Isn’t the moon beautiful? Have you ever thought of that? I doubt many people truly marveled at the moon. I am not mad at anything. It makes sense since the moon only comes at night, and that time is reserved for sleeping. I only have a simple request. When you have the time, look up at the moon and stars at night and marvel at the sight.
…
It is around 7 p.m. in Hoyama Mall. As usual, the mall is crowded, especially since it’s noon. I see friends hanging out, families enjoying themselves, boys playing in the arcade, and girls shopping. Currently, we are walking toward the food court to eat dinner. It’s already late, and I think it’s a good time to eat. Also, don’t forget Fumiko and I still have school tomorrow. The sooner we leave this place, the better. I think for today, I want something simple, like a bento. Can you imagine a simple but perfectly executed bento? The perfect rice balls with a seaweed dusting; hot and hearty miso soup; perfectly cooked vegetable tempura; and don't forget the simple yet delicious beef teriyaki. That’s just something that screams like a perfect dinner, but Fumiko said that she wants pizza tonight. As Fumiko said, "Bento? Nah, too boring. I want pizza. Yes, pizza. Delicious, cheesy pizza." I guess pizza is fine too. Pizza is still a good comfort food for dinner. It’s also great food if you're in a hurry. That’s a bonus point for pizza.
"Do you have any pizza in mind, Hanako-chan?" Fumiko said that with the most innocent face ever. It’s as if she has already forgotten our last conversation.
"Hmm. Something simple, like pepperoni pizza. How about you?"
"I like something with a little more jazz. Like a Chicken Alfredo Pizza."
I laugh a bit. Fumiko doesn’t like boring food, and she likes eating food that has a certain sparkle to it. For her last year's birthday, her parents took us to what they thought was a simple dinner at a famous restaurant with a platinum ranking. I mean, the platinum ranking is not the highest, but it’s just amazing that they think it’s just a simple dinner. Oh yeah, they booked the entire restaurant for little Fumiko’s birthday. How sweet and expensive!
It took us a while to find a pizza shop in the food court; I mean, it’s a big food court. You can find any kind of food in this area. From native to international, and from cheap to expensive. This food court is actually one of the best in the country, so the variety was not a surprise. At long last, we found a Japanese-style pizza shop called Kitsunezza. The shop looks like a combination of a typical ramen shop and a classic Italian pizza shop. Just let your imagination take over, and you will know what I am talking about. There is also some kitsune decoration. It really looks like a fun pizza shop. We look at the menu and see a variety of pizza options, including classics like Pepperoni Pizza and Neapolitan Pizza, as well as fusions like Chicken Katsu Pizza and Miso Salmon Pizza. To be honest, that fusion pizza sounds amazing and weird at the same time. Chicken Katsu Pizza—I have never heard of that. The picture shows that each slice has two pieces of chicken katsu. It’s not small, I will tell you that much. We finally decide on a Miso Salmon Pizza and a traditional Neapolitan Pizza. We chose the healthier option because we are purchasing two full pizzas and there are only two of us.
After we pay for the meal, we set out to find a table. It took us about two minutes to find a table. This is because the food court has a lot of tables since it is really big. We waited an extra 30 minutes before our order arrived. After a small prayer, Fumiko and I started to eat the pizza. I personally start with the classic, but Fumiko immediately tries the Miso Salmon Pizza.
"This is so delicious, Hanako-chan." She said that with some sparkle in her eyes. She looks like a kid eating her first candy. It did give me a little giggle.
"Slow down, Fumiko-chan. You don’t choke on some pizza, do you?"
"You should try it, Hanako-chan." Fumiko said that while waving her pizza in front of me.
"I will try it after I am done with this slice." I use my left hand to push Fumiko’s hand away from my face. It’s kind of distracting.
I take a bite of the pizza, and I have to admit. The pizza has a good crust and a good ratio of cheese and sauce. The toppings, which are just basil and some parmesan cheese, are pretty fresh and of high quality. Even though the Neapolitan Pizza is the simplest pizza out there, the taste is amazing. Simple, but amazing, After I am done with my slice, I take a slice of the Miso Salmon Pizza and take a bite out of it. What awaits me is food heaven.
