Chapter 8: Confrontation at the edge

Long black hair cascaded down her back, perfectly complementing the sleek black suit and tie she wore, along with tailored trousers that completed her formidable appearance. Standing atop the skyscraper, she gripped a katana firmly in her hand, her demeanor radiating fearlessness and unwavering confidence. From Todd's vantage point, suspended in the fleeting moments of suspense, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind. Why wasn't she a zombie? He had presumed all humans to be eradicated, yet here she stood, defying the odds. Even so, her actions spoke louder than her appearance – she had fired at him, an act that couldn't be ignored simply because she was human. Driven by a surge of determination, Todd lunged forward with lethal intent, his fist aimed directly at her. However, to his astonishment, she evaded his attack effortlessly, leaping backward with astonishing speed. His disbelief was palpable – how could a mere human outmaneuver him with such ease? She extended her palm, fingers splayed wide, and with a swift clench, a multitude of razor-sharp blades materialized out of thin air, encircling Todd from all angles. Despite the onslaught of piercing blades tearing through his flesh, Todd pressed on, his determination unwavering as he coutinued to advance towards her. Undeterred by the barrage, Todd reached out to seize her, but she deftly deflected his attempt with the hilt of her katana, then delivered a powerful slap with her other arm, sending him hurtling towards the next skyscraper. As Todd staggered back into consciousness, his mind reeled with disbelief. How was she capable of such feats? Yet, even as he grappled with this realization, she drew her katana from its scabbard, its blade gleaming with an otherworldly aura. With a solemn invocation, she called upon the divine power of Ra to infuse her blade with radiant energy. In an instant, the katana erupted with blinding light as she swung it towards Todd, unleashing a barrage of sword slashes that sliced through the air with deadly precision. Todd, sensing the familiar energy reminiscent of the arrow that had struck him moments before, frantically attempted to evade the onslaught. However, despite his best efforts, he couldn't evade every strike, and he was cleaved in half, the searing slash even melting his metallic skeleton. With only half of his body remaining, Todd struggled to maintain his composure as he retreated from her line of sight, using his arms to propel himself forward. He sought refuge on the other side of the building, where he leaped off the edge, his lower half still in the process of regenerating. As he plummeted towards the ground, Todd grimly acknowledged the danger she posed – a formidable adversary, capable of not only inflicting devastating wounds but also impeding his ability to heal. She was indeed a dire threat to zombies like himself. Fully recovered, Todd sprinted forward, his outstretched arm beckoning his chains to his side. With a silent command, the scattered chains on the ground responded, rising and weaving through the air with telekinetic precision, forming a pathway back to Todd. Unbeknownst to him, the woman observed his actions with a critical eye, silently tracking his movements as he prepared for the impending confrontation. As Todd covered a considerable distance, he halted, awaiting the arrival of his chains. Sensing their approach he noticed that the woman followed the chains, he braced himself for the impending confrontation, acknowledging the inevitability of the battle ahead. With a grim determination, he charged towards his approaching adversary, knowing that his fate hung in the balance. As his chains reached him, Todd felt a surge of confidence coursing through him. Aware of the power imbued within his chains, he infused them with demonic energy, unlocking their full potential and expanding his repertoire of combat techniques. With a deft manipulation of his telekinetic abilities, he divided the chains into individual segments, each poised to strike independently, while the remaining length coiled around his arm to form a formidable fist. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Todd, the woman had silently followed the trajectory of his chains, her gaze fixed upon him with a calculating intensity. As she closed the distance between them, drawing her blade in preparation for the impending clash, Todd remained focused on the battle at hand, unaware of the danger lurking behind him. Amidst the chaos of their impending confrontation, Todd couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at him. Something about the woman's presence felt off, a subtle undercurrent of danger that sent shivers down his spine. Before he could dwell further on his suspicions, she uttered a chilling proclamation – "It is time to die, Demon" – summoning a mysterious system interface into existence. She responded with an air of authority, her voice tinged with the resonance of divine favor. "I am blessed by the god of the sun, Ra, while you are marked by a demon god," she declared, her words ringing with conviction. Todd's incredulous exclamation pierced the tense air. "What the fuck? I don't believe in gods! How could I be blessed by a demon god?" he protested, grappling with the unsettling revelation. "Believe it or not, both of you are destined for eradication from this planet," she asserted, her tone resolute and unwavering. Todd couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in her aura, the temperature rising perceptibly as her presence loomed over him. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from his sight, leaving Todd bewildered and disoriented. As he turned in search of her, a sudden disorienting sensation swept over him, and before he could comprehend what was happening, he found himself suspended upside down. Confusion and alarm flooded Todd's mind as he grappled with the inexplicable turn of events. "Why is the ground upside down?" he questioned, his thoughts racing as he struggled to make sense of the surreal predicament he now found himself in