The wind howled through the empty plains, rustling the tall, dry grass around Kamala Khan as she sat alone in the open field. Her heart raced uncontrollably, adrenaline pumping through her veins, but there was no place to hide. The tiny beacon in her hands—the device that might save humanity—seemed impossibly heavy, a burden she wasn't sure she could bear. Around her, the groaning of zombies grew louder, a chorus of decay moving through the field, their moaning carried by the wind.
"I… I can't fight them all," Kamala whispered to herself, hugging the keychain device to her chest. She knew she wasn't strong enough—not in her human form. Her embiggened fists could knock a few off balance, maybe crush a skull or two, but the horde was endless. The gap between her and survival was widening by the second.
The first zombie reached for her. Its hand, pale and decomposed, scraped against her leg. She yelped and scrambled backward, twisting her ankle in the uneven terrain. More hands reached for her, and she screamed, a sharp cry that echoed across the field. "No! No! I'm not ready! I don't want to die!"
Then, as if summoned from the air itself, a shadow struck the ground in front of her. Steel clanged, a blade slicing clean through the nearest zombies. Kamala froze, staring as the figures of undead bodies fell one after another, dismembered in precise, fluid motions.
From the darkness emerged a figure clad in silver armor, blades gleaming in the faint moonlight. His movements were so fast that Kamala's eyes could barely track him. Each swing of his twin swords was flawless, efficient, and deadly. The zombies fell around him like wheat before the scythe, and soon a circle of safety opened around her.
Kamala's mouth dropped open. "Who… who are you?"
The figure sheathed his blades and stepped closer. Even in the moonlight, she could see his face was calm, composed, and almost ethereal. His eyes were pale white, glowing faintly in the shadows. He moved with a confidence that made it clear he was not human.
"I am the vassal of Khonshu," the man said, his voice low and steady. "Call me Blade Knight. I have come to ensure you reach the Ohio base safely."
Kamala's hands tightened on the device. "How… how did you know I needed to go to Ohio?" Her voice wavered between awe and suspicion. "I wasn't supposed to—"
Blade Knight's gaze did not waver. "Khonshu told me. He saw the threat growing, and he guided me here. Your journey is crucial."
The words sent a shiver down her spine. Even after the chaos with the zombies and the battle in the sky with Captain Marvel and Ikaris, the idea that someone—or something—was watching over her, guiding her, filled her with both relief and uncertainty.
Kamala looked around. The horde of zombies had not retreated entirely, but their advance had stalled, as if Blade Knight's presence alone discouraged them. "So… you're here to get me to the base?" she asked, still half-expecting him to vanish or attack her.
He inclined his head slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching in a shadow of a smile. "That is my purpose. But you must stay behind me. The undead will follow any mistake you make, and you cannot falter."
Kamala swallowed and nodded, feeling both terrified and strangely reassured. Her body ached from exhaustion, and tears threatened to fall again, but she clutched the device tighter. She had survived so far because of Friday and the quick thinking of Riri. And now… she had another ally, though she didn't know him yet or how far she could trust him.
He gestured for her to follow. "Come. The field is unsafe, and the Ohio base is not far. Stay close, and do not look back unless I command it."
Kamala moved cautiously behind him, her steps tentative but determined. Every snap of grass underfoot and every groan from the horde behind them made her flinch, but Blade Knight's presence made her feel like she could survive this—just maybe.
As they walked, Kamala's eyes swept the surrounding terrain. The night was eerily quiet beyond the distant groans, the field stretching endlessly with the occasional broken tree or crumbling structure breaking the horizon. It was a stark reminder that the world had changed—humanity's hold on it was tenuous at best.
Finally, after what felt like hours of cautious movement, they reached a small clearing. Blade Knight gestured to a simple campfire that flickered weakly in the darkness. Kamala noticed a wooden plank nearby and sat down, too exhausted to continue standing. She hadn't realized how tired she was until she collapsed against the warm glow of the fire.
Across from her, Blade Knight remained standing, his white robes rustling slightly in the wind. His glowing eyes never left her, and yet, the presence was not threatening—only steady, commanding, and strangely protective.
"Rest," he said simply, his voice like a soft rumble. "You will need your strength for the journey ahead. Ohio awaits, and you must be ready to fulfill your purpose."
Kamala shivered. "You really are… not human, are you?" she whispered, still clutching the device.
He shook his head slowly. "No. I am a servant. A vassal bound to a higher purpose. My loyalty is to Khonshu and to those he guides. You are under my protection because he has chosen it."
Blade Knight finally sat across from her, his posture relaxed but alert, and gestured toward the fire. "Eat. Rest. Recover. The Ohio base is your next step, but first, you must endure the night."
Kamala nodded, her hands still clutching the beacon. "I… I will. Thank you. Really?"
He inclined his head once more. "Do not thank me yet. The journey is far from over."
~~~
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