As the zombified Heller soared through the air, he extended his whipfist toward the ground, using it like an anchor to propel himself with terrifying speed. The impact of his descent was cataclysmic—his blade slammed into the earth, unleashing a shockwave so powerful that debris exploded outward in all directions. Michael, Vi, and James Heller reacted just in time, narrowly avoiding the devastating attack.
Michael summoned a glowing shield from his pendant, bracing himself as the force of the impact sent tremors through the ground. Vi, caught by the shockwave, skidded backward across the ground but quickly found her footing. The air filled with dust, creating a thick, choking haze that enveloped the battlefield and obscured everything around them.
Michael cursed under his breath, gripping his sword tightly as he squinted into the dust. "Where is he?!" he shouted, his voice tense with frustration. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the clouded battlefield for any sign of the zombified Heller.
Vi and James Heller stood on high alert, their senses heightened, trying to detect even the smallest movement in the murky air. The oppressive silence was broken only by the eerie, distant screech of the zombified Heller, its sound echoing ominously through the dust.
The three stood ready, weapons at the ready, their nerves on edge. The suffocating atmosphere made it feel as though the dust cloud was closing in on them, the unseen threat lurking somewhere within its depths.
Suddenly, the air was split by a deafening screech. Vi instinctively turned toward the sound, but before she could react, a whipfist shot out from the dust, slicing deep into her arm. She cried out in pain, dropping to one knee as she clutched the bleeding wound. "Ahh! Damn it!" she hissed through gritted teeth, her face contorted in agony.
James Heller's eyes widened as he saw Vi in distress. "Hold on!" he shouted, his voice thick with worry. But before he could reach her, the zombified Heller emerged from the dust, a twisted figure of decay and rage. It lunged at James, swinging its blade in a wild slash that forced him to dodge to the side. Heller barely managed to parry the subsequent series of brutal attacks, the force behind each blow pushing him back.
Their blades clashed violently, metal screeching against metal. The zombified Heller twisted its blade, throwing James's weapon out of position. Seizing the opening, it swung its whipfist in a wide arc. James barely raised his shield in time to block the strike, but the next hit—a brutal backhand—sent him staggering. The power of the blow rattled his shield, nearly knocking him off his feet.
Before James could fully recover, the zombified Heller struck again, its whipfist crashing into him with bone-shattering force. He was sent flying into a pile of debris, the impact leaving him momentarily dazed.
Seeing James thrown aside, Michael acted quickly. He nocked a mystical arrow and fired it into the chest of the zombified Heller, staggering the creature. Without missing a beat, he drew another arrow and released it. But the zombified Heller reacted with inhuman speed, using its whipfist to deflect the projectiles mid-air, each movement wild and unpredictable.
Frustrated but determined, Michael watched as the zombified Heller began sprinting toward him, its left arm morphing into a hammerfist while its right hand became deadly claws. Thinking quickly, Michael transformed his bow into a massive hammer and gripped it tightly.
The zombified Heller leaped at him, and Michael deftly dodged the initial attack, spinning mid-air. With perfect timing, he swung his hammer in a wide arc, connecting with the creature's face. The force of the blow sent the zombified Heller crashing to the ground, momentarily dazed.
Not wasting the opportunity, Michael charged forward, his vampire-enhanced speed propelling him toward his foe. He aimed a powerful strike at the zombie's knees, forcing it to crouch, and then swung the hammer toward its face again. But the zombified Heller, with its grotesque agility, caught the hammer mid-swing with its hammerfist.
Michael's eyes widened in shock as the creature wrenched the hammer from his grasp and slashed at him with its claws. The attack was so fast that Michael barely had time to register it before the claws tore through his torso. He cried out in pain and stumbled backward, clutching his bleeding chest as the zombified Heller ripped the hammer from his hands.
Grinning wickedly, the zombified Heller hurled the hammer at Michael with deadly precision. But just before the hammer could strike, James Heller leaped into action, catching the weapon mid-flight. With a fierce growl, he hurled it back at the zombified Heller, the hammer connecting squarely with the creature's face and sending it crashing back into the debris.
A smirk crossed James's face as he watched the zombified Heller fall. "I've always wanted to do that," he muttered, clearly satisfied with the moment.
Nearby, Vi rushed over to Michael, kneeling beside him as he clutched his wounded torso. Her face was etched with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked urgently.
"I'll live," Michael grunted through the pain. "I can heal. How's your arm?"
Vi glanced down at the deep cut on her arm, wincing slightly as she tried to shrug it off. "I've been through worse," she said with a hint of defiance.
Despite their injuries, both Michael and Vi readied themselves for the next assault. The battle was far from over, and they knew they couldn't afford to falter.
As James approached, his expression was grim. "There's no way to beat him, is there?" Vi asked, worry lacing her voice.
James shook his head. "Slicing his head off won't work. His regenerative abilities are too damn fast."
Vi clenched her fists in frustration. "So what's the plan, then?"
Michael, wincing as he slowly rose with Vi's help, spoke with a grim determination. "We could banish him," he said, his voice strained but steady. "Send him to another universe. Somewhere barren and empty, where he won't be able to hurt anyone."
