Chapter 35: Conquering the Fortress
Taking the prison required careful planning and flawless execution. Rick and Jayden, the two strategic minds of the group, spent hours surveying the prison through binoculars from atop a hill and devising an attack plan.
Phase 1: Infiltration and Breach. The plan would begin quietly. Daryl silently picked off the walkers around the main gate one by one with his crossbow. This gave them a working edge on the gate. Then Jayden stepped in. Using his [Basic Lockpicking] skill, he picked the rusty but sturdy padlock after minutes of effort.
[Skill Used: Basic Lockpicking! +20 EXP]
Rick cut the thick chain holding the gate open with a pair of massive iron shears. The gate was now free.
Phase 2: Funnel and Extermination. Instead of charging in, they would lure the walkers out. They opened the gate just enough for one person to pass through. Rick, Jayden, Daryl, and T-Dog formed a shield wall in front of the door. Glenn banged on a nearby car to draw attention. The sound attracted the walkers in the courtyard like a magnet. The walkers charged into the narrow doorway, one by one facing the group's spears, knives, and axes. It was a controlled massacre. Amy and Maggie backed up, using their arrows and guns to pick off any walkers that fled or tried to sneak in from the sides.
Phase 3: Securing the Courtyard. When the main crowd in the courtyard thinned, they entered. They quickly closed and bolted the door behind them. They were now inside. All that remained was to clear out the last few dozen walkers scattered around the courtyard. This was a more chaotic, but more manageable, battle.
The battle ended after twenty minutes, which felt like hours. By the time the last walker fell, the group was out of breath, covered in blood and sweat. But they had done it. The outer courtyard was clear. They had captured the castle's first bastion.
"We did it," Glenn said in disbelief. "We really did it."
Slumping to the ground with exhaustion, they took refuge in a cell block Hershel had burned down before setting the house on fire. Behind the locked doors, they slept, feeling truly 100% safe for the first time in years.
The next day, as they explored the prison's bowels, they realized they weren't alone. In a cafeteria, they encountered five surviving inmates: Tomas, who appeared to be their leader; Andrew, his right-hand man; the burly Big Tiny; and the calmer-looking Axel and Oscar.
Their fortress had brought them not only safety but also a new and unpredictable human threat. Now the battle wouldn't just be about the dead outside, but also the living within.
That night, as Jayden stood guard atop the cell block, he checked the status panel. This battle had challenged him both physically and mentally, but it had also made him stronger.
[System Profile Update - End of Chapter 35]
[Name: Jayden Mendoza]
[Level: 5]
[EXP: 3480 / 5000]
[Hit Points (HP): 150/150]
[Stamina (STA): 150/150]
[STATISTICS]
Strength (STR): 13
Agility (AGI): 13
Stamina (END): 13
Perception (PER): 12
Intelligence (INT): 11
[Assignable Points: 0]
[SKILLS]
Basic Cold Weapons (Level 3) [EXP: 480 / 1000]
Basic Fire Weapons (Level 2) [EXP: 450 / 800]
Basic Archery (Level 2) [EXP: 495 / 500] -> Very close to leveling up
Basic Melee (Level 3) [EXP: 55 / 1000]
Basic Parkour (Level 2) [EXP: 350 / 500]
Basic Hunting (Level 2) [EXP: 210 / 500]
Basic Repair (Level 1) [EXP: 65 / 250]
Basic Lockpicking (Level 1) [EXP: 85 / 250]
Basic Throwing Knife (Level 1) [EXP: 250 / 400]
[INVENTORY SUMMARY]
Carbon Arrows: 15
Glock Ammo (9mm): 7
Silenced Pistol Ammo (.22): 38
Shotgun Ammunition: 50
Throwing Knives: 3/3