Chapter 18 — Battlefield: Tokyo Underground
The sound of clashing weapons, roaring magic, and the thud of roots hitting the ground echoed through the narrow passages of the subway station. Everything turned into a brutal battlefield between the Nexus forces and the undead creatures evolved from the ancient seed.
Ziza stood amidst the chaos, her eyes glowing deep purple, manipulating the movements of her creations like a conductor of a horrifying symphony of death and rebirth. With a wave of her hand, a swarm of plant undead surged towards the Nexus forces, ensnaring, crushing, and swallowing them alive.
Riven fought by her side, his body moving fast and sharp, slicing through enemies one by one. Each strike of his dagger was like a blue flash in the darkness.
However, the Nexus were no ordinary enemy.
From behind their ranks, someone different emerged. A figure in silver-white armor, their eyes cold and gleaming, and on their back hung a large weapon like a glowing blue guillotine.
"Ziza..." Riven warned, his eyes wide. "That's — the Execution Commander."
Ziza narrowed her eyes. She had heard of them — the elite force of the Nexus, each capable of wiping out an entire city alone.
The Commander stepped forward fearlessly. "Unidentified subjects. Illegal activity against the world order detected. Immediate execution is mandated."
Without warning, they swung the guillotine. A wave of blue energy shot out, destroying a group of plant undead in a single slash.
Ziza gritted her teeth. "Riven, hold back the regular troops. I'll handle them."
"Alone?! You're crazy!" Riven retorted while parrying an enemy's attack.
Ziza didn't reply. She advanced slowly, the roots around her moving wildly, following her steps. The power from the ancient seed pulsed within her body, giving her a new surge — a power that was raw, difficult to control, but full of potential.
The Execution Commander raised their guillotine, ready to strike again.
But this time, Ziza was faster.
She slammed her palm onto the ground, and from beneath the earth, large hands made of roots and bone burst forth, trying to grasp the Commander's body. The Commander slashed through them with perfect precision, but for each root cut, two more grew to replace it.
"I'm not as weak as I used to be," Ziza hissed.
The Commander remained cold. With a single movement, they exploded with sacred energy that blew away all creatures around them.
Ziza was thrown back, hitting a concrete pillar. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, but she smiled.
"If you think that's enough..." She stood back up, undead energy flowing from her body like a black storm.
[System Warning!]
Synchronization with the Ancient Seed increased: 15%.
New Skill Available: 'Dominion of Roots'.
Without hesitation, Ziza activated it.
The entire station trembled. Walls cracked. The ground broke. Giant roots pierced the floor, splitting the space, coiling around pillars, trapping enemies, and dragging them into the darkness.
The Execution Commander tried to defend, leaping to avoid the massive roots. But their number was overwhelming, and their coordination was perfect — as if the station itself had become their enemy.
Ziza raised her hand high, and a massive root the size of a train carriage struck the Commander with tremendous force, pinning them to the ground.
An explosion of energy occurred, and the ground beneath them partially collapsed.
As the dust settled, Ziza walked slowly closer. She knew the Commander wasn't dead — the Nexus wouldn't be defeated that easily.
Just as expected. From beneath the ruins, the Commander rose, their body covered in blood, their armor cracked, and their eyes full of hatred.
"This is not over," they snarled.
Ziza raised an eyebrow, then said in a calm voice, "No. This is just the beginning."
Instantly, a new troop of plant undead emerged from the ground behind Ziza, ready to charge.
This city, this world — would become a battlefield.
And Ziza was determined: she would win this war.
Whatever the cost.