Weapon System in Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 222: Something Fishy Part 3

The sun was dipping lower into the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow across the open water. The Sea Phantom hummed steadily, but the tension inside the cockpit had only intensified. The strange sense of being hunted never fully left him—an unease gnawing at his thoughts.

The creatures hadn't returned after the stunner had knocked the first one back. They hadn't made any immediate strikes since, but he could still feel their presence, lurking beneath the surface.

Waiting.

Thomas sat in silence for a while, eyes on the radar screen. The readout was clear now. No contacts. No immediate threats. Just the endless ocean, the familiar hum of the engines, and his own thoughts.

A soft ping broke the quiet.

Sonar—new return.

He glanced at the sonar panel.

Depth: 16m

Speed: Increasing

Direction: Parallel to vessel

Thomas's heart rate kicked up a notch. He didn't wait for the full scan.

"Time to move," he muttered to himself.

His hands tightened around the controls, and he pushed the throttle forward, boosting the speed to 35 knots. The Sea Phantom surged forward, cutting through the water with the agility of a predator on the hunt.

The creatures were getting closer.

Another ping.

Depth: 12m

Speed: Accelerating

This wasn't just a few isolated targets now. There were multiple. And they weren't dispersing. They were forming a pack.

"Damn it," he whispered, his eyes scanning the horizon. He toggled the rear camera feed.

The images flickered.

Out of the murky water, the first shape broke the surface again—a long, sinuous body, gleaming in the last vestiges of sunlight. Its fin sliced through the water with deadly precision, pulling it closer to the Sea Phantom.

But this time, there was more than one.

Thomas saw them. Two, then three more.

They were getting too close.

The rear camera showed the nearest one launching itself out of the water, aiming directly for the stern. He gritted his teeth and turned hard to port. The Sea Phantom pitched sideways, narrowly avoiding the gnashing teeth of the creature, which collided with the water behind him in a burst of foam and spray.

"Not today, you bastards." His voice was rough as he slammed the throttle forward.

Another thump—this time the creature's tail slammed into the side, sending a tremor through the hull. The boat jerked, and the sonar beeped erratically as the wave cascaded along its length.

Hull Integrity: 82%

External stress: Severe

He cursed, his knuckles white on the control yoke. The Sea Phantom was agile, but it wasn't built to withstand this kind of abuse.

The creatures weren't just testing his defenses—they were coordinating, working together to trap him.

He gripped the stunner at his side, but he knew it wouldn't stop the entire pack. He needed to outrun them.

Thomas increased speed, pushing the boat to its maximum—40 knots.

The Sea Phantom surged forward, cutting through the water like a missile. But the creatures didn't relent. They followed, staying within close range, almost anticipating every turn.

He glanced at the radar—three new contacts appeared, closing in from the west. Fast.

The creatures were positioning themselves for a full encirclement.

This time, there were no evasive maneuvers left to try.

The horizon ahead darkened as storm clouds began to gather, the light starting to fade faster than it should. Wind picked up, making the water churn beneath the hull. The Sea Phantom tilted, struggling to stay steady in the growing swell.

"Come on," Thomas muttered, teeth clenched. His knuckles were sore from gripping the controls. Sweat trickled down his brow.

Then—

Wham!

The next strike hit hard. A creature's clawed tail slashed across the stern, tearing into the hull like a hot knife through butter. The impact rattled the entire boat.

Warning: Hull breach detected.

The rear panel lit up with a cascade of red warning lights.

Hull Integrity: 65%

Major stress fractures detected. Immediate evasive action required.

His vision blurred for a moment. It was happening faster than he could keep up with.

In the distance, something bigger broke the surface—an elongated, serpentine shape, with rows of exposed teeth and six-foot-long spines jutting from its back. The creature's large dorsal fin pierced the water like a knife, trailing a long wake behind it.

A boss-class Bloomspawn.

The sheer size of it made Thomas's stomach drop.

He slammed the throttle into reverse and twisted the steering hard to port. The Sea Phantom groaned under the strain but managed to break free from the encroaching mass of fish-zombies.

But it wasn't enough. The serpent-like creature lunged.

A long, whip-like tail shot forward with devastating speed, catching the side of the Sea Phantom. The hull screamed, bending under the force as the boat pitched wildly.

Thomas's breath caught in his throat. He was thrown forward, nearly slamming into the control panel.

Hull Integrity: 45%

Structural damage: Severe

"Shit, shit, shit!"

He gripped the throttle again, forcing the boat to shift hard to starboard, just enough to break the tail's hold. The Sea Phantom surged forward with a violent lurch, but the sound of scraping metal echoed in his ears.

The creatures were circling him again. More were joining the fray, cutting through the water like vicious predators.

A few more seconds, and they'd have him completely.

His gaze flicked between the radar and the rear camera feed. He could see the serpent now, closing in with eerie precision, its jaws gaping wider, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth. It wasn't just after him—it was after prey.

Thomas's mind raced, calculating, scanning for anything that could give him the edge. The stunner wouldn't work against something that big. Neither would the flares.

But he had one trick left.

He swerved sharply to the left again, into a shallow wave. The Sea Phantom surged forward, skimming across the crest.

The serpent missed, slamming into the water next to him.

Thomas hit the emergency flood valves and released the rear flares, this time activating the depth charges he had tucked into the rear compartment. He slapped the button to deploy them, watching as the floating charges tumbled into the water behind him.

The sonar lit up.

Massive impact detected. Depth charges activated.

The first charge hit a few seconds later, sending out a shockwave of kinetic force and acoustic disruption. The larger creature stopped in its tracks, twitching violently before sinking beneath the waves.

The others scattered, momentarily confused.

Thomas didn't wait.

He kicked the throttle back to max speed, watching as the sonar returned to green—disturbances clearing. freewebnøvel.com

For the first time in an hour, the Sea Phantom was out of danger.

But he wasn't safe yet.