That inhuman, high-pitched shriek seemed to pierce eardrums, stabbing deep into everyone's nerves, instantly igniting primal fear!

  “Monster! What is that?! A flying monster!” Officer Martin was the first to cry out in terror. He craned his neck back, staring horrified as the "Spider" leaped ghost-like between the buildings, drawing closer and closer. Fear pulled the trigger on his sanity, and his finger spasmed uncontrollably on his rifle trigger, spitting flames uselessly towards the sky!

  “What the hell?!” John, just climbing down from the semi-truck's cab after moving it, felt his heart clench at Martin’s scream and the terrifying shriek.

  “It’s… it’s that monster! It’s jumping too fast! Too high!” Miller’s voice also changed pitch with extreme fear, trembling uncontrollably. Even being surrounded by zombies on the streetlight hadn't instilled such bizarre, bone-chilling, eerie dread in him.

  “Everyone! Take cover! Against the walls or vehicles! Don’t fucking waste ammo firing blindly!” John yelled, ducking low beside the semi-truck he just moved, warily observing the rapidly moving threat above, trying to regain control of the situation.

  But before John’s command even finished echoing, Sam had already reacted instinctively—he dove towards the nearest cover, the overturned wreck of the police car, practically hugging the ground. At the same time, the ordinary zombies nearby, drawn by the gunfire and scent of blood, snarled and surged closer, instantly creating a dire situation of being attacked from both front and back!

  In that critical moment, the engine of the dump truck that had just been moved roared again! Jason, in the driver's seat—whether completely terrified out of his mind or driven by some twisted logic to save the children first—saw the zombies already clawing and banging at his truck doors, and saw the nightmarish "Spider

  And the aberration known as the “Spider

  The terrifying sound of tearing wind ripped through the air again! This time, it wasn’t just leaping, but launching itself like a siege bolt! Its metallic, gleaming talons traced several deadly arcs through the air, aimed squarely at the dump truck’s cab!

  Squelch—CRASH!

  The deadly talons pierced the shattered glass without resistance, like red-hot knives slicing through butter, simultaneously impaling his throat, heart, abdomen, and the arm gripping the steering wheel! Blood erupted like a fountain, instantly painting the interior of the cab crimson! Jason couldn’t even complete the motion of drawing his gun—when he saw the monster lunging, he instinctively reached for his sidearm, but his fingers had barely brushed the cold metal when his body was pierced by several spikes! Agony and suffocation instantly stole his ability to cry out. He could only stare wide-eyed in horror, feeling the terrifying spikes brutally twisting inside him, before an irresistible force yanked him bodily out of the driver’s seat!

  “Jason—!!

  But this minor injury seemed utterly insufficient to stop it! The “Spider

  The driverless dump truck, relying on inertia, coasted forward less than ten meters before veering crookedly to a stop. The school bus, still attached by the tow rope, slammed into the back of the dump truck due to the sudden halt! A loud CRUNCH! of twisting metal echoed! Inside the bus, the children, who had just quieted down, erupted into even more piercing screams and cries! The loud collision and the children's wails, mixed with the greedy snarls of more zombies drawn by the fresh blood, instantly turned this small area into a true hell on earth!

  “What the fuck was that thing?!” Miller cursed, a mixture of fear and disbelief in his voice. He quickly backed up towards the now stationary dump truck and school bus, yelling at Sam and Martin, “Close ranks! Back to back! Watch above!”

  Martin, panting heavily, retreated towards Miller while firing his rifle at the ordinary zombies swarming in from the sides. Sam immediately tightened the defensive perimeter. The three quickly formed a temporary triangular formation near the vehicles, covering each other's backs, struggling to deal with the ever-increasing number of common zombies pouring in from both ends of the street. Spent casings continuously ejected, clinking on the ground, but each ejected shell meant they were one step closer to running out of ammunition. John, now back near them after moving the semi, only had his pistol, unable to provide significant fire support against the aerial threat.

