In a familiar path, a cloak fluttered in a strange wind. A mysterious figure, The Exalted One, emerged from the trail. With a cold and calculating glare, he walked towards the gate.
Zombies clawed at the school's gate, and their groans created a chorus of death.
The gate shuddered under their combined weight.
"What do we have here? Ah, Julia's kind," The Exalted One commented and sneered.
One of the zombies turned his head at the sound of his voice, and his vacant eyes fixated on him. He released the gate and lurched towards him.
Another followed.
The Exalted One raised a hand. A dark, viscous energy coalesced around his fingers. "Pathetic," he scoffed and flicked his wrist.
A wave of dark energy erupted from his hand and engulfed the approaching zombies. In an eerie instant, it disintegrated them into nothingness. Only the putrid stench of their decay remained in the air.
The Exalted One looked back at the gate and pointed.
The gate groaned and bent inward. Its metal bars twisted and contorted. The lock broke, and the gate swung open with a deafening creak.
A horde of zombies spilled into the school grounds and shuffled towards the main building.
Stepping over a twitching limb, The Exalted One walked past the gate.
Any nearby zombies acknowledged his presence with a glance. Still, they did not lunge.
The Exalted One had an aura of absolute control. "Go," he commanded, and his voice was a low rumble that stirred the zombies into a frenzy.
Meanwhile, Stark and Jasper headed to the shed for cleaning supplies. They walked in silence, and a palpable tension hung between them.
The training grounds were a large, open field behind the school. Dummies, targets, and various training equipment were scattered around.
Inside the shed, shelves were lined with rakes, buckets, and brooms.
Stark grabbed a rake and a bucket. "You can take the broom," he offered to Jasper without looking at him.
Jasper scowled and snatched the broom. He stomped out of the shed and started sweeping the dirt path. With each stroke of the broom, he hit the ground with an angry force. Why was everyone siding with the Fisher brothers? They were orphans like him, but he was also the son of Flint, a hero.
Stark walked to a corner of the training grounds and started raking up fallen leaves and debris. Trying to rid himself of the lingering anger from the classroom, he worked with a focused intensity.
In the distance, a faint, rhythmic banging echoed.
Stark paused and looked up. "What's that sound," he asked.
Jasper stopped sweeping and listened. "Sounds like someone hitting the school wall. They're probably just messing around," he guessed and shrugged.
Stark's instincts urged him otherwise. He dropped the rake and walked towards the back of the school building and towards the source of the sound.
Jasper observed him, and a flicker of frustration crossed his face. He put the broom down and followed. "What are you doing? We're supposed to be cleaning," he whined.
"You can sweep by yourself," Stark retorted without turning around. He jumped on the fence and climbed it. He peeked over it and froze.
On the other side of the fence, a horde of zombies clawed at the walls. They noticed Stark, and a terrifying fury lit inside them. Their groans and shrieks were a cacophony of horror.
Stark's mind flashed back to Ms. Lily's lesson, to the description of the monsters that converted life. He scrambled down the fence, and his face was pale. "We need to get inside. Now," he urged with a trembling voice.
Jasper, who had been watching from a distance, noticed Stark's panic. "What's wrong," he inquired with a frown.
A deafening shriek suddenly reverberated throughout the school.
Stark and Jasper looked at each other. Then, they turned towards the main building.
From the rest of the school grounds, screams of terror and panic erupted.
Just then, a wicked, familiar laughter echoed in everyone's mind. "Well, well. Gathering the next generation of special individuals into one building is very convenient for me. Look at all of you, ready to fight for survival. Show me your potential," The Exalted One's voice taunted.
Stark gritted his teeth. "He's here," he growled and clenched his fists. "I have to get to my brothers," he declared and sprinted towards the school.
Building up the necessary courage to survive the incoming ordeal, Jasper pursued him and yelled, "What? Wait for me!"
Elaine burst from the back door of the school. Her face was a mask of pure terror. She ran blindly with her arms flailing.
A zombie, a former teacher with broken glasses on his mangled face, shambled after her with surprising speed.
Before Stark could shout a warning, Elaine tripped and fell hard on the grass.
The zombie lunged. His jaw unhinged as it prepared to bite.
"I've got this," Stark roared and sprinted forward. With a running start, he leaped into the air. He spun around and delivered a powerful kick. His foot connected with the zombie's head.