Fumiko was right; this tasted amazing. The miso gives it that umami flavor, and the salmon is cooked perfectly. I don’t know if they use specific cheese and sauce for this pizza. But it really complimented the miso and salmon parts of the pizza. The pizza was perfectly balanced. I should try this shop more often.
"So? So? So?" With each "So", Fumiko closes the gap between our faces.
"Yes, Fumiko-chan. It's absolutely delicious."
"I know, right."
Fumiko continues to eat the pizzas. Maybe that’s not the perfect way of saying it. It’s more like she is devouring the pizzas. While I eat a slice of pizza, I look at some news on my phone. There is another thing that is interesting about the food court, which is that the roof is made out of glass. You can eat your dinner while looking at the sky. When it's noon, you don't have to worry because an automatic blinder is built in to block the majority of the sunlight. Not only that, but they also have live music every night. It’s a great combination, really.
I was too busy reading the news and eating my pizza. I was oblivious to everything around me. It was a little off that the music suddenly stopped. I was a bit curious, so I looked around and saw that a lot of people were looking at the sky. Okay, what’s going on? Fumiko had already looked up at the sky before I asked her a question.
"Fumiko-chan. What’s wrong?"
"You might want to see this." She looked at me while pointing at the sky.
Finally, I look at the sky. Lord and behold. A blue moon in all its splendor. I recall back to the time when I saw the Blue Moon for the first time, and it was the same as in the news. It looks better live than on my phone.
"No way."
As quickly as I can, I grab my phone and take a picture of it. How lucky can I be?
"We’re so lucky, Fumiko-chan."
"It seems like your wish did come through."
We laugh for a bit and continue to enjoy our food. How can the day be any better? I guess God has other plans, because not too long after, we started to hear screaming.
"What’s wrong?"
Before we could assess the situation, the people in the food court started to panic, and a lot of people from the bottom floor went up. It started getting crowded here.
"Please stay calm. We are doing all we can do. Please don’t go to the first or second floor. I repeat. Please don’t go to the first or `second floor." That comes from the mall announcement system. By the sound of it, the announcer is in a bit of a panic.
After the announcement ends, Fumiko and I run toward the nearest glass rail and look at the first floor. What we see looks like a horror scene. I mean that literally. The first floor is full of holes, dead bodies, and zombies. Zombies—now that’s new. Oh, have I mentioned the blood? Yeah, it’s a massacre down there. It really looks like something out of a movie. Or a nightmare. I look at Fumiko and see her assessing the situation.
"This must be the work of a caster." She said that while looking at the situation.
"It is a possibility."
"I never thought I would see a zombie invasion in real life. I thought that was only reserved for movies." She said this with a small laugh.
"This is no laughing matter, Fumiko-chan."
"Sorry, Hanako-chan."
"We should stop this."
I was about to grab something from my bag, but Fumiko stopped me with her hand and gave me a serious look.
"Let me handle it." She let go of my hand.
"Don’t worry about me. I can help."
"It’s not that, Hanako-chan. You haven’t controlled your artifact fully. We don’t want to risk you going haywire."
"But." I give off a disappointed look.
"I’m sorry, Hanako-chan. We don’t want another incident."
"I’m sure I can do it now."
"Please, let me handle it."
"Please, Fumiko-chan." I give off a little desperate face.
"Don’t worry, I will be fine." She strokes my cheeks lightly.
"Alright. You got me. I give up."
"Thank you, Hanako-chan."
"I’ll try to help the civilian and contact HQ. Good luck." I dash toward the crowd of people.
"I’ll do my best." She waves at me before looking back at the zombie situation.
While I tried to contact HQ and calmed down the crowd, Fumiko grabbed a book from her bag. I am trying all I can to find an exit that doesn’t involve going to the lower floor. It’s a good thing that the mall guards have everything handled. It's also a good thing I was able to call HQ and explain the mall fiasco. Yes, two fiascos in one day. Lucky me. I don’t know which is worse, this or the classroom fiasco. One feels life-threatening, and one feels really awkward. After a short intermission, HQ told me that they had dispatched a few teams, including Yuichi Senpai. I really hope Fumiko will be fine.
