Free Web NovelChapter 102: Defending The Settlement (3)
From the vantage point atop the watchtower, Shinon surveyed the scene below. The settlement was engulfed in chaos as the massive horde of thousands of zombies surged forward, their relentless moans and shuffling steps creating an eerie symphony of death.
The weight of the situation pressed upon him, but Shinon remained calm, his eyes scanning the horde with meticulous precision.
His eyes, enhanced by the detailed map engraved within them, analysed the horde’s composition. Seven Screamers stood amidst the crowd, their screeches capable of disorienting and attracting more zombies, but that wasn’t all.
Amidst the chaos, he spotted five Bloaters. Three of them had evolved into Exploders, creatures capable of unleashing devastating explosions upon their demise.
"Seven Screamers? No wonder it’s such a big horde," Shinon mumbled as he set his eyes on his first target. "The Screamers must have attracted a lot more undead with their ungodly scream."
As he adjusted the grip on his crossbow, his gaze focused on a particularly formidable adversary—an Exploder zombie. Its bloated and grotesque form lumbered amidst the sea of undead, emitting a putrid stench that wafted through the air.
Shinon knew that eliminating the Exploders would weaken the horde’s formation as their blasts would take a lot of zombies with them and provide an advantage for the guards below.
The only problem was that they were placed quite further away from each other. This meant Shinon couldn’t cause a chain reaction of explosions to deal even more damage to the undead.
Shinon’s mind raced, calculating the best course of action. He knew that precise strikes and strategic targeting were essential to dismantle the horde effectively. With a calm determination, he lifted his crossbow and loaded a bolt, its tip glistening in the sunlight.
"Time to thin the ranks," Shinon muttered, steadying his aim. He focused his attention on the Exploder.
As the Bloater stumbled forward, its hulking form exposed, Shinon took a deep breath, his finger hovering over the trigger. He visualised the trajectory in his mind’s eye, accounting for wind speed and distance, a product of his unwavering focus and mastery over his craft.
Lova’s scepticism hung heavy as she crossed her arms, her doubt etched across her face. In her eyes, Shinon’s audacious display was nothing more than an attempt to show off his skills.
"Oh, please," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "There’s no way he hits that shot. He’s just trying to impress everyone with his fancy tricks."
Sable, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle at Lova’s lack of faith. She turned to her, a playful glint in her eyes, and retorted, "Weren’t you the one who predicted Shinon’s demise at the hands of the bandits when he ventured off to rescue Selena? Seems like you have no confidence in him."
While the two argued, Shinon swiftly released the shadow-enhanced bolt. The bolt soared through the air, finding its mark, and it struck the Exploder with precision, piercing its decaying flesh.
A gurgled cry escaped the creature’s twisted mouth as it collapsed, sending shockwaves through the surrounding zombies. Soon all the gas stored within the Exploder began to spread. However, it was only the first step.
With swift precision, Shinon retrieved a flaming machete from his shadow storage, its fiery aura dancing along the blade.
Without wasting a moment, he activated the weapon’s ability, intensifying the flames that engulfed its form. The searing heat radiated in the air, creating an infernal spectacle.
Gripping the flaming machete firmly in one hand, Shinon deftly ignited the tip of a crossbow bolt, the fire catching onto the bolt’s surface with a flicker of orange brilliance. The combination of fire and steel created a lethal weapon, ready to be unleashed upon the horde.
His eyes locked onto the fallen figure of the Exploder. With a calculated aim, Shinon steadied his crossbow. Without delay, he released the bolt into the air, its blazing trail streaking through the chaos below.
Time seemed to slow as the bolt found its mark, impacting the vulnerable point of the Exploder. A deafening blast erupted instantly, shaking the ground beneath them.
The explosion was fierce, an explosive force that rippled through the horde. The fireball engulfed the surrounding area, obliterating everything in its path.
In a single moment, the force unleashed had decimated hundreds of zombies, their existence erased in a burst of fiery destruction.
Silence fell over the battlefield as the echoes of the explosion faded. The remaining zombies staggered, disoriented by the sudden onslaught.
Shinon understood that in the face of overwhelming numbers, every advantage counted. By allowing the gas to spread, he had effectively maximised the impact of his attack, turning the Exploder into a volatile weapon against its own kind.
He stood amidst the aftermath, his flaming machete still in hand, its light casting an ethereal glow upon his face as he stared at the progress bar.
[Bonus Task Accomplished!
>> Kill 25 Walkers using Mastermith’s hammer (0/25)
>> Kill 1 Bloater from a distance of 250 metres or more (1/1) <Complete!>
>> Kill 2 Screamers before they use <Screamer’s Cry> (1/2)
>> Kill 12 Irregular Sprinters before they enter the settlement. (4/12) ƒrēewebnovel.com
>> Kill 35% of the total zombies present there by yourself. (10.87%/35%)]
[Final rewards will be upgraded.]
"10.87% of the horde got annihilated from two shots," Shinon smiled, realising the odds were somewhat in his favour. "A screamer also got caught in the radius, nice!"
Shinon did not hit the Exploder with a fiery bolt first because he wanted the Exploder’s gas to spread as much as possible to kill more zombies.
Shinon knew the volatile gas within the creature’s bloated form held immense destructive potential, capable of causing a devastating chain reaction among the surrounding undead.
As the flames licked hungrily at the decaying flesh, Shinon’s eyes narrowed with satisfaction. The strategic decision to let the gas spread had paid off as the explosion rippled through the horde, engulfing additional zombies in its deadly embrace.
The sheer destructive force of the blast tore through their ranks, reducing them to charred fragments and scattering their remains across the battlefield.
After testing his trial plan, Shinon wasted no time putting the rest of the Exploders out of their misery and reloaded the crossbow.