  And the “Spider

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  Damn it! This zombie is actually fucking smart?! A chill ran down Sam’s spine. This was almost a checkmate situation! The aberration was ridiculously fast, its strength terrifying; once their ammo ran out or if they tried to flee, there was no way they could outrun it on foot!

  The “Spider

  Just as despair threatened to engulf everyone—the school bus door suddenly burst open! It was Officer Laura! Like a whirlwind, she dashed out of the bus, pistol gripped tightly, ignoring the common zombies closing in around her, sprinting straight towards the dump truck cab stopped just ahead!

  The “Spider

  But Laura’s target wasn't the truck cab at all! Just as the “Spider” lunged at her, she screamed towards Sam and the others with all her might:

  “Now! Fire on my position!!”

  Before the echo of her shout faded, she threw herself forward into a roll, landing with surprising agility, narrowly dodging the diving monster and rolling into the deep shadow beneath the massive semi-truck!

  Sam, Miller, and Martin instantly understood her intention! She had used herself as bait, creating a perfect window of opportunity for them! Almost simultaneously, they swiveled their weapons, all their fury, fear, and survival instinct converging on their fingertips, aiming towards the spot where the “Spider” was now exposed in its dive, about to land—and opened fire with everything they had!!

  The rifle and shotgun roared together, a dense hail of firepower instantly saturating the spot where the “Spider” was about to land! Bullets hammered against the side of the semi-truck like a downpour, leaving pockmarks and sending metal fragments flying! Yet, the “Spider” reacted impossibly fast mid-air. Just before landing, it curled into a tight ball with astonishing speed, using its chitinous, mutated limbs to shield its head and torso!

  Even so, the intense barrage tore more wounds across its pale skin, squeezing out more dark, coagulated blood. Two smaller, blade-like limbs were even blown clean off by the heavy caliber rounds, snapping with a sickening crack! The “Spider

  It hadn't forgotten the bait that lured it down! As it leaped, one intact, spear-like talon flashed out, stabbing towards the underside of the dump truck!

  “AHHH—

  And the “Spider” still airborne, flung the impaled limb violently, like shaking off an annoying rag! The immense force sent Officer Laura flying like a crushed soda can, slamming hard against the school building wall over ten meters away! A sickening CRACK

  “You bastard—!!”Spider” as it leaped rapidly between buildings again, dodging the shots! The “Spider,” though injured, dripping vile fluids, its movements slightly hampered by the missing limbs, seemed utterly enraged now, its aggression amplified!

  Suddenly, the “Spider

  “What?!” Miller and Sam reacted instantly, swiveling their guns and blowing the heads off the two ‘meat projectiles’ sent flying their way.

  But in that split second they were distracted dealing with the ‘flying objects,’ the “Spider” seized the opening! Like a phantom, it dove straight down from above, its target clear—the heavy-set officer Martin, who had lost his cool in his rage and nearly emptied his magazine!

  “Ahhhhh—

  And… the horrifying sound of sharp blades tearing through flesh and bone!

  Several gleaming spikes instantly pierced Martin’s portly torso, blooming large, bloody holes in his chest and abdomen! He choked, trying to let out a final scream, but blood surged up his throat, silencing him completely!

  And the “Spider

  “Bastard!!” Miller raised his shotgun, staring at Martin, who was still twitching slightly, impaled and used as a meat shield. For a split second, he couldn't bring himself to fire!

  But in that fraction of a second of hesitation—Sam moved! He was eerily calm now, a chilling coldness he’d never felt before settling over him. His rifle rose steadily, aiming not at Martin, but through the gaps in Martin’s body, at the sliver of pale white visible behind the ‘meat shield,’ where the “Spider

  BANG! BANG! BANG!

  The rifle bullets screamed out, ruthlessly tearing through Martin’s still-bleeding, fleshy torso, accurately striking the “Spider