I asked a few mall guards about any possible exits, and they said there is an elevator that can lead to the basement. I ask them where the elevator is, and they show me a map of the mall. I ask if they have any weapons I can use, and a guard gives me his firearm and some ammo. I suppose this will suffice. I ask them to keep an eye on the civilians and call my number if something happens. I head toward the nearest elevator and push the down button. After a quick prayer, I walk into the elevator and push the basement button.
…
Fumiko POV
I take a deep breath and hold Newton’s Personal Notebook in my hand. I look below again and assess the condition. It seems that the undead cannot go to the next floor. Which is good news. But I am sure whoever this caster is hasn’t shown his or her full strength yet. If that were the case, everyone in the mall would be dead or crushed. I remember hearing a few rumors saying that this mall is built on an old cemetery. I hope they have relocated the corps, but judging by the fact that they are zombies, I have low hopes for that. Before I can try to figure out any plan, I hear my phone ring. I grab my phone from my pocket and look at the caller. Yuichi Senpai? I pick up the phone.
"Fumiko speaking."
"Ah, Fumiko. How are you doing?"
"This isn’t the time for that." I gave him a stern voice.
"Sorry. I just wanted to lighten up the mood. So, how’s the situation?" From the call, I heard him laugh lightly.
"Pretty bad, but it could be worse. It seems that the zombies can’t go to the second floor. They are just stuck on the first floor."
"It’s a bit weird, but I understand your situation. It looks like whoever you are fighting, they are holding back quite a lot." He said that in a more serious tone. That’s his way of saying that whoever does this is a threat. Which is somewhat concerning.
"Do you have any idea whose power this is?"
"HQ has given me quite a list. But we won’t know that before we see the artifact or the caster. I have a feeling it has something to do with having power over death. Either scientifically or god-like power."
"What do I do now, Yuichi Senpai?"
"Try to distract them and save the survivors on the first floor. Since the zombie in the mall poses no actual harm as long as the first floor is cleared, it’s better not to overdo ourselves."
"Do I have clearance for combat?"
"You do, but proceed with caution. Minimize using destructive moves."
"I’ll do my best, Yuichi Senpai."
"Do you have your earpiece with you?"
"I do. Should I put them?"
"Please do."
As per Yuichi Senpai's request, I grab my earpiece from my bag and put it in my ear. I then connect the call to my earpiece.
"Can you hear me, Yuichi Senpai?"
"Loud and clear. Be careful, Fumiko."
"Thank you, Yuichi Senpai. See you later."
"Yeah."
After making sure that Yuichi Senpai cut the call, I took another deep breath and jumped from the fifth floor. A little bold, I know. I just want a bit of jazz in my entrance.
"Sir Isaac Newton, lend me your knowledge." I grabbed the book and opened it.
A white pillar of light suddenly engulfs me. After that, my attire changed from my outdoor clothes to my battle dress. My battle dress consists of a long Victorian-style dress and a magic staff with Newton's Personal Notebook on top of it. As you can see, this artifact allows me to not only get access to Newton’s knowledge and experience but also allows me to control all of his theories and contraptions. One of them is gravity; this artifact allows me to hover by bending gravity to my will. Which is great since I can now float in the air. Yes, Newton can provide you with flight, which is strange. I thought that as well.
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First thing on my list: check for any survivors on the first floor. Second thing: Make sure no zombies can get to the safe civilians. Lastly, find a way to create an escape. But for now, Hanako will handle that. I hope she will be alright.
Finally, after reviewing my plan, I went on searching for survivors on the first floor. While I was floating, I tried not to attract the zombies. I’m also relieved that the second and third floors are cleared. This means that even if the zombies suddenly have the ability to move to another floor, it will take a while before they reach the civilian floors.
As I look around, I see more and more zombies walking aimlessly. This is one hell of a mess. I eventually came across a family trapped in a shoe store. I still keep my distance, so as not to attract any zombies. I see that there are three people: a mother and her two kids hiding in one of the changing booths. Poor things. I am glad that someone survived on the first floor. Time for action, Fumiko.