Heller saw the logic in Michael's plan, his face grim as he quickly activated his comms. His voice was urgent, filled with the weight of the task ahead.
"Jonesy," Heller barked into the comms, "I need you to find us a universe—one that's barren and empty. We need to trap him there."
Agent Jonesy's voice crackled over the line, responding without hesitation, the determination in his tone unmistakable.
"On it, Heller. I'll find something," Jonesy replied.
The zombified Heller let out a bloodcurdling screech, eager to continue the battle. Heller turned back to Michael and Vi, his expression hardened with resolve.
"We need to hold him off until Jonesy can find a universe to trap him in," Heller stated.
Vi glanced at him, her brows furrowed with concern. "Are we getting any more help?" she asked.
Heller shook his head grimly. "Not likely. Some are busy keeping the civilians safe, others probably trying to get out of this mess we've made. We're on our own for this one. Too risky to bring anyone else into this shit."
Vi, never one to shy away from a fight, cracked her knuckles and glared at the zombified Heller, a defiant smirk forming on her lips. "Alright then, big guy," she taunted. "Ready for round two?"
Michael, feeling the weight of the situation, recited a quick Bible verse under his breath as he prepared himself for the fight ahead.
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"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me," Michael whispered, steeling himself.
As he finished the verse, he extended his arm, and somewhere beneath the debris, his hammer began to glow with mystical energy. The debris shifted as the hammer transformed into waves of energy, flowing back to Michael's pendant. The pendant glowed brightly before reforming into a gleaming sword in his hand. Heller, not to be outdone, morphed his arm into a lethal blade, ready to face his zombified doppelgänger for the final showdown.
The rubble in front of them exploded as the zombified Heller broke free, charging toward them with terrifying speed. The trio remained undeterred, weapons drawn and ready for battle.
Michael and Heller, using their enhanced speed, closed the distance between them and the zombified Heller in an instant, with Vi right behind them. The zombified Heller swung his claws in a vicious arc, but Heller reacted swiftly, countering the claws with his blade. As the zombie followed up with a devastating hammerfist, Heller dodged the blow and drove his blade deep into the creature's torso. Michael mirrored the move, stabbing his sword into the opposite side of the zombie, while Vi delivered a powerful punch to its face, sending it staggering back.
Vi, relentless in her assault, charged after the staggering zombie. Her fists flew with the precision and force of a seasoned brawler, each punch aimed at vital points. She landed a left hook to its jaw, a right cross to its temple, and a devastating blow to its ribs. The zombified Heller stumbled backward, his movements becoming erratic under her onslaught.
With a final punch, Vi forced the zombified Heller to crouch down, its rage growing with every blow. It screeched loudly, swinging wildly with a massive haymaker. Vi, anticipating the attack, used her gauntlets to deflect the blow, but the force of the impact sent her skidding across the ground. She winced in pain as she landed but quickly recovered, her eyes still locked on the creature.
Before the zombified Heller could advance on Vi, Heller charged in from the side, landing a powerful punch to its face. The creature staggered back, attempting a wild swing in retaliation, but Heller easily dodged and delivered a brutal uppercut, sending the zombie airborne.
Michael seized the opportunity, transforming his sword into a whip. He lashed the whip around the airborne creature and, with a mighty tug, slammed it back into the ground, creating a crater upon impact.
The trio stood at the edge of the crater, peering into the swirling dust and debris. The air was thick with tension, and Vi, still catching her breath, slowly rose to her feet.
"Where did it go?" Vi asked breathlessly, her voice filled with worry.
Heller shook his head, scanning the crater. "I don't know," he replied grimly.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently. Michael and Vi exchanged a wary glance, bracing themselves for whatever was coming next. Without warning, a grotesque hand shot out of the ground, grabbing Heller's leg with a vice-like grip. Heller shouted in surprise as he was yanked down toward the earth.
"Shit—!" Heller cursed, struggling against the iron grip of the zombified creature.
Vi sprinted toward Michael, her heart pounding as they stood back-to-back, eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of the creature. Michael, still new to this chaotic world, looked to Vi for reassurance, his voice tense with uncertainty.
"Do you think he's... dead?" Michael asked, his voice shaky.
Vi, despite her own doubts, knew Heller's resilience. She shook her head firmly. "No. I doubt it."
Suddenly, the zombified Heller burst out of the ground, roaring with fury. Vi and Michael reacted instantly, their instincts sharp. The creature now wielded a deadly blade in place of its claws, while still retaining the brutal hammerfist on its left arm. It screeched, swinging its blade in a wide arc, forcing Vi and Michael to dive in opposite directions, separating them.
Vi quickly regained her footing, charging at the creature with renewed determination. She delivered a powerful punch to its side, forcing it to stagger. Michael followed her lead, rushing in to slash at the zombie's torso with his sword. The blade bit deep into the creature's flesh, but the zombified Heller barely flinched. It screeched again, lashing out with its hammerfist. Michael dodged the strike, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow, but the creature followed up with a swift slash of its blade. The blade grazed Michael's cheek, drawing blood.
Michael winced but refused to back down. He countered with a quick slash of his own, forcing the creature to retreat. The fight was far from over, but their resolve remained unbroken.
