Survival Interval: 448

Michael half expected to find some other type of being at the top of the tower, but nope the boss was still just a plain zombie. An extremely muscular build contained by a businessman's suit. The zombie had been sitting in a chair behind a desk with his eyes closed. A blue orb hovered above the desk surrounded by the creature’s massive hands. Fortunately, for them the zombie was alone and still tier 1.

[Executive zombie, tier 1]

The zombie was probably near the peak of tier 1, but Michael was not overly worried. This would be the first fight of the day, where Kyrie and him could gang up on one opponent. The boss made no move until they entered the office, the creature was apparently focused on pulling energy from the glowing orb, or well that was Michael’s best guess.

As soon as they crossed the office’s threshold the zombie’s eyes snapped open and the seemingly wisened eyes focused on the two of them. Michael had seen intelligence in the ghouls, but so far zombies had been just lumbering dumb monsters. However, this one appeared to be different. Michael considered for a second whether this zombie was one of the six commander zombies. It would make sense to him. Nothing said commander like an executive.

The executive zombie stood calmly, its mouth twisted into a smile. Michael and Kyrie did not wait for the zombie to do anything else unusual. They rushed forward. The zombie’s mobility was limited by its desk, and Michael and Kyrie both held the advantage since their weapons provided extra reach.

Kyrie leapt on top of the desk, slashing down as Michael closed in from the other side. Both their blades were stopped by one of the zombies' forearms as the creature moved quickly to intercept both. Then the creature moved in a blur. The arm that had blocked Michael’s machete swept back toward Kyrie, sweeping through both of her legs. Kyrie hit the side of the desk before falling to the floor.

Michael attempted a second strike, but the zombie’s attention had already snapped back to him. It easily intercepted Michael’s strike with its forearm. The machete once again cut through the flesh, but stopped on the bone. The zombie lashed out with its other arm slamming into Michael’s right side sending him into the glass window.

Michael slammed into the window, causing cracks to spread several feet in all directions from the point of impact. The window had held, but would not take another similar hit. A hit that was already coming. Michael had to use his skill to speed up his movements. He launched himself back, but still caught a glancing blow from the creature’s fist. Michael fell backward on his butt. However, the creature’s fist continued shattering the window. The otherwise silent room was instantly filled with the sound of wind sweeping through the city.

Michael could not believe it. He almost got sent out of a 39th floor window, however he hardly had time to dwell on the horror of that possibility. The zombie had taken a couple seconds, slowly turning its body back towards him.

Michael scrambled back to his feet. Just in time to see Kyrie slam both feet into the side of the zombie. She was trying to force it out of the window. However, it seemed more like Kyrie had just kicked a wall. The creature was far too solid. She ended up pushing off, and doing a somersault roll back onto her feet.

The zombie gave her a glance before its attention focused back on Michael. Perhaps it considered him the bigger threat, or it had just decided that Michael had a bit more meat on the bones making him the better main course option, leaving Kyrie for dessert.

Enough time had passed for Michael to try to get a successful strike using his skill. However his 26 boosted agility only brought him closer to the zombie’s speed. The zombie caught his strike and instantly brought its left arm around for a counter. Michael was able to use the last of his quickened step to push back away from the creature. Once again he took a glancing blow that sent him rolling backward across the floor.

Kyrie stepped in freezing the zombie using spirit energy. She was able to manage a slash that cut deeply into the taller creature’s neck. The attack was successful, A gash appeared in the delicate flesh allowing coagulated rotting goo to start oozing down the creature’s chest and back.

However, Kyrie’s mental hold on the creature had only been able to last for a second. It broke free, and she had to scamper back in order to avoid a retaliation strike. The zombie was quicker than the girl, but she was still able to contort her body to avoid the blow. The zombie was not able to press the attack, a ball of orangish yellow energy slammed into its head.

