My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Chapter 140 Heading Back
As Kisha guided her group through the streets, they encountered fewer zombies as expected. However, despite the end of the blood rain, the undead continued their frenzied attacks. Many zombies remained in a transitional state, unable to complete their evolution. Some even failed to evolve altogether, remaining at Level 0. These incomplete evolutions meant that future transformations, without the aid of the blood rain, would result in weaker zombies compared to those that successfully evolved during the blood rain, similar to the formidable zombie at level 1 Sparrow had encountered.

Sparrow returned the three amulets Kisha had given him, having never found occasion to use them. Kisha did not explain that the amulets were meant to safeguard against instant death or a fatal single strike, scenarios he thankfully hadn’t encountered. It seemed the amulets would activate only under such dire circumstances. However, without Kisha’s explanation, Sparrow assumed they were defective when faced with injuries that didn’t result in instant death. If only he had known their true purpose, he might have appreciated their significance.

Kisha found reassurance in Sparrow’s ability to navigate the situation without needing the amulets, interpreting it as a sign of his resilience and survival instincts. Sparrow’s adeptness in combat and his prior experience in life-threatening scenarios kept him composed under pressure, unlike most others who might have succumbed instantly in such a daunting confrontation. His calm demeanor and skillful fighting prevented what could have been a fatal outcome for others less prepared.

Kisha and the others refrained from using the armored bus due to concerns that its engine noise might attract nearby zombies, potentially leading to them being besieged from all directions while the infected were still in a frenzied state induced by the blood rain. Surviving such an onslaught would be precarious. If they made it through the current day, it could indicate that the zombies’ frenzied state was subsiding. This would suggest a failed evolution if their energy reserves couldn’t sustain the consolidation of the stirring virus within their bodies by the following day.

Kisha and the others faced a formidable challenge at the bank’s entrance, as they opted to confront the zombies using cold weapons rather than relying on their awakened abilities. Duke, wielding a long spear, and Kisha, with her dual katanas, proved adept at killing the undead. Kisha moved with speed and precision, almost as if she were performing a graceful dance amidst the chaos of battle.

Clyde’s group stood in awe as they witnessed the strength and prowess of Kisha’s team, particularly the remarkable performances of Vulture and Sparrow. Sparrow moved with agility, effortlessly killing zombies with each fluid motion, while Vulture plowed through the undead like a human bulldozer, sending them flying with each strike.

“Is that guy a monkey in his past life? And the other one, a bull?” One of the girls remarked, standing amidst the group, watching the impressive display. This moment of awe provided a rare sense of comfort for them since their departure from City D towards City B. Normally gripped by the fear of death when encountering zombie hordes, they now found themselves admiring the power and prowess of Kisha’s team, feeling reassured about their decision to join them on the journey to the shelter.

Clyde’s team found themselves with little to do, relegated to following behind Kisha’s group while remaining protected at the center of the formation. Despite Kisha’s team only having a few more members than them, their strength eclipsed anything Clyde had witnessed thus far. In a swift and coordinated effort, Kisha and her group swiftly killed the zombies that had gathered around. Each member of Kisha’s team couldn’t help but notice the marked difference in strength. While previously they could kill zombies with ease, they now needed to exercise caution as the zombies seemed to have gained both speed and strength.

While this surge in strength and agility was temporary, it remained a formidable challenge when coupled with the sheer number of zombies. They could only hope for the evolution phase to conclude swiftly. In the current circumstances, exhaustion during travel seemed inevitable, given the heightened threat level posed by the evolved zombies.

Fortunately, they were well-stocked with food and had rested sufficiently, ensuring they had ample reserves of energy to cover greater distances. Kisha’s leadership led them to streets with fewer zombies, a fact even Clyde and his team couldn’t overlook. They pondered whether Kisha’s success in finding these secluded routes was merely luck or if she possessed a method for navigating the zombie-infested streets and selecting paths with fewer obstacles.

Thus far, their encounters typically involved battling no more than a dozen zombies at a time. Kisha took proactive measures to utilize the Scarley Bees ahead of them, tasking them with eliminating as many zombies as possible to lighten the load on her group. Simultaneously, she ensured that the bees discreetly collected the cores while her team pressed forward along their path.

Unlike before, this arrangement has proven to be the most effective for their journey, significantly easing their burdens. Since Kisha and her team couldn’t utilize their awakened abilities, they relied on Bell’s scarlet bees for scouting and preemptively eliminating zombies along their path. This strategic approach made their journey notably smoother, requiring minimal effort on their part.

However, this method came with its drawbacks. By utilizing the Scarlet Bees as scouts and killing machines outside, the production of Scarlet honey had to suffer. This weighed heavily on Kisha’s heart, as she knew the importance of maintaining their resources. Additionally, she had promised to provide Bell with enough crystal cores to level up to level 2 once they reached the shelter. Doing so would expedite the production of Scarlet Honey and increase Bell’s birthing limit, resulting in a larger troop size. It was a difficult balance between immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

With their load significantly lighter, Kisha’s group moved more easily along the road. However, due to time constraints and the Scarlet Bees not having ample time to dispose of the zombie carcasses they left behind, Clyde’s team also noticed the undead remains scattered along the path, their heads visibly open. Fortunately, they assumed that the shelter’s soldiers had recently cleared the streets nearby, resulting in the scattered remains.