The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 63: Ch : Burden of a Support- Part 3

Orion and Selene moved quietly, their eyes sharp as they surveyed the crowd.

The area surrounding the dungeon was a mix of chaos and desperation, with teams setting up camp, traders peddling supplies, and lone awakeners sitting on the dirt with hollow expressions.

Orion’s brows knitted together, his innocent confusion making him look even younger.

"Selene, why do some of them look... sick? Aren’t awakeners supposed to be an important asset?"

Selene’s gaze flicked to the huddled figures, their gaunt faces and bruised skin a clear sign of neglect.

Many of them were support-type awakeners, their abilities not as flashy or useful in combat situations.

They were the healers, the barrier makers, the enhancers—the ones who kept teams alive, but rarely received credit or care.

Even though awakeners were supposed to be rare, and useful, that did not mean they were treated equally. Especially at the start of the apocalypse.

"Don’t pay attention to them, Orion. We need to focus on our mission."

She said, her voice soft but firm. She did not want Orion to feel bad because of his inability to help these people.

Inside, however, her heart twisted.

She remembered the early days of the apocalypse all too well—how support-types were discarded or abused, treated as nothing more than tools.

She had seen too many souls broken by the callousness of others.

As they passed a particularly ragged man, his hand reached out, fingers trembling as he tried to grab Orion’s sleeve.

Most people gathered here were fodder for other teams to exploit. But at the current time, Selene could do nothing for them. She needed more time to establish a place to keep these supports safe in the future.

His lips moved, a whisper of a plea, but before he could utter a sound, Selene’s hand shot out, turning Orion away.

"Let’s find Zara and Ethan."

She said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Orion hesitated, his gentle nature at odds with Selene’s sudden urgency, but he trusted her and moved on. His footsteps faded, and the crowd swallowed him up.

Selene knelt down, her cloak pooling around her, and met the man’s dull eyes. She felt sorry for him, so she decided to help him out.

"You’re a support-type, aren’t you?"

She asked, her voice low, so only he could hear her.

The man nodded, tears slipping silently down his grimy cheeks. His body was thin, bones protruding, and his clothes hung off him like rags.

"Hold on! A place for people like you is coming soon. Don’t give up. We all will be treated like humans once more."

She whispered.

At this time, what these people needed the most was reassurance and a way to hold on. And Selene decided to give it to this old man.

She slipped a ration bar into his hand, her fingers brushing his icy skin. The man’s eyes widened, his expression a mix of gratitude and disbelief.

But the small act of kindness was like blood in the water. Other support-types nearby noticed, their eyes lighting up with desperation.

"Please, miss! Help me!"

"Just a bite! I’ll do anything!"

"Please! Help me! I have a small child to feed as well! Don’t abandon me!"

Hands reached out, clawing and grasping, their need overpowering their restraint. Selene stood quickly, but their bodies closed in, and she stumbled, her balance lost.

"Damn it! I don’t have nearly enough. I need to get back before I am buried under these people."

She muttered, as the crowd pressed in, their voices rising to a frenzy. Her voice sounded small and she could not even hear herself properly.

Her arm was caught, a vise-like grip pulling her down. She hit the ground, and for a moment, all she saw were hands and faces, hungry and wild.

"Back off!"

The voice cut through the chaos, a sharp command that froze the air. A strong hand grabbed her arm, yanking her up with surprising gentleness.

Selene broke through the tangle of bodies, gasping, and her eyes met Ethan’s.

His usual carefree smile was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his expression was cold, his gaze sharp, and his presence imposing.

The other awakeners shrank back, their hopeful pleas turning to muttered apologies.

Ethan didn’t speak, but his intentions were clear. Anyone who dared approach again would regret it.

Selene steadied herself, her breath evening out, and she nodded to Ethan in thanks.

He took her hand, interlacing their fingers, and kept her close as they moved through the crowd, his shoulders a barrier against the press of bodies.

When they were safely away, he finally spoke, his voice low.

"You okay?"

Selene nodded, but the tension in her shoulders remained.

"I’m fine. Just got careless. I will make sure this doesn’t happen again."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, but he didn’t push her. Instead, he squeezed her hand, a silent reminder that she was not alone.

As they approached Zara and Orion, who were waiting by the dungeon entrance, Selene felt the weight of too many eyes on her. The awakeners who had reached for her earlier now watched from the shadows, their expressions wary and curious.

She knew her small act of kindness had sparked something, but whether it was hope or danger, she wasn’t sure yet.

"What happened?"

Zara asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked over Selene for injuries.

"Nothing we can’t handle."

Ethan said, his smile returning, though it was still edged with frost.

Orion looked between them, his innocent confusion now tempered with caution.

"Are we still going in?"

Selene took a breath, pushing aside the unease and focusing on the task at hand. freёnovelkiss.com

"Yes. We’re not here to play nice. Let’s clear this dungeon before anyone else does."

Her team nodded, their expressions resolute, and as they stepped forward, Selene tucked away the memory of the support-type awakeners’ faces, promising herself that when the time was right, she would do more than offer a ration bar.

For now, the dungeon awaited, and the real battle was just beginning.