My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 346

Chapter 346: Chapter 346 The Stalemate
Sparrow knew that he didn’t need them to be as vigilant as he was, especially since neither could engage in battle at the moment. Rose was injured, her breathing growing ragged as the virus began to infiltrate her brain through her bloodstream. Sparrow was determined to resolve the situation before Rose succumbed to the virus and turned into a zombie. He couldn’t afford to divert his attention from the front, as any lapse in focus could lead to an immediate attack.

He reasoned that Rose could wait for the moment, as he and the other guy were now immune to the zombie virus after awakening their ability. Unless they faced an attack so fatal that it would cause instant death, they were confident in their survival. After all, they had been provided with vials of blue and black liquid for situations of serious danger.

With Rose having been bitten, Sparrow’s approach shifted. Unlike before, when he was worried about being attacked from all sides due to Rose still being a normal human, he now felt more confident. He and the other guy had already awakened their abilities, giving them an edge and making them more prepared for the situation.

Given that Rose had been bitten, it was nearly certain she would turn into a zombie. The only variables were how effectively she could fight off the virus or how resilient her immune system was. The longer she resisted, the more time Sparrow would have to deal with the evolved zombie. However, the moment she fully turned, Sparrow wouldn’t hesitate; he would immediately drive his dagger into her brain without a second thought.

Though it felt harsh to admit, Sparrow found a sense of freedom now that Rose was out of the picture. With her removed from the equation, he could focus on clearing the room of obstacles that the evolved zombie might use to hide or launch an ambush.

By removing these obstructions, he would gain a clearer view of the room and be able to spot any subtle movements. With his Talent ‘Scouting’, Gift ‘Hawk Eyesight’, and skill ‘Perception’, he was well-equipped to detect even the slightest ripple of movement.

With the combination of his Talent ‘Scouting,’ Gift ‘Hawk Eyesight,’ and skill ‘Perception,’ Sparrow could detect any movement within the room with remarkable precision. He could zoom in on even the slightest changes, such as dust rising under someone’s feet during a quick maneuver.

Regardless of how fast a creature moved, Sparrow could pick up on subtle signs of their motion. His skill ‘Perception’ allowed him to slow down time in his mind, enabling him to calculate and anticipate the enemy’s next move, even if he couldn’t read their muscle movements directly. This heightened awareness gave him the edge to attack or deflect based on his predictions.

Now that Sparrow had committed to fighting the evolved zombie head-on, his resolve to execute his plan flawlessly intensified. He guarded the ‘STAU’ with utmost vigilance, not only because it was invaluable to Kisha, but also because it was essential to the success of his own strategy.

However, with the way things were progressing, it would take some time before he could store all the items in his space. Sparrow felt his eyebrow twitch in frustration—not only did he have to remain in a hyper-aware state that was mentally exhausting, but he also had to protect them from the constant sneak attacks.

Since it was clear they’d be delayed, Sparrow signaled to Rose to inform the others outside. Rose quickly complied, despite her labored breathing and the profuse sweating. She was still lucid enough to carry out the task, but could feel her body gradually weakening as the virus took its toll.

Determined to help while she still could, Rose pressed the button on the walkie-talkie. “Anyone hearing this, over?”

A long, crackling static followed, filling the room with an eerie, nerve-wracking tension that seemed to amplify the sense of dread hanging in the air.

Grzzzz.

“Yes, we hear over.”

“Good. Sparrow, one of the ‘Space Type Ability Users,’ and I are gathering supplies. Don’t bother coming in—just keep guarding the perimeter until we’re out. Got it?” Rose’s voice, laced with both seriousness and dread, conveyed more than just the message. Even without her explaining further, the person on the other end could sense that something had gone terribly wrong inside the storage room.

The unspoken warning was clear: stay put and protect the perimeter. Any attempt to enter would only cause more trouble, becoming a hindrance rather than help.

“Roger that,” came the simple reply, which reassured both Sparrow and Rose. On the other end, the recipient wasted no time in relaying the message to the others, ensuring they heightened their vigilance. Their task now was clear: prevent any zombies or distractions from entering the store and disrupting Sparrow’s fight. Any interference could tip the balance and put the group at a serious disadvantage.

Looking back, Sparrow realized the signs had been there all along—he just hadn’t noticed them right away. The absence of zombies around the gas station was already a red flag. The chaotic scene outside hinted at a struggle, possibly when someone had locked the infected person inside the storage during their transformation.

The fact that the padlock on the outside remained untouched was proof enough that this was no ordinary situation; a dangerous predator had been trapped inside from the beginning.

It was likely the same group of people who had looted the shelves outside but avoided the storage altogether. They must have known there was a zombie inside and didn’t want to risk it.

Just then, Sparrow heard a sharp whistling in his ear, signaling another incoming attack—this time aimed at Rose. However, Sparrow was ready. Anticipating movement, he instinctively raised his dagger, relying solely on his gut and reflexes, blindly deflecting the strike before it could hit her.

Clank!

Grah!

Sparrow successfully intercepted the attack aimed at Rose. It seemed the evolved zombie was determined to pick them off one by one, starting with the weakest. Logically, Rose shouldn’t have been the target—the ‘STAU,’ standing behind Sparrow, was the more vulnerable one. Yet, the evolved zombie chose her, a move that puzzled him.

The only explanation Sparrow could come up with was that the evolved zombie was assessing their energy levels and targeting perceived vulnerabilities. Since Rose hadn’t awakened her abilities yet, she lacked the energy fluctuations that the others displayed, making her appear as the weakest link and thus a prime target.

The evolved zombie might have realized this after its initial failed attack, or perhaps it was driven by a grudge against Rose for thwarting its first strike. It could be targeting her out of revenge for its earlier failure.

The stalemate persisted for over half an hour until the ‘STAU’ had completed Sparrow’s orders. He managed to store all the items in his space, but the effort had drained both his mental capacityand physical energy. Now, he appeared as wilted and exhausted as a withering plant behind Sparrow.

Sparrow could feel the ‘STAU’ behind him, slumped against his back, unable to support himself. He couldn’t ask Rose to tend to the ‘STAU’ either, as she was barely holding herself upright. Her ragged breathing spoke volumes—she was struggling just to fend off the virus invading her system.