brutal force. Tendrils shot out from the zombie's body, wrapping around Heller and slamming him to the ground with a sickening thud.

Heller cursed loudly, the pain evident in his voice as he struggled to get back to his feet. "Damn it!" he spat, his frustration mounting.

The zombified Heller dashed toward him, blade arm raised to strike. But Heller, still on the ground, planted his blade arm firmly into the earth, using it to push himself up in one fluid motion. As he rose, he spun around, transforming his arms into hammerfists. With a powerful swing, he punched the zombie squarely in the face, sending a shockwave through the air.

"How's that for a wake-up call?" Heller taunted, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the intensity of the fight.

Heller barely dodged the relentless hammerfist of his zombified doppelgänger, his body groaning in protest from the toll of the battle. Every inch of him ached, but he couldn't stop now. The ground beneath them was a warzone—scorched earth, jagged spikes, and shattered debris—testament to the vicious fight between the two enhanced warriors.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The zombified Heller screeched, its twisted body fueled by the grotesque mutation of Alex Mercer's virus, an abomination crafted from Heller's own DNA. Its eyes burned with a manic intensity, locking onto Heller like a predator preparing for the kill. The creature rushed forward again, its blade arm whirling with terrifying speed.

With a surge of adrenaline, Heller extended his tendrils toward the creature, wrapping them around its leg in an attempt to destabilize it. But the zombie, displaying a grim cunning, grabbed hold of the tendrils and yanked them with terrifying force. Heller was jerked off the ground, flying through the air toward his undead twin. As he sailed forward, the zombie morphed its arms into massive hammerfists, ready to deliver a bone-crushing blow.

Heller gritted his teeth, transforming his other arm into a shield just in time to block the incoming strike. The force of the blow sent him crashing into the dirt, his shield barely holding against the raw power of the zombified version of himself. Pain shot through his body as he tumbled across the ground. The world spun, and Heller barely managed to roll to his feet, his chest heaving with exertion.

Across the battlefield, Henry Tailsman watched with a satisfied smirk. His slow, mocking clap echoed through the devastation. "Impressive," he drawled, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "The creature's skill is something to behold, wouldn't you say?"

Heller glared at Henry, but he didn't have time to respond. The zombified Heller was already on its feet again, its eyes glinting with murderous intent. The two clashed once more, their blades colliding in a shower of sparks. The battlefield seemed to shudder under the weight of their blows, each strike fueled by a relentless drive to destroy the other.

The zombified Heller slashed with ferocious speed, aiming for Heller's head, but Heller ducked and spun behind it, driving his blade into the creature's back. The zombie howled in agony, but it didn't stop. With a brutal swing, it transformed its arm into a hammerfist and struck Heller across the face, sending him staggering back.

Heller wiped blood from his mouth, his vision swimming. The zombified version sprinted toward him, claws outstretched and ready to tear him apart. Heller, acting on instinct, dodged the attack and grabbed the creature's arms, using his strength to hurl it across the battlefield. It landed with a sickening thud, but was up in an instant, relentless as ever.

They clashed again, their monstrous powers wreaking havoc on the terrain. Heller's blade found its mark once more, stabbing deep into the zombie's torso. He pushed with all his might, driving the weapon further in, but the zombie retaliated with a series of hammerfist blows, finally knocking Heller backward in a bone-rattling impact.

As Heller lay on the ground, battered and bruised, his eyes fell on something nearby—Variant Jonesy's discarded jetpack. A desperate plan formed in his mind. Groaning in pain, he scrambled to his feet and grabbed the jetpack, strapping it onto his arm like a makeshift shield.

The zombified Heller, relentless in its pursuit, leaped into the air, its hammerfists raised for a killing blow. Heller braced himself, holding the jetpack up as the zombie came crashing down. The impact triggered a massive explosion, the jetpack detonating in a fiery blast that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. The force shattered nearby windows and sent debris flying in every direction.