The impact was sickening. Skull cracked, and the zombie's head twisted at an impossible angle. It crumpled to the ground, motionless.
Jasper stared in stunned silence. He had seen Stark fight in the tournament, but this was different. There was a raw, untamed ferocity in Stark's movements now. "How... how did you do that," he stammered. His earlier arrogance completely vanished.
Stark landed in a crouch, and he barely glanced at the fallen creature. He helped Elaine to her feet. "Follow me. Don't stop running," he ordered.
Elaine, whimpering, nodded and stood behind him.
Another zombie, a former student in a blue uniform identical to their own, lunged towards them from the side of the building. One of his arms hung at a grotesque angle. His clouded eyes fixed on Jasper.
Jasper froze. His bravado and his status as the son of a hero all meant nothing in the face of this horror. His legs trembled as his knees buckled.
"I thought you were strong," Stark mocked as he grabbed a discarded wooden training sword from the ground. "Don't just stand there. Fight," he demanded.
As the zombie got closer, the taunt jolted Jasper back to reality.
Elaine looked at him with a darkened face.
Jasper remembered the humiliation earlier in the classroom. He wouldn't lose. Not again. With a surge of adrenaline, he charged and rammed into the zombie with all his might.
The zombie boy stumbled back and regained his footing. Cracking the bone, his jaw opened impossibly wide.
Jasper didn't give it a chance to strike. He threw a punch, and it connected with the creature's nose with a sickening crack.
The zombie boy's head snapped back, but he still came at him.
Stark arrived and swung the training sword with a powerful overhead strike.
The sword smashed against the zombie boy's skull, and he dropped to the ground.
"Keep moving," Stark commanded. Not waiting for a response, he pushed Elaine and Jasper ahead of him.
Drawn by the commotion, more zombies limped out from the school building.
Jasper panted. "There's too many of them," he gasped and looked back at Stark.
"We're not dying here," Stark proclaimed with defiance.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from the side. A section of the school wall burst outward in a shower of large splinters of wood and dust.
A hulking zombie, a former guard, stomped out of the school. It was Brad, and he roared. His grey uniform was torn and soaked in blood. His jaw hung and revealed rotten gums.
"Brad," Stark stammered in disbelief. He was fine just hours before.
Brad's monstrous head swiveled towards the sound of his voice. A low, furious growl rumbled in his chest. "Brat," he groaned. Shoving zombies aside, he charged forward and moved with a speed that defied his size.
"Run," Stark yelled. He grabbed Jasper and Elaine's arms and pulled them along.
However, there was nowhere to run. They were trapped between the school wall and the fence.
Brad bellowed and closed the distance.
Stark shoved Jasper and Elaine behind a stack of training dummies. "Stay down," he ordered and turned to face the monster. He tightened his grip on the wooden sword. The memory of Henry's teachings flashed through his mind.
"Your sword flows wherever your intention is," Henry's voice reminded him.
Stark closed his eyes for a split second and focused his will, his grief, and his rage into a single point. He opened his eyes and lunged back.
Brad swung his massive fist.
Stark ducked under the clumsy swing.
The wind from the blow whipped against his hair.
Stark aimed for the back of Brad's knee, and it connected with a dull thud.
Brad grunted but barely staggered. He turned with surprising speed and backhanded Stark.
Stark rolled across the ground and slammed against the wall. He slid down with a groan, and the wooden sword clattered out of his grasp. He rubbed his head and complained, "Ow."
At the same time, Jasper witnessed the beating and clenched his teeth. He turned to Elaine.
Elaine trembled in fear and kept her arms to her chest. Tears fell down her face.
"I'll help out Stark. Go inside and join any survivors, Elaine," Jasper instructed.
"Survive, Jasper," Elaine pleaded with her tear-filled eyes.
Jasper smirked and cracked his knuckles. "We'll join you in a bit. We can survive this if we stick together," he reassured.
Elaine nodded and sprinted towards the back door of the school.
Brad advanced on Stark. He raised a foot to crush his skull.
"Get away from him," Jasper roared and threw a large rock he'd found near the dummies.
The rock smacked Brad in the side of the head.
Brad's head twitched, and his thoughts scattered, placing a temporary pause to his rampage.
Stark scrambled to his feet and retrieved his wooden sword. He ran to Jasper.