The zombie rocked back on its feet, but it was able to maintain its balance. However Michael had suspected that a full pulse blast might not be enough. He was already charging in. The creature’s arms had raised instinctually to guard the head from another blow, but that left its side open. Michael slammed the machete into the creature's side. The weapon got stuck and was wrenched from his grasp as the creature backed away. The blade had likely started cutting into the ribs, but had gotten stuck halfway through.

Michael summoned the bat in an instant and pressed the attack, but the zombie with its head bleeding zombie goo had already regained its awareness. It's hand caught the bat in its hand, and for the second time in a matter of seconds Michael had his weapon pulled from his grasp. However the creature’s other side had been unguarded allowing Kyrie to stab her katana deep into the creature’s torso.

For her trouble, she received a back hand to her face that sent her sprawling. The katana got pulled free, but she dropped it on the floor. Not wanting to lose the moment, Michael was able to grab the handle of his machete and yank it free. He had to use a quick step to avoid the bat coming back around at him handle first.

Michael then faced several intense seconds retreating before the zombies onslaught. The zombie whipped the bat back and forth at him. The creature still held the bat by the end instead of the handle. It did not matter, it would hurt plenty if it connected. Michael pressed to use his skill, but it would not answer. A six second cool down when a creature was trying to beat him down, was a long time with their increased perception and speed.

Michael was notably slower, but he was able to keep just ahead of the zombie. It appeared that Kyrie needed a bit to recover. Michael only caught a glimpse of her, and her face had been covered in blood as it poured from her busted nose. Having no other choice, Michael dived to the side, summoning the soldier shot. He regained his feet and stuck the needle into his thigh.

It felt like molten metal had been injected into his bloodstream, but it seemingly spread very quickly. A second later his heart started hammering double time. Everything seemed to be better. The zombie moving toward him was moving slower, and Michael was able to evade a touch quicker. However he was still weaker and slower than his foe. If anything the soldier shot had made him as fast as Kyrie, but she had been a notch slower than the creature.

Michael weaved back and forth. He was still giving ground, in front of the onslaught, but he could keep it up as long as he did not allow himself to be backed into a corner. The problem was that Michael felt a real need to lash out in aggression against the zombie. Eventually he could not contain his furry.

How dare this thing look down on him. Michael used quick step. He flashed forward, successfully cutting deep into the other side of the zombie’s neck opposite of the gash that Kyrie had left earlier. However, the step ended leaving him well inside of the zombie’s guard. Luckily, it was the zombie’s free hand that struck out. It hammered into Michael’s side sending him careening across the room. He maintained his feet, as his world spun around him.

Michael’s mind snapped back into focus on the creature in only seconds. The zombie closed on him and Michael went on the attack again. He felt a barrier with quick step, but his will slammed against the barrier and it gave way. Michael’s body flashed forward delivering a slashing blow into the creature’s chest. He felt ribs crack and give way.

Moments later he caught the sight of the bat coming around. His head shifted to the side, but the bat still caught him. Michael was knocked several steps away before he crashed to his knees. His world spun and he was on the verge of blacking out, but he felt his mind quickly start to recover and focus back on the zombie even as blood started trickling down from above his eyebrow.

The zombie started forward, and Michael felt a surge of energy to rise up and meet it. However, seconds later he just stood there slack jawed as the zombie crashed to its knee. Kyrie’s sword stuck out of the top of its shoulder. Only a half foot of blade was showing, meaning that the rest of the three foot blade was extending down into the zombie’s chest cavity.

Kyrie stood behind the creature. Blood was still pouring from her nose and even more had been smeared across her cheeks and forehead, but Michael could see her white teeth as her face was contorted in a savage expression. She wrenched the blade free and the zombie collapsed.

“That is one for me, saving you from a boss monster.” Kyrie said triumphantly. A green drop appeared but instantly disappeared inside of Kyrie.

Michael felt extreme annoyance and anger at his female companion. He felt the furry start to build, but he realized what was happening and put a muzzle on it. He was still seething at the girl, but it was not like she had attacked him so he took a moment taking deep breaths to calm himself. His heart was still hammering, a result of the soldier pill, but the fight was over.