I closed my eyes and jumped toward the zombies coming at me. The fight had begun. I started making them taste my fists—hit after hit, strike after strike. No matter how hard I hit, they kept getting back up. Blood covered the surroundings. I kept fighting. Punch, kick, headbutt… I fought in every way I could.
In the chaos, a 3-meter-tall zombie charged at me. The zombies in front of it had their heads crushed, everything in its path shattered like insects. It crashed into me and sent me flying toward the door. My body was covered in blood; I was spitting blood and struggling to breathe. My body trembled, I couldn't even stand. The zombies kept coming, almost on top of me. I was sure I would die. My mind was fading, vision blurring.
I smiled and sighed.
"I guess this is it… I did everything I could. I only wished for one more day… just one day to make those bastards pay and avenge my sister. That's all I wanted…" Tears ran down my face.
Stuttering, I whispered my last words:
"It's over…"
Then the door opened. Slowly, and with a sound that filled the entire hangar.
"Not yet, kid. Leave this to the old ones. You can rest now. I'm here."
My eyes were bloody, but I recognized the voice instantly. The old man… A faint sound escaped my mouth:
"Shroud…"
"Don't talk. Boys, take him."
They lifted me and carried me out the door. Leonardo and Dern smiled and told me to rest. The last voice I heard was Shroud's:
"Ascension."
Suddenly the hangar was engulfed in flames. The zombie horde melted away and turned to ash.
"Edward, did you think you wouldn't pay the price for what you did? You stupid brat."
Kendrick collapsed to the floor in fear, unable to speak. Edward jumped down, shaking the ground. He took his hands out of his pockets.
"You're strong, Master Shroud… but these are bad times for you. The weak boy you once knew is gone. I'm the king of the underground now. Even if you own this place, I can't accept the punishment for your student. I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too, idiot… because I have to kill you."
Shroud's flames awakened, and Edward attacked. He dodged Shroud's blows, but as the flames grew, evading became harder. Fire orbs appeared above Shroud. The first one crashed beside Edward, creating a massive explosion. He leaped to the side but fell into a trap—he was hit by the second fire orb.
BOOM!
He was blown back. He managed to guard himself at the last moment, so only parts of his arms burned, but Shroud didn't stop. He emerged from the flames and unleashed dozens of punches on Edward's face. Edward's skin burned, but he didn't give up.
"Everzombie, attack and kill!" he screamed.
A monster made of hundreds of floating faces, surrounded by dozens of tentacles, appeared and shrieked before attacking. The tentacles were consumed by flames instantly. The creature spat acid, but none of it hit Shroud.
Shroud stepped back and looked at the giant fireball. He launched the final orb at the monster. It tried to defend itself but was swallowed by fire. Screaming, it burned completely into ash.
Shroud turned from the dead creature and looked at Edward's terrified eyes.
"Shall we continue?"
Shroud walked forward and hammered Edward with punches. Edward screamed in agony, blood pouring from him. He managed a desperate counterattack, pushing Shroud back. Shroud blocked and took little damage. Edward tried to stand but collapsed again.
"A flame punch!" Shroud roared.
A massive flaming fist struck Edward's arm, obliterating it. Edward screamed like a madman.
"Let's end this. Any last words?"
Edward could barely breathe. Just as he tried to speak—
Bang!
A bullet pierced Shroud's chest. Blood flowed as he turned toward the source. Kendrick was trembling, yet smiling.
"Hahaha! You're finished, old man!"
"KENDRICK! What have you done, you bastard!? He was mine!" Edward screamed.
Bang! Bang!
Bullet after bullet echoed. The mafia father, Shroud, fell with dozens of holes in his skull.
"Hey hey, shut up Edward. I didn't want to kill you, but it's better if both of you die, ahahaha!"
Edward lay in a pool of blood. Shroud lifted his lifeless body, looked at him one last time, then placed him into the fire and vanished. When he reappeared, a roar filled the room:
"Flame Punch!!!"
His flaming fist blew Kendrick's head off. It burned as blood sprayed everywhere. Shroud looked at Edward and closed his eyes.
The day had ended. The bloody night was finally over.