Zombie Domination-Chapter 68- Trump Card

Behind Velma, dozens, no, hundreds, of floating swords bloomed into existence like a field of metal flowers, their crimson glow pulsing in sync with her energy. They hovered for a second, deadly and elegant... and then launched forward like a storm of petals.

Julian stepped forward, his expression cool, gaze fixed ahead. The moment the blades surged toward them, he whispered under his breath.

"[Shadow Style : Blade Requiem]."

A surge of shadow wrapped around him, spinning violently. Julian leapt into the air, his body dancing between the blades, his katana slicing through one after another in a blur. Every sword that neared was shattered, exploding into black mist as the shadow energy devoured them.

Aya watched in awe as Julian landed, cape fluttering, the broken fragments of energy fading around him. But the effort had a cost, the entire building rumbled from the shockwave, cracks spreading along the walls.

"We can’t drag this fight out," Julian said, his voice low but urgent.

"Agreed," Rayden replied, energy already flaring around his fists. "Let’s end this."

Without wasting another second, the clash resumed. Lightning, steel, shadow, and fire lit up the room like a battlefield straight out of hell.

Julian dashed toward Giroth, aiming a swift strike to the neck, but Seth intercepted, flanking from the side.

"I’m your opponent," Rayden growled, appearing between them and punching Seth hard in the jaw, sending him stumbling.

Rayden turned in time to see one of Velma’s floating blades coming straight for him. He dodged, but the blade grazed his arm, slicing through cloth and skin.

"Ow. That stings, lady," he muttered, shaking off the pain.

Velma didn’t respond. Just narrowed her eyes and floated higher, cold and focused.

Julian was back at Giroth again. Their blades clashed, sparks flying. Giroth’s sword moved with perfect precision, a master’s rhythm. Julian parried, side-stepped, retaliated, but Giroth was always just one step ahead.

Until—

In the blink of an eye, Julian disengaged. His katana vanished in a flicker of light, stored away.

Giroth’s eyes widened. "Hoh? Switching weapons mid-fight?"

From his back, Julian drew twin daggers, sleek, curved, built for speed and death.

Giroth stepped back instinctively. "I see... So you’re not just a swordsman."

Julian didn’t reply. He lowered his stance, blades poised.

Giroth smiled faintly. "Let’s see if your daggers can keep up with my blade."

And then they clashed again, steel against steel, speed against skill, two forces of pure combat skill spiraling into a storm of slashes and movement.

Julian moved like a shadow unchained, each slash from his twin daggers was sharp, unpredictable, and precise. Giroth held his ground, parrying with the discipline of a seasoned swordsman, but even he couldn’t ignore the speed Julian had gained. The clash of dagger against sword rang out again and again, sparks flying with every impact.

Julian darted to the side, then twisted low. He activated his shadow, tendrils of darkness wrapped around Giroth’s legs for just a second. It was enough.

With a step-in and a sharp twist, Julian slashed toward Giroth’s midsection, but Giroth reacted fast, pulling his pistol and firing. Julian was forced to pull back, just a single step, but that was all Giroth needed to realign.

Or so he thought.

Julian’s hand lit with electricity. In a blink, he surged forward—Crack!

A bolt of lightning exploded from his palm, catching Giroth off-guard. The older warrior staggered, his stance broken, and Julian didn’t let it go to waste. His daggers became a flurry of strikes, overwhelming Giroth’s defenses.

One cut grazed his shoulder. Another tore through his side.

And then, Julian went for the heart.

But just before the final strike landed, a sword flew in from the side—Clang! Velma had stepped in, deflecting Julian’s blade with one of her floating weapons. Her expression was cold, calculated.

Then—Bang!

Aya’s sniper round tore through the space between them, nearly grazing Velma’s cheek. The brief distraction was all Julian needed.

He spun.

And drove both daggers straight into Giroth’s chest.

The cuts were clean, deep, blood sprayed as Giroth’s eyes widened. His knees buckled.

"Such... a dazzling fight, young one..." he whispered, a smile forming as his body gave out.

He collapsed with a final exhale, lifeless.

Julian stood there, chest rising and falling, staring at the fallen Swordmaster.

Behind him, Velma’s voice cracked with panic. "H-Hey! Old man—! Don’t just fall like that!"

But Julian didn’t give her a moment to breathe. He shot forward, blades flashing again.

Velma summoned her floating swords in defense, but they shattered one by one under the force of Julian’s relentless barrage. His daggers were precise, no wasted motion. Every swing cut through her summoned weapons like they were nothing.