"Speculum Prisma"
I wave my staff and create a glass prism, then shoot it near the shop. I avoid shooting it too far into the shop to avoid hurting the trapped family. After the prism landed, the prism shot out a rainbow light that killed all the zombies in its vicinity. It’s more like the rainbow lights behave like a spear that pierces through the zombies, killing them immediately. Wow, they are weak. As soon as I saw that there were no more zombies near the shop, I immediately flew toward it. I land on my feet and move some of the chairs and shelves to create a barrier. After making sure that the barrier is sturdy enough, I walk to the changing booth, where the family is trapped, and open the door. Because of the sudden jump scare, I cover the two kids' mouths with my hand before they can scream. I waited for a few seconds before removing my hands and creating a silence sign.
"Are you three alright? Nobody is hurt, right?" I check their bodies for any physical harm.
"Yes, we are alright." The mother said nervously.
It seems the mother is still young—I would say around 20-ish—and probably doesn’t have a lot of experience managing a family. But it was a great thing that she managed to find a safe spot for herself and her kids. I still see fear in their eyes, especially the children, and I feel bad for them. I can’t blame them. It’s not like every day you can see a horde of zombies rampaging through a mall.
"Stay calm. I will guide you out." I use my softest voice to calm them down.
I use my control over gravity to make them float in the air. As they were floating, I could see a few scared faces among them, but it seemed the youngest was having a bit of fun. I believed that flying was something that every child dreamed about. At least I can make that a reality for the young one. Alright, time to get serious. I offered my hand to the mother and asked her to tell her kids to make a chain.
"Is everybody ready?"
The mother and the oldest nod, while the youngest just screams "Ready." Silence suddenly bestowed upon us. You can faintly hear a water drop from a leaking pipe. I was a bit shocked that I could hear that. Oh yeah, don’t forget the arrival of the zombies. Great. I wave my wand again and create two floating glass prisms.
"Speculum Prisma."
I shoot the glass prisms to create a clear path. Like before, a bunch of rainbow lights start to kill all the zombies blocking our path. After seeing the clear path, I began to assist the family in reaching the fourth floor, since the fifth floor was really packed. After the family lands on the floor, I deactivate my power to stop them from floating. I can see a little bit of disappointment in the young one. It truly brightens up my day.
"There, safe and sound. Please follow the guard. If there are any injuries, they will help you." I point at the mall guard handling the floor.
"Thank you so much, Miss. Kids, what do you have to say?" She lightly pushed her two kids.
"Thank you, Miss." Both say that in unison.
"You’re welcome; stay safe." I wave my hand lightly.
I see the mother and her children approaching the guard to request assistance. I went back to the first floor to look for any more survivors. As I fly, I see that I haven’t made a dent in the zombie situation. It seems like more zombies are replacing the dead ones. I hope Hanako is doing fine.
"How is the situation?"
I was a bit surprised by the sudden call. I can tell by the tone that this is Yuichi Senpai. But as I listen more to the call, I can vaguely hear a few gunshots.
"All of the civilians have been evacuated to the fourth and fifth floors. The zombies are still stuck on the first floor."
"That’s a relief."
"How about you, Yuichi Senpai?"
"A bit problematic. Borderline chaotic."
I suddenly hear another gunshot in the call.
"Was that you?"
"Yes. Apparently, the zombies are not only in the mall."
"Are there some outside?"
"Yeah, they are basically crawling outside."
"How are the civilians out there?"
"We manage to create a safe zone and a barrier to keep the zombies away. But I believe there were a few casualties."
"What is HQ's reaction?"
"They are going to send more backups. They should be here in about 20 minutes."
"I hope they get there soon."
"Same. Fumiko, I advise you not to go outside and just stay there. Let us handle the evacuation."
"Alright, I will tell Hanako."
"Thank you. I will do my best to get there as soon as possible."
"Are you using your artifact?"
"I’ll save that just in case the caster shows up."
"Good luck, Yuichi Senpai."
"You too, Fumiko."
As soon as Yuichi Senpai cut the call, I tried to call Hanako through my earpiece.
"Please be wearing it. Please be wearing it." I crossed my fingers.
After a few seconds, I can hear that my call is connected. Thank God, my prayer was heard.
"Hanako-chan. Stop trying to find a way out. There are …" I said that hastily.
"Zombies outside of the mall. Yeah, I know."
