My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 129

Chapter 129: Chapter 129 What are we Running Away From?
As the time approached the 30-minute mark, Kisha sent a member of her team to fetch Vulture and the others from the lobby while she rendezvoused with Duke and the rest of the group, ensuring they remained in a secure location. Originally, she contemplated hiding in the bunker, but that seemed excessive. The lobby’s fiberglass doors, impervious to both non-superhumans and Level 0 zombies, provided ample protection. It was the best shelter they could hope for in case of a bombing attack in the city.

Kisha and Duke reached the 4th floor and chose to halt there for the night, considering the building had only 10 floors. They reasoned that being midway provided flexibility: if they sensed danger, they could ascend or descend swiftly. While Kisha initially aimed for the roof, their priority shifted to ensuring their group’s well-being by taking a much-needed rest. They recognized that climbing to the roof might expose them to rain, thwarting any chance of respite.

As soon as they settled into one of the largest offices on the floor, the Patriarch couldn’t help but question Kisha’s nervous behavior. Though he sounded like a curious gossipmonger, he voiced what everyone had been wondering all along. “Daughter-in-law, what’s going on? What are we running away from?”

Kisha no longer felt embarrassed by being called “daughter-in-law” repeatedly. She had grown accustomed to it, recognizing it as the Patriarch’s tactic to help her embrace her new title. He would call her that as often as possible, like a parrot, to reinforce her acceptance of the role.

“Grandpa, please call me Kisha; ‘daughter-in-law’ is too long,” Kisha corrected. Once the Winters nodded in agreement, she continued, “The second Blood Rain will happen in a few minutes.” Her emotions churned inside as she spoke, knowing the next Blood Rain was supposed to occur in six months. Like the first Blood Rain, this one was also happening sooner than she remembered, which could only mean bad news for them.

“Why are you so nervous then?” Mrs. Winters asked, her tone tinged with hesitation.

“Because the Blood Rain carries the virus, it acts as a booster to the zombies’ evolution,” Kisha explained gravely. “This means their evolution accelerates, posing a significant danger to our survival. And with each Blood Rain, zombie hordes tend to raid human settlements, drawn to them like moths to a flame.” She wore a grim expression, realizing she hadn’t yet explained this to Duke, assuming they’d have more time to gather supplies and fortify their defenses.

“Zombie evolution surpasses a superhuman’s advancement by half,” Kisha explained. “So, to confront a level 1 zombie, we’d ideally require a high-class superhuman proficient in both offense and defense. If such a person isn’t available, our alternative is to rely on two level 0 superhumans, each excelling in offense and defense, working in tandem. Additionally, like superhumans, as zombies evolve, their likelihood of awakening abilities increases, amplifying the threat as they grow stronger.”

A wave of dread and nervousness swept over everyone as they absorbed Kisha’s detailed explanation. However, mirroring Duke’s calm demeanor, his father calmly assessed the situation, posing the question, “Why would zombies’ evolution be stronger than that of superhumans?”

Kisha nodded in acknowledgment of his question before responding. “The difference lies in the purity of the energy within us compared to that in zombies. Human energy requires purification, filtering out impurities before it can be integrated into our energy cores. In contrast, the virus within zombies remains raw and unprocessed, making it easier for them to absorb without delay or refinement. Consequently, during Blood Rain events, which carry the virus, zombies experience a significant boost in strength, rendering them more formidable opponents. Their tendency to raid shelters post-evolution serves to replenish the energy expended during their advancement. This voracious hunger stems from the raw, tainted energy of the virus, intensifying their survival instincts and driving them to become stronger.”

With Kisha’s explanation, the gravity of their situation became evident to everyone. Her earlier anxiety, palpable during their time outside, now made perfect sense. The looming threat of being assaulted by the advancing zombie horde without the protection of the shelter’s sturdy walls became all too real. Without the safety provided by the shelter, their chances of surviving an onslaught from the evolving zombie horde were slim at best.

Even with a few superhumans among them, it was painfully clear that they stood no chance against the encroaching zombie horde. Everyone understood this reality all too well; they recognized that, if anything, they would only burden Kisha and Duke further. The sense of powerlessness weighed heavily on them, especially those who hadn’t yet awakened their abilities. They couldn’t shake the guilt of feeling like mere passengers, riding on the coattails of their master and his wife.

But Kisha and Duke’s worries didn’t revolve around immediate threats. As leaders, their concerns extended beyond the safety of their group to encompass the well-being of their entire base. Kisha, taking on her role, inquired with 008 about the situation at their base in City A. Fortunately, the area remained free from mutant beasts or plants, offering a safer haven than their current location. With a sigh of relief, Kisha felt reassured knowing her grandparents and Keith were out of harm’s way. Utilizing the holographic map, she virtually checked in on their activities, ensuring all was well.

To outsiders, it appeared as though Kisha was lost in thought, gazing into empty space. However, Duke, observing her closely, noticed the subtle movements of her eyes, as if she were fixated on something invisible to them. Despite his curiosity, he refrained from probing further. He understood that whatever held Kisha’s attention was likely one of her secrets, and he respected her privacy. If it was something she chose to keep hidden, he was prepared to support her, knowing that she wouldn’t conceal it from the group unless it posed a significant threat or offered substantial use that might entice everyone to be greedy to possess it that might even endanger their lives if more people knew about it.

Kisha’s confidence in Duke’s support allowed her to freely focus on checking their territory in City A. Their relationship had reached a level of trust where she felt comfortable sharing most things with him, including details about her territory pack. Having already disclosed numerous secrets to him and his allies, her territory pack seemed like just another piece of information to share. However, when it came to the system, she hesitated. Its origins were beyond her comprehension. Could she reveal that it was an alien entity from another universe, linked to channels from distant worlds? Unable to offer a clear explanation, she decided it was best to keep that aspect hidden, even from Duke.

She made a mental note to inform Duke about the territory pack soon, easing his concerns about their base. Kisha understood that there were moments when he fretted over whether they still had a place to return to. His reluctance to contact anyone outside stemmed from the fear that their communication might be intercepted by enemies, endangering his allies. Thus, until it was safe to do so, he focused primarily on ensuring the safety of their group before attending to others.