My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 742

Chapter 742: Chapter 742 Preparations
Seeing water appear out of nowhere left Dracon’s team wide-eyed in awe. They had been constantly worried about their limited water supply—barely having enough to drink, let alone clean themselves.

Yet here were Duke’s people, casually summoning clean water as if it were nothing. The realization hit them hard: they had been struggling, while these people had water-type awakened ability users who made water abundance look effortless.

They couldn’t help but marvel at the convenience and usefulness of such an ability. Some even found themselves wishing they had awakened powers that practical.

Interestingly, the water-type ability users weren’t from the HOPE Base Winters team—most of those had offensive abilities like fire, earth, or wind. These particular water-type users came from the Winters’ men from the hidden base, and their presence now proved to be a major asset.

Of course, even with such a power, there were limits. After filling several large drums with clean water for dishwashing and general use, the awakened ability users became visibly exhausted and had to rest off to the side while the others continued with the cleanup.

After a brief moment of wonder at witnessing something that felt almost magical, the survivors from Dracon’s side quickly shifted their focus. They were living in the middle of an apocalypse, after all—and adaptation was now second nature to them.

Seeing awakened ability users firsthand reminded them just how extraordinary the world had become, but also reinforced the importance of doing what they could to survive.

So, without needing to be told, they started helping with the cleanup. They began with the largest cooking pots and the massive rice cauldrons. Fortunately, Duke’s team had come prepared—even bringing dishwashing liquid, which made the cleaning process much easier.

After scrubbing the big pots clean, they filled them with fresh water and used them to rinse the plates and utensils. Those who were washing made sure that everything passed through multiple containers of clean water, ensuring all traces of dish soap and food residue were thoroughly removed.

They were careful and methodical—not just for neatness, but for safety. Any leftover food particles or soap residue could harbor bacteria, and in a post-apocalyptic world, a simple sickness could quickly escalate into a major issue, especially if it became contagious. Thankfully, since they didn’t lack water, they didn’t cut corners and followed proper hygiene steps diligently.

After the dishes were cleaned, there was still some water left over, and the Winters’ men generously allowed the survivors from Dracon’s team to use it to freshen up—especially to wash the children.

Kisha even provided soap and shampoo, making the gesture all the more meaningful. Grateful for the opportunity, Dracon’s team quickly took action, eager to make the most of it without wasting too much time.

The adults helped the younger children remove their clothes, and at that moment, no one cared about gender distinctions—most of the children were under ten, and survival had long since replaced modesty.

The older kids who were able to clean themselves did so in a corner, where the adults held up blankets to give them a bit of privacy. The younger ones were cleaned near the water drums by the adults, who used clean cloths to scrub away grime with soap.

They let the shampoo sit in the children’s hair for a while to break down layers of dried oil, dirt, and other residue that had built up over time.

When the children were finally clean, they were dressed in fresh clothes that Kisha had generously provided. The adults were so overwhelmed with gratitude that some of them had red eyes from holding back tears.

They seated the freshly cleaned children in a quiet corner, where they sat obediently, enjoying the comfort of being clean and warm.

Then, the adults began washing their own faces and hair, taking turns and working efficiently. Even this small act of self-care felt like a blessing—a rare moment of relief in their otherwise difficult journey.

After everything was done, Kisha and the convoy continued on their way. With everyone cleaned up, Kisha’s team could now clearly see what Dracon and the others looked like without the layers of dirt and grime.

Abby, in particular, looked even cuter with her big eyes and long lashes. Although her cheeks were still a bit sallow from malnutrition, she was undeniably beautiful—so much so that Grandma Alden found herself liking the girl more and more. Abby also knew how to act sweet and endearing, making it easy for the elders to warm up to her.

Once everyone had boarded the trucks, the convoy resumed their journey. After two more hours of smooth, uninterrupted travel, they finally reached the outskirts of the factory’s location.

At exactly three meters from the entrance to a narrow road, Sparrow brought his truck to a stop. The road ahead looked like it could accommodate the truck, but it was clearly a one-way path. If there were any obstacles farther in, turning the truck around would be difficult, if not impossible. Just as Kisha had anticipated, they would have to proceed on foot from here.

Everyone disembarked one by one, and the team quickly looked for a suitable place to park the trucks. Once they found a safe and strategic area, they positioned the vehicles in such a way that they wouldn’t need to maneuver them during an emergency escape. By doing this, they ensured that they already had a clear and prepared exit route—just in case things went wrong.

Since there were civilians in their group, part of the team needed to stay behind to secure the area and ensure that the exit route remained clear. That way, when the main team returned, they wouldn’t have to worry about any obstacles or last-minute threats.

Eagle, Hawk, and Bald Eagle were assigned to guard the rear and watch over the civilians. Once that was settled, Kisha and Duke led the main team forward. With them were Keith, the Aldens couple, and members of the Winters family—who were all capable fighters and could be well protected under Kisha and Duke’s leadership.

The Evans family also brought Melody and Mrs. Evans with the main group so they wouldn’t have to worry about them staying behind. This also allowed the Evans to personally keep an eye on the two.

Meanwhile, Dracon stayed behind to help protect his people, working alongside Eagle and the others. After Kisha’s team departed, Dracon, Eagle, Hawk, and Bald Eagle each took charge of a team and set up a defensive perimeter. Their main goal was to ensure that no zombies would sneak up from behind and trap Kisha’s team—a situation that could easily turn fatal.

As a precaution, Eagle and Hawk began setting up a series of traps around the area to slow down any potential zombie horde that might appear.

They carefully strung wire after wire, weaving them into an interconnected web designed to slice through anything that ran into it. The trap was designed with efficiency in mind—if a zombie charged straight into it, it would be torn into two or more pieces.

However, they also ensured that when the time came to leave, the wires could be easily cut, disarming the trap and allowing them to pass through safely. For now, the wires would serve as a perfect deterrent, stalling a zombie horde or even taking down one or two that wandered too close, all while the team lay in wait.