The second apartment building

Norman is going to turn the stop sign into an axe for him to use, then the street sign into a long sickle-like weapon also called a scythe. The shape may be different but the function will be the same. Sure both weapons would be terrible in hallways. For that, Norman has his knife.

These weapons should shine outside of hallways and even alleyways. They will give them an edge in range and power over the zombies, in some cases even having enough power to kill the undead in a single strike. The only downside is that these heavier weapons will be slow compared to the weapons the twins will use.

Against the zombies, it is more than enough. Speed is not needed for these kinds of battles. The zombies are slow as it is. They also are clumsy, meaning they have no agility to speak of. Compared to even Lilly who is the least agile of the humans can run circles around the zombies. Even when using this scythe.

Norman was building the weapons during the conversations in the afternoon. The first thing he did was to use his vibro-knife to cut off the bent portions of the shaft of the signs. So now it looks like a very thin-handled long shaft. Next, he duck-taped a broom handle to the shaft. To make the shaft thick enough for the hands to hold it properly.

From there he sharpened both signs. For Lily, it was still too heavy. So Norman cut off 2/3 rds of the metal shaft, then re-attached the wooden broom handle. So that all the weight would be near the end. This would allow for a deeper, and stronger cut on her scythe.

The only downside is that the handle will have a greater chance of falling apart. Because now all the weight will be focused on a far smaller portion of the broom handle. So consistent repairs will be needed. The stop sign axe on the other hand could last for years, possibly.

Even though there was great protest from Lilly. The salvage team was set to go into the next apartment building on day five. To help obscure their movements The smoke spell was cast at the base of the fire escape. Then the little mage ran to the other side of the building's roof. To cast Thunder clap as far from the building as she can.

Thankfully the zombies are dumb enough to fall for this trick. So Norman and the girls were able to get to the other side of the next apartment building. Where they see the zombie with the mangled half-eaten leg.

The zombie managed to fall off the fire escape and now had no cover. Norman gave the task of destroying this near-helpless zombie to Lilly. because unlike the rest she has no experience in combat.

Of course, she tried to wiggle out of it. Until Caterina reminded her that they do not plan to stay in this world. When they are gone who will protect Kathy?

Lilly then lifted her makeshift scythe. Ready to bring it down, before she did she looked back at Caterina as if double-checking. Only to see that Caterina is shaking her head yes.

After five strikes the zombie was no more just a corpse. If Lilly did not close her eyes after the first strike she could have done so in two strikes. The woman after it was over fell to the ground as she was shaking all over. She has never killed a thing before. Most of all something that was human just a month or so ago.

The elves gave her some time to collect herself. During that collecting they had already set Caterina to get to the roof to make sure it was clear. There were two zombies up there both female. So Caterina charged the first one and took off its left hand. Then targeted it's undefended jaw.

With no way to kill anymore other than trying to crush it with its last hand. That zombie was neutralized. So Caterina then charged at the 2nd zombie who was doing the same but at a much slower rate.

When they met up the zombie ripped the shield out of Caterina's hand. So Caterina used both hands on her short sword to cut off one of the zombie's arms at the elbow. Then do the same to the other arm. Before once again taking the jaw off the zombie making it unable to kill again.

Hearing the battle Norman hurried to the roof to see the girl that claims to be his future wife. Handle not just one zombie, but two without needing any help at all. If anything he was rather proud of her. Not only was she cool and collected. She was also a powerhouse in the making if she could improve her skills.

After the fight was basically over. Lilly was ready to get up the fire escape. When she did she saw the little charming girl finish off two zombies like it was nothing. Making her wonder if she could ever do the same thing.

The three now make their way inside the building, now that there are no more zombies in the way. Norman Leads this time. Even if the hallway is too narrow for him to swing his weapon. He could at least hold a zombie at bay so that Caterina could rush in and kill it.

They use the same system in this apartment complex that they used in the one they came from. First, clear the hallways all the way down to the basement. Then target the rooms. Before they get to the rooms they have to check the corpses for the keys. Lilly of course will not do that. So Norman will when the time comes.

Until then Norman will continue to lead the girls. With Caterina being his second. Then of course Lilly who is just hanging back. She is nowhere near ready for real combat. There is a 50% chance she would die if she was forced to face a zombie alone even with a long-range melee weapon.

As they move to the stairs to the second floor. Norman stops them and listens. All three of them can hear the sound of movement along with minor sounds of groaning. It sounds like there is more than one.

Norman tells Caterina to hide behind the corner. When the zombies come up they will be slowly chasing him. She will strike from their blind spot. He then switched weapons with Lilly. For he wanted Lilly to understand the value of her weapon type. That it can do more than just slash.

Norman then ran down the stairs to get the zombie's attention. Afterward, he quickly returned and waited for the zombies. As soon as two of them made it in range of the weapon Norman struck.

He hooked the back of the right ankle of the first zombie then pulled with all his strength. That zombie then fell backward after its ankle gave out. Crashing into the second zombie.

After that, he beheaded both of them. Then came back up the stairs. As more zombies were making their way up the stairs from the second floor.

Norman then explains his next action for the girls to understand. "Now the advantage of a staircase when you are near the top of the stairs, is you can now use your large weapons overhand." To prove his point as soon as the next zombie was in range he did an overhead strike at a slight angle to take off the head of the next zombie in one go.

When that zombie fell it did not cause the other two that were behind it to fall. For it had a slow fall. Unlike the other zombie that had a hard forced fall. Still with three bodies to get past on the stairwell. These two zombies were struggling to get up the stairs.

Norman then gave permission to Caterina to kill these two struggling zombies. Because they are currently a minor threat. She kills them both with ease. Compared to her rushed battle on the roof. This was child's play.

Norman then calls for a clearing of the bodies. For this reason, he has Lilly help him carry the bodies to the roof. Caterina on the other hand will stay here and stand guard. In case more come.

Norman of course will be lifting the torso of the dead, leaving Lilly to get the legs. She manages to hold back from barfing. Still, she likely will soon. This is still too much for her. She was not born into a world of undead like these elves were.

Part of the training of the elves is dealing with zombies, mummies, and vampires. A lot of that training was from their own legends and first-hand experience. From the sources who themselves have destroyed the undead.

Norman for now has Caterina put the heads into a garbage bag he pulled out of a back pocket. The reason he does this is some undead in legends can regenerate. Or even come back alive.

If these zombies do that they would be headless zombies. Who would not be able to smell, see, or hear. If that does happen they would be a bigger threat to the other zombies then a living human.

In the other apartment, Norman chucked the heads off the building as far as he could away from the bodies. This time he will have them in a garbage bag on the roof, away from the zombies. Make it as hard as possible for the zombies to find their missing heads.