Undying

The fight has begun.

The Raiders and the Explorers are fighting together against the Infected Monsters, slashing and cutting, doing everything they can to push forward.

“They're coming from the east.” Said an explorer

As the monster started surrounding them even more, it looked like a never-ending battle; the more they cut down, the more the fight had to continue.

“Ahh,” cried one of the men who fell as a monster was on top of him.

Touma came close and slashed the monster from behind as he kicked the monster away. After that, Touma helped the man get up.

“Thank you, Sir.” Said the man as he ran towards the other side.

Toma looked back as he heard some movement. It was the monster Touma had just cut down. It seemed to be regenerating. Touma ran forward and stabbed the monster multiple times. Touma then got off, and the monster fell to the ground, but it seemed to be still moving.

“Damn it, it seems like the orb might be making the infected stay alive.” Said Touma.

Touma ran up to Mr. Roger and Ms. Shaman, and Seki, who were in a fight.

“That the infected can regenerate,” reported Touma

“So then, how are we supposed to move forward?” Said Ms. Shaman.

“Saki and I will head inside with some of the Raiders and Explorers while you guys take care of the outside.” Said Touma.

I understand, said Mr. Roger

Understood, said Miss Sharman.

Well then, let's go. Satsuki.

Touma and Seki picked some of the people who were in the crowd to go with them into the monument, as Mr. Roger and Ms. Shaman stayed outside fighting the Monsters.

Touma and Seki finally managed to enter the monument with the people they took.

As they entered the monument, they found themselves in a huge room with cages and a stairway in the center that led up to a chair made of stone. In that chair was the same man who sent the monsters their way.

“Oh, it seems that some of the Sacrifices have made their way in.” Said the man as he stood up from the chair.

“You must be Zodrick, aren't you?” asked Touma.

“Oh, am I famous now?” Said the man who was revealed to be Zodrick?

“More like infamous.” Said Seki.

“Touma, Seki!” yelled a familiar voice that came inside from one of the cages.

“Touma looked in the direction of the familiar voice, and it was Junkei who was badly injured.

“Oh, I see you must be part of the settlement that I sent the infected to.” Said Zodrick.

“Why did you have to do that?” said Seki.

“Don't be like that, as soon as I ascend, I will bring everybody back. This infection is just one step for the betterment of humanity, so soon they will all be infected, but in the meantime, sacrifices must be made.” Said Zodrick with a maniacal laugh.

“How can you say that? Said Touma, angry as he ran forward up the stairs.

“Oh, not so fast,” said Zadrick.

When Zodrick said this, 2 mutated monsters blocked Touma’s path from him. Many more monsters started coming in from below, and the team that Touma had brought started fighting them.

Touma stopped and took out his daggers from his waist and tried to fight off the two infected in front of him.

Zodrick put the green orb inside a hole on the stone chair's armrest, which made the whole place start to glow.

“Why are you even doing this?” asked Touma as he was still fighting with the two mutants.

“Oh, you want to know well, I don't mind giving you some knowledge. My father was an important figure in the scientific field that five years ago, my father, Dominic Smith, received a huge task which was to create anything that would make the wealthiest of people Immortal my father saw this as a challenge and accepted this task he got a group of other scientists and started working and this green orb is the result of all that research the creation of a source of energy for immortality. But after some time of testing, my father started becoming weak in the heart and felt guilt for those he tested on. As a scientist, you shouldn't get attached to your test subjects. So, I did what had to be done, I killed my father.” Said Zodrick.

What? You killed your father? Said Touma, surprised.

“Oh, don't get me wrong, I do not hate my father in any way. I admire his work, and that is why I did what I did. I had to see his work get finished, so you see I'm doing this in the sense of fulfilling a duty and seeing the end of an experiment.” Said Zodrick as he leaned back in the chair.

Suddenly, Seki came in to assist Touma.

“I'll handle them, don't worry, go on forward.” Said Seki.

Touma did exactly that, he sprinted forward up the stairs. And threw one of his daggers straight to Zodrick. Seeing this, Zodrick dodges the throw as the dagger pierces the stone chair.

“I won't allow you to finish this.” Said Touma as he pushed the dagger towards Zodrick's neck

“Turn off the device,” demanded Touma.

“I can't, if someone turned it off, it'd be like suicide.” Said Zodrick.

“Nothing can be done,” said Touma as he pushed deeper his dagger into Zodrick's neck.

“Hey, what are you doing? I just told you it can't be taken off.” Said Zodrick as he tried to reach for the orb.

“Right, what was it that you said? Sacrifices must be made.” Said Touma as he deepened his dagger into Zodrick’s neck.

“Wait, wait, but I'm supposed to be the hero for humanity.” Said Zodrick as Touma completely slashed his head off.

At that moment, all the infected were in a daze, and the team that Touma and Seki brought were able to free Junkei and the other men who were with him.

Touma went closer to where the orb was and stabbed a piece out of it.

Seki got close to Touma, and Touma handed him the piece of the orb that he had just cut off.

“Here, take this back to the settlement.” Said Touma.

“Wait, what are you going to do?” Asked Seki.

“Well, the device is still on, so I will stay. This is the only way to get rid of all of the infected.” Said Touma as he went to sit in the chair.

“Hey, Toma.” Called out Seki.

Touma looked back.

“Well, I don't think I'll need this.” Said Seki.

Seki put the small crystal into Touma’s pocket and grabbed him by the shirt. In one swift move, he threw him down the stairway.

“Wait, what are you doing?” yelled Touma as he fell into Junkei's arms.

“Don't you remember Touma? I told you I'd protect you no matter what,” Seki said as he sat down in the stone chair.

“Seki no!” yelled Touma.

Junkei knocked Touma out with a small hit on the back of his neck as everyone saluted to Seki, and they all left.

“Chief, you're here.” Said Mr. Roger, waving to Junkei.

“With haste we must go.” Said Junkei as everybody started departing, heading back to camp.

Meanwhile, inside the monument.

“Well, it's time I get started.” Said Seki as he touched the orb.

“All infected monsters, I order you to come to me, your new master, Seki Nobunaga, and we shall give this world a gift. The gift of a new life, of a new day, of a new tomorrow. The gift of hope.” Said Seki as the green orb started infecting him.

Outside, the Expeditioners and Raiders were all running towards the settlement, and in that moment, a huge number of infected started coming their way. They readied for battle, but the infected ignored them and kept on heading straight for the monument. As they can only watch how the monument keeps filling with so many infected people heading towards it.

With that, the chapter has closed, and the dead are dead, and the living keep on living, but the ones who have passed will never be forgotten. With this in mind, a final explosion could be heard in the distance as everybody tries to make their way back home.