I hear a few gunshots in the call.
"Hanako-chan, where are you?"
"In the basement."
"Are you okay? Do you need any help?" I panicked a bit. I don’t want Hanako to get hurt down there.
"No, focus on your side. I will try to clear a way through the basement."
"Please don’t, Hanako. Yuichi Senpai has arrived, and he is making his way toward us."
"I know that. But we don’t know when the caster will go serious and start killing civilians. We should take this chance."
"But Hanako."
"Don’t worry, Fumiko-chan." She said that in a more calming manner.
"Are you sure?"
"More than ever. I’m lucky that I asked for extra ammunition. If I am in trouble, I still have my artifact with me. But that’s my last, last resort. Don’t worry."
"Fine. Just be safe, Hanako-chan."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
Hanako cut the call to focus more on their battle.
Come on, Fumiko. Focus. This isn’t the time to get distracted. You have more people to keep safe. After a quick motivational speech, I continued searching for survivors on the first floor.
…
Hanako POV
I shot a bullet and killed two zombies before reloading my gun. I am currently hidden between two cars. I don’t think the zombies know where I am. I look back at my map to see my progress. It seems that the nearest exit to the outside is about 12 more meters away. I peek around the car and see about 50 zombies in my way. I take another deep breath and push forward. It seems that some zombies hear my footsteps. As soon as I see them looking at me, I shoot a few bullets toward them, knocking them down. I look back at my ammo situation, and it seems that I have about 10 more reloads. I hope this will be enough. I manage to eliminate an estimated 10% of the horde before hiding again. And that has been my routine for a while.
…
Yuichi POV
If you ask me what is happening out here, one word can explain this perfectly. Chaos. I was lucky that HQ sent out a lot more units than usual. I believe that this area is going to be off-limits for a long time. Maybe even the government is going to seize the mall due to safety concerns. Whatever fate awaits the mall, it is not something I am interested in. My top priority, for now, is the safety of the civilians. As I was trying to formulate a plan, I saw a horde of zombies heading my way. I reloaded my handgun before shooting a couple of bullets, killing them. I continue to look for any way we can push through the horde since we are still in a stalemate. Despite the fact that we've killed hundreds of them, the horde isn't going away. I take a deep breath and stand still for a while to clear my mind because this scenario is just frustrating.
"Onii-chan, watch out."
I snap out of my little mind trip and sidestep to dodge an incoming zombie’s attack. I grab my pocket knife and throw it at the zombie’s head. I hit that perfectly, and it immediately died. I don’t know if zombies can die. I look to my left and see my little brother heading toward me.
"Are you alright, Onii-chan?"
"I’m fine, Kiyoshi. Thank you for the warning."
I petted Kiyoshi’s head lightly as my way of saying thank you. He purred slightly. That’s his way of saying, "I like it. Please don't stop, Onii-chan." It’s a shame that we have businesses to do. So, I slowly stop rubbing his head, and I can see the disappointed look on his face.
"How about we continue that after the mission?"
"It’s a deal, Onii-chan."
Oh yeah, I forgot to introduce him. This is Katayama Kiyoshi, or Kiyoshi for short. He is 10 years old, but don’t let that fool you. He is considered a child genius since he has already finished college. He already has a lot of awards from the JRG (Justice Reinforcement Group), including one from the mayor. He also worked as the head of logistics in this town’s JRP HQ. I am really lucky to have Kiyoshi as my little brother.
I was brought back to reality due to a sudden call from one of the other teams.
"Sir, requesting permission to speak."
"Permission granted."
"Sir, we have found the Caster."
"Where?"
"It’s heading toward you, sir."
"Huh."
It feels like time slows down, and the Caster dashes toward us with a spear. As quickly as I can manage, I push Kiyoshi down and sidestep out of danger. We both fall on our backs, but we safely dodge that. Thank God, we survived. I look at the Caster and see that the Caster is pulling its spear from the ground. The Caster is wearing a black bra with golden linings, a short skirt with the same color, and a black rope with a few golden hieroglyphs. I can’t see the Caster’s face since she is wearing a mask that looks like an Anubis Head. Let’s not forget that she is wearing high heels. Whoever she is, she’s bold.