Vi, refusing to give up, attacks the zombified Heller from the other side, her fists striking in a fierce barrage, each punch aimed to slow the creature down. Her coordination with Michael is seamless—he slashes at the monstrous Heller's torso with his sword while Vi relentlessly targets his head, both trying to prevent another devastating attack.
But the zombified Heller, now fully enraged, lets out an ear-splitting screech and moves with blinding speed. He catches Michael's sword mid-swing with his hammerfist, effortlessly stopping the blow, and with his other arm, he skillfully deflects Vi's punch using his blade. The sudden display of combat prowess shocks both fighters.
With a roar, Heller hurls Michael into a nearby building, the impact shaking the structure as debris rains down. Vi, undeterred, charges once more, landing a powerful punch that momentarily staggers the creature. But Heller, furious and in pain, retaliates with a vicious backhand slash. Vi raises her gauntlets to block the strike, but the sheer force sends her skidding across the ground. The impact reverberates through her body, and she struggles to regain her footing.
As Vi tries to rise, she winces in pain, blood streaming from a deep slice across her arm. Every movement is agonizing, and she barely manages to lift her arm. The zombified Heller, sensing her vulnerability, screeches with murderous intent as he prepares to finish her off. Just as his blade descends, a gunshot rings out, striking Heller in the face.
The shot does little more than irritate the creature, who turns his head with a snarl toward the source. Ezio stands a short distance away, wrist pistol raised, his expression calm yet determined.
"Come, let's see if you can catch me, beast," Ezio taunts, knowing that he's outmatched but relying on his agility and cunning. The zombified Heller screeches again, furious, and lunges at him with terrifying speed.
Ezio curses under his breath in Italian, "Merde!" ("Shit!") Just as the creature closes in, Ezio throws down a smoke bomb, vanishing into the thick cloud that envelops him. Heller thrashes blindly through the smoke, slashing the air in search of his elusive prey.
As the smoke clears, Ezio appears perched high on a nearby ruined building, having used his parkour skills to escape the creature's wrath. From his vantage point, Ezio pulls out his crossbow and fires a bolt, striking Heller in the shoulder. Though the hit causes the zombified Heller to flinch, he remains undeterred. His monstrous eyes lock onto Ezio as he extends his tendrils, aiming to pull him down from the building.
But Ezio, ever the quick thinker, leaps off the structure just before the tendrils reach him. The ruined building crumbles in his wake as he lands gracefully on the ground. Swiftly, he retrieves a set of throwing knives and hurls them with deadly precision. Some embed themselves in Heller's flesh, but the creature, seemingly impervious to pain, deflects the remaining knives with his blade. As Heller prepares to charge at Ezio, a hail of bullets suddenly riddles his back.
Ezio takes this moment to disengage, moving quickly to aid civilians caught in the chaos while Master Chief Variant sprints into view, his assault rifle unleashing a relentless barrage of gunfire at Heller. The bullets momentarily slow the creature's advance, causing him to screech in frustration before he redirects his focus to the new threat. Heller charges at Master Chief with his blade raised high, but Chief expertly rolls aside, dodging the strike with ease.
In one swift motion, Master Chief sticks a plasma grenade to Heller's torso. The creature roars in confusion as the grenade beeps ominously before detonating with a violent explosion. The blast sends Heller stumbling backward, debris and dust swirling in the air.
Chief doesn't hesitate—he levels his weapon at the cloud of dust, his instincts sharp. Just as he anticipated, Heller emerges from the haze, charging forward. The zombified Heller grabs Chief's assault rifle, ripping it from his hands, and follows up with a brutal punch. The impact sends Chief crashing to the ground, his energy shield flaring as it absorbs the blow.
The creature looms over him, raising his blade for the killing strike. But Chief quickly rolls to his feet, countering with an uppercut that briefly staggers Heller. Chief follows up with a flurry of rapid punches, but the zombified Heller retaliates with another vicious slash. Chief's shield flares again, forcing him to retreat.
As Chief regains his balance, he pulls out his M6H Magnum pistol and fires several rounds at Heller, each shot striking true. But Heller's monstrous resilience prevails, and with a swing of his hammerfist, he disarms Chief, sending the pistol flying. Heller backhands Chief with such force that the Spartan is thrown back onto the ground.
Just as Heller is about to deliver the final blow, a sharp shot rings out, and Heller stumbles backward. A sniper bullet finds its mark in the creature's skull, buying Chief precious time. He looks up to see the original Master Chief standing on higher ground, sniper rifle in hand, with Agent Jonesy and The Foundation beside him.
Jonesy shouts from the distance, "I'm ready to open the rift and send this thing to another universe, but we need to keep him still for it to work!"
The Foundation, his voice filled with authority, orders, "We'll hold him down. Chief, keep him pinned!"
Without hesitation, the original Master Chief discards his sniper rifle and readies his MA5D Assault Rifle. He steps forward, his voice cold and unwavering. "Let's finish this."
Together, the two Master Chiefs charge at the zombified Heller, their coordinated assault the only hope of holding him in place long enough for Jonesy to open the rift and banish him from their world.