cosmic outbreak

Chapter 15: A New Threat Rises

A deep roar shook the battlefield. A monstrous alien slammed its fists into the ground, sending tremors rippling outward. Buildings crumbled, and the very earth seemed to split apart.

"Don't let it escape! We have to seal it now!" shouted a young man with fiery determination.

His name was Santino, and alongside him stood a group of warriors, their hands glowing with magical energy. They chanted in unison, casting a Sealing Spell, a golden formation appearing beneath the alien. But in an instant, the creature leaped forward, dodging the spell with ease.

"Tch!" Santino clicked his tongue as the alien retaliated, smashing the ground with overwhelming force. The resulting shockwave sent Santino flying backward, his body crashing against a ruined wall. Blood dripped from his lips.

"Santino!" A girl rushed to his side, immediately casting a Healing Spell. A soft green glow surrounded him, and his wounds began to close.

The alien let out a guttural growl, slamming its fists again, creating more destruction. But three boys stepped forward, their fists glowing with raw Strength Magic.

"Together!" one of them shouted.

They launched a synchronized assault, their combined punches sending a shockwave that made the alien stagger. Taking advantage of the moment, Santino activated Speed Magic, moving in a blur. His fist connected with the alien's jaw, causing it to reel back in pain.

"Now! Seal it!"

Once again, the team gathered, pouring all their energy into the spell. This time, a powerful barrier formed around the alien, its energy compressing and trapping the creature inside. The alien thrashed violently, but within moments, its form was swallowed by the spell's light—until it was completely sealed away.

Santino exhaled, wiping sweat from his forehead. "One down… but how many more?"

---

Meanwhile, back at Hikaru's base, laughter and conversation filled the air. The group was gathered around a small fire, eating a rare peaceful meal.

But not everyone was in good spirits. Ryo sat apart from the others, staring at the space where his arms used to be. His expression was dark, a shadow of the man he used to be.

"We need to figure out what's happening in other countries," Emi said, looking up at the night sky. "There could be more aliens. More people like us."

Ryo scoffed. "We fought what was probably one of the weakest enemies, and I still lost my arms."

Muscle crossed his arms. "They weren't weak. But yeah, there are stronger ones out there."

Kaito sighed. "Either way, we need a way to stop the zombie outbreak first. Maybe we can find a cure. Or maybe… the aliens know something about reversing it."

Hikaru took a bite of his food. "Yeah, makes sense."

As they talked, a faint rustling noise came from nearby. A small cat emerged from the darkness, walking toward them.

"Oh?" Hikaru blinked in surprise. "A cat?"

It was an ordinary-looking feline, but something about it felt… different. It walked straight to Ryo, rubbing against his leg before gently placing a paw on his missing arms.

Then, in an instant, a brilliant healing energy surged from the cat's body. A glowing light enveloped Ryo, and before anyone could react—his arms regenerated.

Everyone's jaws dropped.

"What… the hell…?" Ryo stared at his fully restored hands, his voice trembling with disbelief. "How is this…?"

The cat turned and began walking to the others, healing every injury with a simple touch. It was nothing short of a miracle.

Hikaru crouched down, looking at the small creature. "Hey, can you… bring the dead back?"

The cat stopped and stared at him. Then, in a clear, human-like voice, it spoke:

"No."

The group went silent. The shock of hearing the cat speak was nothing compared to the weight of its answer.

Just then, Hikaru's gaze shifted beyond the cat—where he saw the silhouette of a girl standing in the distance.

Who was she?

And what did she want?