"I’m impressed that you have enough reaction time to dodge my move. You must have the gods in your favor."
I can tell that she is female from her voice and her outfits. I stand back and grab a pocket watch from my back pocket.
"Thank you for the compliment, but I like to believe that both humans and God have a part in everyday life."
"I see." She aims her spear at me.
"Before we start the battle, may I ask a few questions?"
"Questions. Since I am in a good mood today and I am already impressed with your ability, I shall grant you three questions."
"Thank you for your kindness. My first question is, Are you a female?"
"Yes. They usually call me the dessert beauty."
"Second question, are you working alone?"
"No, I am currently serving my Mistress."
"Third and last question, are you using the power of Anubis?"
"You’re quite a sharp detective. Unfortunately, I have to end you now."
Before she dashed toward Yuichi, a blue zodiac circle suddenly appeared under her.
"Horoscope Maxima" Kiyoshi, already transformed, waves his hand. Kiyoshi is wearing a simple black shirt, jeans, and a black coat.
The blue zodiac circle shoots out a blue light beam. It hit her directly without giving her any time to react. The blast also creates a lot of smoke. I use this time to activate my artifact.
"Lend me your wisdom, Winston Churchill." I touch Winston Churchill's famous pocket watch, which is named "The Turnip".
A beam of light surrounds me. After a few minutes, the light started to disperse. My attire changed into a two-piece suit with a simple top hat and the pocket watch artifact in my right pocket. As soon as I finished, the smoke started to clear out. I look again at the Caster’s condition, and it seems that it did nothing.
"No way. That’s a point-blank shot." I look to my right and see Kiyoshi in a shocked state. It’s really rare to see my little brother have a shocked reaction. He’s probably trying to find another way to kill the Caster. The caster seems unphased by the attack and just uses her hand to clean up the dust.
"Get ready." I grab my handgun.
The Caster dashes again with her spear to strike us again.
"Horoscope Minimus." Kiyoshi stepped in front of me and cast a zodiac circle shield. It manages to block her rapid attacks before she decides to fall back.
"Impressive, young one." She sticks her spear in the ground and does some hand stretching.
We did get a bit annoyed by her action, but we just shook it off, although Kiyoshi got a bit more annoyed than me. He doesn’t take taunting very well.
"Thank you, but we are just getting started." He waves his hand and casts three zodiac circles around him.
While he does that, I look around for any vehicle I can use. After a bit of searching, I found a simple minivan about 250 meters from me.
"Can you cover me? I have a plan." I whispered to Kiyoshi.
"Leave it to me, Onii-chan." He whispered back.
"Whatever you are planning, you won’t be able to defeat me." She lifted her hand, and it started to produce some kind of dark mist.
"Let’s see if you can handle this." She waves her hand, and the dark mist disperses into the ground.
"Surge, Medjay!" Three zombies burst through the road as soon as she said that, wearing full armor and wielding an axe-like weapon but with half-circle heads. I have to do more research after this.
"Let’s see if you can handle this." The zombies start moving toward us.
"Don’t underestimate us." Kiyoshi moves the Zodiac Circle with his hand while infusing some of his AM into it. AM, or Artifact Magic, is the thing that lets us use the power of the artifact. Each artifact has a certain amount of AM, and it regenerates every day. Every move we use will use AM, and when you don’t have any more AM, you can use any move and you will transform back to your regular self.
"Horoscope Maxima." All three Zodiac Circles shoot a blue light beam toward the zombies. It created an explosion between us and the Caster. I use this time to run toward the car. Let’s hope that Kiyoshi can give me enough time.
…
Hanako POV
Finally, I did it. I manage to find the ramp out of the basement. As soon as I can see the sky, I can see the chaos on the street. I think my appearance has attracted some attention from the zombies. Great, just my day. I reloaded my handgun before starting to kill the zombies.
