Wasteland: I Awakened A Plant System

Chapter 102: Two Coolest Guy – James & Arjun (PS Bonus)

Vikrant equipped specialized gauntlets, dark metal gloves fitted with energy coils. As he clenched his fists, electric currents surged through them. His shockwaves now carried voltage, making them more destructive and capable of paralyzing enemies.

Pooja was given advanced flame-resistant armor, sleek and reinforced to handle extreme heat. She looked at it for a moment, then shrugged.

“Do I even need this?” Even so, she wore it without much care, flames still moving freely around her.

Arjun received a refined combat set, lightweight boots that helped him stay stable even at high speeds, a newly forged blade that was thin, elegant, yet deadly, and advanced sunglasses that allowed him to track movement clearly while moving fast. He gripped the blade, a faint smile forming on his face.

“Now this is better.”

Imran stepped forward as his new shield was brought out. It was larger and heavier, layered with reinforced plating. But this time, it wasn’t just for defense. As he held it, built-in mechanisms activated, and flames ignited along its edges.

A shield that could burn. He lifted it slightly and nodded.

“Good.”

Raghav picked up a new launcher. It was bigger than before, more compact, yet far more powerful. The barrel gave off a faint glow, showing that its explosive rounds were much stronger than the previous ones. He rested it on his shoulder.

“This will do.”

Neha equipped full tactical combat armor, light and flexible, along with advanced targeting sunglasses. Then her weapon was brought out, a compact but deadly minigun. As she lifted it, the barrel began to rotate slowly.

Isha looked across the team, making sure everyone was ready. Then her gaze stopped on James and Arjun.

“James, Arjun, this time both of you will focus on clearing the elite zombies as fast as possible.”

Then she took out three apples and a bunch of bananas, and gave them to James and Arjun.

“This is for both of you.”

James looked at the apples and smiled. “Thanks, Captain. Leave the elite zombies to me.”

“Yes, Captain, don’t worry about them,” Arjun also nodded taking the banana.

James took a bite. Crunch. Then he glanced at Arjun.

“Let’s make it interesting. Let’s see who kills more elites.”

Arjun adjusted his blade and glasses, then gave a small nod. He peeled the banana and took a bite.

“Fine.”

Isha continued giving orders.

“Deepak, Ayesha, Rohit, Sana, and Kavya, you all stay on the wall. If any zombie tries to get through, kill it immediately.”

“Yes, Captain,” they responded together.

“Imran, the Armored Colossus is yours. Hold it until I finish my battle… or kill it if you can.”

Imran tightened his grip on the shield and nodded. “Understood.”

“Raghav, the Hulking is yours. Same as Imran, hold it or kill it.”

Raghav gave a slight grin. “Heh… finally.”

“Pooja, if possible, kills the Plague Bringer. Otherwise, just hold it.”

Pooja cracked her neck, “Leave that dirty one to me.”

“Vikrant and Neha, you two handle the Shadow Lurker. Don’t let it hide.”

Neha adjusted her glasses slightly. “We’ll keep it in sight.”

Vikrant clenched his electrified gloves. “It won’t escape.”

For the first time, Isha assigned each Apex Zombie to a single person or a pair. This had never happened before, sending her team to face Apex-level threats almost alone.

It meant the situation was far beyond control.

Then her gaze shifted to Vikram. Her expression softened instantly. Today was his first day after awakening, and the first time he was facing something like this.

“Stay back… and don’t do anything reckless.”

“Yes, Aunt,” Vikram replied with a nod.

But inside, he felt frustrated. From the first wave until now, he hadn’t been given a single chance. He wanted to prove that he wasn’t just standing there for nothing.

He was dangerous too. But seeing her gentle expression, he couldn’t argue. Still, he made a quiet decision. ’If anyone gets in trouble… I will step in.”

Isha turned away. Her wings formed again, shining bright green, and in the next moment, she flew straight toward the Wall Breaker.

—

While the others moved into their assigned battles, James settled into position, calm and completely unbothered. He lay down at his usual spot on the wall, adjusting the Anaconda-X Sniper carefully against his shoulder.

The scope lit up, and two targets locked instantly.

A slight smile formed on his lips as his eyes found the first two Berserker Zombies, fast, wild, charging forward like a beast.

“Let’s begin with you.”

Crunch. He took a bite of his apple, then pulled the trigger.

“THOOM.” For a moment, nothing seemed to happen.

Then suddenly, two Berserker Zombies’ heads exploded at the same time.

“BOOM! BOOM!” Fragments scattered, and their bodies dropped mid-run.

James gave a small nod. “It was smooth and clean.”

He adjusted his aim again, locking onto another pair. Crunch. Another bite. “THOOM.”

Two more heads burst apart instantly. He didn’t rush. Every action followed the same rhythm, bite, lock, fire, kill.

Five seconds. That was all it took. In less than a minute, nearly ten Berserkers were already gone.

Arjun noticed this.

