18 DAYS BEFORE THE REMATCH IN HALLOWSVILLE

  “Hey, Sun, how long have we been down here?” I asked whilst laying on the grassy floor. The giant fly was still zig-zagging above us, unharmed and raring for another round.

  “Let me check my watch,” Sunshine said, laying next to me. She checked her naked wrist, and then chuckled weakly. “Ah, I don't have one.”

  Banana approached us and looked down. “Thirty-two hours.”

  I sat up, surprised. “Jesus Christ, how did we lose track of that much time!? That’s more than a day!” I helped my daughter to her feet. “Did you even eat at all? Or drink? Or sleep? Or pee!? Why didn’t you tell me we were here for that long?”

  “I peed on that bush over there a couple times. Remember?” she told me, pointing at the bush that was supposedly soaked with urine now. “As for food-” Her tummy grumbled. “I could use a bite.” She gave the inventor a weird look. “Bananas are good for muscle recovery…”

  Banana jumped back, throwing his guard up. “You stay back, you foul creature!”

  “I’m not gonna hurt ya, dude.” Sunshine’s nose twitched. “Moonlight’s coming with a whole basket of fruit!”

  I looked everywhere, but didn’t see the girl walking toward us. “Where is she?”

  “Upstairs,” she answered, looking up at the artificial blue sky. “By the way, Dad, did you know this entire facility is actually a woman?”

  “Seriously?” I said, turning to Banana.

  “Oh, one of you finally caught that. Good thing you did because I totally forgot to tell you two about it.” He flashed his watch at us. “Remember when I shouted Re-Re into this nice five hundred dollar watch here?”

  Was he flexing an Old World watch that was worthless now? “Uh, yeah.”

  “Well, Re-Re’s the name of a girl I knew back before I turned into a living fruit. She used to look normal too… until her Radius Ability activated and mutated her body, turning her into the building we’re in now.” Banana paused, caressing the watch. “You must’ve been wondering why there hasn’t been any zombies around, right? Since they’re like moths to a flame with you Type Twos.”

  “Uh, yeah,” I lied, scratching my head.

  “You can thank Re-Re for that. Her defense systems squash them all like bugs automatically.”

  Did that mean those lasers and that giant hand Angela used to grab us were all… a part of Re-Re? And Sunshine and I destroyed them like they were nothing. No wonder everyone’s working so hard to repair the facility.

  “That’s awesome! She’s like the mechas in those comics.” my kid exclaimed, eyes sparkling. “She didn’t tell me that.”

  “You talked to her?” I asked her. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  “I don’t have to tell you everything right away,” she said, smiling cheekily.

  “Yeah, you’ve made that obvious many times before…” I turned my attention to the inventor. “Oh, and, we’re sorry about the damage we caused to her the other day. I personally didn’t know this place was actually a person, but if there’s anything I can do to help repair her, then let me know.”

  “Eh, don’t worry about it. I’m sure she’d forgive you. Besides, you’d probably destroy more by repairing than actually destroying.”

  We traded laughs. I wanted to ask if she could turn back, but considering I’ve always seen the inventor with a banana head, that was probably a hard no.

  “Oh, she’s getting closer. I’m gonna go meet up with her!”

  As Sunshine left, Banana grabbed my shoulder to tell me something. “Is Tiger Accountant still active?”

  “Yeah.” While the kitten was invisible, I still felt the weight of it on my head. “Why do you ask?”

  “This forest is just one half of Central Park that sank after the bombs collided with it, which is roughly the size of three hundred and twenty plus football fields. If I had to picture what Energy Sense looked like in the eyes of someone using it, it would look like a dome. That means if she can sense what’s going on upstairs, her Energy Sense is four hundred and twenty-one point five acres.”

  “Woah, that’s… large! I think.”

  “How much power did Tiger Accountant take away from her?”

  “Uuuh, about half of her power.”

  Banana reeled back, as though I said something crazy. “She’s only using half of her power…?” He took out a notepad from his chest pocket and began writing. “Amazing. Fascinating. Phenomenal, even!”

  It took a while for me to realize the gravity of what I just told him. “If Sunshine’s Energy Sense was as big as half of Central Park with only half of her power, then that meant-”

  “Her full power equates to all of Central Park. Eight hundred and forty-three acres!”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  “All that from just a day of training? She’s a freak of nature.” I laughed softly. “It almost makes me jealous.” But it was also motivating. It felt like a competition between rivals. “You think being part-zombie now has something to do with the boost in strength?”

  “Yes, but I presume she’s always had the ability to be very physically strong,” he said. Combining the strength of aura with that of a Type Two makes her a really unique case. She’ll surpass you in no time.”

  Now that I thought about it, I never did tell him what happened with Sunshine. “Speaking of that, I actually wanted to talk to you later about the zombie thing. Some really scary shit.”

  “Like what?”

