The mall that once echoed with laughter and shopping music was now a fortress. Its glass walls were barricaded with metal scraps and overturned cars. Only 167 people remained inside—one of the last fragments of humanity.
Some were crying, huddled together on the cold tiles. Mothers whispered to their trembling children, "It's safe here, don't worry." But everyone knew those words were only meant to keep hope alive.
The air was heavy, filled with the silence of people who had seen too much.
And then, amid the despair, one man stood up. He refused to let this place become a tomb.He gathered the people and said, "If we are still breathing, then this is not the end. We will build a life here."
Months passed. The man's system worked.
Groups were formed—some risked their lives outside the walls to find food, while others built what they could inside. Small shops appeared in the hallways: one selling scavenged shirts, another crafting weapons from metal scraps and broken tools.
A cafeteria was organized to make sure food was shared equally. The once lifeless mall slowly began to breathe again. There was still laughter—rare and fragile—but it was real.
One year later, the last remaining scientist among them made a discovery.Through endless experiments, he unlocked the power of the yellow stone—a material that could be forged into weapons strong enough to kill the infected.
But the yellow core was limited. Every month, the people held a vote. Those chosen were given the honor—and the burden—to wield these weapons.
They were called Zombie Hunters.
Now, a new day arrived—the final selection ceremony.Only eight squads had been formed so far, five members each.This would be the 8th Division—the last team ever to receive weapons forged from the yellow stone.
But this time was different.For the first time in history, six names would be called.
In the crowd stood Raven, a young man barely twenty. His eyes burned with determination, though behind that light hid the weight of loss. He had survived only because his mother had sacrificed herself to push him through the mall's gates before the horde took her.
Now, he waited for his name to be called—not just for survival, but to prove her sacrifice meant something.
The man on the podium spoke through the microphone, his voice echoing across the food court:
"Today, we choose the final members of the 8th Squad Division—those who will stand between us and extinction."
The crowd held its breath.One by one, names were announced.
The 8th Squad Division
Raven — Dual Crowbars (Dagger-Style)Agile and brutal, Raven fights with twin crowbars sharpened at the ends. He uses them like curved daggers, striking fast and silent. His strength lies in close combat and using his surroundings creatively.
Aria Vale — Fire AxeOnce a blacksmith's daughter, Aria reforged a rescue fire axe using scraps of yellow core metal. Calm but fierce, she believes every weapon holds a purpose—and hers is to protect the living from the dead.
Dax Renner — Reinforced SledgehammerThe tallest in the group, Dax uses a construction sledgehammer reinforced with rebar. His powerful swings crush skulls and clear barricades. A former soldier, his discipline and focus keep the team alive.
Kane "Brick" Solen — Riot Shield and BatonA former security guard who lost his brother to the infection. He carries a reinforced riot shield and a heavy metal baton. Brick takes the front line, blocking blows and giving his squad the cover they need.
Mira Quin — Spiked Baseball BatOnce a nurse, now a fighter. Mira's bat is wrapped in barbed wire and reinforced with yellow metal along the handle. She fights to protect others, using both her medical skills and her courage to keep the squad together.
Eliar Frost — Modified Pipe with HookOnce a thief, now a survivor. Eliar's pipe weapon has a hooked end used for tripping zombies or pulling obstacles. Reckless but loyal, he often rushes in first to draw danger away from his team.
The announcer paused, the crowd murmuring at the sixth name.Six members—breaking every rule.
Then he raised his voice again.
"And the sixth member of the 8th Squad Division is—Raven!"
For a moment, Raven couldn't breathe. His heart pounded in his chest, and then—relief. Joy. Pride.
The leader walked down from the stage and handed him two steel weapons shaped like bent crowbars. Their metal was faintly golden from the yellow core's energy, glowing under the dim mall lights.
"Use them well," the leader said. "From this moment on… you are one of humanity's last hunters."
Raven gripped the twin crowbars tightly.They were heavy—but to him, they felt like hope.
That night, as the new 8th Division stood together for the first time, no one spoke.The air was cold, thick with tension and purpose.
Outside, the wind howled through the broken streets, carrying the faint sound of something moving in the dark.The undead were changing.And soon… the hunters would too.