As I was shooting at the zombies, I could see some of the teams from HQ dealing with the zombies. I can also see Yuichi and the little brat having a battle with someone. After 20 more bullets, I am out of ammo. Just splendid. I try to look around for any weapons, but it seems I am out of luck. I have about 5 minutes before being surrounded by the zombies. That should be enough time to use my artifact. I think my senses were a bit lacking since I didn’t notice a zombie about to attack me from behind. Before I could turn around, an arrow flew past me as fast as the northern wind and hit the zombie on the head. I look back and see the zombie lying dead. What’s even weirder is that the zombies stop heading toward me and just stand there. I have no idea how this is happening. I tried to spot where the arrow came from, but I found nothing.
I suddenly got a call from my earpiece.
"Who is this?"
"Step back, Hanako."
"Huh."
As if on cue, I see an incoming tank shell heading toward me. Oh, so that’s why? I run back toward the basement to avoid getting killed. I managed to dodge the attack. The explosion did not only kill all the zombies. It also created a blockade at the entrance toward the basement.
"Are you alright, Hanako?"
Okay, that was Yuichi Senpai. At least he could tell me first. I don’t have to get a panic attack for this.
"Don’t worry; I am alright. What was that anyway?"
"Sorry, but it seemed you were surrounded by zombies."
"Yes, that was correct."
"And I was helping you. That’s why I shot that bullet."
"Makes sense."
"Now. Please stay there. I am still doing my best to get to you all."
"Oh, fine. Don’t take too long. It’s already boring here."
"Thanks a lot, Hanako."
"Good luck, Yuichi Senpai." Yuichi Senpai cut the call and continued his battle.
I sit down on the floor and turn on my phone.
"Hmm, I wonder if there is any news about this."
…
Yuichi POV
I look back at the basement entrance and see that it is now blocked after my attack.
"I hope Hanako is not hurt."
I use my power to move my transformed Mark IV Churchill. It’s a big one, so it will take a while to start moving it. When I returned my attention to the situation, I noticed that the Caster was sitting on a broken-down car, doing her nails. As much as I want to attack her now. I need to handle the undead that Kiyoshi is currently fighting with. While waiting for that, I tried to connect with Kiyoshi over my earpiece.
"Kiyoshi, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Onii-chan. What do you need?"
I can hear that he is still battling the undead, so I better make things quick.
"Kiyoshi, can you lure the zombie soldiers into an alleyway? I will try to annihilate them with my Mk IV Churchill."
"Oh, you are using your favorite tank. They are definitely going to lose."
"You really have high hopes."
"Onii-chan is the strongest here. No one can beat, Onii-Chan."
"Thank you. You’re flattering me." I said that while giving a light laugh. He is really my precious little brother.
"He-he. Don’t worry, Onii-chan. I’ll do my best."
"Good luck, Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi cuts off the call and immediately tries to lure the zombies into an alley. As I was done calling Kiyoshi, I was immediately surrounded by zombies again. I grabbed another handgun from my back pocket and started shooting at the zombies while moving the tank and attacking with it. This is going to be a nightmare for a while.
As I was fighting the zombies, I couldn’t help but look at the Caster, who looked like the most bored person in the world. Can’t blame her since she can summon millions of zombies in the correct condition. She could just destroy an entire city with a flick of her hand. I guess this is one of them. I also couldn’t help but wonder just how many dead people there are in this city. Also, how long is my freaking backup?
…
Fumiko POV
I float back to the fourth floor while leading a couple to safety. After checking if they were okay or not, I went back down there to do one more rotation. I need to at least check one last time for any survivors on the first floor. As I was heading down there, a blue light coming from the roof hit me. As soon as the light passed by, I looked to the roof and saw nothing. That was weird.
As usual, zombies are roaming the first floor. As I was floating above the first floor, I got a call from Hanako. I connect my earpiece to the call.
"Yahoo, Hanako-Chan."
"How’s the rescue mission?"
"Doing fine. How about you?"
"Just chilling. Yuichi Senpai closed the entrance in and out of the basement."
I laugh a bit at her sentence and her tone. It seems she is unhappy with the lack of action.
"Aren’t you coming up?"
"No, I think I’ll stay here. Just in case somebody up there decided to come here."
"Alright, then. I want to make one more round around the first floor. We can talk later."
"Sure thing, Fumiko-Chan. I’ll call you later."
Hanako cut the call, and I was left alone again on rescue duty. I guess floating above the zombies does count as not being alone. But I don’t want this to happen again.