The Transcendent Zombie Master

Chapter 9: The Battle of Wits

The Tyrant Crusher took a heavy step forward, the concrete floor groaning under its immense weight. The red veins across its bloated chest pulsed with a sickening light, illuminating the narrow corridor just enough for Lain to see the massive iron hammer arm lifting toward the ceiling.

"Run back toward the stadium gate!" Lain yelled, his voice cutting through the ringing echoes of the monster's roar. "Leo, Mavis, get out of this corridor right now!"

"We can't leave you!" Leo shouted back, but Lain grabbed his shoulder and shoved him hard toward the exit tunnel.

"You will only get crushed here," Lain said, his eyes never leaving the giant boss. "The ceiling is too low for it to swing properly, but it will flatten us if we stay grouped together. Go!"

Mavis grabbed Leo's arm, her face completely pale under the red sky glowing through the high windows. "He is right, Leo. We are in the way of his helpers. Move!"

The two survivors sprinted back down the corridor, their flashlights bounce-flashing against the walls as they retreated.

Lain turned back to the Tyrant Crusher. The giant monster swung its massive iron hammer arm in a short, horizontal arc. BOOM. The hammer struck a massive concrete support pillar on the right side of the hallway, shattering the thick column into a spray of gray dust and rocks.

The ceiling cracked violently, and several heavy concrete blocks fell onto the floor, blocking the path between Lain and his friends.

> Warning: Structural integrity of Sector Corridor failing.

> Current Points: 190

> Current Squad: Obsidian Behemoth (Lv. 6), Iron Blade Vanguard (Lv. 5 - Fire Attribute)> 

"We cannot fight this thing head-on," Lain thought fast, his fingers moving across the glowing blue interface. "Its level is too high, and one direct hit from that hammer will destroy my helpers permanently."

The Tyrant Crusher raised its hammer again, its white eyes glowing with mindless fury as it prepared to smash the Obsidian Behemoth standing in front of it.

"Obsidian Behemoth, do not block!" Lain ordered. "Step to the left and draw its attention!"

The eight-foot-tall black glass helper moved to the side, its heavy feet scraping against the concrete. It let out a loud growl and struck a smaller support pillar with its fist, intentionally making noise to keep the giant monster's eyes on itself.

The Tyrant Crusher turned its massive body, its red veins flaring bright as it aimed the heavy iron hammer straight at the Behemoth's head.

"Iron Blade, move behind it now!" Lain commanded.

The sleek metal helper sprinted down the left wall, its flaming arm blades leaving bright orange streaks in the dark air. It slipped right past the giant's hip just as the heavy hammer came down toward the Behemoth.

CRASH. The iron hammer hit the concrete floor where the Behemoth had been standing a second before. The ground exploded outward, creating a deep crater and sending a violent shockwave through the walls.

The Behemoth was thrown back by the force of the blast, its shiny black glass skin showing deep white cracks along its left shoulder.

> Obsidian Behemoth (Lv. 6) Health: 75%> 

But the giant monster was now stuck. The heavy iron hammer arm was embedded deep inside the cracked concrete floor, and the creature had to use both of its massive hands to try and pull it free.

"Now! Iron Blade, use Cyclone Slash on the red veins!" Lain roared, pointing at the monster's exposed back.

The flaming metal helper leaped into the air, spinning its long, heated blades at maximum speed. The orange fire cut deep into the thick, pulsing red veins running across the giant's spine.

Black, boiling fluid sprayed out of the wounds, hissing loudly as the flames cooked the flesh. The Tyrant Crusher let out a deafening scream of pain, letting go of its hammer arm to swing its left fist backward blindly.

The giant fist hit the Iron Blade mid-air, throwing the metal helper across the hallway like a toy. The Vanguard crashed against the concrete wall, its flaming blades flickering out as its health bar dropped rapidly.

> Iron Blade Vanguard (Lv. 5) Health: 42%> 

Lain's teeth ground together as he checked his inventory slots. "I have one hundred and ninety points left. I cannot let them die here."

The giant monster finally ripped its heavy iron hammer out of the broken floor, its white eyes turning completely blood-red with absolute rage. It ignored the helpers entirely and turned its massive body straight toward Lain, its heavy feet stomping hard as it charged.

Lain stood his ground, his fingers flying across the system menu.

> Consuming: Mutant Core (Agility Type) + 100 Points.

> Available Action: Emergency Evolution Trigger.

> Target: Iron Blade Vanguard.> 

"System, evolve the Iron Blade now!" Lain shouted in his mind.

A massive surge of purple electricity shot out of Lain's hand, hitting the damaged metal helper against the wall. The Iron Blade's body dissolved into thousands of glowing silver particles, spinning around the monster's core like a small galaxy.

The charging Tyrant Crusher was only ten feet away from Lain now, its giant hammer arm lifted high to flatten him into the dirt.

The silver particles snapped together instantly, forming a brand-new silhouette. The helper was no longer just a metal soldier; it was now a sleek, mechanical phantom with four slender arms, each holding a glowing, vibrating energy rapier. Its armor was made of white, polished carbon plating that looked completely impervious to normal damage.

> Evolution complete. New Unit: Phantom Bladewright (Lv. 7).> 

"Phantom, cut the tendons!" Lain ordered, his heart hammering against his ribs.

The new level-seven helper vanished from sight, moving so fast that it left three white afterimages in the dark corridor.

ZIP. ZIP. ZIP. Four glowing energy rapiers flashed simultaneously around the giant monster's thick legs. The sharp blades sliced right through the pulsing red veins and the thick muscle tissues of the giant's knees with zero resistance.

The Tyrant Crusher’s legs gave out instantly under its massive weight. The giant monster collapsed onto its knees with a loud boom, its heavy iron hammer arm dropping harmlessly onto the floor just two feet away from Lain's boots.

The giant roared in frustration, trying to crawl forward using its left hand, but the Phantom Bladewright appeared right in front of its face, the four energy rapiers pointing straight at its white eyes.

Lain walked forward slowly, his heavy metal tool resting on his shoulder as he looked down at the defeated boss. "Your turn is over," he said coldly.