The sky rumbled above the devastated city as smoke rose like dark banners, fluttering in winds filled with ash. Inside a sleek fighter jet flying low across the urban wasteland, Captain Li Wei adjusted his headset, his brows knitting as he glanced out the reinforced glass.
"Base, this is Hawk-2. We have visual confirmation on a small civilian group, roughly ten individuals, riding what looks like motorbikes through Sector 12, heading west," he said.
His co-pilot, Chen Yu, peered through binoculars, tightening his grip. "They're fast. Looks like they know the city well."
"Any sign of infected near them?" came the crackled response from Command.
Li squinted. "Negative for now. But one of them... there's something strange. Young male, white jacket. Mid-twenties. He... he set a dozen infected on fire without touching them. No weapons. It came from him."
There was a pause, followed by a different voice. Colder. More authoritative.