Back near the ruins of the Piltover Academy,

Nora, the two Agent Jonesys, The Foundation, Vi, Master Chief, and the others were in the midst of evacuating civilians when the explosion rocked the area. The blast's shockwave caught their attention, and they turned in unison to see a plume of smoke rising into the air.

Mirage immediately tapped his comms, his voice shaky. "Uh... what was that?" he asked nervously.

Bangalore's eyes narrowed as she studied the smoke in the distance. "Not sure," she replied grimly, "but whatever it is, it doesn't look good. Not even for us."

The Foundation quickly assessed the situation, his voice commanding as he barked out orders. "Keep going! Get everyone inside, now!"

The group sprang back into action, herding civilians deeper into the relative safety of the academy. Even as the echoes of the explosion faded, the urgency of their mission only intensified.

Back on the battlefield,

Heller slowly pushed himself up, his body groaning in protest. His regenerative abilities had already begun to heal his wounds, but the pain lingered. As the dust from the explosion settled, he saw the shadowy figure of the zombified Heller rise once more, seemingly unscathed by the blast. The creature let out a bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the battlefield, its eyes now fixed on a new target: the civilians at the ruins of Piltover Academy.

Heller's eyes widened in horror as he realized what was about to happen. The zombified version of himself let out another screech before leaping into the air, covering the distance toward the academy with terrifying speed.

"Hey! Over here, you ugly bastard!" Heller shouted desperately, trying to draw the creature's attention back to him, but it was too late. The zombie was already closing in on the civilians.

Heller cursed under his breath and sprinted after it, pushing his enhanced speed to the limit in a desperate attempt to close the gap. He couldn't let this monster reach the academy—not with so many innocent lives at stake.

Meanwhile, Henry Tailsman watched the scene with dark amusement, his smirk widening as he muttered to himself, "Well, isn't this interesting?"

He began walking slowly toward the battlefield, clearly eager to witness the chaos that was about to unfold.

At the ruins of the Piltover Academy, chaos reigned as Mirage frantically ushered civilians inside, his voice filled with urgency. "Come on, hurry! Get inside, now!"

Chaos reigned in the ruins of the Piltover Academy. Inside the crumbling building, Mirage moved frantically, urging civilians towards safety. His voice was loud, almost desperate, as he ushered them deeper into the makeshift shelter.

In a larger room further inside, the civilians huddled together, fear etched across their faces. Emily Torres stood alongside Maria and Claudia Auditore. Claudia clung tightly to her mother's hand, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

"What's happening? Where's Ezio?" Claudia asked, her eyes wide with worry.

Maria sighed, her face taut with concern. "I don't know, cara mia..."

Across the area, Michael, Variant Agent Jonesy, the original Agent Jonesy, The Foundation, Master Chief, Bangalore, Mirage, and the Variant Arbiter scattered, ensuring the safety of those inside. Bangalore tapped her comms, speaking with a sense of urgency.

"Is everyone inside?" she asked firmly.

In a hallway, Variant Master Chief guided two more civilians towards safety. His deep voice came through the comms. "I've got two more here. Heading back now."

Outside the academy, Nora, Vi, and Ezio led a few more stragglers toward the building. Nora tapped her comms, her voice as steady as ever despite the growing danger. "Some of us are still outside helping civilians," she reported.

Bangalore turned her attention toward the ominous rift in the distance just as Wraith emerged from it. Her eyes were sharp, her tone urgent. "We need to close the rift. Whatever's happening outside is getting closer."

Nora nodded in agreement, the severity of the situation sinking in. Wraith, who had just stepped through the rift, immediately assessed the situation, her determination unwavering. "Is there more? I can bring more people through."

Ezio approached, his expression grim as he overheard the exchange. "No," he said firmly, addressing Wraith. "You need to head back inside and close the rift."

Wraith frowned, her resolve unshaken. "Why? We can still save more."

Ezio's voice was commanding, leaving no room for debate. "There's no time to argue. We have to close it—now."

The rising panic in the air was punctuated by the frantic shout of a Piltover officer, who pointed toward the horizon. "It's coming! It's coming!" he yelled, his voice breaking with fear.

