A white-coated man bursts through the basement.

  A suppressed shot pops.

  Maxwell is behind him.

  The man drops mid-step.

  Dirt kicks up.

  A dull thud.

  Chaos settles.

  More enemies in white rush out.

  Shion fires.

  Maxwell fires.

  A controlled rhythmic bursts.

  Bodies hit the dry ground.

  Stack.

  Pile.

  Dust rises in sunlight.

  Then—a woman appears.

  Sword on her back.

  Eyes sharp.

  Maxwell raises his gun.

  She’s gone.

  Maxwell blinks. “What—”

  She’s in front of Shion.

  Her hand clamps Shion's throat.

  She slams Shion to the ground, Shion’s head snaps.

  Silence.

  She doesn’t move.

  The Alligator tightens his scope.

  “I underestimated them.”

  She turns.

  Maxwell fires.

  She’s gone.

  Bullets hit nothing, trees take the lead.

  Steel flashes, silver slices through the air.

  Two men explode from the basement.

  One grabs Maxwell—misses.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  The second punches his chest, Maxwell stumbles, boots dig deep ruts in dirt.

  Shion stands.

  Arm retracts.

  Corpse falls at her feet.

  Second attacker turns.

  Silenced shot.

  Hole blooms in his head.

  He drops.

  The woman attacks.

  Sword swinging.

  Shion catches the blade.

  Blood drips from her fingers, she jams her pistol into the woman’s stomach.

  Fires.

  The woman drops.

  More enemies pour forward.

  Nina yells, “Boss! Backup—strong fighters in the basement! Mercs too!”

  The Alligator frowns.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The smell of bullets…” Nina breathes.

  “They’re not playing fair. Only testing enemy strength.”

  He signals.

  Shion moves like a blade.

  Aman charges.

  Her hand drives through his chest.

  Ribs snap.

  Silence.

  Across the field,a female merc approaches Maxwell.

  Fire precise.

  Tracking.

  Maxwell dodges.

  Maxwell and the female merc dance in a deadly rhythm.

  Gun blasts echo past his ears. He fires—but veers aside.

  A bat swings from behind.

  Crash.

  He drops.

  Shion steps in, covering Maxwell.

  She fires a single shot.

  The man with the bat hit dirt

  She collides with the female merc.

  Gunfire.

  Close.

  Fast.

  Then—Shion stills.

  Eyes close.

  Chaos quiets.

  The female mercs advance, confident.

  Shion explodes upward.

  Headbutt.

  Bone snaps.

  The woman drops.

  Mercy round finishes her.

  A distant bullet ring.

  One drop. Then–

  Another.

  Two fighters come out of the basement.

  Running circle, tracking Nina.

  Shion lunges on one.

  Her fist kisses air.

  Another charges.

  His fist cuts air.

  She ducks.

  Shoots.

  Air ripples around the bullet.

  Nina fires.

  Bullet chases one man.

  He dodges.

  It follows.

  He falls.

  Second fighter hurls a stone.

  The stone finds her.

  Approaching.

  Nina's eyes watching the stone advancing towards her forehead.

  Time freezes, then–

  She fades, and relocates into another location.

  She fires.

  “Her shot gave away her position. They’ve got her pinned,” K.B says.

  “Exposed, but adapting,” the Alligator replies. His eyes on Ellen. He points.

  “You. Join the fight.”

  Ellen smiles. “Should I fight… and kill?”

  “Yes. Go.”

  K.B frowns. “Boss—she’s weak—”

  The Alligator raises his hand. Silence.

  Ellen steps forward. No ripple. No distortion.

  Fighters press Shion harder, her breathing ragged.

  Maxwell pushes upright, swarm tightens.

  Shion drops to one knee.

  Hand braced.

  Men close in.

  Nina moves again. “Damn it. Is there no end to these people?”

  Ellen enters.

  A bullet streaks toward her.

  Drops harmlessly.

  Shooter collapses mid-stride.

  She doesn’t draw.

  More rush her.

  They crash—the sound heavy, earth-shaking.

  “What the…” K.B breathes.

  “What is it?” the Alligator narrows.

  “Put your scope back on.”

  The Alligator looks.

  Fighters charge. One fires point-blank.

  Bullet passes through her—air shimmers.

  Her Eyes glow red.

  Then—they fall.

  Not shot.

  Not hit.

  Destroyed.

  Pieces.

  Fractions of seconds.

  The ground becomes a slaughter.

  She stands alone, gun forward, smoke trails into the open sky.

  Nina whispers, “I’ve never seen… this level… didn’t even see her draw her gun…”

  Silence spreads.

  Ellen steps into the basement.

  Gunfire below.

  Screams.

  Ground shakes.

  Then nothing.

  She returns. Drenched. Smiling.

  Shion’s guns slip from her hands, hitting stone. She bends—gone.

  Ellen stands before her, gun already holstered, offering Shion's guns back.

  Shion's gaze balloons in surprise. When did she holster her gun? Her speed…

  “You don’t want them? Ellen asks.

  “Thanks. Did you save the princess at least?”

  Ellen smiles. “OMG, I forgot. Killed them all.”

  Shion collapses backward.

  “Fuck… all our efforts…”

  The Alligator’s hands shake on the scope.

  Never expected this…

  I just recruited a powerhouse. No.

  A female apocalypse.