Zombie Domination

On the other front, Division Two struggled against the colossal eagle that circled above the battlefield. Its wings cut through the air with terrifying force, scattering gusts strong enough to topple men from their feet.

Then came its true assault, razor feathers rained down like a storm of knives, slicing through armor and flesh alike. Screams echoed as soldiers scrambled for cover.

Clarissa not just sitting back, her hand lifting as her telekinetic barrier shimmered to life. The feathers halted midair, clattering harmlessly against the invisible wall before falling uselessly to the ground.

Meanwhile, Reimon aimed his compact pistol, his eyes narrowing. Steady… breathe… He pulled the trigger, shots cracked through the chaos, but the eagle banked gracefully, dodging every bullet.

Reimon clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Damn it! That bird's too damn fast!"

At his side, Sefi's hands trembled as sparks crackled across her body. Electricity danced along her arms, growing more violent with each passing second. Her breath came sharp, her chest tight, yet her eyes hardened.

"I can do this…" she muttered to herself. The air around her snapped and hissed as arcs of lightning spread outward.

But she turned toward the others, her voice strained. "Please stay back! I still can't control it well!"

The tension in her voice carried the weight of fear and determination.

Clarissa's voice came gently through the earpiece, soothing yet firm.

"Don't be afraid, Sefi. You can do this."

Sefi clenched her fists, her entire body trembling as the lightning built up inside her. The crackling arcs surged outward, scorching the ground beneath her boots. The air smelled of ozone, sharp and electric.

Her eyes locked on the eagle above, wings spread wide, circling like a predator toying with its prey.

"This is it…" she whispered.

With a sharp cry, she thrust her hands upward. The pent-up energy erupted in a torrent of lightning that tore through the sky. The flash was blinding, the thunderclap deafening, forcing soldiers on the battlefield to flinch and cover their ears.

The bolt struck near the eagle, grazing one of its wings. The massive beast shrieked, feathers singed, and staggered mid-air before quickly regaining its balance. It wasn't a clean hit, but it was enough to make it hesitate.

Sefi collapsed to one knee, panting, her body shuddering from the recoil of her own power.

"I… I hit it…!" she gasped, half in disbelief, half in relief.

Through the earpiece, Clarissa's voice reached her again, warm and steady,

"See? I told you. You can do this. Just keep breathing. We'll cover you until you're ready again."

Reimon glanced at her, lowering his pistol for a moment. "Not bad, Keep frying it like that and I might actually have a chance to land a shot."

The eagle above screeched furiously, its eyes blazing with rage. With a powerful flap, it began diving straight down toward them, feathers bristling like a thousand blades ready to pierce through.

Clarissa braced herself as the eagle swooped down, feathers slicing through the air like blades. With a sharp motion of her hand, she raised an invisible wall, her telekinesis flaring bright, and the beast's strike slammed against it with a thunderous crash. The ground shook, but the barrier held.

"I won't just defend," Clarissa murmured, eyes narrowing. "I'll fight back."

The soldiers behind her, emboldened by her words, rallied together.

"We can't just sit back and let them protect us!" one shouted.

"Agreed! Let's strike back!"

Their battle cries echoed as they surged forward, clashing with the mutant beasts that swarmed the battlefield.

Reimon adjusted his grip on his pistol, muttering under his breath. "Fine… I'll be the emergency door. If anyone's bleeding, I'll portal them down safely." His voice carried determination now, despite the nervous edge.

Sefi, though still trembling, summoned her lightning once more. The air crackled as she released another surge, the bolt lashing out toward the eagle. But the monster had learned, it snapped its vast wings forward, creating a gale that deflected the strike harmlessly aside.

Then came the counter. With a single flap, the eagle whipped up a tempest, a wall of wind so powerful it tore through the battlefield. Soldiers were thrown into the air like ragdolls, their cries filling the chaos.

Reimon's reflexes saved lives, glowing portals opened midair, catching the flung soldiers and spitting them gently to the ground below. "Move, move, move! Don't panic!" he barked, his hands moving rapidly to keep the rifts stable.

Clarissa, Quickly anchored herself with telekinesis. Dust and debris stung her eyes, blinding her view, but through the haze she saw Sefi's small frame lifted helplessly by the gale.

"No!" Clarissa's hand shot forward. Invisible force wrapped around Sefi, pulling her back into safety.

The eagle's shriek tore through the storm. Flames began to kindle in its beak, glowing brighter, hotter, a fiery inferno gathering to scorch the battlefield.

From behind, Reimon's urgent voice crackled through the earpiece:

"It's charging fire! Watch out!"

Clarissa yanked Sefi close and conjured another shield, her voice steady despite the chaos.

