The sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of deep red and purple. Thunder rumbled in the distance as Kingdom waited on the wall, the air thick with the promise of rain. One by one, twenty-five figures emerged from the shadows, all dressed in black, their movements silent as whispers. Henry and Deke stood at the front while Lola lingered behind them, her scarves replaced by a dark mask."Tonight we strike back using the darkness as our cover." Kingdom's voice was low but clear, cutting through the night air. "Choose important targets. Above all else, come back alive. I don't want to bury more people than I already do."Before anyone could respond, he vanished from the wall. The Shadows followed without a sound.They moved through the forest like wraiths, their footsteps swallowed by the rustling leaves. Kingdom slowed, his hand raised in a fist. Three large mutant zombies trudged ahead, their heavy footsteps crunching through dead leaves, their breath coming in wet, gu

The message had barely faded when his five generals found him."James, see if any survivors were sent here," Kingdom said, his voice heavy.James nodded and turned to leave—[City 07 has fallen. Survivors will be sent to random cities.]The message struck again, crushing what little hope remained. Kingdom's face hardened. "Go," he told James.James left. The other four generals stood in grim silence."Get the troops ready." Kingdom's voice was cold, his eyes fixed on the distant zombie horde. "We're finishing this today."The generals departed without a word. Ava landed beside him, her feathers slick with rain.You're going after the king."Yes. Killing him ends this."You know he'll be heavily protected. Getting to him won't be easy.Kingdom turned to her with a tired smile. "That's why I have a mighty dragon, a noble phoenix, and a vicious wolf to help me."Takon growled eagerly from somewhere below. Ava just shook her head, but Kingdom felt the warmth beneath her pride.---The arm

Somewhere else on Earth, a vicious battle raged between another human city and the zombie army. The human forces had been beaten back, retreating hastily inside their walls. Soldiers hunched over, chests heaving, weapons hanging loose in exhausted hands."How the fuck did that other city beat their invasion?" one soldier gasped between ragged breaths."For fuck's sake, even Adam got pushed back by their elites. Can we even win this?" Another soldier wiped blood from his face, his armor dented and cracked."Shut up. Heal the wounded. Get some rest." A tall, bald man stepped forward, his voice cutting through the despair like a blade. A fresh scar ran down his cheek, still pink and angry, giving his face a fearsome edge. His soldiers obeyed instantly, scrambling to follow his orders.Adam, City Lord of City 09, turned back toward the wall. The double-headed axe strapped to his back still hummed with residual lightning energy—Shango's blessing, the power of the West African sky god. He w

Kingdom dropped from the wall, black lightning arcing from his palms as he plunged into the swarm of beasts scaling the stone. The new lightning felt different—darker, hungrier. It moved through the air like living shadow, invisible in the dim light, and when it struck the undead, it didn't just burn. It ate. Through armor, through flesh, through the corrupted magic that held them together.Dark Lightning - Lightning that has absorbed darkness. In the dark it is invisible and can pierce an enemy's defenses.His swords stayed sheathed. Instead, his fingers elongated into claws, black scales rippling across his knuckles. The lightning came easier now, responding to his will before he fully formed the thought. When he unleashed a concentrated bolt, it took shape mid-flight—a serpent, a dragon, jaws open, lightning made flesh for one blazing instant before it tore through a line of mutants.Must be the dragon bloodline.He was using Beast Imitation to borrow Takon's scales, but they felt

After the king fell, the zombies scattered. Adam and Nia approached Kingdom slowly, their weapons sheathed, the divine silhouettes behind them fading like mist in morning light."We owe you, Kingdom." Adam's voice was heavy with meaning."Don't worry. I had selfish reasons." Kingdom smirked. "I want our cities to form an alliance. Trade goods. Help each other when things go bad."Adam considered the offer. Another city, another army, another source of strength—it made sense. Before he could answer, Nia spoke."Sounds good to me."Adam nodded and extended his hand. "We have an alliance, Kingdom."Kingdom took it.[City 01 and City 03 are now in alliance. Teleportation between cities is now unrestricted.]"That was simpler than I thought," Kingdom said.Adam grunted agreement. They walked back toward the walls, where the soldiers were already celebrating. Kingdom stopped at the gate."Go celebrate with your people. I'm heading home."Adam clasped his shoulder once, hard. Nia smiled. The