  Before I could explain, Sunshine’s body tackled me to the ground. I didn’t get the chance to ask if she was alright. The girl was already back on her feet, staring at the beast who threw her in the first place.

  It looked like Vlad had seemingly traded his wrestling singlet for a business casual suit. Since when did they come in tiger size? Actually, didn’t you usually have to get fitted for a nice, black suit like that? Who the hell fitted that monster?

  I got up and stood next to Sun. “Well, since you’re already here, Vlad, we were looking to have another fight!”

  Sunshine raised an eyebrow at me. “We were?” I gave her a look. “Oh, yeah, we were!”

  Vlad cackled, walking toward us. “You want to get straight into it, huh!? I like that! Just a warning though. Try not to damage my suit. I like it very much, and I would hate to see it get torn.”

  The sheer power of his flexing muscles already seemed to be doing a good job at that. His stripes were visible beneath the tears.

  “This’ll be the final time we fight like this, Hunter Family,” the tiger declared, smiling menacingly. “If you two cannot defeat me today, then I will take all of your limbs, rendering you unable to fight Jason Zoorhees.”

  Those words traveled through Sunshine and I’s ears, made the fire sitting within us burn even brighter. We launched ourselves toward Vlad, and he did the same — a stark contrast to the stationary style from our last fight. I cocked my fist back while the girl aimed an open palm at me.

  “Mind Trick: Swordsman!”

  The skills, memories, and unyielding resolve of a long-tested swordsman flowed into me as an energy blade answered my call, forming in my grasp. Sunshine’s timing was flawless. My clenched hand hovered near Vladimir’s hip — close enough that, to him, it must have looked like a crude strike.

  Instead, a sword of energy was born. I shifted my wrist, slid my fist aside, and drove it forward in one clean motion. The edge struck, but did not cleave. The impact rang through my arm, solid and unmoving, like striking stone. That was acceptable. Before, even a punch felt like testing myself against something harder than forged iron.

  Even though there was still resistance, it was not rejection.

  I twisted through my hips and shoulders, letting the motion finish its work, and sent him flying beyond our sight.

  “Appreciate!”

  The kitten atop my head leapt away, a fierce roar bursting from its tiny throat. Power flooded through me in response. My left arm drew back, alive with purpose, eager to act once more.

  “This feels right,” I said, settling into my stance, bouncing lightly on the balls of my feet. “The words in my head sound different.”

  “Tricking your mind into thinking you’re a samurai will do that,” Sunshine told me.

  “Do you not need to shoot the brain with your aura in order to do that? Since I am an undead warrior, a brain is something I lack.”

  My daughter snorted, as if my question was sprinkled with some humor. “Well, you’re more human than ‘undead warrior’, so maybe that’s why.”

  “How many more times can you perform said act?”

  “Usually, it’d be two more times, but-” She put on a confident face, looking at the fly above. “I’m feeling fired up today.”

  What kind of otherworldly phrase was that? Was the inside of her body on fire? How would my blade of light cut through that!?

  Before that question could be answered, Vladimir reappeared in front of us. Steam hissed from his hip, and there was more bleeding out through his teeth.

  “Excellent work, Zombieman,” he complimented, crimson fury in his eyes, panting. “Your speed has increased far more than what I expected, and your current strength was able to overpower my inertia. I bet that sword feels like a stick in your hand now.”

  I bowed. “I thank you for the kind words, Vladimir.”

  The tiger looked at Sunshine next. “And you, daughter of Zombieman. Your growth amazes me as well. Not only did you withstand my earlier attack, but you also used Mind Trick with one hand. And without a finger gun.”

  “Thank you, Vlad,” she said, smiling. “But, uh, what’s with the angry face?”

  “Good question, child.” Vladimir pointed at the giant hole in his suit. “I specifically told you not to damage my suit! And yet… And yet you still…”

  The animal was shaking, and I feared that his rage would erupt at any moment if the wrong words were uttered. To my dismay, Sunshine decided to test that out.

  “I don’t get why you’re so mad, Vlad. This business man stuff doesn’t look good on you. To me, you look more like a… no clothes kinda animal.”

  Fear rained down on me once I realized the dangerous technique my child decided to utilize — a technique that terrorized mankind way before I was even born. People have died and wars have been waged because of the ability she used.

  The “Ragebait”.

  And judging by his ferocious roar, it worked perfectly. “You dare compare me to those naked, uncivilized monkeys? Who prance around with their genitals flopping about? Who spends all day fetching balls, and chasing their own tail like idiots? Do you think I am an idiot, child? I have a fucking Bachelor’s Degree!”

  Before I could figure out what kind of educational institution allowed a tiger to pursue an education, Sunshine decided to make the problem worse.

  “What are ‘genitals’?”

  Vladimir’s aura exploded, ripping holes into Sunshine and I’s clothes, blasting the nature around us back like a hurricane had just spawned in.

  But we stood strong. How else was she gonna get her belongings back?

