Chapter 10: The Licker Hunt and Hive Descent
The team moved cautiously into the Hive, the stale, metallic air pressing in around them. The dim, flickering lights gave the entire place a foreboding atmosphere. Jack glanced at his clone, Jack-B, who nodded silently. They were both ready—more than they had been during their first foray into the Hive.
Jie whispered from the front, "Stay alert. Stick to the plan. We know what's waiting for us."
The others fell into step, weapons raised. Jack gripped his MP5 tightly, switching his focus between the corridors ahead and the faint hum of machinery beneath their feet. Zheng cracked his knuckles, his Desert Eagle ready for action. Len silently adjusted her gear, while Zhang trailed behind, his nervousness visible, but his MP5 was raised and ready.
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Zombie Encounter – Gunfight Begins
The eerie silence was broken by the shuffling of feet and the unmistakable groan of zombies. They came from a side corridor, staggering toward the group in an uncoordinated mob. Jack didn’t hesitate.
"Go loud," he muttered, bringing his MP5 to bear.
The first few bursts cut through the advancing zombies, hitting them with precise headshots. Jack-B mirrored his movements, mowing down the front line of zombies. Zheng, standing slightly behind, fired his Desert Eagle, each shot dropping a zombie instantly with the sheer stopping power of the handgun.
"Zhang, keep our rear covered!" Jie ordered. Zhang immediately spun around to cover the rear, scanning for any signs of danger from behind. His hands trembled slightly, but he stayed focused on ensuring no zombies approached them from the back.
Meanwhile, Len weaved through the group, taking out stragglers with short, controlled bursts from her MP5, her agility allowing her to stay in motion.
The zombie horde was thinning, but they kept coming. Jack smoothly switched to his shotgun as they closed in, blasting the nearest zombie with a powerful shot that sent it flying back.
"Nice," Jack-B said with a grin, echoing Jack’s moves with his own shotgun.
Within minutes, the group had cleared the zombies, the bodies lying in heaps around them. Jack wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest rising and falling quickly.
Jie nodded approvingly. "Good work. But this was just the start. The real threats are still ahead."
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The Licker Ambush – Split Strategy
As the team ventured deeper into the Hive, the air grew colder, the walls damp with condensation. Suddenly, without warning, a loud screech echoed through the corridor. Jack's heart jumped into his throat as three Lickers dropped from the ceiling vents, their long tongues snapping dangerously in the air.
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"Scatter!" Jie shouted, diving for cover as one of the Lickers lashed out at him.
The team immediately split up, falling into the plan they had rehearsed. Jack and Jack-B worked together, moving in sync as one of the Lickers targeted them. The creature lunged, its claws scraping the metal floor. Jack dodged left while Jack-B rolled right, their shotguns coming up in unison.
"Trap it in the corridor!" Jack yelled.
They backed up into a narrow passage, forcing the Licker to follow them into tighter quarters where its speed was less effective. Jack fired the first blast, catching the Licker in the shoulder, forcing it to screech in pain. Jack-B followed up with another shotgun blast, pushing the creature back.
With one final shot, Jack blew the Licker's head apart, the body collapsing in a heap at his feet. He exchanged a quick glance with Jack-B, both of them breathing heavily.
"One down," Jack muttered. "Two to go."
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Zheng and Jie vs. the Second Licker
Meanwhile, Zheng and Jie were engaged in a fierce battle with the second Licker. Zheng's Desert Eagle roared as he fired at the creature, but its speed made it hard to land a killing shot. Jie moved tactically, forcing the Licker to chase him, giving Zheng the opening he needed.
"Now!" Jie shouted as he dodged another attack.
Zheng lined up the shot, firing directly into the Licker's head. The creature let out a final screech before dropping to the floor, motionless.
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Len vs. the Third Licker
While Zhang kept watch at the rear, Len found herself face-to-face with the third Licker. The creature's speed was overwhelming, and Len was forced to rely on her agility to dodge its vicious strikes.
She fired off several bursts from her MP5, but the Licker was too fast, avoiding her shots with ease. Its tongue lashed out, narrowly missing her as she rolled to the side.
"Focus, Len!" she muttered to herself, trying to stay calm.
The Licker lunged at her again, but just as it did, Jack—fresh from his victory over the first Licker—rushed in to help. He fired his shotgun, hitting the Licker square in the torso. The creature staggered, and with one more shot, Jack brought it down.
Len, breathing heavily, gave Jack a grateful nod. "Thanks… I could’ve used that a few seconds ago."
Jack grinned. "No problem. Let’s finish this."
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Final Zombie Horde – The Last Stand
The team regrouped and pushed forward, knowing they had to finish the job. They reached the final section of the Hive, where a massive group of zombies awaited them. This was it—the last stand.
"Let's finish this," Jack said, raising his shotgun.
The team moved as one unit, their coordination now near flawless. Jack and Jack-B took the front, blasting zombies away with powerful shotgun blasts. Len and Zheng flanked the horde, while Jie gave precise commands to maximize their positioning.
"Keep pushing!" Jie shouted as he took down a zombie with a clean headshot.
Jack, feeling his chakra pulse within him, instinctively tapped into it, using the extra speed to reload faster and move with more agility. Each of his shotgun blasts hit with precision, dropping zombie after zombie. Jack-B mirrored his movements, their attacks perfectly in sync.
After what felt like an eternity of gunfire and chaos, the last zombie fell. The Hive was silent once more, the bodies of zombies and Lickers scattered across the floor.
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Mission Success – System Bonus
The team stood in the aftermath of the battle, panting heavily, but victorious. Jie scanned the room, ensuring that all threats had been neutralized.
"We did it," Len said, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Jack's system screen suddenly flashed in front of him. Mission Complete. Bonus: 1000 points. His eyes widened as the points started to distribute among the team.
Total Points Earned: 1320
Jack: 305 points (5 zombie + 100 Licker + 200 bonus)
Jie: 253 points (3 zombie + 50 Licker + 200 bonus)
Zheng: 254 points (4 zombie + 50 Licker + 200 bonus)
Len: 253 points (3 zombie + 50 Licker + 200 bonus)
Zhang: 252 points (2 zombie + 50 Licker + 200 bonus)
Jack turned to the others. "We cleared the Hive, and we got 1320 points for it. Each of us gets 200 bonus points."
Zheng grinned. "Well-earned."
"Not bad for nearly dying," Len added with a smirk.
Zhang, still shaken but relieved, glanced at his own system screen. "I can't believe I got points for that…"
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End of the Day – Foreshadowing the Next Mission
As the team made their way out of the Hive, Jack walked beside his clone, Jack-B. The two were exhausted but satisfied with the mission's success.
"We're getting better," Jack-B remarked. "But this was just a warm-up. The next one will be even tougher."
Jack nodded, his mind already racing with thoughts of the next challenge. He could feel his chakra more clearly now, but he knew it wasn't enough. I need to get stronger… he thought.
The team stepped out of the Hive, their weapons lowered, but their minds sharp, knowing the next mission would be even more dangerous.
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