'Damn it.'

Luna stared at the bodies strewn across the room. The technical ascender team, consisting of seventeen powerful ascenders, lay defeated. Each of them was formidable enough to handle an Infected on their own.

How did they lose?

The question echoed in her mind, adding to the tension and urgency of the moment. Luna's grip remained on her weapon as she scanned the room for any signs of movement or clues that might explain what had transpired here. The air was thick with dread, and she knew she had to act quickly to prevent further disaster.

The lighting in the main car flickered on and off as she slowly moved past the fallen team. She proceeded with absolute caution, each step deliberate, her senses on high alert. She needed to get to the reactor room and find a way to restore its power without compromising the defense systems.

The sound of sporadic gunfire outside the train reached her ears, signaling that the abominations had begun their attack. The sense of urgency intensified, but Luna remained focused. They only needed to survive this night before receiving help from the army. And Luna had believed they would make it through. The train had powerful ascenders like Darkness and Gail--who could decimate a horde of monsters with his mystical arrows--protecting it.

The doors to the power room slid open with a hiss, revealing the dark interior. Luna gripped her dark blade tightly, her knuckles turning almost white. She forced herself to control her breathing, expanding her perception with qi, in an attempt to sense anything that might be lurking in the shadows.

As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she saw something...A figure stood motionless next to the large steel sphere that housed the reactor. Thick cables snaked from the sphere, pulsating with a faint, eerie glow.

The man's right hand was gone, replaced by a charred, blackened stump. Despite the gruesome injury, he showed no signs of pain. His indigo eyes were locked onto the reactor with an unnatural intensity, and his blond hair hung limply over his pallid face, obscuring his features in the dim light.

A chill ran down Luna's spine. She sensed no qi coming from him, confirming her worst fears—he was undead and infected.

"Who are you?" Luna's voice wavered slightly, betraying her fear. "What are you doing here?"

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The man turned his head slowly, the movement unnatural and jerky. A twisted smile spread across his lips when his eyes met hers, and Luna felt a wave of nausea. His eyes were empty, devoid of life, yet they held a malevolent intelligence. "I'm here to finish what I started," he rasped, his voice echoing in the confined space. "And you, little human. Are no match for me."

Luna's heart raced. Her grip didn't loosen, not even one bit. This thing of a man could talk like a real human. Was her first fight going to be this one? Did Fates really hate her this much?

"I think I can handle you." Her enchanted blade sang when she made it sharper.

The man's smile widened, and Luna's stomach churned. She lunged forward, her blade aimed at his heart. But. In a dire flash, he moved faster than Luna could have anticipated. Dodging her strike effortlessly. His movement had been a blur, almost untrackable by the human eye.

At the same, Luna felt a cold clammy hand close around her wrist. His touch was ice-cold, sending a shock through her body. She twisted, trying to break free, but his grip was iron-clad.

"Such a feeble attempt," he sneered, his face inches away from hers. His breath was foul, like rotting meat and Luna fought the urge to gag. His hand leaked Black Ether, and it was slowly trying to get into her system.

With a surge of energy, she wrenched her wrist free and swung her blade in a wide arc. The edge caught him across the chest and he staggered back, a dark, viscous fluid oozing from the wound.

However, the man's smile never faltered. "You have spirit, human. Even for an unblessed," he said, his voice a mocking hiss.

Suddenly the black hand regrew anew, taking away the one advantage she had.

'Ah, shit.' Luna's mind raced. She had to think quickly. This was her first fight against such a monstrosity, and she couldn't afford to falter. She steadied her breathing, focusing her mind once more. She wasn't going to let fear overwhelm her.

Not now when her life depended on it.

"An unblessed thinking they can go against me. Has the world gone mad after the fall?" His indigo eyes bore into Luna's, mocking and full of dark amusement. Then, in a swift motion, a sword wreathed in dark purple flames materialized in his right hand—the telltale sign of corruption.

Luna tensed, steeling herself as he unleashed an arc of searing flames towards her. With practiced precision, she intercepted the attack, her blade slicing through the air with a fierce downward cut that nearly cleaved the man in two. He evaded at the last moment, landing lightly on the ground. Before he could retaliate, Luna channeled her resolve into a devastating punch against the wall. The force of her blow sent shockwaves through the car, rattling the steel and emphasizing her formidable strength.

The man staggered back, the pain evident on his face as Luna's blade severed his corrupted right hand. She wasted no time, shifting her sword's position to strike at the undead's torso. she was aiming to end the confrontation swiftly. However, he still deftly stopped her attack with his remaining hand, the chilling smile never leaving his face.

Luna met his gaze squarely, fear coursing through her but determination holding firm.

"Such resolve," the undead mocked, his voice filled with dark amusement. "You mortals truly fascinate me... It brings back memories. Truly. I am Raphael, servant of Corruption."

Luna leaped backward, narrowly evading his reach with the newly formed right arm. She knew from her earlier encounter that any contact with the corruption could spell disaster for her.

"Hello, Raphael," Luna retorted, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Looks like I'm your exterminator for the day... or night."

"The pleasure is all mine, unblessed."

"It's Lunaris Feng, you twat."

The undead man smiled, summoned more flames, and lunged at her with unnatural speed.

Luna braced herself for the fight, feeling both excited and terrified.

The flickering lights, the distant gunfire, and the oppressive darkness all seemed to close in around her.

For the first time in her life, Luna felt like she was now part of the great fight for survival.

'And I am not ready to lose on my first day.'