Elements: The Ancient Tomb

Chapter 10：“The Unsung Heroes"

Three minutes later, all had reached the shelter. At this time, in addition to the majority of people and prisoners present here, Victor and Adam discovered the presence of both Jimmy and police officers under Adam's management. When Jimmy saw Victor, he ran over with joy and said:

 

"I brought prisoners who were trapped in cells here. I want to atone for my mistakes."

 

Seeing that on Jimmy's left hand was a cluster of prison keys, Victor understood, patted Jimmy's shoulder, and said:

 

"You did a good job. I didn't think wrong of you."

 

Adam now saw the appearance of his subordinates sitting in a corner, feeling extremely disappointed. One of the crowd stood up and said:

 

"Those three are our saviors. They sacrificed themselves to fight monsters and brought us here. But there are people who, despite wearing police uniforms, are cowards and do not dare to fight."

 

Adam recognized the objects that the person was talking about. All the citizens, most of the prisoners, expressed their dissatisfaction and tried to sneer at and reproach his subordinates. This time he voiced his criticism of them:

 

"How are you guys doing? Aren't you ashamed to let people curse like that? Why don't you just pick up your fucking ass and go outside? The people on the 2nd floor need to be rescued."

 

"Why do we have to join this war? We are completely useless against them, why don't we wait for the special forces to come to the rescue?" - a subordinate said his thoughts.

 

Victor now patted Adam's shoulder and said:

 

"You should understand them. After all, they are also human, and there is no human being who is not afraid of death. I think you should stay here too, your arm is injured, leave the fighting to me."

 

"I must go. But before going, I will do ideological work for them."

 

Victor said goodbye to everyone and then left. Everyone applauded and praised Yellow Lighting even though they wondered about the identity of the person wearing that bulky armor.

 

After having gone to the 4th floor, Victor encountered Iron Head standing in the middle of the pile of corpses. When Iron Head saw Victor, he said:

 

"I have finished dealing with the undead here, innocent people have already run away, nothing can stop me. Where's Jimmy?"

 

"It's no use looking for Jimmy. I won't let more victims die at your hands like Mai."- Victor said.

 

"Be cooperative. You hate him after what he's done with you, right? Wouldn't it be better for him to die?"

 

Victor switched to a fighting stance and said:

 

"No is no. I would rather die than cooperate with you."

 

"Haha! You are so stubborn. Then I will break my rules and kill you too."

 

"Try it. Let me tell you, I'm pretty strong."

 

The two rushed into each other to fight fiercely. Victor uses all kinds of skills, but Iron Head is easy to dodge.

 

Fighting for a while, Victor used "Lightning Slash" with Iron Head. The Iron Head took the sword to block the attack, with just a little strength, he easily negated the attack. Victor was surprised and said:

 

"Why? How could someone without magic like you…"

 

"My turn."

 

The Iron Head swung the saber, and from the saber appeared a space crack, from which an arc-shaped slash appeared and flew at high speed. With just that attack, Iron Head knocked Victor out very easily, although Victor was already on the defensive. Victor showed pain but still struggled, and said:

 

"Even if I die, I won't take you to that death row inmate."

 

"Jimmy is a death row inmate?!" Iron Head said.

 

"Huh?!"

 

Then he sighed, sheathed the saber, and turned away. Victor found it strange and asked:

 

"Aren't you going to kill me and go find him?"

 

"I changed my mind. If he was a death row inmate, he would die anyway. I don't need to do it anymore. Wouldn't it be better to say it in advance?"

 

Then he jumped out the window. When Victor ran to the window and looked down, he disappeared, he thought:

 

"What's wrong with this guy? After all, what did he think?"

 

Adam began to rise everyone's spirit up:

 

"I can sympathize with you guys. Maybe without weapons, we are completely useless in battle, but we still have the brains to think. There's no shortage of things we can do, for example, rescuing trapped people from the undead."

 

While speaking, Adam received a phone call from a technician, and said in a panicky voice:

 

"Mr. Stairwell, the control room was attacked by the undead. We managed to get out by the side entrance."

 

"Then we can't contact the task force anymore." - Adam thought about that and said: "Have you heard? By the time they arrive, we're all already dead. It's only a matter of time before the undead found this place. Make a decision, go there and fight or stay here and die? The citizens here are looking at us."

 

Suddenly Adam was in pain, clutching his hand and groaning. Everyone looked at him with pitying eyes, and some people said:

 

"Don't try too hard. Please stay here and defend with us. Then we'll find a way out."

 

"I can't. If you go forward, you will survive, if you step back, you will die."- Adam refused, turning back to look at his people, shouting- "Where is your fucking will to fight, guys? In a situation like this, can you callously let criminals and innocent people die here? Think, is this worthy of the people's trust? Hurry up, line up, and fight!"

