I Have a Modern Weapon Gacha System in the Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 34: The Extraction

Thirty minutes later.

"Five minutes to Bayshore Residential Resort 1," the pilot said over the intercom.

Ryan stepped closer to the cockpit doorway and looked ahead.

The skyline of Metro Manila was now fully visible in the distance.

Clusters of high-rise buildings stood against the fading light while smoke drifted slowly from several parts of the city.

The Chinook continued flying low.

The Apache remained ahead, slightly higher, scanning the route.

Ryan keyed his radio.

"Bayshore team, this is Leader. Five minutes out."

A second passed.

Then Mason answered.

"Copy that, Leader. We hear you."

The feed from Mason’s helmet camera appeared on the command center screen.

Adrian watched as Mason turned his head toward the rooftop edge.

The wind was picking up.

Below them, the streets were starting to fill.

More infected were gathering near the entrances of the building.

Mason stepped back from the ledge.

"They’re starting to move," he said over the radio. "Noise is pulling them in."

Ryan nodded once.

"Hold the rooftop. Do not engage unless necessary."

"Copy."

Ryan turned slightly.

"Jake."

Jake looked up.

"Yeah."

"Get ready."

Jake stood from the bench and checked his weapon.

Noah followed, pulling his rifle up and moving closer to the ramp.

The crew chief walked up to them and grabbed a strap.

"Two minutes," he shouted over the noise.

The rear ramp remained open.

Inside the cockpit, the pilot spoke again.

"Reaper Two, this is Hammer One. Approaching target area."

The Apache pilot responded immediately.

"Copy Hammer One. Moving ahead to clear approach."

Outside, the Apache accelerated forward.

It banked slightly and pushed ahead of the Chinook, heading straight toward the cluster of buildings.

Ryan grabbed the overhead rail and leaned slightly toward the ramp.

The Bayshore complex came into view.

Even from the air, the infected could be seen gathering below.

Ryan keyed his radio one more time.

"Bayshore team, we’re coming in."

On the rooftop, Mason stepped forward and looked up.

The sound of rotors was now loud.

"We see you," Mason said.

Mason turned back toward the rooftop door.

"Move. Now."

Cole pushed the door open and stepped inside the stairwell.

"Let’s go! Single file, stay close!" he called down.

Inside, the survivors were already waiting.

Chandrika stood near the front while Liza held onto one of her friends. Several others clutched small bags or nothing at all.

Ethan stood by the doorway, rifle raised, watching the stairwell below.

"Time to go," Mason said as he stepped in.

No hesitation.

The group started moving.

Cole led them up the final steps toward the rooftop while Mason stayed at the rear, keeping his eyes on the stairwell.

One by one, they reached the rooftop.

The sound of the approaching helicopter grew louder.

Stronger.

The wind hit them first.

Dust and loose debris scattered across the rooftop as the Chinook approached overhead.

"Stay low!" Cole shouted.

The survivors crouched instinctively as they stepped onto the open rooftop.

Ethan moved to the edge and scanned the perimeter.

Below, more infected were gathering near the building.

Some had already started pushing toward the entrances.

Mason stepped out last and pulled the door shut behind him.

He turned and immediately moved toward the group.

"Keep them together," he said.

Chandrika nodded, trying to steady the others.

The roar of the rotors filled the air.

Ryan could now clearly see the rooftop.

"Visual on LZ," he said.

Inside the cockpit, the pilot adjusted the controls.

"Coming in."

The Chinook slowed as it prepared to hover, and then descended.

The Apache circled above, its nose angled downward toward the streets below.

Ryan stepped closer to the ramp.

"Get ready!" he shouted.

The moment the Chinook touched down, the entire rooftop shook.

The landing gear hit hard against the concrete.

"Go! Go! Go!" the crew chief shouted.

The rear ramp lowered fully.

Wind blasted across the rooftop.

"Move!" Mason yelled.

Cole immediately grabbed the nearest civilian and guided her toward the ramp.

"Keep your heads down! Stay low!" he shouted.

One by one, the survivors rushed forward.

Chandrika went first, pulling Liza along with her. Others followed close behind, stumbling slightly as the rotor wash pushed against them.

Inside the cargo bay, Jake stepped forward and started pulling people in.

"Keep moving! Don’t stop!" he barked.

Noah grabbed another survivor and helped him up the ramp.

"Sit down! Strap in!"

Ryan stood near the ramp, scanning the rooftop and counting.

"Faster!" he shouted.

Mason stayed at the rear, covering the group as the last civilians moved forward.

Ethan remained near the edge, rifle raised, watching below.

Then he froze.

"Contact!" Ethan shouted over the radio.

Inside the command center, Adrian leaned forward.

"What is it?"

The UAV feed shifted.

The camera zoomed toward the base of the building.

Zombies were piling up.

Not just gathering.

Climbing.

They were pushing over each other, stacking bodies against the wall.

Reaching upward.

More climbed over them.

Adrian stared at the screen.

"What the hell..."

The pile grew higher.

Closer to the lower floors.

"That’s... World War Z shit," Adrian muttered.

He grabbed the radio.

"Reaper Two, this is Command. You see that?"

The Apache pilot responded immediately.

"Visual confirmed."

Adrian didn’t hesitate.

"Engage. Burn that pile."

"Copy. Engaging."

Above the building, the Apache adjusted its position.

Its nose dipped.

The 30mm chain gun opened fire.

A stream of rounds tore into the mass of infected below.

Bodies dropped.

The pile collapsed.

But more kept coming.

The rooftop team didn’t stop moving.

"Last group!" Jake shouted.

Ryan counted quickly.

"All civilians onboard!"

Mason sprinted toward the ramp.

"Ethan! Move!"

Ethan backed away from the edge and ran.

He jumped onto the ramp just as the crew chief slammed his hand against the side.

"Clear!"

The pilot didn’t wait.

The Chinook lifted.

The rooftop dropped away beneath them.

Inside the Chinook, all were accounted for, civilians and operators. It was an easy extraction mission. Until.

The Chinook jolted as something crashed into the side. The civilians tipped over to the floor as the helicopter swayed abruptly in the air.

In the cockpit, alarmed blared and the lights flickered in the console.

"Engine two is on fire...something hit us!" the pilot shouted.

"What the fuck happened?" Adrian asked with a shocked tone.

The Apache pilot responded. "This is Reaper 2, I just saw Hammer One get hit by rubble. It was thrown."

"Did you see it?" Adrian asked.

"I have a visual..."