My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 157

Chapter 157: Chapter 157 Investigation Start
With each swing of his axe, Vulture could clear through hordes of 2-3 zombies at a time. Despite the broad arcs of his movements potentially leaving him vulnerable to attacks, he countered this by cloaking himself in earth armor concealed beneath his shirt, the protective layer nearly melding with his skin. His keen awareness of his surroundings ensured that he remained vigilant and responsive to any potential threats.

With their combined efforts and precise attacks, the four managed to control the number of zombies coming at Aston and his team while reducing the horde surrounding them. They never felt overwhelmed by the sheer number or the relentless attacks. This scenario reminded Sparrow and Vulture of the time when they were surrounded in the garden area on the 10th floor of a condominium in the central part of the western district. Back then, they protected the Winters, along with an unconscious Kisha and Duke, and managed to handle the situation. Now, with Kisha and Duke, who fought like killing machines comparable to Bell’s prowess, their confidence was even greater.

Kisha didn’t miss the opportunity to let Bell fight as well. She sent Bell to a secluded area where zombies were concentrated, allowing Bell to kill them and retrieve the crystal cores afterward. This strategy lightened Kisha’s burden and prevented more zombies from coming their way. Bell was incredibly efficient at dealing with the zombies, even quicker than Kisha and her entire group combined, especially since they couldn’t use their awakened abilities in front of Aston and his team.

Through their continuous efforts, they managed to kill the zombies surrounding them. Fortunately, after Sparrow left and the zombies had devoured everyone inside the building, they dispersed in search of their next meal. This coincided with the blood rain, which made the zombies even hungrier due to their evolution and so they left the vicinity in a hurry to search farther away. As a result, the number of zombies around Kisha and her team was not overwhelming, allowing them to manage the situation despite their limited manpower.

Kisha ensured the situation was manageable before they proceeded in this direction. If the number of zombies had been beyond their capabilities, she would have instructed Sparrow to change direction and extend their journey, while sending her scarlet bees ahead to reduce the zombie population before they moved forward.

At the same time, she didn’t want to make the situation too easy. Kisha wanted to ensure her people remained vigilant and didn’t become complacent. If their senses dulled because she was always protecting them, they would be at risk during important missions, especially if they encountered a powerful evolved zombie or a superhuman with a tricky awakened ability.

Although Sparrow and Vulture were the elite warriors Duke had nurtured since they were young, complacency could easily blind them to hidden threats or seemingly unassuming enemies. If they became too confident in their strength and cleverness, they would be at risk of being caught off guard by adversaries lurking in the shadows.

This served as a subtle reminder for everyone not to be overly reliant on their awakened abilities. While Bell was dealing with the zombies around them, this was only to ensure they wouldn’t attract more zombies to their vicinity and risk being besieged from all directions. It was essentially a method to control the crowd.

Now that the coast was clear, Kisha and the rest paused for a minute to steady their breathing and scan the area. After a moment, they started to move inside to inspect the building. Only then, did they notice two dead bodies hanging on the side of the building, something Aston’s team hadn’t had a chance to properly observe while they were busy dealing with the surrounding zombies and hadn’t looked up.

By observing the color of the bodies, they could tell that the deaths occurred more than 24 hours ago, possibly due to suicide or foul play. However, they didn’t have the time to delve into the matter. Inside the building, they saw walls splattered with blood and the unrecognizable remains of the people who had once lived there that were gnawed at by the zombies that managed to breach their fortress.

Kisha and her team remained resolute in the face of the gruesome scene, their determination unwavering. However, Aston’s men couldn’t suppress the queasiness in their stomachs as they beheld the harrowing sight, surpassing anything they had encountered thus far. They trailed cautiously behind Kisha’s group as they methodically combed through each room of the building, uncovering a cache of crucial supplies: a diverse array of firearms, surveillance equipment, drones, AWMs, and ample ammunition. Yet, it was the discovery of a stockpile of essential provisions—food, water, and medicine—all neatly arranged in one room that brought a sense of relief amidst the tension.

Kisha delegated the task of transporting the supplies to Sparrow and Vulture, who swiftly began loading them onto the truck. Aston’s men joined in, lending their assistance with the transportation effort. Soon, only Kisha, Duke, and Aston remained. With a nod from Kisha, Aston was given the go-ahead to scour the entire building in search of survivors, his insistence fueled by the hope that someone may still be alive amidst the devastation.

However thorough Aston’s search was, it yielded no survivors. Every nook and cranny of the building revealed only lifeless bodies strewn across various rooms. Even the rooftop offered no reprieve, its haunting silence echoing the tragedy within. Meanwhile, Sparrow, remembering the supplies he had noticed during a previous visit, enlisted Vulture’s assistance in retrieving them, ensuring no valuable resources were left behind.

With the abundance of supplies gathered, they successfully filled one corner of the truck, yet there remained plenty of space for additional provisions. However, as they contemplated acquiring more, Aston’s men couldn’t shake the nagging worry gnawing at them. They envisioned worst-case scenarios where they might be forced to abandon the truck and proceed on foot. Such thoughts weighed heavily on their minds, casting doubt on the value of their efforts in loading the truck with supplies.

Despite the looming uncertainty, they couldn’t ignore the opportunity to gather the readily available supplies and transport them back to the shelter. After fully loading all the provisions from the building, Aston and his men conducted another thorough investigation of the premises. They sought to unravel the mystery of how the building had been overrun, estimating the time that had elapsed since the tragic events unfolded. Their attention was particularly drawn to two individuals suspended at the side of the building. With careful deliberation, they hauled the bodies to the rooftop, their intact forms offering a potential source of vital information.

Kisha and her group remained unfazed by the investigation, their confidence unshaken. Even if Aston and his team discovered that the two individuals had been killed before being left suspended outside the building, it would only confirm suspicions of sabotage orchestrated by their enemies. The sole culprits capable of such a calculated move could only be the Winters, their longstanding adversaries. This revelation hinted at a larger scheme, one aimed not just at one of the Coltons’ camp in the southern part, but potentially at other camps as well.

Kisha granted Aston and his team the freedom to speculate while they scoured the area for the Winters outside. Little did they know, the Winters were safely nestled inside the shelter, taking advantage of their enemy’s diverted attention to rest and recuperate.