 

Some people were convinced by Adam's words, gradually became confident again, no longer hesitated, stood up, and walked toward Adam. Adam continued:

 

"I will be your leader when we die, the people who are still alive will remember us. They can be citizens, colleagues, and even prisoners. Are you asking if this sacrifice is meaningless? No problem. Our legacy will still be engraved and followed by posterity."

 

"Indeed. 'A glorious death than shameful life!'. Our sacrifice will not be in vain. I will follow him." - One person stood up to support him.

 

The others seemed to wake up and simultaneously stood up to respond. Adam closed with a steel sentence:

 

"Guys! Fight, for the uniforms you wear, for the justice we stand for, and for the people who have been trusting us.

 

...After being listened to a ten-minute speech to raise morale from Adam, the whole team regained their spirits and stood in neat rows and discussed the rescue strategy together. Before leaving, Adam ordered the whole team to be divided into two, one team would go down to the 2nd floor to rescue the trapped people, and the other one would be led by him to the control room to regain control from the undead. In Adam's opinion, this room is the strategic place that determines the success or failure of the mission.

 

"The control room is on the 6th floor, the safest area because it's just under a rooftop, if we want to go up there, the undead have to take the stairs up 5 more floors, because they are not able to know how to press up floor number of the elevators. So the question is, how can they get there without making any noises or tracks?"

 

That's what Adam thought while trying to approach the control room with his teammates. With the huge number of undead controlling the room, they stepped back behind the wall. Seeing that everyone seemed to be afraid of the situation in front of them, Adam encouraged:

 

"We will find a way. Let's stay here for the time being."

 

When Adam was about to call the rescue team on the second floor, he suddenly saw a few undead trying to climb inside the window. At this moment, he exclaimed:

 

"Oh shit, they… climbed the wall and got through the windows. Why didn't I think of that?"

 

Suddenly his face was pale, his body was shaking, and his hand was not steady on the phone. The others were very worried when they saw his expression, one person next to him asked:

 

"Is something wrong, captain?"

 

"The undead climbed through the window to go upstairs," replied Adam.

 

"Oh my god, that means the people in the 5th-floor shelter are…"

 

"You're fucking right. They are in danger."

 

Adam immediately called Joe- one of the rescue team members on the 2nd floor, but when his phone got the signal of reply, he heard only one screaming voice:

 

"Adam, the undead… they… got inside through the window, the others were… killed. Please come and save us. Be quick… Ah…!"

 

After his voiceless cry was a series of bites and growls from the undead. Adam was afraid to turn pale, not daring to continue listening. Another asked:

 

"Are they okay? What did Joe say?"

 

"No, it's too late. They were all killed."

 

Now the atmosphere became darker and heavier. Everyone was extremely scared, some were scared that they vomited, their voices inadvertently made the undead hear and slowly approached them. Adam covered his face and muttered:

 

"There is no hope left. It's my fault. Will everything end here?"

 

Suddenly Michael, in the form of Blue Gunner, appeared nearby and continuously fired bullets at the undead. The undead seemed to be drawn toward Michael. Michael was just waiting for that, using the Elemental Card to activate Arowana Blaster's ultimate attack- "Ultimate Final Wave".

 

The gun began to glow and absorb all the water vapor in the surrounding converging into a blue water orb. Waiting for enough energy for the orb, and the zombies were close enough, Victor pulled the trigger. The orb was fired with great destructive power and wiped out those zombies. The explosion from the orb created water splatters everywhere, unintentionally relieving everyone's hot head and anxiety.

 

Everyone immediately ran to Michael with joy:

 

"Our hero, he's here, oh my goodness."

 

Adam found it strange and asked:

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"It was he who brought us to the shelter when the undead started rushing into the headquarters."

 

Adam expressed gratitude and said:

 

"Thank you. You always came when we need. You changed my mind."

 

After hearing about the death of his comrades and people trapped on the 2nd floor, Michael felt that Adam was now very depressed, said:

 

"Relax, now is not the time to mourn. As we know, the control room is our last ray of hope, but it has been taken by the undead. In this situation, we must recapture it so we can contact the incoming reinforcements. Let this mission be for you guys, I have to go downstairs to fight the undead. They're completely in control of this headquarters now, the number of undead should be three or four times higher than the first time, but I'll hold out until they arrive."

 

"Then I will go with you. Let my teammates recapture the control room and contact reinforcements. As far as I know, the undead can climb the wall, get in here through the windows, not just the main door, it means the lives of the people in the shelter are in danger."

 

"So what are you going to do?"

