Jade's green eyes suddenly widened in terror as an infected pinned her tiny frame against the wall, its claw inches from her throat.
Mia and Eli were both struggling fiercely, surrounded by infected pressing in from all sides. Neither could break free to help Jade.
Dan's heart slammed in his chest. Desperation exploded inside him, and suddenly a surge of raw power ignited his body.
System Notification:
[Skill Unlocked: Adrenaline Surge]
[+5 Strength, +5 Agility temporarily granted.]
Dan's muscles surged with new strength and speed. With a powerful leap, he smashed through the nearby drywall, shards flying as he landed right beside Jade and the infected pinning her.
With swift, brutal swings of his machete, Dan tore through the infected holding Jade captive, sending them collapsing in heaps.
He grabbed Jade's arm, pulling her to safety, before turning to Mia and Eli.
"Hold on! I'm here!" he shouted as he charged into the thick of the fight.
Together, the four of them fought relentlessly against the thirteen remaining infected. Dan's blows were faster and stronger, clearing space with precision strikes. Mia's spear jabbed and hooked, Eli's hammer crashed down with punishing force, and Jade's twin daggers flashed in swift, deadly arcs.
Sweat and blood mixed as they pushed back the relentless wave, their movements perfectly synchronized in battle.
The thirteen infected snarled and lunged, their decayed limbs flailing wildly. But Dan's newfound strength and speed turned the tide.
He moved like a whirlwind, machete slicing through rotting flesh with brutal efficiency. Each swing felled another attacker, the metallic thwack echoing sharply in the cramped corridor.
Mia jabbed her spear with pinpoint accuracy, pushing back the infected pressing on her side. Her eyes burned with fierce determination as she ducked under a snapping jaw, twisting the spear to deliver a fatal strike.
Eli, his hammer a battering ram, crushed skulls and bones, the force of his swings sending groans of the dying echoing down the hall. His breaths were heavy, but his grip never faltered.
Jade, freed from the wall but still tense, darted in and out of the fray. Her twin daggers gleamed as she slashed throats and ripped at the necks of those who underestimated her speed.
The group fought in near-perfect rhythm, the danger of the horde forcing a bond stronger than ever.
In a final surge, Dan launched himself at the last three infected, his machete flashing in deadly arcs. They dropped one by one, collapsing into a pile of twitching bodies.
Breathing hard, Dan glanced at his team—Mia's spear dripping, Eli's hammer cracked but steady, Jade wiping sweat from her brow, eyes still sharp with adrenaline.
The corridor fell silent except for their ragged breathing.
Dan wiped his machete clean on a torn piece of cloth. "We did it."
Mia nodded, muscles trembling. "That was too close."
Eli adjusted his glasses, his face pale but determined. "Let's get that door secured before any more show up."
Jade gave a small, grateful smile, and sweet smile still shaken but alive. "Thanks, Dan. You saved me back there."
Dan just nodded, still catching his breath his heart beating like drums. "We've got to stay sharp. This isn't over."
With the infected momentarily repelled, Dan turned his gaze back toward the reception double doors. The metal pipe Dan had wedged firmly between their handles was holding strong, but it wasn't enough to withstand a prolonged assault.
Eli stepped forward, determination settling into his features. "We need to reinforce this," he said, pulling the walkie-talkie from his belt. "If the infected swarm up here again, we can't just rely on a pipe."
He quickly scavenged the surrounding area, grabbing nearby metal rods, broken chair legs, and pieces of scrap wood from the cluttered reception space. Using his hammer, Eli began pounding nails and wedging materials into the door frame, creating a barricade that would slow even the most persistent attackers.
Mia and Jade helped by pushing heavy furniture against the door, stacking chairs and tables into an unstable but solid blockade. Dan stood guard, machete in hand, scanning the hallway for any sign of movement.
The group worked swiftly, the pounding of Eli's hammer punctuating the tense silence.
"Almost done," Eli muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.
Finally, Eli stepped back, examining the barricade. It wasn't perfect, but it was sturdy enough to buy them precious time if the infected tried to break through again.
Dan gave a relieved nod. "Good work, Eli. This will hold—for now."
Jade glanced nervously toward the stairwells. "We need to keep moving before more show up."
The team gathered their weapons and radios, ready to press on, knowing the brief respite might not last long.
As Dan caught his breath, a sudden sharp pain stabbed through his chest and vision blurred at the edges.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Adrenaline Surge effect has worn off. Overdraw detected. Warning: Critical physical exhaustion.
Dan staggered, his knees buckling beneath him. Before anyone could react, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted cold onto the floor.
Jade and Mia rushed forward instantly, catching him before he hit the ground. Eli's face was pale as he helped support Dan's limp form.
"We need to get him back upstairs—now," Jade said urgently, worry clear in her voice.
With great effort, the three teammates carefully carried Dan up the stairs to their makeshift safe room on the second floor.
Once inside, they hurried to fortify the entrance again—stacking furniture, bolstering barricades—to keep the infected out while Dan recovered.
Mia knelt beside him, brushing hair from his forehead. "He pushed himself too hard. We have to watch him."
Eli nodded grimly. "We can't afford to lose him."
As Dan lay unconscious, the weight of leadership rested heavier than ever on the group.