Ezio's eyes snapped toward the incoming threat. His jaw tightened as he turned back to Wraith. "Do it now!" he ordered.

Wraith hesitated for only a fraction of a second before nodding. She turned and, with one final glance, sealed the rift, its glowing energy fading into nothingness.

At that moment, Vi, having just helped a civilian to safety, turned around in time to see something land heavily in the clearing. Her heart lurched as she saw this twisted form of the zombified Heller for the first time. The creature's body was grotesquely contorted, its arms mutated into lethal claws. It rose slowly, sharpening its focus on its next victims. Horrific sounds gurgled from its throat, sending a cold wave of terror through those nearby.

Ezio's face paled as he muttered in disbelief. "Che mostro orribile..." he whispered in Italian, his breath catching in his throat.

The zombified Heller screeched and prepared to lunge, but before it could attack, something yanked it back. Tendrils, dark and sinewy, wrapped around the creature's body, pulling it away from the civilians. James Heller, sprinting toward the academy, was straining to hold the beast back, his teeth clenched in fury.

"Get back here, you son of a—!" Heller cursed, his voice filled with raw anger.

The zombified Heller thrashed violently, screeching as it tried to break free. The sheer force of its struggle sent tremors rippling through the ground, but Heller refused to let go, digging his heels into the dirt with everything he had.

With a sudden burst of strength, the zombified Heller grabbed onto the tendrils and yanked Heller forward with terrifying force. Heller was momentarily airborne, but instead of resisting, he used the momentum to his advantage. With a powerful lunge, he tackled the zombie, sending both of them crashing into a nearby pile of debris. The impact sent shockwaves through the area, forcing Ezio and the others to dive for cover as the wreckage collapsed around them.

Inside the deeper end of the building, the violent shaking sent civilians into a panic. Screams filled the air as the walls trembled. Michael stood near the entrance, his gaze sweeping over the chaos. He turned toward the exit, intent on finding out what was happening outside, but Mirage noticed and called after him.

"Where are you going?" Mirage's voice was filled with alarm.

Michael barely looked back, his expression set with determination. "I'm checking to see what's happening outside."

Mirage's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you crazy? It's dangerous out there!" he shouted, his voice tinged with concern.

Michael paused, his gaze steely. "Dangerous or not, someone's got to do it."

Without waiting for a response, Michael sprinted toward the exit, leaving Mirage shaking his head in frustrated disbelief.

Back outside, Nora pushed herself up from the debris, shaken but unhurt. As she regained her footing, her eyes widened in horror. The zombified Heller rose from the rubble, unfazed by the impact. It screeched again, its claws flexing as it prepared for another attack.

"Oh no..." Nora breathed, fear creeping into her voice as the monstrous figure loomed before them once again.

As the zombified Heller's attention shifts, his head snaps toward a terrified civilian on the ground. The man is desperately backing away, pleading for his life. With a screech, the creature raises its claws, poised to deliver a lethal blow. Just as the strike is about to land, Vi charges in, her fist slamming into the zombified Heller with all her might. The impact sends him staggering back, crashing to the ground.

"Go! Get out of here, now!" Vi orders urgently, her voice full of authority.

The civilian scrambles to his feet, not wasting a second as he bolts for safety. Nora, seeing her chance, quickly follows suit, knowing she stands no chance against the monstrosity. The zombified Heller, now enraged, pushes himself back up, locking his eyes onto Vi. His focus narrows, his fury now entirely directed at her. Vi takes a step back, her heart pounding as she realizes the gravity of what she's just done. Her voice wavers slightly as she tries to steel herself.

From the debris, James Heller emerges, shielding a small child from the collapsing wall. He carefully lifts the child, ensuring they're unharmed before setting them down and turning his gaze toward Vi, who is squaring off against the zombified version of himself. Though he doesn't recognize her, he nods in acknowledgment. Vi, determined, returns the nod, a silent agreement passing between them—she will deal with the zombified Heller while Heller ensures the child's safety.

"You want to pick on someone?" Vi taunts, trying to keep her voice steady. "How about picking on me?"

