The massive steel doors of Kruger's fortress, known as the Crimson Citadel, groaned as they opened. Inside, the halls gleamed with red-lit steel, a modern war machine built upon the ruins of an old bio-weapons facility. Here, inside his domain, General Viktor 'Bloodfang' Kruger stood sharpening his knife, his crimson beret casting a shadow over his cold, calculating eyes.
His undead army had proven their worth, but now came the next phase—the evolution of war.
The doors behind him slid open with a hiss, and Sergeant Darius 'Hellhound' Rook stepped inside, dragging a bloodied prisoner. The man was barely conscious, his uniform torn and stained. Rook tossed him forward, and the prisoner landed at Kruger's feet.
"Caught this one trying to send out a distress call. Mercenary. Hired by what's left of the resistance." Rook's voice was laced with disgust.
Kruger knelt, lifting the man's chin with his knife. "Tell me, who sent you?" His voice was low, deadly.
The mercenary coughed, spitting blood onto the floor. "You think you can control this… this nightmare? You're insane."
Kruger smirked. "Insane?" He stood, flicking the blade clean. "No, boy. I am evolution."
At that moment, Dr. Sylvia 'Plague Mistress' Voss entered, her boots clicking against the floor. She carried a vial filled with a deep crimson liquid.
"The enhanced strain is ready," she said with a smirk. "Stronger, faster, and unlike the mindless husks outside… they will think."
Kruger took the vial, examining it in the dim light. If the previous undead were soldiers, these would be generals. He turned back to the prisoner.
"Consider yourself honored," Kruger said. "You're about to be reborn."
The mercenary's eyes widened in horror as Kruger plunged the vial into his neck. Almost immediately, his veins darkened, his body convulsing violently. His skin paled, his muscles twitched, and then, suddenly—he stopped breathing.
Then—his eyes snapped open.
The mercenary lunged, moving with unnatural speed, snarling like a beast. Rook barely had time to react before Kruger caught the transformed soldier by the throat, slamming him against the wall.
The undead mercenary stopped struggling. His breathing slowed. Then, he did something no zombie should do.
Kruger smiled. "Perfect."
Turning to Voss, he gave a simple order. "Prepare the others."
As alarms blared through the Crimson Citadel, Kruger's true army was about to be unleashed.