Fear flickered in Velma’s eyes. "Damn it..."

She stepped back and raised her hands, her lips moving fast, an incantation, glowing symbols spinning around her.

A sudden pulse of energy rippled out from her chest, dark, heavy magic that wrapped around Julian. His body stiffened, his movements slowed.

Velma’s eyes were wide now, her breath shaking. "Don’t come any closer!"

But Julian only narrowed his eyes, his shadow writhing beneath him like a living thing.

On the other side of the battlefield, Seth lunged straight toward Rayden, his palms already glowing with unstable energy. But just before he could fire, a sharp gunshot rang out—Bang! Aya’s bullet struck him in the shoulder, making him stumble.

Rayden didn’t hesitate.

He dashed forward, delivering a solid punch straight to Seth’s chest. The impact sent him flying backwards.

Rayden moved fast to follow up, but one of Velma’s swords flew in from the side, just in time to intercept. He twisted mid-air, barely dodging the blade, but not fast enough to avoid the tip slicing his arm. Blood streaked down, but it was shallow.

Seth hit the ground hard, then pushed himself up, rage in his eyes. With a guttural growl, he closed the gap and landed a heavy punch on Rayden’s side, sending him skidding across the ground.

Before Seth could finish him off, another shot from Aya landed, this time near his ribs, forcing him to recoil again.

Rayden wasn’t about to waste the opening.

He gathered his energy, lightning crackling around his body, and charged forward. Seth raised his hands, preparing to absorb the energy like before, but Aya’s next shot struck the ground right in front of him, blinding him for a second.

That second was enough.

Rayden vanished from sight, and in the next instant, he was behind Seth. With a roar, he struck him hard in the back, sending him crashing to the ground again.

Then, Rayden’s body began to glow.

Energy surged to his fists, pulsing, swirling, building. It wasn’t just raw power—it was something else.

He growled low and steady, "Let’s end this... [Ultimate Skill : Burst Fist Overdrive]."

His arm lit up, every muscle locked with pressure as energy flooded into his clenched fist. Seth looked up, eyes narrowing.

"You idiot," he spat. "I’ll just absorb it like always!"

But Rayden didn’t stop.

He drove his fist straight into Seth’s chest, energy exploding on impact. Seth opened his mouth to scream, but something was wrong. His body twitched, trembling violently.

His eyes widened. "W-What... is this...?"

The energy Rayden had built, it was too much. Too dense. Too unstable. It exceeded the limit Seth’s body could absorb.

"No... NO!! This isn’t possible!!" Seth shrieked.

Then—BOOM.

A massive surge erupted from within him.

The explosion tore through the battlefield with a blinding flash. When the smoke cleared... there was nothing left of Seth.

Only blackened ash scattered across the broken ground.

The battlefield fell into a tense silence.

Rayden lowered his smoldering fist, panting. "It’s over."

Meanwhile, on the other side, Julian, despite the heavy debuffs still crawling across his body, pushed through. His vision was slightly blurred, his steps felt heavier... but his will was unwavering.

He vanished in a blink.

Whoosh!

Velma flinched, he was already in front of her.

Her eyes widened in panic. "N-no... not now!"

The disruption hit instantly. The buff she’d cast earlier on Seth flickered and vanished, causing his energy flow to spiral further out of control. But Velma couldn’t worry about him now, Julian was right in her face.

Her lips quivered, but then she forced herself to breathe.

No, she still had a trump card.

Her eyes sharpened with a sudden shift in confidence. "You’re fast... but not fast enough."

She raised her hands and began chanting under her breath. The air trembled around her, red magic sigils spinning rapidly at her feet. Her body began to glow, her power surging as dark tendrils and molten energy wrapped around her limbs.

"This is the end for you, Julian," she sneered. "[Ultimate Skill : Crimson Bloom Ascension]."

It was her trump card.

A spell that would amplify her power beyond her limits.

But she underestimated him.

Julian, through his blurred vision and heavy limbs, watched her mouth move.

And he moved.

"Not this time," he whispered coldly.

Before the final word of her chant left her lips, Julian was already behind her. With fluid precision, his dual daggers crossed in an X—then sliced.

Shhhhk!

Velma froze.

A thin red line traced across her neck.

Her mouth trembled. "N-no..."

Blood sprayed as her knees gave out. Her body crumpled to the floor, eyes wide, the spell fading silently into the air.

And just like that... the battlefield fell into silence.

The dust began to settle, and victory... was clear.