The first truck, with the recruits on board, entered the wall. The heavy sound of the engines echoed across the field as the vehicle advanced through the passage, its tires crushing the remains of ghouls that were around. The entrance was closing again, but the enemy pressure continued outside.

San spoke, worried:

"Hey, Kay, that's a lot of steps!"

Kay replied:

"I know, don't worry! It was exactly what I wanted!"

Mira made an ironic comment, but with the tone of someone who knew what was at stake:

"I swear, if I die, I'll come back to haunt you!"

Kay, with a mischievous smile, replied:

"Haunted by such a cute little ghost? Well, I guess..."

Mira, with no patience for jokes at that moment, said:

"This is no time for jokes!"

With the trucks now inside, Yumi quickly closed the entrance, and everyone began to prepare for the next move.

Kay held the meeting with the team, with a serious and determined expression:

— Let's follow the plan. We'll advance to the right, going around the kingdom. The helicopters will eliminate the rest outside as soon as we advance inside!

Nina, with a skeptical look, asked:

— Isn't there a risk of them climbing the wall?

Kay, maintaining her strategic stance, answered without hesitation:

— No. Since we'll be moving through the kingdom, they'll follow us from the outside. So, if they really try to enter the wall, they'll only do so if they can fly!

Nina still seemed suspicious, so she asked:

— I see, so what's the purpose of that motorcycle you asked me to bring?

Kay made a broad gesture with her hand, as if she was explaining the obvious:

— That's Thais's! She'll eliminate those who can fly. It'll be a hunt for both sides, so if you let your guard down, you'll die. And we can't stay in the same place for too long, otherwise the ghouls will surround us!

Alex exclaimed:

— Can we open fire?

Kay, pouring herself a cup of coffee, warned:

— If they use the truck's weapons, they'll end up destroying the buildings, and it'll be hard for them to rebuild later. If they don't go in the direction of the buildings, they might open fire!

— The dynasty has many places we need to hold, avoid hitting the buildings!

— Can you get the motorcycle up there?

Thais, with a determined tone, held the motorcycle while looking at the soldiers, her suit beginning to manifest with the tentacles coming out of her body. They moved instinctively, increasing the tension in the environment.

— I don't know... but I can try!

Kay, without hesitation, replied:

— Go ahead. It should take about three minutes for the ghouls outside to approach the entrance!

— Lower your weapons! — Yumi ordered.

The soldiers, with their weapons still lowered, watched in fear.

Kay, in a hurry, said:

— She's doing well, we don't have any more time! Get ready!

As Thais continued to climb, the tension increased, with the ghouls quickly approaching the entrance. The soldiers climbed into the trucks.

The mission was underway, but a cloud of uncertainty still hung over the team.

— There are indeed many of them! — Thais warned over the radio, her voice full of tension. The horizon was covered by creatures thirsty for human flesh.

Kay, alert, quickly replied:

— If it gets dangerous, get off! — Kay's voice was firm, but a shadow of concern mixed with his leadership. He knew that Thais was in a delicate position, and any mistake here could cost him dearly.

Thais, remaining calm, responded with a confident tone:

— Understood! — and with that, she started the motorcycle, the tentacles retracted, returning the suit to normal. At the same time, inside the wall, the trucks began to start.

The team advanced on the right, always close to the wall.

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Kay was attentive to every movement, his mind focused on the progress and safety of the mission. He held the radio firmly, his eyes scanning the terrain ahead.

— Yumi, when we reach the middle of the kingdom, let me know! — Kay said, his voice full of determination.

— Okay! — Yumi replied, her voice firm as a rock.

As the group approached the densest region, the atmosphere became heavier. The old, battle-worn buildings formed a gloomy scene.

Kay, without missing a beat, picked up the radio again.

"Three ghouls between the buildings, stop the vehicles!" Kay's voice sounded with the authority of someone leading a crucial mission.

Thais, with her motorcycle ready, stopped immediately.

On the side of the buildings, the three ghouls began to emerge from the shadows, their presence immense and threatening. Their grotesque forms, with pulsing muscles and sharp teeth like razors, were a spectacle of terror. They advanced, dragging themselves with a sound that reverberated on the walls. What had previously been a calm, now became a relentless hunt.

"I'll leave it to you!" said Yumi

Sarah fired the first bullet that cut through the air and hit one of the ghouls in the chest and the monster fell, struggling. Viviane, with deadly precision, followed with a well-aimed shot that made another ghoul collapse on the ground. Ethan fired another shot that hit the other ghoul.

“Finish them off!” said Yumi

“Okay!” said the three, shooting at the ghouls again

“Keep moving forward!” ordered Kay over the radio

“Okay!” replied Thais, connected to the plan.

The group continued moving forward.

“Ghoul flying!” Thais warned over the radio, her voice urgent. The ghoul was coming out of the ground and was quickly approaching the top of the wall, its demonic wings flapping loudly.

“Stop the trucks, wait for her to kill the ghoul!” Kay ordered firmly, the pressure growing. The sound of the engines stopping echoed behind him, the soldiers remaining ready for the next action, but in no hurry to advance. Time now depended on Thais’ precision.

