Eternal Undying Chronicles-Chapter 205: The Army

The city was in complete disarray, chaos rippling through its streets as Strigoi emerged in the hundreds, spilling out of the sewers like a tide of death. Zagarath's plan was unfolding perfectly, and destruction reigned supreme.

Alicarde stood amidst the carnage, his gauntlets slick with blood. He had shattered Zagarath's jaw, leaving the Strigoi lord bloodied but far from defeated.

Zagarath chuckled darkly, his mutilated face twisted into a cruel smile.

"You've grown stronger, but I'm just getting started…"

His form began to ripple and tear, his human façade peeling away to reveal the monstrous figure beneath—a true Strigoi with a deep, jagged scar marring his eye.

He tilted his head back and roared, his voice echoing across the city. "Kill all the humans and bring me the Nexus Key! No matter what!"

The Strigoi, now pouring out from every crevice, roared in unison and surged toward the heart of the city.

Zagarath's glowing eyes focused back on Alicarde. "I will be victorious. This city will fall, and you will live just long enough to see it—before I tear you apart."

Alicarde's violet eyes burned beneath the shadow of his hood, his expression unreadable. He stepped forward, his voice low and unwavering.

"You'll be too dead to see it, whether this city falls or not."

Without another word, he launched himself at Zagarath like a black blur, their battle reigniting with furious intensity.

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Elsewhere, the battlefield was equally grim. The nightshades had been overrun, their last lines of defense shattered. Amid the chaos, Caden and Chris were desperately loading a head-sized rock into a van. The horde of Strigoi pressed closer with each passing second, but Carrisa and the others held them back, their fallen carcasses piling up in heaps.

As the rock was loaded, Caden shouted, "Everyone, into the vans! Now!"

Chris and the others piled into the vehicles, slamming the doors shut as more Strigoi clawed at the metal.

"Ping, get us out of here!" Caden yelled at the driver.

Ping clicked his tongue, gripping the wheel tightly.

"Easier said than done when we're surrounded by a goddamn sea of monsters!"

Caden turned to Christina, who sat with her hands clasped together, her eyes closed in concentration. "Tina, teleport us out of here!"

She bit her lip, sweat beading on her forehead. "Already on it…"

The vans brushed against each other, making slight contact, and in that moment, Christina's power surged. The vehicles vanished from the suffocating horde and reappeared on a relatively clear road.

"Punch it, Ping!" Caden ordered.

Ping gritted his teeth as he slammed the gas pedal. "As if I want to stick around in this hellhole any longer!"

Petra leaned back in her seat with a smirk. "Relax, dude. It's not that deep."

Ping glared at her in the rearview mirror, about to retort, but his words died in his throat as a Strigoi appeared in the middle of the road, its grotesque form illuminated by the morning sun.

"What the… What do we do?!" Ping shouted.

Caden tapped his earpiece, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Maya, cook it."

The roof of the other van slid open, and Maya climbed out, raising her hand. A blazing torrent of fire erupted from her palm, engulfing the Strigoi and reducing it to ash in seconds.

Caden let out a sigh of relief but shook his head. "Didn't our briefing say these things were weak to sunlight? Why the hell are they fine now?"

Christina groaned, her exhaustion evident. "Our briefing also said we wouldn't be fighting them. Clearly, that was wrong too."

Petra chuckled, her tone light despite the dire circumstances. "Freedom's hard-won, but I'll take this over those damn labs any day."

The van swerved violently to avoid another Strigoi, and Christina braced herself. "So… monsters or scientists? Fair trade, I guess."

Ping laughed nervously, his grip on the wheel tightening.

Chris held the Nexus Key tightly in his hands, his knuckles white from the strain. "This would be so much easier if we could just teleport this thing straight to base…"

Caden glanced at him, his expression grim. "We'll make it. We have to."

Outside, the Strigoi continued their relentless pursuit, their shrieks echoing across the city. The fight for survival was far from over.

The van lurched to an abrupt halt, throwing its passengers forward.

"Ouch… what the—Ping, why did you stop?" Petra groaned, rubbing her shoulder.

Ping glanced out the windshield, his face pale. Ahead of them stretched a horrifying sight: a sea of Strigoi mixed with panicked civilians fleeing for their lives. The asphalt was barely visible beneath the writhing chaos.

Ping chuckled nervously, gripping the steering wheel. "Yeah, I think I prefer the labs…"

Caden clenched his jaw, frustration evident. "We should've taken a helicopter…"

Petra snorted. "Oh sure, because getting shot down mid-air sounds so much better."

"This isn't the time for offhanded comments," Christina snapped, biting her lip. "Caden, what do we do?"

Caden let out a dry laugh, his hand running through his hair. "We either die with grace… or we win."

His voice turned firm. "Ping, activate the turrets."

Ping smirked. "Hah! And you said putting weapons on a van was a bad idea!"

Petra rolled her eyes. "Not that it matters. We don't have enough bullets to take down that." She gestured toward the mass of Strigoi swarming the street.

Chris tightened his grip on the Nexus Key, his knuckles white. "Then I guess we really do die with grace."

"Yeah, no thanks," Petra muttered. "I'll take living with disgrace over the dying part."

Caden nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then we do just that."

He raised his hand, preparing to use his telekinesis, but suddenly froze. The sky above darkened unnaturally, as if a storm was gathering. Narrowing his eyes, he realized it wasn't a cloud—hundreds of arrows had been loosed into the sky, descending in a deadly rain upon the Strigoi below.

The arrows struck true, impaling dozens of monsters in one fell swoop. The horde faltered as the unexpected attack decimated their ranks.

Ping leaned out of the driver's side window, staring upward in shock. On the ledges of nearby skyscrapers stood figures clad in black, their faces obscured by hoods. They held medieval weapons—bows, swords, and spears.

"These guys are on our side, right?" Ping asked nervously.

Caden nodded slowly, a hint of realization in his expression. "So this is what she meant when she said she had an army…"

Without a word, the hooded figures leaped from the skyscrapers, their movements silent and precise. They unleashed another volley of arrows mid-air before landing amongst the Strigoi. Drawing their blades, they engaged the monsters in deadly combat, dividing into squads and battalions as if choreographed.

The army was split into two types. Most wore light black armor, their movements agile and swift. A smaller group wore black tunics with reinforced metal plates, exuding a commanding presence.

From the chaos emerged their leader, a young warrior clad in light armor. He landed beside the van with practiced grace, his hood shadowing his face.

"Go on ahead," he said, his voice calm yet authoritative. "We'll handle the Strigoi. None of them will follow you."

Ping blinked, awe evident in his expression. "Damn… effing cool."

The black-clad soldiers pushed the Strigoi back, creating a narrow path through the chaos. Without hesitation, Ping hit the gas, the van jolting forward and barreling down the blood-slick road.

As they sped away, leaving the carnage behind, a haggard, middle-aged man emerged from the shadows. A monocle glinted over one eye as he watched the van disappear. His lips curled into a sinister grin.

"The Nexus Key…" he muttered to himself. "I must steal it before they escape with it."