Lyra expertly navigated the truck through the falling rubble while Adam fired a barrage of projectiles to clear their path. As they sped forward, narrowly avoiding a collapsing building, Lyra informed Adam they needed a detour. Fuel was running critically low, and they needed a safe stop. Adam continued his relentless fire, taking out incoming zombie variants with massive boulders. Lyra pinpointed a mall ahead, which might have useful medical supplies and was on their route.
Stranded and On Foot.
Suddenly, the engine sputtered and died as the fuel ran out, leaving them stranded in the middle of the road, surrounded by hordes of zombies and variants. Instinct taking over, Adam quickly diverted some of the fuel from his weapon, spraying it towards the surrounding horde. With a spark from a tentacle, the entire area erupted in flames.
Adam used a tentacle to grab Lyra as she exited the truck, then swiftly reconfigured his Universal Projectile System, firing a grappling hook onto a nearby building. He pulled them away from the immediate encirclement, bracing their impact against the building with his legs. He launched another grappling hook to an adjacent building, pulling them across the gap.
Lyra informed him the mall was just ahead. Adam swung them down to the street, and they sprinted towards the mall. Adam re-equipped his projectile system, firing continuously at the oncoming zombies while more chased them from behind. Lyra scanned the mall's exterior, spotting a broken third-floor window that offered an entry point.
They closed in, dead zombies and variants littering the open carpark. Adam fired one last barrage at their pursuers, then quickly switched back to the universal tool. Lyra gripped Adam's back, and Adam launched the grappling hook towards the third-floor window. It pierced the ceiling above the window, pulling them upward and into the mall.
Mall Scavenge and New Weapons
Lyra immediately warned Adam of incoming zombies inside. Adam quickly switched back to his projectile system, firing multiple shots to clear the immediate threat. Lyra moved forward, with Adam covering her from the rear. They descended to the first floor, reaching the supermarket section. A variant with sharp claws charged them.
Adam swiftly shot out its legs before barraging it with projectiles. Looking around, most of the zombies lay motionless on the floor. Lyra analyzed the area, finding a small pocket of safety where they could breathe, as most of the immediate threats were eliminated.
Inside the supermarket, Lyra directed Adam to clear the last few zombies. She then began gathering supplies: a hunting knife, a machete, an axe, and a pole. Lyra instructed Adam to find a bigger bag for their resources, focusing on items they could take back to the truck. With her extensive knowledge, Lyra quickly began assembling a spear on the spot, explaining that these weapons would serve not only for protection but also for other practical uses.