Thais prepared herself, with a fluid movement, she got off the motorcycle, leaving the vehicle behind while she positioned herself. She drew her gun and aimed accurately at the ghoul, who was already approaching at high speed. Wasting no time, she fired. The shot cut through the air with deadly precision, hitting the ghoul square in the chest. The monster let out a shrill scream as it fell from the sky, shattering on impact.

"Ghoul eliminated!" Thais announced over the radio, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. She quickly got back on the bike, which was ready to go.

Kay breathed a sigh of relief, but didn't let her guard down. The mission was far from over.

"We're moving forward! Keep moving!" Kay ordered, focusing again on the team's progress.

The advance along the wall continued with intensity. The sound of truck engines echoed through the abandoned streets, a contrast to the distant screams of the approaching ghouls. The tension was palpable, but each member of the team remained focused, knowing that any mistake could be fatal.

Thais, at the forefront on her motorcycle, advanced along the top of the wall, her eyes trained on the sky. With her weapon ready, she maintained her position as an aerial shield for the group. Below, the veteran soldiers and recruits formed an impeccable defensive line, eliminating with precision the ghouls that emerged from the shadows.

The emergence of the ghouls

From the alleys between the ruined buildings, a new wave of ghouls emerged, their deformed bodies and erratic movements making them difficult targets. Yumi, with the radio in hand, immediately gave clear orders.

"Stop the vehicles! Eliminate them before they get too close!" Her voice was firm, but carried a hint of urgency.

The veterans advanced, armed with lethal precision, while the recruits were further back. Sarah and Viviane, always alert, led the shooting, their bullets piercing the bodies of the ghouls with efficiency.

"Three coming from the left!" — Kay said, pointing to the creatures climbing up a pile of rubble.

Before they could get close, one of Yumi's soldiers fired. The bullets found their targets, taking down two of the monsters, while the third was finished off by a well-aimed shot from Sarah.

"Stay alert! Don't leave any gaps!" said Nina.

At the top of the wall, Thais saw another one flying from the ground towards the wall. She immediately stopped her motorcycle and got off, positioning herself for the attack. The monster's silhouette became clearer as it rose, its claws ready to attack.

With a controlled breath, Thais lowered her gun and fired. The shot pierced through the air, hitting one of the ghoul's wings, which lost its balance. Before it could recover, she fired again, hitting it in the chest. The creature's body plummeted, falling on top of the other ghouls.

"Flying ghoul down!" reported Thais over the radio.

"Good job, Thais. Stay alert, we still have a long way to go!" — Kay replied, maintaining confidence in her team.

— We're done here too! — Nina said

— Good job, return to the vehicles! — Yumi said

The group continued to advance slowly. Each corner revealed new dangers, with ghouls appearing in varying numbers. Some were solitary, while others came in small groups, but the team remained steadfast.

The veterans showed their experience, covering the recruits and eliminating the closest threats. The recruits, despite their inexperience, were beginning to adjust to the chaos of combat, learning quickly with each shot and command.

Meanwhile, Thais continued her work on top of the wall. Even with few flying ghouls, she did not let her guard down, eliminating any threat that appeared from the sky. Her focus and skill kept the group protected.

Reaching halfway through the kingdom

Progress was slow but steady. After hours of combat and cautious advancement, Yumi finally reported:

— We're halfway through the kingdom! — her voice carried a tone of relief.

“Great job, everyone. Stop the vehicles so we can check the conditions!” Kay ordered over the radio.

The trucks were parked in a relatively safe area, near a large structure that once looked like it had been a warehouse. The soldiers got out to rest briefly and reload their weapons. The atmosphere was tense, but the fact that they had made it this far was a victory in itself.

“Thais, are you okay up there?” Kay asked over the radio.

“Everything is calm up here. The sky is clear, for now.” she replied, adjusting her position on top of the wall.

The tension in the air was almost tangible. Far from the kingdom, the helicopter pilots followed the group’s every move over the radio. When Kay finally authorized the airstrike on the ghouls outside the wall, a thrill of adrenaline ran through them.

“Let’s end this!” one of the pilots said with a confident smile as he started up the helicopter.

In a matter of seconds, the propellers began to spin, creating a whirlwind of dust. The helicopters took off, quickly disappearing over the horizon towards the wall.

Meanwhile, inside the kingdom, the soldiers took advantage of the brief break to rest. Sips of water and deep breaths helped them recover their energy after the intense combat. Kay, with his cup of coffee in his hands, was far from relaxing. His eyes were fixed on the surroundings, analyzing every ruin and shadow with suspicion.

"We can't settle down. Is there any open area nearby?" he asked, without looking away.

Yumi, who was checking a digital map, looked up.

"Yes, there's an open area up ahead. It looks like it was a plantation. It's the best option for us to follow."

Kay nodded, finishing her coffee in a single gulp.

"Great. Let's go there. Get the trucks ready!"

Yumi nodded and warned the drivers to get ready. Meanwhile, Kay picked up the radio again.

“Thais, advance to an open area ahead.”

The answer came almost immediately.

“Understood! I’m going.” Thais replied, adjusting her position on top of the wall.