The crater waited in silence.

One.

Two.

Three.

The shell flashed brightly beneath the surface, shockwaves smashing everything around into pieces.

The ground convulsed, as if vomiting something vile and poisonous.

Flesh and blood erupted from the deep hole and sprayed high into the sky, almost painting it dark red.

The entire hive network spasmed in response; the underground pipes and pathways whirred without a warning.

Some bulged in an attempt to supply the body with nutrients.

Some twisted around in pain, trying to find a cure from its suffering.

The rest collapsed inward, shriveling in one motion as they slowly lost vitality.

Yet even on its last legs, two more shells struck it where it hurt.

The earth cracked under the strain, unable to hold against its own weight after the repeated bombings.

Dirt fell in fragments. And more. And then more. And then—it snapped.

The compound infested by the hive plummeted layer by layer. The crater enlarged until it almost swallowed the refinery complex.

Matilda’s eyes widened at the sight, quickly tapping into her comms.

“Iron Hammer, this is Strike Team Actual. Hive is down. I repeat, hive is down!” she shouted while standing on the rooftops. “Cease fire mission—ack!”

She tripped over the trembling sheets of metal. Her eyes drifted below and grabbed both Kimmy and Yunera.

“Move… move over there!”

Meanwhile, static cracked on her radio.

“Roger that, Strike Team Actual. Ceasing fire mission, over.”

The turrets may have died down but the district did not.

Flesh still writhed on the sides; their pulses slowed down until it was no more.

Several zombies stopped mid-charge as if an invisible thread has been cut off.

Some wandered aimlessly, losing their sense of savageness.

Some collapsed into a pool of blood, disintegrating into nothingness.

And those who remained still—before they could realize what had happened, a bullet struck them in the head.

“Zeds are in stupor,” an infantry squad leader shouted. “Take them down!”

They advanced with confidence, shooting enemies one isolated zombie at a time. The horde thinned faster than they could expend their ammunition.

In less than ten minutes, most of the central industrial sector was cleared.

“Squad leader, these zombies are dumber than before,” an army soldier muttered on the sides.

“Keep your eyes clean, soldier,” the squad leader warned. “They might be dumber indeed, but don’t stoop to their level.”

“Understood!” The Army Soldier fired another shot, venting his frustration upon the unlucky zed.

“Spear One, this is Spear Two,” another squad leader spoke through the radio. “Place is quiet with all the zeds dead. Any update from the command?”

“Negative, Spear Two,” Spear One’s squad leader replied. “We’re freezing our asses here on our post.”

Just as the line went silent—

“All units, be advised,” a Scout patched into their comms. “Golden Eagle is Oscar Mike to Ground Zero. Watch your fire. Keep a lookout on your sectors and wait for further command, over. Golden Eagle, out.”

“Alright team,” the squad leader turned around. “High command wants us to stay still and guard our areas. Set up a defensive peremeter…”

Similar orders rang out around the sector as squad infantries settled in their respective positions.

Machine guns clamped tightly on the choke points, flanked by Army Soldiers and Conscripts.

Missile Infantries rested their launchers on the ground, weary of carrying such a burden over their shoulders.

Sniper teams haven’t got a rest. The new directive made them click their tongues in vexation, forced to find another hiding spot with great coverage.

Their scopes soon settled on Ground Zero; nearby, the armored column shaped into a defensive formation.

Vanguard MBTs surrounded Ground Zero where the hive’s core body now rested in peace. The turrets glanced at the place where the crater once was.

Guardian APCs awaited a distance behind them; their autocannons ready for another fight.

Hans’s armored SUV drove past the armored units. His eyes glowed in excitement.

A one-sided battle, he smirked. But that was quite fast.

His excitement cooled after that thought—too easy of a battle aroused suspicions on his mind. Whether it years of RTS gaming experience, or two-lives worth of history, Hans felt that he and his army got off too easily from this fight.

A flickering heart beat ticked nearby; Hans snapped quickly into that direction.

Was I… imagining things? he frowned. The hive was still alive after all this time?

He zoomed into his Radar map. The area around him was clear of any red dots, save for a faded few with down arrows over their heads.

That tick… he closed his eyes. It felt like a message. A distress call. An SOS.

He slowly opened them back, realizing that the armored SUV had stopped.

His side faced the deep cavity where the hive once was.

Who was it calling for? Another hive?

Hans clicked his tongue. Let’s deal with it later. For now, I should take care of that shard.

He stepped out of the vehicle.

The air around Ground Zero smelled of smoke and burned flesh.

Matilda and the rest of the Strike Teams approached from the rooftops.

Kimmy walked between them, still pale beneath her drenched blindfold.

“Commander,” Matilda saluted. “Hive confirmed to be neutralized.”

Hans nodded. “Good work, Strike Teams.”

His eyes drifted past them—toward Kimmy. She’s pale, and shivering.

“Thank you, Kimmy,” he spoke first. “Without your powers, this operation would not have gone smoothly.”

“I did what I had to do,” Kimmy felt weary. “I almost died there, you know?”

Hans chuckled, then sighed. Perhaps I was too rash on my decision to bring her in.

“I am sorry about that,” he slightly bit his lips, brows furrowed. “Are you well, now?”

“What do you think?” Kimmy retorted.

“You should take a rest. I will have my Medics take a look at your condition.”

“Is that a reward after doing something for you?”

“I will give you my rewards later,” Hans stole a glance at his system panel.

Kimmy stared at him for a moment. Her lips twitched.

“Rewards, huh?”

She let out a tired laugh, though there was little humor mixed in with it.

“I almost had my arm ripped off by a hive mind and dragged underground,” she muttered to herself. “And the first thing this idiot talks about is rewards.”

Hans blinked. For once, he felt that having such strong sensory powers made it awkward to listen in other people’s thoughts or words.

Kimmy shook her head and turned away slightly.

“Forget it,” she said. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

“What exactly am I missing?” Hans was confused.

He looked at Matilda, her silence throwing him into a pit deeper than the one in front of him.

Yunera approached Hans, the muscles on her forehead spasming.

“She risked her life for you. Don’t you get it?”

I really don’t? Hans scratched his head in annoyance. System, help me.

——

[ … ]

——

Yunera resigned upon seeing his clueless expression.

Whatever, I have to deal with this thing first.

Hans rolled his eyes and turned around, locking his vision into that glowing jagged piece of meteorite.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep