12^th base 3^rd level command center.

The room hummed with tension, the glow of displays illuminating the tense faces of strategists and commanders. Admiral Alexander Mathias stood at the helm, his steely gaze fixed on the screen. Around him, his trusted lieutenants, each a specialist in their field, awaited his command.

"Execute the plan," Admiral Mathias commanded his voice firm and resolute.

With synchronized precision, the room erupted into chaos. Orders were relayed swiftly to the elite group on the ground.

"What a waste" Admiral Mathias murmured to himself, steeling his resolve as he prepared to do everything he could to put this calamity to an end.

***

A few miles away from Fletcher’s camp, the Elite awakened awaited patiently for the outcome of the meeting.

Right then, Marcus the leader of the attack group, received a transmission from the command center.

"Confirmation has been given. You and your team are a go for the assault."

"Listen up, everyone," Marcus addressed his fellow awakened, his tone firm yet charged with a quiet intensity. "We've received the green light. Our moment has arrived."

Marcus's gaze swept across the faces of his teammates, their features indicated a sense of hesitation and trepidation, after all, unlike Marcos, most of them were civilians before everything changed, while fighting zombies and monsters in the frontlines is manageable, fighting another human is very complicated.

"Listen up, everyone," Marcus spoke, his words intended to steady their nerves. "We've faced monstrous threats before, but tonight, we face a different type of threat to our survival. Remember who we are fighting for the people relying on us, the future we strive to protect. We’ve trained for this. Our objective is clear"

Marcus continued, projecting an air of unwavering confidence. "Tonight, we strike with precision and stealth. Trust in your training and in each other. We go in as a team, and we come out as one."

A murmur of acknowledgment rippled through the group, their expressions reflecting a mix of determination and apprehension. They understood the gravity of the situation.

***

Fletcher gathered everyone in the living room, he sat down in the center of the room, and as usual, Ray stood proudly beside him, while the rest waited in anticipation and curiosity.

For the next few minutes, Fletcher laid out everything that had happened so far, and what was about to happen, he didn’t hide anything, although he used these people almost like servants, he had grown attached to them a bit.

“You did well so far, and you‘ve proved your usefulness.” Fletcher said with a satisfied expression.

Fletcher paused for a second, he seemed to be thinking hard about something, “But unfortunately we can’t be together, you have permission to do what you want. Leave, or you can stay”

Shocked by the sudden revelation, everyone stared at Fletcher in confusion.

“Although, I have to warn you, if you choose to stay, you will be dragged into a messy and dangerous situation” Fletcher said with a slight grimace on his face.

After a brief pause Fletcher continued “If you choose to leave, you might not make it either”

“Because the people after me, they will most likely get rid of any witnesses on the spot” Fletcher added calmly.

After saying what needed to be said, Fletcher left the room quietly, he anticipated a long night ahead of him, and he must get ready for what was coming his way.

After Fletcher left the room, the others started a heated discussion, surprisingly not everyone wanted to leave, with only Brian and Alicia, championing the idea, while the rest chose to stay despite the imminent danger.

Ray was adamant about not leaving Fletcher, and naturally Olivia dejectedly stayed with her brother, on the other hand, Stacey stayed for a completely different reason, she would never go back to the base, she would rather die here, than return to that awful place, especially after having a taste of life here.

Brian and Alicia said their goodbyes in tears.

They went through a lot together, survival, misfortune alongside a few brushes with death, it was sure to make them very close, a bond as strong as that of a family.

***

Fletcher looked at the three remaining members of his camp, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of appreciation for their loyalty, he decided to protect them as much as he could.

“This fight will not be easy, the military will send everything they have to destroy me,” Fletcher said clearly.

He smiled confidently and continued.

“But I will kill them all. Every single one of them” Fletcher said menacingly and with a cold expression on his face.

“what about us? What should we do?” Stacey asked with a trembling voice, fear plastered on her beautiful face.

“don’t worry, their focus will be on me. So you will have a chance to sneak away”

“Sneak away? Where?” Olivia interjected clearly doubtful.

“can’t we stay here? I can help, I can fight” Ray said excitedly, he was eager to prove himself to Fletcher, since that night, after his first kill, he felt a change happening inside him, he had an inkling that if he followed Fletcher, he will find out what this change meant.

Olivia wanted to jump and stop the words coming out of her brother, staying was the last thing on her mind, she couldn’t wait to get away from this retched place, this place was a prison to her, a place full of horrible memories.

Fletcher was amused at Ray’s enthusiasm, but he knew the battle ahead, needed more than just the blazing passion of an ignorant kid “No! you need to leave immediately, travel south of here, find a safe place to lay low, and when I’m done here I will find you” Fletcher replied calmly.

A while later.

The three packed hurriedly and left the camp.

Fletcher watched from afar, as they disappeared through the tree line, if his calculations were correct, the three of them would be safe for now, as for Brian and Alicia they would most likely be captured immediately by the enemy, and serve as a good distraction for the other three to escape safely.

***

As the hours went by, and the sun faded over the horizon, the ominous silence foretold of the chaos that was about to ensue, the groups stood before Fletcher led by Marcus and Maya.

Normally this roster of warriors facing against a single individual, would be nothing but utter bullying, however everyone present felt a sense of oppression radiating from this strange man, as he stood there rooted to the ground with unwavering will, his eyes sending chills down the spine of anyone who met them.

Maya could not handle the uncomfortable situation, especially how the man looked at them, she was a proud woman and hated being belittled by anyone, especially men.

Furious she silently unleashed her strongest move, a powerful mental attack that could render a normal person into a vegetative state.

Fletcher's eyes shifted to the woman, he just felt a prickly sensation in his brain and knew instinctively that the woman in front of him did some psychic attack.

Fletcher frowned and pulled his right leg back like he was about to kick a soccer ball, then his calf muscle bulged, and thick veins popped up, Fletcher sprung forward with enormous acceleration, his leg cutting the air as he threw a kick.

Maya’s eyes dilated and her breathing stopped as the world seemed to slow down, she felt the chilling aura of death approaching her, and just then a shield stretched out and blocked in front of her face.

Marcus managed to save Maya’s life in the last moment, but at the cost of his hand turning into a bloody mess, if it weren’t for the fact that he had a strong physique and max vitality stats, his arm would have exploded into bits.

This marked the beginning of a brutal battle.

Fletcher continued his assault without any delay, he swiftly pulled his axes from their sheath, and struck toward Marcus, trying to finish him with a quick axe swing to the neck, but before he could make contact.

An awakened from the support group quickly activated his ability, which was called Living Shield, when cast on someone, an invisible shield will block all attacks automatically for 10 seconds.

A shield of light blocked Fletcher’s attack, giving Marcus enough time to put some distance between them.

Fletcher did not have the time to analyze how his attack failed to hit his target, since attacks of all kinds hurled his way from all directions.

Fletcher skillfully maneuvered around the battlefield dodging every attack skillfully, even without activating his danger sense, this much was manageable for his level of skill and stats.

“Get in your positions” Shouted Marcus as he received some healing to his battered arm.

The elite awakened shifted quickly into their positions, choreographed into perfection, a testament to the rigorous training they must have gone through.

Shield wielders and defenders lined in the front, and a few steps behind, stood anyone with attacking abilities, all capable of dealing damage to their targets in many forms and elements.

On the outer edges of their formation stood supporters, they had minimal fighting prowess, but incredibly strong buffs or de-buffs, that could turn the tide of any battle if used right.

Healers occupied the back of the formation.

Fletcher scratched the back of his head and said “I guess this won’t be an easy fight”.