  The tiger’s arms stretched out and began closing in. We backstepped right before the bear hug locked in. But I didn’t run off. My legs launched me forward, causing my sword to clash with his claws.

  Our exchange didn’t last long as the shockwave sent us both backward. That didn’t stop Vladimir from tearing the ground up, blasting a wave of dirt and grass toward me. But all that did was create a spot where Sunshine couldn’t be seen, and in that instant, she ran up and aimed her hand at me.

  “Mind Trick: Human!”

  Aura enveloped my body, paralyzing me, life erupting from within. Slimy ooze turned into green muscle that covered my skeleton, while my lips, beard, nose, and ears returned to me. The energy sword dissipated.

  I didn’t have time to be confused about my old form returning though. Vlad’s palm was inches away from my face.

  But then, he stopped.

  The tiger gritted his stained teeth. “What is the meaning of this, child?”

  “You can attack us, Vlad, but you won't kill us, right?” Sunshine answered, panting, stomach grumbling. “If you were assigned to be our trainer by Dr. Banana, then he must’ve informed you of Jerome’s predicament. When he was in that human form, he couldn’t use his Radius Ability. And as far as you’re concerned, he only got it back ‘cause of me.”

  Huh? Was what Daemon said wrong , or was Sunshine strategically lying?

  Vlad pulled his arm back, aura weakening. “There was no guarantee he could be brought back to life if I had crushed his head like a watermelon. And killing someone I’ve been training the past couple of days would be a waste of my efforts.”

  “That’s not the only reason, is it?” My daughter grinned. “We’re your friends.”

  The tiger’s eyes bulged with surprise, as though that fact wasn’t actually true. “Friend, huh? I have not had one of those in a while. Not ever since I separated from my sparring partner many years ago.” He got into a battle stance. “Yes. Friends! I want to help you get stronger because we are friends! I like fighting you two because you are my friends!”

  I smiled. “That’s good to hear.”

  Sun tapped my leg, bringing my attention to her.

  “I need you to create an opening for me,” she whispered.

  I nodded, and then ran past Vlad. If he had heard that little exchange Sun and I had, then he wouldn’t have fallen for the bait. Luckily, the airborne slashes headed my way told me he didn’t.

  I jumped, and the slashes cut through the multitude of trees ahead of me. Seeing the trees ascending into the air, an idea popped up in my head. Land was an appreciating asset, and trees were intertwined with it.

  My fingers punctured the wood, and I hurled them toward Vlad like they were spears. The first shattered upon impact with his chest. The second ended up in the animal’s furry grasp, and aura began to shroud it.

  He cackled, charging with his new, hardened weapon. “Nature won't help you unless you know how to properly use it!”

  I charged too, grabbing a tree that nearly crashed into me and pointing the tip at Vlad. Our spears collided. But it was only for an instant as mine was obliterated.

  If I touched him, I risked losing a limb. If he touched me, he'd plant a kitten on me, and I still didn't know the full capabilities of that thing.

  But if I wanted to support Sunshine, then running away wasn't an option either.

  I pierced through the grass with my hands, and uprooted a mass of dirt. It splashed on Vlad’s body, and while it didn't hurt him, it did blind him.

  Throughout all my interactions with him, I noticed one thing: the tiger never blinked. And I figured he wasn't the type to do so. He was a fighter, which meant always having his eye on the opponent.

  Uncle Rick was the same way. In fact, Vlad reminded me a lot of him. No wonder I liked him so much.

  “You would dare blind m-”

  “Mind Trick: Obedience!”

  A green bullet hit the back of Vlad’s head, causing his speech to cease. He stayed silent until Sun got closer to us.

  “Vlad, deactivate your Radius Ability,” she ordered, removing her makeshift headscarf, revealing her bald head.

  “Yes,” he replied dryly.

  The kitten jumped off her back and roared. The girl’s aura burst out, her missing arm returned, and her curly hair poofed back out.

  “It's about time,” she and I said at the same time.

  “Looks like we finally beat you, Vlad,” I said, laughing. He didn't respond, which confused me. “Hey, Vlad? You good?”

  “My Mind Trick is still active, Dad.”

  “For how long?”

  Sun shrugged. “We can figure out the new time limit once yours wears off.”

  “Was that Obedience Trick… what you used against me?” I asked carefully.

  “Yes,” she said quickly.

  I patted her head. “It's… strong. Just don't use it for anything bad.” The fly flew past us. “How come you didn't, like, turn yourself into a fly or something?”

  “Yeah, that would've been a fun idea. But I wanted to try it your way for once.”

  “Oh, so that’s what that ‘we’re your friends’ thing was about?” I said, grinning.

  She sighed, placing her hands in her pockets. “Yeah, but it sounded wrong coming out of my mouth. How about you stick to that type of stuff, and I stick to my own thing?”

  “Sure.” We bumped fists. “That’s why we’re partners.”