“He’s fast,” he muttered, but instead of watching, he moved. “But I am faster.”

His eyes locked onto a group of Leaper Zombies charging in a straight line. Perfect alignment. Perfect chance.

He lowered his stance, gripped his sword, and ran. Like a shadow cutting through the battlefield. He passed through the group in one smooth motion without stopping.

Then, a second later, heads began to fall one by one, cleanly separated. Bodies collapsed behind him. Not just the Leapers, even the normal zombies caught in his path were cut down.

He slowed, turned slightly, and looked toward the wall, toward James. A smirk appeared on his face.

Then, without a word, he pulled out a banana, peeled it, and took a bite while looking straight at him, mocking him slightly.

James paused for just a moment. His eyes shifted, noticing Arjun and the banana, “This guy…”

Then he took another bite of his apple Crunch.

“You want to play?” He adjusted his scope again, his focus sharpening.

“Then let’s play,” The rhythm changed. Targets locked faster. Shots fired quicker.

“THOOM. THOOM.” Two Berserkers, gone. Another pair locked instantly.

“THOOM.” Gone. Now he wasn’t just killing. He was competing.

Below, Arjun’s smirk widened. “Come on then…”

He tightened his grip on his sword and dashed forward again, faster and more aggressive this time, cutting through another wave of Leapers and normal zombies in one smooth motion.

Heads rolled. Bodies dropped. And just like that, the competition had begun.

Vikram noticed this, and he started thinking of his times on the Earth, where he had seen a similar situation.

He has seen how James and Arjun’s situation was the same as Barry Allen aka Flash and Oliver Jonas Queen aka Green Arrow. Just here was a little bit changed, James has a sniper while Arjun has blades.

—

While James and Arjun enjoyed the battle, casually wiping out elite zombies as if they didn’t even matter, the rest of the battlefield remained just as intense.

Rohit, Ayesha, Kavya, and Sana held their positions firmly on the wall. Their guns fired without pause.

“BANG! BANG! BANG!”

Every zombie that came close dropped instantly. Not a single one managed to cross.

Meanwhile, Vikram stood there, watching everything.

His hands itched. He wanted to fight. After a moment, he turned toward Kavya.

“Give me a gun.”

Kavya didn’t hesitate to deny him. “No.”

Her answer was immediate and firm.

“Today you observe. Tomorrow, you’ll get your chance.”

Vikram clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed, and looked away with a slightly aggrieved expression.

“Tch.” But he didn’t argue.

He already knew she wouldn’t change her mind. Beside them, Sana noticed and chuckled softly.

“Don’t worry, Vikram. We’ll let you play with the big guns soon.”

Vikram muttered under his breath, annoyed, “And I’ll let you play with my gun.”

Hearing this both Sana and Kavya looked at him a little aggrieved, but also a little blushing.

Still, currently, their focus shifted to the battle.

Because at that moment, Pooja had already stepped forward, standing face to face with the Plague Bringer.

Flames slowly ignited around her body, and her expression was wild and excited.

“I’m gonna burn you again.” She cracked her neck slightly.

The Plague Bringer released a slow wave of toxic mist. The ground around it began to rot. But Pooja didn’t step back.

She walked forward, straight through the mist. Her armor sizzled, but her flames burned hotter, pushing the poison back and overpowering it. She stopped just a few meters away, a grin spreading across her face.

“This time… let’s see how long you last.”

The Plague Bringer’s body twitched and began to swell, preparing another attack. Pooja raised her hand. Fire gathered, condensing into a dense, glowing mass. She moved first, flames surging forward.

“FWOOM!”

But this time, the Plague Bringer reacted instantly.

“FSSSSSS—!!!”

A thick, pressurized wave of toxic gas burst outward, far stronger than before. For the first time, her flames didn’t completely erase it.

Pooja paused. “…Oh?”

Her smile widened, but her eyes sharpened.

This one wasn’t weak. The Plague Bringer’s body pulsed violently as multiple sacs formed across its surface, growing faster and larger than before.

They exploded, not randomly but in a pattern. Layered toxic blasts spread across the battlefield, creating a field of corrosion. The ground melted, and the air turned heavy.

Even her flame armor flickered slightly. “Now this is more like it!” she laughed.

But she didn’t rush anymore. She began to circle, watching, and testing it. Each time she attacked.

The Plague Bringer shifted, letting parts of its body take the damage. Even when pieces were destroyed, they regenerated almost instantly.

“Tch… annoying.”

Pooja raised her hand again. “Inferno Burst!”

A powerful wave of fire crashed into it, but instead of falling, the Plague Bringer split part of its body and released another toxic blast.

“FSSSHHH!!!”

This time, Pooja jumped back. Her armor hissed, and her flames flared stronger.

Now it wasn’t a game anymore for her. Even while smiling, she stayed alert.

One mistake, and that poison would hit her directly. “…Fine.”

Her flames rose higher, burning brighter, “Let’s see who burns out first.”