My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Rescue
After eliminating the four individuals accountable for Mrs. Winters’s death, he finds that it fails to satisfy his thirst for vengeance. Perhaps only by extinguishing the entire Coltons will his rage finally dissipate, and only then might his heart find peace, assured that there will be no further threats looming over them.

With a heavy heart, he gathered their belongings, meticulously checking for communicators and other useful equipment. Sure enough, they indeed possessed a communicator, albeit damaged. He couldn’t ascertain whether it was intentionally sabotaged or if the damage occurred prior to or during the altercation. Unfortunately, without a technician among them, resolving the mystery seemed an impossibility.

After collecting the belongings of their enemies, Sparrow descended from the 7th floor to where his teams were still mourning the loss of Mrs. Winters. However, during his descent, he noticed something peculiar, compelling him to detour to the opposite side where Duke and the others were located. There, he left the loot before returning to the bridge to conduct further investigation.

After Mrs. Winters’s tragic fall from the bridge, a profound stillness settled over the group. Gripped by grief, they remained rooted to their spot, focused on consoling the Patriarch and Mr. Winters. Meanwhile, the other guards, though tearful, maintained their posts, honoring Mrs. Winters’s memory with their steadfast defense. To them, she was more than just their master’s mother; she was the epitome of kindness, a maternal figure who provided not only shelter but also a sense of belonging and familial love they had never known.

They hesitated to cross the bridge in the aftermath of Mrs. Winters’s fall, still grappling with the shock and grief of the event. Meanwhile, relentless zombie attacks persisted, compounding their unease. Some had already depleted their ammunition and spare rounds, leaving them with no choice but to rely solely on cold weapons for defense.

Rather than retreating, they channeled their anger and grief into relentless attacks against the oncoming zombies. Each strike served as a release for their pent-up emotions, and it was evident to any observer that the zombies had become mere punching bags for their collective frustration. Sympathy seemed to be reserved not for the relentless attackers, but for the hapless zombies caught in their path.

Observing the collective unrest among the group, Sparrow assumed the responsibility of investigating the incident. Sprinting to the middle of the bridge, he examined the crack closely. Though present, it appeared insufficient to cause the entire structure to collapse. Additionally, he noticed bloodstains on the bridge’s surface, likely remnants from either the fallen guard or Mrs. Winters, prompting further inquiry into the tragic events that had unfolded.

However, the true cause of concern lay with the vines he spotted dangling from the bridge. Sparrow crouched down at the bridge’s edge, gripping the rope still tied to the railings for support as he leaned over to inspect further.

“SHE’S ALIVE!!!” Sparrow’s shout pierced through everyone’s eardrums, causing them to momentarily jerk in surprise. In an instant, Mr. Winters and the Patriarch ceased their tears and rushed over to the edge of the railing, following Sparrow’s gaze.

Without Sparrow’s ‘Hawk Eyesight’ gift, he wouldn’t have discerned the subtle rise and fall of Mrs. Winters’s chest from their considerable distance. Suspended about 10 meters below, she was entwined in thick green vines, each as robust as an adult’s arm. Unconscious, blood trickled from a graze on her forehead, though from Sparrow’s vantage point, it appeared more severe due to the blood’s dramatic effect.

She likely lost consciousness after the fall and was startled by the subsequent attack. However, what puzzled Sparrow was the origin of the vines and how they ended up entangling Mrs. Winters. With little time to dwell on this mystery, his attention snapped back to the immediate danger as he heard the telltale sound of the earth bridge crumbling under the weight of two adults in its center.

After confirming Mrs. Winters’s condition below, Sparrow swiftly returned to the other side to procure a new set of thick rope. Instructing the others to prepare for the rescue, he ensured the rope was securely fastened to the railing. Rushing back to the middle of the bridge, he carefully descended the vines. Drawing close to Mrs. Winters, he adjusted his position, hanging upside down to facilitate tying the rope around her waist, as she was cradled among the vines.

To ensure her safety during the rescue, he looped the rope around her torso, distributing the pulling force evenly across her body. Additionally, he utilized some of the vines as a cushion around her, providing extra protection against potential fractures.

After he was sure that everything was safe enough, he slowly cut off the vines that were holding her and before he cut the remaining vine, he also grabbed the rope above his head tied to Mrs.Winters’s body so that once the vines are out of the picture and they fall another 5 meters down towards the apartment building, he could assist Mrs. Winters not to crash to the wall if he were there with her and he could use his wind ability to cushion their impact while he also makes sure that no zombies on the balconies of the apartments below would get the chance to touch her.

With a plan firmly set in his mind, Sparrow moved forward and severed the remaining vines. Sensing their descent, he seized the rope and braced himself, ready to conjure a whirlwind at a moment’s notice.

As Sparrow and Mrs. Winters descended, anxiety gripped everyone on Duke’s side, while those on Tristan’s side held their breath, watching with bated anticipation as they neared to crash into the apartment wall.

With one misstep, the impact could have resulted in severe injury or worse. However, as a skilled elite under Duke’s command, Sparrow’s comrades’ anxiety and worry proved unnecessary. Sparrow executed the maneuver flawlessly, cushioning their impact with a timely whirlwind, thwarting the danger just in time. The force even sent the zombies on the balcony flying, providing Sparrow with an opportunity to swiftly deal with the threat.

After confirming Mrs. Winters’s safety dangling below, the guards on Duke’s side began to hoist the rope upward while Sparrow released his grip and leaped from balcony to balcony ahead. His mission: was to ensure no zombies would impede their progress as they pulled Mrs. Winters to safety.

Upon witnessing his wife being pulled to safety, Mr. Winters dashed up the bridge, intent on reuniting with her. However, before he could ascend, Vulture, sensing his intentions, utilized his earth’s ability to reinforce the earth bridge, ensuring it posed no further danger to anyone.

Only after ensuring the bridge was reinforced did Vulture exhale a sigh of relief. With the immediate danger averted, they resumed their defensive efforts with renewed vigor. As Mr. Winters safely crossed the bridge, the rest of their team followed suit, one after the other, marking a collective push towards safety.

It took some time to safely pull Mrs. Winters up to their level, as the distance of 5 meters was considerable, and they had to proceed cautiously to prevent any mishaps. The slow, deliberate process was crucial to ensure she didn’t collide with the railing or put too much strain on the rope, which could risk breaking it. Mr. Winters remained vigilant, closely supervising the operation to ensure his wife’s safety and prevent any further harm.