9 Life and Death battle

<Emily POV>

I have been hiding inside this store for three weeks now with no sign of daddy coming for me. I'm starting to think that daddy has turned into one of them which makes me break down crying.

I'm currently inside the office in the back of the store which locked and barricaded with boxes of food and things I might need one day. Today is just like any other day with sitting around and waiting when I heard voices coming from outside. I become happy but then I realize that they don't sound familiar at all making me scared.

I'm thinking on what to do when one of them begins to knock on the door to the office. I become so terrified that I go to the corner and huddle with my stuffed panda daddy got for me on my fifth birthday. I'm hoping that they will give up and leave me alone. My hope is shattered when I hear hitting and what sounds like wood breaking. I also hear scraping from the boxes being pushed along the floor followed by footsteps which soon stop only at the entrance of the office.

I'm about to break down crying when I'm stunned by what the man said. He said… my name!

<MC POV>

The little girl seems to freeze when she heard me call her Emily. She turns around and I'm stunned by what I saw. She has to be the most adorable thing I've ever seen.

I was awoken from my daze when I heard her ask me how I knew her name, that's when I realized that I had been mesmerized by her so in a spur of embarrassment I averted my head, so she was unable to see my face. To stop my embarrassment, I decided to just say what I had planned to say to get her to cooperate with me.

<Mark> H-H-Hello Emily. I'm a friend of your dad, I owe him a huge favor so when he called and told me that he needed me to save his daughter I headed over immediately. However, you weren't inside the house I got the address to, then I saw the note you left in your diary so that's how I got to know about you and ended up here.

<Emily> M-M-My daddy sent you. T-T-T-That means he's still a-a-alive. Waahwaahwaah.

Seeing her crying her eyes out I felt terrible for having lied to her. I don't even want to imagine what will happen when she finds out her dads probably dead. Not knowing what to do I just walked up to her and hugged her. She seemed to get flustered but I didn't let go, instead, I began to pat her head and tell her that her dads fine and is waiting for her. She seemed to blush further but stopped struggling to get loose.

Staying like that until she calmed down I told her I was with some people who helped me find the store who were waiting for us. Having said that I stood up to go back to the group, but my hand was grabbed on my way out. Looking back, I see Emily blushing while muttering that she didn't want me to leave her side. Ignoring my increasing heartbeat, I lead her to the others who are at first surprised by the sudden appearance if Emily. I proceed to explain to them that she's Emily and the girl that I've been searching for.

Having understood the situation, they introduce themselves but all they get back is a glance of an Emily who is holding my shirt while hiding behind me.

Having got the introductions out of the way I went along with them to finish barricading the openings, so we could rest while at ease of the dangers outside.

Having finished we sat by the registers and while eating we began to plan what our next move would be. Seeing that this was the perfect time to ask where the lab was I asked Emily. This caught everyone's attention, but she didn't seem to notice them and explained that the only entrance she knew about was in the movie theater since when her dad had taken her in the past they entered through there.

Having been listening to our conversation the others seemed confused at what we were talking about and asked me to clarify. I told them that Emily's dad was the one who asked me to find and keep her safe since I owed him a favor, in addition, to bring her to him who is a government scientist researching a cure or at least a counter for the zombies. They all seemed shocked but then as if putting some sort of puzzle together came to terms with what I just told them. This left me in wonders as what I just told them seemed quite unrealistic but the more they accept it the easier it is for me, so I gladly accepted it.

Having found out what our destination was I asked them which direction we should head in. they said we should go along main street as it's in a direct line to the movie theatre. Amy then said that the mall and many other stores are along main street, so we would have many different places to restock on supplies.

Having finished our plan, we finished eating and head out with the intention of getting to the outskirts of the city before nightfall where we will just break into a random house where well stay the night.

I told Emily to stay with Amy while I go make sure its safe, she was reluctant, but I told her Amy was a good person who she could trust. She obeyed me though while sulking, I also gave Amy a good warning that if anything were to happen to Emily I would kill not only her but every single one of them. This terrified her but quickly assured me that she would protect her with her life. Having made myself clear on the importance of Emily I went outside and began o clear out the zombies in the near vicinity.

Finished clearing them I called out telling them its clear. Again, like before I went in front killing any zombies that appeared in our paths while keeping an eye on Emily making sure she was fine. This continued for a while and we were only an hour or so of walking from officially entering the city.

This delighted me since no problems came up along the way and we were even able to restock the supplies we ate during our break at a gas station that we came to along the way. Then again, it's always in these situations where one says there glad nothing happens that tends to jinx them or raise some sort of flag. Well, that's exactly what happened.

