My Sniper System in a Zombie Apocalypse World-Chapter 92: Plan B Ignites

Jaxon turned to see the rest of the group had formed a defensive line.

Natasha, Elena, and Elaine held the front. Na rin, Isabel, and Cindy covered the left. Burgors, Bong gu, and Haris guarded the right. Hannah and Claire stayed behind as support.

Despite their best efforts, the crawler had proven to be too fast and agile. Their bullets had missed their mark as the creature leaped from cover to cover, its movements erratic and unpredictable. However, it hadn’t been able to get close to them either.

Jaxon raised his rifle again, trying to anticipate the creature’s next move.

As the group unleashed a barrage of gunfire, the crawler leaped into the air, attempting to evade the onslaught.

Bang. The shot met it in midair. Its head exploding, and the body crashed down hard onto the concrete, as Jaxon heard another system notification.

Silence returned to the bridge. One by one, the group let out their breath.

They were about to move again when a low, hoarse howl echoed from below.

The sound froze them all. Instinctively, they dropped to the ground, pressing against whatever cover they could find.

Jaxon crawled to the edge and peeked at the street.

One infected’s head twitched, then another beside it. Soon, the movement spread like a ripple, until more and more began stirring. Growls started to rise from the streets, low at first, then louder, thousands of them waking.

"They’re waking up... what do we do?" Hannah whispered, her voice shaking as she stared down at the horde. They hadn’t seen the group yet, but any movement now would draw their attention.

Jaxon took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. He hadn’t expected they’d actually need the fireworks this soon. Natasha and Elena glanced at him, nodding.

"Everyone," Jaxon whispered, his voice steady. "Get ready to sprint. Once the explosion goes off, run as fast as you can when I give the signal."

The group nodded nervously.

"Sumiko, you’re doing great. Stay quiet, alright?" Jaxon murmured. She nodded from behind him, holding herself close and silent.

He reloaded his rifle with the High‑Explosive Incendiary rounds he had purchased earlier, crouching low and peering through the scope.

The watchtower was beyond his effective range, but Jaxon adjusted, aiming anyway. The first round zipped past its mark, missing.

’Again.’

His frown deepened as round after round missed.

"Jaxon, hurry! I think they’ll be here any second," Burgors urged, his voice tight with fear.

Jaxon didn’t respond. He stayed locked on his target.

’Stay calm, Jaxon. Just one shot, that’s all you need.’

Another round fired, and missed again.

He clicked his tongue, frustration rising. "Wait here," he said, standing up.

"Hey, where are you going?" Elena asked, her brow furrowed.

Jaxon didn’t answer. He quietly climbed onto the roof of the covered pedestrian bridge. Once on top, he crouched low, steadying his breath.

’Wind steady. Target clear.’

He pulled the trigger.

BOOM. Flames erupted at the prison watchtower. At the same time, the fireworks ignited, bursting in a riot of sparks and explosions.

The horde reacted immediately. Chaos erupted as thousands of infected surged west, toward the prison. Footsteps thundered across the streets, not just waking the ones nearby, they stirred infected across the city.

The group pressed themselves flat against the bridge’s cover, hearts hammering, praying they wouldn’t be seen as the chaos unfolded around them.

After what felt like an eternity of chaos, the distant roars of the infected began to fade into low, guttural echoes.

"Now, go!" Jaxon’s voice cut through the uneasy silence.

Everyone sprang to their feet, running as fast as they could. Jaxon leapt from his cover, sprinting ahead with Sumiko strapped to his back.

They reached another desolate street when Jaxon suddenly skidded to a stop, raising his hand sharply.

"Hold!" His eyes narrowed at the scene ahead. Cars were being shoved aside violently, one after another, as if some unstoppable force was barreling toward them.

"Move to the side!" he shouted.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Metal twisted and groaned under the impact. Glass shattered, raining onto the asphalt as heavy footsteps pounded closer.

With a heavy, earth-shaking step, a hulking infected emerged from the wreckage, its massive form larger than any bodybuilder they had ever seen. It pushed aside the remaining cars aside like toys, charging straight towards them, its eyes burning with a primal hunger.

Jaxon leaped to the side. The others also scrambled to safety, barely escaping the hulking infected as it smashed into an overturned truck behind them, crushing it into twisted scrap.

"What... what is that?" Hannah stammered, her body trembling as she stared at the creature.

"Don’t just stand there! Run!" Jaxon barked, pulling Hannah and Haris behind him. Elena, Na-rin, and Natasha grabbed the others, urging them forward.

But the hulking infected was not alone. Dozens of bald infected came after it, leaping from car to car, closing in fast.

"Infected incoming!" Elena shouted, firing without hesitation.

An infected lunged from her side, catching her off guard, but a silent bullet tore through its skull. Elena spun, spotting Na-rin kneeling behind cover with her pistol raised. She gave her a quick nod, then refocused on the horde ahead.

"We keep moving forward. Don’t stop!" Natasha’s voice rang sharply, guiding the group as they returned to their positions.

Bong-gu, Burgors, and Haris opened fire on the hulking infected trailing behind, but their bullets barely slowed it. The massive creature had raised its thick arms, shielding its head from bullets, then charged again, each step shaking the ground beneath them.

"Run!" Burgors yelled, dragging Haris and Bong-gu out of its path.

Before the monster could crush them, Jaxon fired. The bullet hit its shoulder, tearing flesh and bone apart. The hulking body was flung backward, crashing into a car with a loud crunch.

"Damn!" Burgors exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and relief.

"Keep moving," Jaxon called, firing again. This shot struck the creature’s head, and its skull exploded from the impact.

Turning to Burgors, he spoke, "Take Sumiko. I’ll catch up."

As he reached to remove the cloth holding Sumiko, her small voice trembled behind him. "No! I won’t go!"

Jaxon froze, his hand still on the cloth. He glanced at her, then at Burgors, deciding she would stay with him. Slowly, he nodded to Burgors and the others. "Go. I’ll be right behind you."