Richard stood there, almost in disbelief, as he watched Lin Feng’s health bar hover at the brink, a mere one percent away from oblivion. The mastermind behind the catastrophic apocalypse, which had claimed countless lives and devastated the globe, was finally within an inch of defeat. The significance of the moment wasn’t lost on him; one more concerted effort would not only eliminate Lin Feng but also potentially put an end to the relentless zombie onslaught that had plunged the world into chaos.

With no time to waste and driven by a sense of urgency, Richard acted. There was a clear sense of purpose in his movements as he adjusted the grip on his plasma blade, turned the hilt, and pulled it upwards in a smooth, controlled motion, it sliced through Lin Feng’s form with ease, the action reminiscent of pulling a zipper, albeit one sealing the fate of a nemesis and potentially ending a global nightmare.

After completing the motion with his plasma blade, Richard watched intently as Lin Feng’s health bar finally depleted, dropping to zero. The menacing glow that had once illuminated Lin Feng’s eyes began to fade, signaling the end of his reign of terror. The moment was surreal, a mixture of relief and disbelief washing over Richard as he witnessed the culmination of their long and arduous struggle against the darkness that Lin Feng had unleashed upon the world.

The battlefield fell silent, a stark contrast to the chaos and destruction that had preceded this moment. Richard’s allies, the brave Delta Force members, Blackwatch infantry, and the United States Marines who had stood with him in this decisive battle, slowly lowered their weapons. They couldn’t believe it. That was it? It felt easy. They were expecting a bit of a challenge from a monster that took a direct hit from a nuclear missile. There’s no way.

Richard checked Lin Feng’s corpses and they were not dreaming or seeing things; Lin Feng was indeed defeated. His once formidable figure now lay motionless on the ground, devoid of the dark energy that had surrounded him.

But if they needed more assurances, Richard received it. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

[Congratulations on defeating the Final Boss of the Apocalypse. You have received the title: Hero of the World.]

[Rewards: Eternal possessions of the military system.]

[All mutated zombies summoned by Lin Feng will self-destruct in ten seconds.]

***

Meanwhile, not far away from Richard’s location. Mutated zombies such as Goliaths, Juggernauts, Alpha Hunters, Hunters, Flyers, Hydra, Cerberus, and literally every mutated zombie fighting the Blackwatch forces and the United States Marines began to convulse violently. The soldiers, initially bracing for another wave of attacks, watched in astonishment as one by one, the mutated creatures started to explode in a cascade of light and ash. The countdown had begun, and as the last second ticked away, the final zombie burst into nothingness, leaving behind a battlefield that was suddenly, eerily quiet.

"All stations, this is Blackwatch Actual. What’s happening? All of the mutated zombies are gone!"

"Blackwatch Actual, this is Eagle. You are seeing what you are seeing, the mutated zombies are gone in an instant the moment we defeat Lin Feng," Richard said.

"Eagle...can you repeat your last?" Mark said.

"I say again, Blackwatch, Lin Feng has been defeated. The system confirmed it, and all his summoned creatures are self-destructing as we speak. It’s over. The apocalypse... we’ve ended it," Richard replied, his voice steady but filled with emotion.

There was a pause on the line, a moment of silence that felt like an eternity. Then, a crackle of static before Mark’s voice came through again, this time tinged with disbelief and relief.

"Shit...this is real? We killed Lin Feng? Then we...we...it’s the end right?"

"Well there are still nonmutated zombies but yeah we can clean them up easily," Richard replied, allowing himself a small smile at Mark’s astonishment. "Yes, it’s the end of the apocalypse as we knew it. Lin Feng’s control over the mutated zombies was the main threat. With him gone, what remains can be handled with conventional strategies."

Mark let out a long, relieved sigh. "I never thought I’d see the end of this. Richard. So how do we tell the president of the United States?"

"You can simply tell him the news," Richard replied.

"Okay...I’ll tell him right now," Mark said before switching to another channel. "Hello Mr. President, I have some great news for you."

"What is it?" President Barry asked.

"Lin Feng has been eliminated, all of the mutated zombies are gone, and it looks like we’re finally seeing the end of the apocalypse," Mark reported.

There was a brief silence on the line as the gravity of Mark’s words sank in. "Are you certain? This is... this is incredible news!"

"Richard and his team managed to defeat Lin Feng. It appears that all the mutated zombies were linked to him somehow. Once he was taken down, they all self-destructed. We’re still dealing with some of the regular zombies, but without the mutated ones, it’s a much more manageable situation," Mark added.

President Barry’s voice grew warmer, filled with gratitude. "Please extend my deepest thanks to Richard and everyone involved. This is a monumental victory for us all. We’ll need to start planning for the recovery phase immediately. Can you arrange a meeting with Richard? I want to thank him personally and discuss the next steps."

"Absolutely, Mr. President. I’ll make the arrangements as soon as possible."

"Good. And Mark, well done. This is a day of celebration for the world. Let’s make sure we honor those who made this victory possible."

As the call ended, Mark switched to another frequency, and now it’s in the main base at New Clark City. There he saw Sara standing, rubbing the baby bump that was Richard’s child. Sara looked up at the screen.

"Is it really over? Richard, Graves, and the others defeated Lin Feng?"

Mark smiled and nodded. "Yes, Sara...so you can rest at ease now because your husband will be returning to the Philippines soon."

Sara’s eyes brimmed with tears, relief, and joy mingling in her expression. For months, the weight of uncertainty had been her constant companion, the fear for Richard’s safety a shadow that darkened every moment. Now, with the news of Lin Feng’s defeat, that shadow was lifting, replaced by the light of hope and the promise of reunion.

"Thank you, Mark," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Please, tell Richard... tell him to come home safe."

Mark’s expression softened, touched by Sara’s words. "I will, Sara. I’ll make sure he gets the message. He’s going to be a father soon, and I know he wouldn’t miss that for the world. He’s done his part in saving it, after all."

Sara nodded, a smile breaking through her tears. The thought of Richard holding their child, of their family finally being together without the looming threat of apocalypse, filled her with a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.