 

After careful discussion, the team went down to the 4th floor by elevator. When the elevator down to the 4th floor opened, Adam and Michael slowly stepped out to observe. Suddenly an undead fell directly on them which made them panic, fortunately, Michael shot it dead. When they looked up, they saw several other undead directly above them, surrounded by many undead slowly approaching them. While Michael fought very bravely to pave the way for Adam, Adam was also very brave to overcome the siege of several undead, running to the shelter.

 

As soon as he opened the door, Adam saw everyone fighting with some undead coming in from the window. For a moment, he noticed a prisoner poured a can of gasoline into his long-sleeved shirt, lit it on fire, and then threw it in front of the undead, preventing them from coming near him. He suddenly had an idea.

 

Everyone who saw Adam was overjoyed. Adam used a gun to shoot at the undead who were attacking people and then ordered everyone to step back. Then he told each person to turn on anything that could make a sound on each person's phone and then toss all the phones in a single spot away from where they were standing. Everyone did as he said. After they've done, he signaled everyone to stand still and observe. As expected, the undead, attracted by the sound of the phones, gathered there.

 

"In the end, they are just undead. They can only hear and feel with their ears, but cannot see." - Adam thought.

 

Michael was also surprised to see that scene. Suddenly he saw Adam holding a can of gasoline, gesturing to him by pointing at it. He understood that Adam wanted me to shoot the gas can when he threw it. Adam threw the petrol can at the undead. At the right time when the can was about to fall down the floor, Michael used a standard gun and fired an explosive gas can. The gas can exploded, causing gasoline to splatter, sticking to the monsters, but they didn't pay any attention because they were attracted to the sound of the phone. At this time, Adam held the unlocked lighter in his hand, threw it at the monsters, and exclaimed:

 

"Everyone, let's run! The opportunity has come."

 

Hearing Adam's voice, the undead turned to look, but at that moment, they became the bait for the fire. The fire from the lighter spread and burned the undead. They cried and swam in the flames. The blazing fire burned too big for those zombies to escape. Adam and the others ran while looking back. Adam said to Michael:

 

"You're here to put out the fire when they're all dead and deal with the remaining monsters in this building while I get everyone to the 6th floor. I'm counting on you."

 

"Roger that. Go ahead."

 

When Adam and the others took the elevator to the top floor, Michael stood and watched the undead gradually burned by the fire, thinking:

 

"There's something special about guys like him. 'Conquering the gods without using their power'? Interesting. I'll pin this one."

 

When they all reached the rooftop, Adam and others also saw two or three helicopters landing on the roof. A special forces soldier ran out and said to everyone:

 

"When we were informed, we immediately came here to rescue people. Glad everyone is okay."

 

While everyone hugged each other and cried for joy, Adam was sad. The soldier asked:

 

"Are you the one who brought them here?"

 

"Yes, it's me."

 

"We appreciate your courage and efforts. Thanks to you, everyone is safe. I'm sure the White House will award a medal for your service."

 

"For me, there is no greater reward than the safety of the people."

 

Speaking of which, Adam expressed remorse for not being able to protect the people trapped on the 2nd floor...

 

When everyone clapped and thanked Adam, he changed his mood and said:

 

"Everyone, get on the helicopter. Priority is given to women and children."

 

Then he turned to the soldier and said:

 

"Please take them to a safe place."

 

"You are the hero, so you put your priorities first."

 

"No, I'll be the last to go up after everyone's stayed in the helicopter."

 

"But..."

 

"Do not worry about me. You bring them up."

 

As everyone was lining up to board the helicopter, suddenly a few undead climbed the wall near them. They rushed to them very quickly.

 

"Have you come all the way here?"- Adam thought.

 

Adam immediately pulled out his gun and shot, but after shooting three rounds, he ran out of bullets. So he jumped out to stop them. Everyone was very scared, their feet did not dare to go up the rope ladder because they were worried about Adam. He exclaims:

 

"Everyone, get on the helicopter. Hurry up!"

 

The soldier just jumped down from the helicopter, took a gun, fired at the monsters, and said:

 

"Everybody just goes up. Don't let his efforts go to waste."

 

Adam exclaimed:

 

"You...!?"

 

"The evacuation was taken care of by my comrades. I will stay and hold them. It's my honor to stay and fight with you. Even if I have to make sacrifices, I will accept it."

 

The monsters blew the soldier's gun away and killed him. Adam felt heartbroken, but his death also added morale and strength to him, allowing him to fight with the monsters to buy time. When the helicopter started to take off, everyone looked at Adam with pitying eyes. Children, women, and prisoners,... all shed tears as they realized they had lost two great heroes. Jimmy, after carrying out the task of putting everyone on the helicopter, was tired. He looked rather sad, his eyes glazed over the building...

 

When Victor and Michael reached the rooftop, they saw only two undead tearing apart the soldier's corpse, and at the same time, they heard a loud explosion in the air...