Without another word, Black Flame turned to face the oncoming horde of zombies and Variants surging toward him.

Whzzz! Another laser beam sliced through the masses, vaporizing 1,000 more in seconds—bodies crumpled to the ground in piles, the acrid smell of burning flesh thick in the air.

"I said, leave!" Black Flame's voice reverberated like thunder, his tone carrying an unspoken promise of danger.

"Y-Yes!" The two young men stammered in unison, scrambling inside the cave without a second glance.

Once they were gone, Black Flame stood alone against the grotesque mass of zombies. His glowing red visor reflected the chaos around him, casting an eerie light on the blood-streaked battlefield.

'Normally, I wouldn't care if they stayed or ran,' Black Flame mused as he flexed his metal claws, the sharp edges glistening with gore. 'But with these things around... I had no choice.'

He turned his gaze to the incoming Grade 3 Variants—massive, mutated creatures that towered over the regular zombies. These beasts resembled some twisted, decayed version of kangaroos, their powerful legs built for terrifying speed and strength. Their eyes were hollow, blood-red, and filled with an insatiable hunger.

"Freaking Grade 3 and Grade 2 Variants..." he muttered under his breath.

[2500 zombies have been successfully eliminated. Remaining count: 100. Composition: 90 Grade 2 Poison Splash Variants, 10 Grade 3 Kangaroo Variants.] Faraday's cold, robotic voice chimed in his mind.

Black Flame narrowed his eyes. 'Faraday was right. This island is much tougher than the last.'

The Grade 3 Kangaroo Variants let out guttural roars, their legs flexing as they charged toward him at terrifying speeds—each of them moving at over 70 km/h.

"BRRAAARGHH!!" They screeched in unison, their gnarled teeth snapping, saliva dripping from their decaying maws as they neared.

"No matter," Black Flame growled, raising his hand, his body ready to unleash another devastating laser beam. "I can end this with one more shot."

But before he could give the command, Faraday cut in.

[All abilities except Claw Hand have been locked temporarily.]

"..." Black Flame paused, his red visor glowing faintly, but inside, his thoughts were raging. 'You good-for-nothing pile of circuits!'

[You have 15 minutes to eliminate the remaining zombies. Failure will result in the sealing of four abilities.] Faraday added, almost mocking.

Black Flame's grip on his metal claws tightened. He didn't curse outwardly, but the fire inside him burned hotter. This wasn't the time to argue.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"BRING IT ON, YOU SWINE!" Black Flame roared, the sound like a battle cry. His figure blurred as he dashed forward, claws ready.

The first Kangaroo Variant leaped at him with incredible force.

Puchi! Black Flame's claws tore through its skull with ease, its body falling limp instantly. But before he could enjoy the victory, another one lashed out, its powerful legs kicking him square in the chest.

Bang!

The force knocked him back several meters, the ground cracking beneath him. As he stood, his visor focused on the Kangaroo Variant that had kicked him, standing arrogantly with one leg still raised.

"BRRAARRGH!!" More Kangaroo Variants leapt toward him.

Meanwhile, the Grade 2 Poison Splash Variants began launching volleys of acidic poison, the green liquid sizzling as it hit the ground, narrowly missing him.

"Huff..." Black Flame exhaled sharply, sidestepping the spit. He was running, dodging the splashes of poison raining around him. Then, he remembered.

'Wait... I'm immune to poison,' he thought.

His focus returned to the Kangaroo Variants. He could see their movements more clearly now. No longer blinded by rage, Black Flame's tactical mind took over.

Stab! His claws sliced into another Variant's chest, but this time, instead of stopping there, he ripped its head from its body in one swift motion, sending a fountain of dark blood into the air.

"Die, you turd!" Black Flame grunted as he crushed the skull of another Variant beneath his boot, the sound echoing like a watermelon splitting open.

The battlefield became a frenzy of violence. His claws stabbed, slashed, and tore through the Kangaroo Variants, while his feet delivered crushing kicks, snapping bones and caving in skulls.

One of the Variants attempted to pull the same leg-kicking maneuver again, but this time Black Flame anticipated it.

Grab!

"You think I'll fall for the same trick twice?" he sneered, catching its leg mid-kick and slamming the Variant into the ground with a resounding thud.

CRACK!

He crushed its head beneath his boot before turning to the last of them. "And now... it's your turn," Black Flame growled as he glared at the remaining Grade 2 Poison Splash Variants.

They hissed and spat more poison, but it was useless.

BANG! PUCHI! BANG!

In a blur of movement, Black Flame decimated the remaining zombies. The Poison Splash Variants stood no chance.

Two minutes later, Black Flame sat atop a pile of corpses, the green-black blood coating his armor as he crossed his legs in the lotus position. He gazed out over the battlefield, his visor glowing ominously.

"That wasn't so bad," he muttered, satisfied with his handiwork.

[Congratulations on completing the mission.] Faraday's voice echoed in his mind, flat and emotionless.

Black Flame said. "Now, unlock my abilities."

[I'm afraid I cannot do that.]

"...What?" His voice dropped dangerously.

[I never said they would unlock after the mission.] Faraday responded calmly. [I merely said the abilities were locked temporarily.]

For a long moment, Black Flame said nothing, his entire body still. Then, he sighed, his tone resigned. "Fine... What do I have to do?"

[Simple. Eliminate the threat that's heading toward you.]

Black Flame's visor flickered as he scanned his surroundings. "What threat?"

[You'll know soon enough.] Faraday replied cryptically.

Just as he was about to ask again, his visor detected movement.

"Hey Max, I think he can see us," Leo whispered nervously from their hiding spot.

"Ridiculous. We're perfectly hidden," Max whispered back.

"I can see you two," Black Flame called out, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "Come out. Now."

Both Max and Leo froze.

"Max, what do we do? Should we go out?" Leo asked, fear lacing his voice.

Max sighed, "After what we just saw, we don't have much choice, do we?"

"I'll give you three seconds," Black Flame's voice boomed, final and unyielding. "Three..."

***

A/N: Poison Spitting Variant will be changed to Poison Splash Variant.