My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 266

Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Revealing the Awakened Ability
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll help you carry this heavy burden, alright?” Duke said, kissing Kisha on the forehead reassuringly. Kisha felt a surprising sense of comfort and care from him.

“For now, let’s focus on sending people to gather bottled water and supplies nearby. We need to maintain the facade that supplies are continuously coming in and going out,” Kisha said, her mind already formulating a plan.

Kisha signaled to one of the nearby soldiers, who had been stationed at the side, dutifully providing protection to Duke and herself. Though it was largely unnecessary given their own strength, it was part of the protocol to guard the City Lord and Vice City Lord at all times. This practice was a way for the soldiers to demonstrate their respect and loyalty to the two leaders.

After the soldier approached, Kisha instructed, “Have everyone in the shelter gather at the square while the warriors are on break. We have an important announcement to make.” Following her orders, the soldier and his comrades left only one man behind to remain with Duke and Kisha. The rest of the team dispersed with a megaphone to spread the word, ensuring that everyone would make their way to the square for the announcement.

As they waited, Kisha and Duke remained in their positions, discussing their next steps. “Should we go out to gather more bottled water and additional supplies? With the Supply Center starting to operate, we need to demonstrate that we have ample supplies for everyone,” Kisha said, glancing at the crowd gathering below the stage.

“It’s up to my wife to decide, and it’s up to me to take action,” Duke said teasingly, his tone suggesting he was referring to more than just gathering supplies.

Kisha ignored Duke’s comment and continued, “We should take the new recruits with us so they can start familiarizing themselves with what they’ll be dealing with in the near future.” She leaned back against Duke’s sturdy chest as she spoke.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Duke said with a grin. “We could have Sparrow handle the new recruits. Since he’s now the captain of the Advance Party leading the supply run and perimeter cleanup, it makes sense for him to supervise them.” As he spoke, his hands slid around Kisha’s waist, occasionally pinching her sides in a playful manner. He seemed to be making an effort to restrain himself, his focus lingering on her soft belly.

“That’s a good suggestion,” Kisha agreed, “while we keep everything running smoothly inside the base and work on solving other issues.” She then playfully swatted at Duke’s hands as if shooing away an annoying fly. To the onlookers, their interaction appeared as a loving, playful moment between a young couple. Given their youth and evident affection for each other, no one seemed to judge or find their behavior inappropriate.

To Kisha, it felt like Duke was intentionally taking advantage of her, so she couldn’t help but pinch the back of his hands to keep him in check and curb his playful antics. Duke, however, found her reactions endearing and continued to smile broadly, enjoying their playful banter as if they were an old couple reminiscing about their fondest memories.

Before long, the square began to fill up with more people. Most of their attention shifted to Kisha and Duke, who, despite discussing serious matters, engaged in a playful banter. Their expressions remained indifferent, but their antics were endearing and amusing. The onlookers found the scene entertaining, making the wait feel less tedious.

As the inhabitants of the base rushed to the square for the announcement, they left their tasks behind, understanding that their City Lord wouldn’t call them together without good reason. Over the past day, they had begun to grasp Kisha’s personality and her approach, influenced by her earlier actions and the support they had received. The opportunity to earn their living expenses without the constant threat of life and death had left them with a sense of gratitude and respect.

When Kisha saw that most of the people had already gathered in the square, she and Duke made their way to the makeshift stage where Aston was maintaining order. As always, Kisha displayed a calm demeanor, yet her authoritative aura was unmistakable.

“First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for stepping up to find suitable jobs and help strengthen the base as we work towards a better future. I also want to apologize for the early retirement of myself and some of my family and staff yesterday due to a severe fever,” she said, addressing the crowd with a tone of sincere gratitude and regret.

After Kisha mentioned the fever, she noticed the expressions of those gathered below the stage shift to anxiety and fear. Many grew fidgety, their eyes wide with concern. They recalled the traumatic experiences of their own families: when someone caught a fever, instead of recovering, they turned into zombies and attacked their other loved ones. This daily fear of the virus’s unpredictable progression made everyone dread even the slightest illness, as they feared it might lead to turning or spreading the virus in unnoticeable ways.

Kisha was acutely aware of their fears, so she decided to address the matter directly without any ambiguity. “I want to reassure you all that my people and I are fine. The fever we experienced was unlike a typical fever; it was significantly more intense and painful, almost as if our blood were being pumped into our brains while we endured a searing heat that could have fried our brains.”

She emphasized the importance of understanding this difference to prevent any misunderstandings about the awakening process so no one would mistakenly kill those who are going through the awakening.

Kisha spoke with a tone that blended hope and solemnity. “While we were quarantined, our fear was that this crisis would cause even more upheaval, especially with the recent changes in leadership. Yet, as we persevered and sought solutions, a glimmer of hope emerged. It seems the heavens may have shown us some mercy, allowing us to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Despite the suffering and loss, we managed to pass the critical point and gain something truly precious.”

She paused, letting her words resonate. “I understand that many of you have lost loved ones who didn’t survive the turning point due to a lack of knowledge about the virus. It is a heavy burden to bear, and my heart goes out to all who have suffered. Let us honor their memory by using what we have learned to protect and support one another.”

Kisha’s voice was deliberate, allowing her words to sink in slowly. Her audience was left puzzled, grasping parts of her message but struggling with the full meaning. Sensing their confusion, Kisha decided to clarify further.

“I and my family discovered that not only did we avoid turning into zombies, but we also gained a power to fight back against them,” Kisha announced. She then glanced at Duke, knowing his abilities would make a strong impression. Duke stepped forward, ensuring he could be seen from afar. He raised his palm to chest level and conjured a ball of lightning, eliciting gasps of disbelief from the crowd. But Duke wasn’t finished. He raised his other hand and created a ball of fire. With a dramatic flourish, he pointed both hands skyward, releasing the fireball and lightning bolt simultaneously. The two collided in midair, resulting in a spectacular explosion.