With those words both Bertrand and their infantrymen escort realised, it was a trap, of course it was, Bertrand would have noticed the necklace when they went through the area previously, not to mention the two dozen other men who were on the lookout as well.

Bertrand though was especially on guard for baubles like that, why did he actually need his squadmates to explain it was a trap, Seer maybe there was still some liquor left in his system.

Before he could berate himself further though, the trappers struck, what they had hoped to achieve beyond unsettling everyone and maybe drawing them close together was unknown.

Now that their deception had either succeeded or failed though, they launched out of the tree tops at them. Falling down like boulders and hitting just as hard as one.

Bertrand heard a crack and a few pops, as one of the attackers fell directly on the infantrymen who seemed to have a hundred thousand questions. It was overshadowed by the ominous thud though.

The horrific thudding and sound rang out around the dense forest in rapid succession, as more of the trappers pounced on surprised soldiers. In a matter of seconds, three men were already dead, crushed under the weight of the ambushers.

Reacting instantly, the remaining contingent opened fire, blasting head sized holes through the attackers, killing a whole score of them, it wasn't enough, they were outnumbered four to one.

What followed was a slaughter, Bertrand hurriedly checked his mana vein, confirmed it was stable, and then started pumping as much mana from the cube through it as possible.

Desperately unleashing his beam of pure force, cleaving through limbs and cutting great swaths in the bark of the pine trees.

Beamers were incredibly unsuited for close range combat when you had teammates to look out for. It was either open fire or let everyone die though so it’s not like he had much of a choice, a few heartbeats later and Francois and Césaire had joined him.

Anywhere there was movement that wasn't blue, Bertrand would direct his beamer towards it. For twelve long seconds he desperately kept the beam running, killing enough of the zombies around him that the infantrymen near him could actually react properly, forming up in formation together, shoulder to shoulder.

Running out of power he slung his beamer and brought out his bayonet, joining the desperate melee that was unfolding. Thanks to the initial salvo and the deadly rays from the beamers, the horde had been greatly culled, making it roughly an even fight in terms of numbers.

Rushing forwards to reinforce a battered and bruised duo who were fighting five zombies. Out of the corner of his eye he spots another zombie appear from behind a pine tree and rush him from behind.

Quickly turning around, he barely avoids a grapple from the zombie, kicking its legs out from under it as he dodged to the side. Then after a quick glance around to ensure no other zombies were close to him, he dove down, driving his bayonet into its head.

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All at once its animalistic movement ceased. He plunged his bayonet down a few more times just to be safe though, before getting up and running the few dozen feet to where the infantrymen were fighting for their lives, another two zombies had joined the other three, already on the backfoot the infantrymen were now at a complete disadvantage.

Before anything could happen though Bertrand was at their side, helping pull one of them back just before a nasty swipe could take out their eye. Lungeing forward after the zombie's overextension he stabbed it in the eye, perhaps not pushing it in far enough though, his attack did nothing.

Instead, it put him on the backfoot as he had to dodge the zombie's retaliation. Almost getting tackled as another rushed him from the side, thankfully the infantryman he had just helped returned the favour, sticking out his foot and tripping it up before it could reach him.

Before either of them could finish off the downed zombie though one of the other three that had been busy attacking the other infantryman, peeled off and sprinted at them.

Diving at Bertrand in an attempt to take out his legs, more thanks to luck than any manner of skill, Bertrand managed to jump over it, a quick hop in the air and he escaped death.

Without any time to dwell on this, his new friend got to work killing the downed zombie who they had tripped over, slamming their bayonet into their skull again and again, as they just didn't stop moving.

While this was ongoing Bertrand had to contend with the two zombies, in a normal fight it would be an easy victory, a slash there and a stab there and both zombies would be dispatched.

Without any vital zone apart from the head and spine though, which required quite a bit of force to damage, he was left on the defensive. Having to duck under their zealous swings and avoid their poorly attempted grapples.

Seer, it was horrifying trying to fend off creatures that were heedless of injury and ignorant of anything but blood. Though it had its upsides, if they were just a little less focused on trying to tear him apart and more focused on tactics he would already be dead.

Though that raised a valuable question, and one that he was currently unable to put much thought into as he was fighting for his life. How could they plan an ambush if they couldn't even coordinate with each other.

Sweating arching down his face, he stumbled left and right, he didn't know how long he had been fighting for but surely it was enough time for the infantrymen to finish off the zombie.

taking a risky glance behind him he spots one dead zombie, but no infantrymen. Seer, had he been abandoned?

Then it was back to focusing on his fight, desperately fending off the zombie's amateurish attacks, they may be poorly executed but they were being made by beings that just didn't seem to get tired.

Finally, just when his lungs were starting to burn and he was preparing to launch a final hopeless attack to save himself, reinforcements arrived.

It was the two infantrymen, rushing in from the side to tackle a zombie each, bringing them down to the ground and plunging their bayonets through their skulls.

It was reckless, and it was dangerous, but Seer was it relieving. It was also an effective tactic, with the zombies quickly dying, and only a few scratches adorning the infantrymen for their risky attack.

He knew what had happened, of course, the infantryman he had saved from losing an eye had run off to help their friend first, potentially leaving him to die. He was just too tired and relieved to care though, he was alive. He had survived.

Turning back around to where the main bulk of their forces were, he tried to get his breathing under control. Tension easing off him as he watched the remaining few zombies get killed off.