While talking about whether we should stop hear and just pick one of the houses around here or keep going a bit more than picking one we heard a scream come from one of the roads leading to the right. Running ahead of the others to check it out, I saw a group of three one woman and two men running from what I've feared running into the most. It was an evolved zombie. What terrified me more though was that on one of its claws it had the decapitated head of someone pierced through the eye.

I ran back to the group and told them to quickly hide inside of the nearest house. seeing the panic, I was in they didn't ask why but quickly ran into the nearest house. once inside I ran through the house making sure it was safe. Then I told them to begin boarding up the doors and windows but when I saw someone coming down the road I couldn't help but curse that they ran in this direction, but I also noticed that there was only the man left running. My question about where the other two were was quickly answered as I saw the Ezombie running chasing the man but with two additional heads on its claws. Feeling a chill run down my spine I grip my weapon hard making my knuckles turn white. Seeing my complexion Emily asks me what's wrong, I pat her head and tell her its nothing.

I go up to Amy and tell her that if I'm to die to keep Emily safe and take her to the lab, so she can be together with her father. Panic flashed on her face which worsened when the realization struck. Thinking back to how I easily killed all those zombies yet I'm telling her that I might die she realized what we are up against this time. Looking at me for clarification I simply nod and go back to the front window to keep looking.

What I saw was the Ezombie catching up to the man and slicing at his neck which cleanly sliced his head off sending it flying into the air, but before it could hit the ground a claw flashed and stabbed directly through the eye socket making it the fourth head it has on its claws. Having finished killing its prey it turned around and began to walk away only to stop shortly after and look directly in my direction straight into my eyes.

Without waiting another moment, I open the door and walk out while increasing my INT and DEX by 1 each and strength by 2. I also wrapped my halberd on my back and bought a new F rank one for 30IP which is made from a titanium alloy which is much better than steel in quality and lighter. I walk onto the road and stand only a few meters away from the Ezombie with my new weapon in had while hearing Emily crying in the background yelling at me to run.

Ignoring the shrieking girl, I stood in the center of the road looking straight at the zombie who was looking at me up and down as if gauging what I'm capable of. Some time passed with the two of us just looking at each other, the zombie seemingly having become fed up with it flung his arms to the sides resulting in the heads falling off his claws. It let out a loud roar and charged at me.

Seeing that it began attacking me I readied myself and charged at it. while running at it I activated blood-lust lowering its stats followed by berserk which raised my stats by half. Knowing that I only had a few minutes in my berserk mode I wanted to end it as quickly as possible.

When it was within range I struck out with my new halberd aiming for its head only to have it blocked by its long claws. Not waiting I pulled back and slashed at its leg. It jumped into the air and aimed a claw at my head. Noticing the incoming attack, I raised my spear and hit it away with the back end of the halberd. I took the opportunity of it being airborne and rammed it with my body sending it tumbling backwards. I struck out stabbing it in the arm ripping out a large piece of flesh with black blood spilling on the ground. This seemed to enrage it as it gave out a loud roar and charge at me while swinging its claws furiously. I countered its strikes, but one got through hitting my chest ripping a hole in it that allowed my ribs to be seen from the outside. Seeming to look happy at the pain I was in it gave a loud roar into the sky which I assume is its way of proclaiming superiority but that was its fatal mistake. I take the chance of it being distracted by itself and slash at it. it noticed it, but it was too late as when it went to block it wasn't fast enough and its entire arm was cut off. It seemed to be in pain which at first surprised me bet then greatly pleased me as it wouldn't be able to fight as well due to the pain. Proving my point by it grabbing the stump of what used to be its arm and roaring in pain I smile but give it no time to cope and stabbed at its head. It blocked it, but I took that chance take out my other halberd and stabbing at it. seeing the attack, it tried to dodge but because of it using its arm to defend against the other one it couldn't completely dodge but did keep its head safe at the expense of being stabbed in its neck. In a last attempt of preserving its life, it began flailing once more managing to rip a chunk off my arm. This had it place all its attention on my armed arm that it didn't notice my other arm going for the halberd still embedded in its neck. Having grabbed it I used all the strength I could muster and pulled it ripping its neck leaving its head hanging on the side by only a small piece of flesh. It stopped moving and fell to the ground but not wanting to take the risk I chopped off its head. Checking my stats, I realized that I have less than 10 HP and that I have only used twenty Spiritual Energy meaning that fight didn't even last two minutes. I turn to face Emily who was next to Amy and give her a thumbs up. Having done that my vision darkens and the last thing I remember is hearing someone screaming and running.