The zombified Heller lets out a monstrous roar, his claws extending as he charges. Vi quickly sidesteps, using her brawler skills to dodge his wild swings. She weaves around his attacks, landing a solid punch to his torso. Though the hit staggers him slightly, he barely reacts, his focus unyielding. Undeterred, Vi delivers a rapid series of blows, each one more forceful than the last. One particularly powerful punch sends the zombie stumbling back, but it isn't enough—he keeps coming, relentless.

Before the zombified Heller can retaliate, three Piltover officers from Cortana's universe rush in, weapons drawn. They open fire without hesitation.

"Take him down! Now!" one officer shouts, desperation in his voice.

The bullets, however, do little more than draw the creature's attention. With terrifying speed, the zombified Heller lunges at the officers. Vi's eyes widen in horror as she sprints after him, but she's too late.

"Shit!" Vi curses under her breath as the zombie slashes through one officer with ease, sending him crumpling to the ground. Another officer is grabbed and hurled directly at Vi with immense force. The impact knocks her off her feet, the two of them crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

Dazed, Vi struggles to get back up, but the zombified Heller is relentless. He grabs her in his massive clawed hand, lifting her off the ground as she kicks and struggles to break free. The creature roars in her face, ready to deliver the fatal blow. Just as his claws are about to strike, a whip-like weapon snaps around his arm, halting his movement. The zombified Heller snarls, his eyes narrowing as he follows the whip to its source.

Michael Torres stands firm, his mystical whip-like weapon, summoned from his pendant, pulled taut in his grip. His vampire-enhanced strength allows him to hold the zombie at bay, his voice calm but filled with determination. "You're not taking her down today, monster."

A tense tug-of-war ensues, the zombified Heller growling and screeching as he tries to break free. Just then, James Heller leaps into action. His arm shifts, morphing into a massive blade mid-air. With a powerful swing, he slices through the zombified Heller's arm, freeing Vi from its grasp.

As Vi drops to the ground, she wastes no time. She channels all her strength into a powerful punch, driving her fist into the zombified Heller's face, staggering him momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Heller transforms his arm into hammerfists and slams them down onto the zombie's skull. The force of the blow sends the creature flying backward, crashing into a nearby wall. The impact raises a cloud of dust, momentarily obscuring the scene.

Through the settling dust, the desperate shouts of Piltover officers echo in the air. "Take it down! Now!" The chaotic sounds of battle ring out—gunfire, screeches, and the cries of soldiers—only to fade into an eerie silence. Vi, Michael, and Heller cautiously approach the scene, weapons ready, tense and on edge.

Suddenly, the zombified Heller emerges from the dust, his movements jerky and unnatural. His glowing eyes burn with an eerie, terrifying focus. Heller grits his teeth in frustration.

"This fucker won't stay down," he mutters under his breath.

To their shock, the zombified Heller does something unexpected. His right arm transforms into a long, jagged blade, while his left morphs into a whipfist, the grotesque combination sending a shudder through the trio. Michael, his brow furrowed in concern, glances at Heller.

"Can you do that too?" Michael asks incredulously.

Heller shakes his head, his tone flat with frustration. "No."

Vi, ever the strategist, quickly scans her surrounding, her mind racing to come up with a plan. Her voice cuts through the tension, filled with urgency and determination. "We need to find a way to take him down—for good this time," she says, her tone resolute.

But before they can act on her words, the zombified Heller lets out a feral snarl and leaps into the air, his massive form soaring high above them. All eyes turn upward as they see the shadow of his figure looming larger and larger. James Heller looks up, his expression grim, a deep frown furrowing his brow as the reality of their situation sinks in.

"Looks like that'll have to wait," James says with resolve, his voice low but steady. His body tenses, preparing for impact.

The trio barely has a moment to steel themselves before the zombified Heller crashes back down, the ground shaking violently beneath them. Dust and debris fly everywhere as the monstrous figure launches into another assault, relentless and unforgiving. With no time to waste, they ready themselves, knowing that this fight is far from over.