"It's going to spread its fire with the wind it just created. This… will burn everything."

Sefi bit her lip, her body trembling. "I'm sorry… I'm useless…"

Clarissa shook her head, voice gentle even as the heat rose around them. "This isn't your fault. Just stay with me."

The eagle reared back, flames roaring in its throat, But then, a thunderous shot rang out. A projectile whizzed through the air and struck the beast's wing, throwing it off balance. It screeched, aborting its fiery breath.

Another shot followed, forcing the eagle to veer away.

Through the earpiece, a calm voice broke the static, "Are you all unharmed?"

Clarissa exhaled in relief, lowering her barrier.

"Aya… thank you. We're fine."

Another voice came through the earpiece.

"You sound like you're struggling. Want me to step in?"

Clarissa's reply was gentle, almost teasing.

"It's fine, Veronica. We're just warming up."

Reimon nearly choked on his words. "What do you mean fine? This is bad!"

Clarissa's gaze never wavered. Her tone remained calm, soothing like a steady anchor in the storm.

"Trust me. I've thought of a strategy."

She turned to Sefi, her eyes soft but resolute.

"Let's show them we can win this."

Sefi's hands trembled at first, but seeing the conviction in Clarissa's expression steadied her. She nodded firmly. "Alright."

On another front, chaos reigned.

Don roared as his body expanded, muscles bulging until he stood like a walking fortress. With a thunderous step, he planted himself between the frontline and the colossal centipede, its many legs tearing into the earth as it charged. The beast's mandibles snapped, but Don met it head-on, bracing the attack with sheer mass.

Behind him, Celestia danced into position, her silver threads glinting in the light. With phantom-like steps, she darted around the beast, weaving her threads in intricate arcs. The cords lashed out and wrapped around the centipede's armored body, binding its segments tight. For a brief moment, the monster was caught.

But its hide was like living steel. The threads strained, snapping one by one as the centipede convulsed violently. With a screech, it tore itself free, writhing against Don's hold.

"Not good—!" Don grunted, feet digging trenches into the dirt as he struggled to restrain it.

Before the centipede could fully break loose, Luke appeared at his side, calm where others would panic. He raised his hand, his mirrored skill shimmering like liquid glass. All the strikes he had absorbed from the surrounding mutants condensed into a sharp, blazing burst.

"Reflect."

The mirrored energy shot forth, slamming into the centipede's flank with explosive force. The monster reeled, its armored plates scorched and dented, but not pierced. Its hide still held.

Luke's expression darkened.

"Even with that… its shell is still too hard."

The centipede shrieked, its segmented body twisting violently as the earth quaked beneath its weight. Its armored hide shimmered under the sunlight, each plate jagged and unyielding like forged iron. Don's gigantic frame trembled as he bore the brunt of its thrashing, his teeth gritted, veins bulging across his arms and neck.

"Hold still!" Don roared, but the beast's strength was overwhelming, even his expanded form shuddered under the assault.

Celestia leapt back, her silver threads retracting before they snapped completely. She narrowed her eyes, calculating, then darted in again with ghostlike precision. Phantom steps blurred her movements as she wove the threads in sharper, tighter patterns this time aiming not for the armored segments, but the softer joints where the plates connected.

The threads dug in, sparks flying as they scraped against chitin. A few strands found purchase, slicing shallow lines into the gaps. The centipede hissed in pain, twisting violently.

But still, it wasn't enough.

Luke's reflection still shimmered in his palms, a mirror-like surface rippling with stored energy. He exhaled, calm despite the chaos.

"My attack barely scratched it… We'll need precision."

Don snarled, sweat running down his massive frame.

"Then make it precise! I can't keep this snake locked forever!"

The centipede's legs slammed into the ground, splintering stone and soil. Don staggered, his footing slipping as the beast pressed forward.

Seeing the danger, Celestia shouted, "Luke, strike where I open it!" Her threads snapped outward, binding the beast's mandibles and wrenching its head back. The joints beneath its armored throat stretched wide, exposing a vulnerable seam.

Luke's mirrored energy pulsed. He raised his hand, eyes sharp.

"Got it."

A concentrated beam erupted from his palm, the reflection of dozens of stored attacks condensed into a single piercing strike. It shot straight into the exposed seam, searing light tearing through where Celestia's threads held the armor apart.

The centipede shrieked, its body convulsing as smoke poured from the wound. Chitin cracked, fragments flying.

Don tightened his grip, muscles straining. "Now we've got it!"

But the beast was far from dead. Its body slammed down in fury, shaking them all. From its cracked plates, a strange glow seeped out, sickly green, pulsing like veins of poison ready to burst.

Luke's eyes widened.

"…This isn't over."