Gods of a Different Kind

The Infected

"Tellus, I have gotten an urgent message from Princess Celestia, it seems that Dead Wind has sent part of his army." My heart filled the dread, was he coming so soon? I expected him to gather all his forces before he attacks. Although if he did that may have been worse. "She felt many beings enter, and that they are likely undead..."

        I began hyperventilating, I knew little about his undead army besides how difficult they are to kill. I felt a strange feeling coming from the direction of the Everfree forest, like something is there that shouldn't be.

        "Gather the elements Twilight, I am going to go scout out the Everfree forest. I will send a pillar into the air of the location of the... undead."

        "You can't go in alone you will surely-"

        "Never question an order, I have the authority of an army commander. You are a member of Elements of Harmony, a branch of the army. I will not tolerate my authority being questioned" With a strong push I sent her in the direction away from the Everfree forest. Before she could question me I sprinted into the direction the the intrusion.

        ***

        I felt the feeling get steadily stronger, I stopped as soon as I heard shuffling ahead. I drew power from the earth to create me a suit of armor, kite shield, and short sword. I assumed with them being undead they would likely be unarmed so going for close quarters weapons would be best.

        I went into a crouch, I was able to mask my footsteps well even in this heavy armor of stone. I was soon approaching where the shuffling came from, I heard tiny gasps and groans. I shuddered thinking about the pain these beings were going through. They are soulless, but the previous owner of the body feels everything it feels. Their flesh rotting, the taste of blood, a horrible way to live.

        I looked out from behind a bush to see the hoard of undead, there must be at least fifty of them. Under my foot a tiny twig broke. Oh no...

        They all turned towards me at the same time, obviously the work of a hive mind. Within a split second they ran towards me, running far faster then any living human. I decided to stand my ground. There was little they could do to me in my armor, but I was still afraid of these monsters. They are over all ineffective against armored troops of any kind. I should be able to easily kill them.

        The first undead soon reached me, it was covered in the blood from past victims, with speed I didn't know the undead possessed, he sprung forward attempting to sink his teeth into me. I quickly slashed it across the chest, it was unfazed by the sudden loss of life giving blood.

        It began by biting into my armor, its teeth were far stronger then a normal humans, as it had chipped pieces off. Even if it broke many of its rotten teeth in the process. The other undead were closing in at an alarming speed. I would have to kill each one as fast as possible. I summoned a wall so only about ten more undead were able to attack me. It would take at least a few minutes for the rest to go around.

        I bashed the first infected with my shield, cracking the skull. It was still unfazed as it quickly got back up. I turned my attention upon an undead women that was on my back. I tried to shake her off but she was succeeding in wearing me out. I decided that there was no other choice besides to fall backwards. I heard the snap of many bones as I fell on top of it.

        The first to die. Unfortunately I was on my back, allowing the other undead to attack me as they saw fit. I swung my sword in a large arc, hacking off several of the undeads limbs. They still continued their relentless assault upon me. I saw over their shoulders that the rest of the undead had climbed over the wall, it hasn't even been thirty seconds. I have truly screwed myself over. I can barely survive ten of these monsters, what will I do when there are five times that many?

        In desperation I encased myself in a small rock barrier, there were only 3 undead in it with me, I was careful about how many were in it. There was hardly any room to move but I made sure they would have to funnel through a small space to get to me. I heard the undeads incessant pounding on the outside, I had nearly sealed my tomb. And I hadn't even sent a pillar into the air. Perhaps it is better that way, the elements have no armor. I do not even want to think about what their infected saliva would do to their bodys.

        The first undead to go through died, the other two attempted to approach cautiously. I felt dread inside me, they were learning. They both tried to go through at the same time but they got stuck, just out side of the reach of my sword. They then began breaking apart the stone between them and I. While at the same time helping their comrades get into my prison. I sent a blast of stone into the two undead. I heard many bones break, but they still prevailed in the destruction of my protection. I decided it would be better for me to fight my way out then to have them overwhelm me.

        I bashed through my stone cocoon as if it was nothing. I was immediately attacked by five different undead. I sent out a blast of rock, dust, and sand blinding many, and disabling some. But it fazed then none as they seemed to be able to use the knowledge of my position with those that could see. I felt many arms wrap around me as they pulled me to the ground. I could not breath as they whittled away at my armor.

        I felt a rage over come me, I suppose there is no better time then here...

        With strength I did not know I possessed I lifted the now eight undead and myself off of the ground with a roar. I threw down my now useless sword and shield as I began breaking their bones with my bare hands. I literally ripped off the arm of one of them, it must have been almost completely rotted through. I imagine it would have been funny beating this undead to death with its own arm, if my rage had not full control of me.

        The rest of the undead seeing me kill eight of their kind at once approached me cautiously, I could see the hunger in their eyes. I charged towards a crowd of ten, I'm sure they would have been surprised if they had the thought process to understand. I snapped many of their necks before they retreated, my mind focused on the fleeing undead failed to notice the large crowd gathering behind me. They pounced on me at once. Instead of biting into my armor they started ripping it off. I felt a horrible pain go through my right arm as teeth found their mark.

        In a fit of rage I caved in the skull of the undead that had bitten me with my fist. The rest seeing me in pain focused purely on biting my exposed skin. I felt my arm burn like fire as deadly diseases filled my blood system. I brought both of my hands into a powerful clap, sending shock waves through the earth for miles. Many trees fell from such power released at once. The undead that had surrounded me were on the ground, incapable on getting on their feet from such shock waves.

        I was the only being standing, I quickly delivered fatal kicks to the heads of the undead on the ground. But the earth quake could not last forever as the survivors began standing up. There were only the few that had fled that remained. They had not truly fled but had only regrouped while the others whittled me down.These creatures were growing smarter with the more I killed, as they now were on all fours, preventing any earth quakes from sending them to the ground unprotected.

        They charged forward as one, I jumped into the air with the intent of grabbing onto a barely standing tree branch. Before I got halfway up strong hands grabbed my left foot. With immense strength they brought me back to the ground, I landed defenselessly on my back. They pounced upon me, several with the intent of removing my helmet while the rest focused on biting my exposed arm.

         I yelled loudly in pain, I slammed my unarmored hand into the ground causing it to be encased in a strong stone. I hit many of them with my improvised stone glove and armored hand. They again backed away, there were only two "alive". They seemed to be immensely intelligent now. I doubt I could trick them now. I grabbed a small pebble with my left hand, they stood at the ready for what I was to do. I threw with all my strength as the pebble enlodged itself into one of their heads, it collapsed immediately as life was taken from it.

        The last one took a battle stance, one often taken by myself so I could counter any attacks. It has learned how I attack. It leaped forward faster then I had even though possible as it nailed me in the chest shattering my stone armor. It ended up on top of me as it dug its head into me, I felt that burning go through me, it was the most painful thing I had ever experienced. I lifted it up with what little of my strength remained, I held it by the throat preventing it from biting me further.

        I snapped its neck with one fatal twist of the wrist. I was shocked at how I had defeated fifty of the undead single handily. Although it was due to a lot of luck. I noticed I was feeling increasingly hot, I was burning up.

        I used the last of my strength to summon a pillar, something I should have done to start with. I collapsed on the ground, defenseless, helpless, and useless.