Brad turned to face Jasper and Stark. He let out a frustrated growl.
"Let's fight him together," Stark suggested.
Relenting his rivalry, Jasper gave a nod and pointed out, "He's strong but slow. I'll distract him, and you attack his legs."
"Let's do it," Stark affirmed with a determined look.
Jasper and Stark simultaneously attacked Brad from either side.
Stark swung his wooden sword against Brad's leg.
Jasper threw a punch towards Brad's stomach.
Brad staggered. He immediately swatted Jasper with ease and kicked Stark away.
Jasper crashed into a rack of wooden spears, and they scattered around him. Dazed, he coughed and struggled to sit up.
Brad lumbered towards Jasper, and he prepared to deliver the final blow.
Stark loomed and circled behind him. He struck Brad's other knee with his sword.
Brad roared in pain and stumbled. He unpredictably grabbed Stark's neck. He lifted him into the air and opened his gaping jaw. His drool dripped onto the ground, and his head twitched unexpectedly.
Jasper barely stood again and groaned in frustration. He grabbed a wooden spear and charged forward. "Let him go," he demanded and thrusted the spear towards Brad's chest.
Brad effortlessly grasped the spear's dull tip with his other arm. He squeezed and broke it. He tossed it aside and glared at Jasper. He reached out and pulled Jasper off the ground by the neck. "Die," he gurgled and squeezed the life out of both boys.
Jasper gritted his teeth and struggled to breathe.
Energy in the air strangely gathered around and infused with him.
Stark kicked Brad in the head with a yell.
With a loud thud, Brad slowly collapsed on top of the spears.
Jasper gracefully landed and gasped for air.
Also freed, Stark frowned and checked on his hands as something felt different with his body. "My body feels light," he commented.
Jasper grabbed another spear. "I'll kill you," he roared and pounced high into the air. Instead of aiming for the chest, he aimed for the neck. However, his descent was abnormal. He fell like a feather, and his eyes widened.
Brad rolled out of the way and easily got back to his feet.
As he landed, Jasper turned around and hit the knee, the same spot Stark had targeted.
Brad's leg buckled, and he kneeled. He shrieked, and his monstrous face contorted in a new wave of fury. He reached for Jasper.
Stark saw his opening. He scrambled to his feet, grabbed his own sword, and charged. With a guttural cry of pure rage, he drove the wooden sword into the back of Brad's neck with all his strength. He twisted the weapon with a grimace. "Take this," he screamed.
Jasper crawled away as dark blood gushed out. His brief surge of energy faded.
Brad's body convulsed violently. A final, gargling sigh escaped his lips. He slumped forward and crashed onto the ground.
For a moment, there was silence in a broken peace.
The horde of lesser zombies, their simple minds drawn to the sounds, sprinted closer from the sides of the school.
Breathing heavily, Stark and Jasper ran inside. They slammed the heavy wooden door behind them and slid a metal bar into place.
The door thumped and rattled as the zombies threw themselves against it.
Stark leaned against the wall, and his body trembled from exhaustion. "That was... close," he panted.
Jasper looked at his own hands. He saw the faint shimmer around them as the last vestiges of the strange energy dissipated. "What was that," he whispered. He turned to Stark and asked, "Did you see it? Did you feel it when he had us?"
Stark stared at him with a grim expression. He remembered his spar with Sabre and his similar experience back then.
Just then, Elaine approached them with a relieved smile and a broom in her hands. "I thought I'd lost you," she cried.
"What's with the broom," Jasper queried with a raised eyebrow.
Elaine blushed and stammered, "I thought I would need to fight." She looked down with embarrassment.
Inside, the familiar, bright hallway was now a dimly lit nightmare. The lights flickered erratically. Broken glass, overturned desks, and destroyed chairs littered the floor. Blood smeared the walls.
Stark took a deep breath and gripped his wooden sword tighter than before. He pushed himself away from the wall and paced down the hallway. "My brothers. I have to find them," he declared with determination.
Elaine and Jasper exchanged a nervous look and followed him.
Stark, Jasper, and Elaine have survived and halted Brad's rampage in his new form. Where are Pepe, Hafen, and Matteo? Are they safe? What is this mysterious power that has surged through Jasper? What other horrors awaited them in the school's darkened corridors? The fight for survival has only just begun.