The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 75: Ch : Rising Tensions- Part 1

The sun hung low in the sky as Selene and Ethan walked side by side, their pace unhurried despite the undercurrent of tension from the earlier encounter with Valeria Clinton.

The crisp air bit at Selene’s cheeks, but her expression remained thoughtful, her gaze fixed ahead.

"You don’t have to make the Vale family your enemy for my sake. This is my fight. You don’t need to get involved"

Selene said, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft but steady.

This was not a fight Ethan needed to be a part of.

Once upon a time, Selene might have accepted his help, but she no longer wanted Ethan to be involved in her family mess and she made herself clear.

Ethan’s stride did not falter, his expression as calm as ever.

However, despite not remembering a thing about her or her family, Ethan proved to be a noisy person.

"You’re giving them too much credit. The Vale family isn’t important enough for me to care. I’m doing what I want to do. They’re the ones choosing to make me their enemy."

He replied but then stopped for a second before continuing.

"Besides, something in me tells me that I need to help you out. Just think of this as my whim."

Ethan’s words hung in the air, heavy with certainty.

Selene couldn’t suppress the laugh that bubbled up. It was genuine and light, a stark contrast to the weight of their conversation.

"You know, that attitude really suits you. You do look better when you are confident."

She said, her lips curving into a smile.

Ethan shot her a sidelong glance, his own lips quirking up.

"Of course I do. But let me correct you there. I look good no matter what I do!"

If Ethan’s earlier words had not managed to drag a laugh out of Selene, this one definitely did.

By the time they reached home, the atmosphere had lightened considerably.

They found Zara and Orion waiting for them, Zara with a steaming mug of coffee and Orion sprawled out on the couch with a book in hand.

"You’re back! How did it go? Ethan did not kill anyone, right? Are we on the wanted list? Should I prepare to run away?"

Zara’s face brightened as they walked in. She was just teasing the pair, but her words had just enough edge to tell Selene that she was serious.

No one had faith in Ethan to be able to hold himself back.

Ethan made an offended expression, but did not say much. He took a seat and left it up to Selene to explain what happened.

Selene exchanged a glance with Ethan before addressing the team.

"We’ve been recruited for the raid on ’Plentiful Collections’—and we won’t be alone. The Vale family is sending their own representatives as well."

Zara’s expression darkened.

"So, ’those people’ will be there too. Will you be okay?"

Orion sat up, his book forgotten.

"What people? Are we talking about the Vale people?"

He sounded a little confused but he was bright enough to pick up the context clues and quieten donw.

Selene shrugged.

"Probably. If I’m not, I’m counting on you guys to keep me in check."

Her words drew warm smiles from her team. Zara reached over to give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"We’ve got you."

Orion nodded, his expression serious.

"No one messes with our support and gets away with it."

The support made Selene’s chest feel warm, and for a moment, the gnawing anxiety about the upcoming raid eased.

______

The next morning, Selene rose early.

She sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers absently tracing the cool metal of the pendant around her neck as she let her thoughts drift back to her memories of ’Plentiful Collections.’

The last time she had entered this dungeon, it had almost killed her.

She had been inexperienced, unprepared, and sent in as nothing more than a pawn. The Vale family had used her as disposable, a weak link in a chain meant to break.

Not this time.

Selene stood, rolling her shoulders to release the tension. She would not let the same mistakes repeat themselves.

The Vale family would likely use this dungeon as a test ground, sending in the underprepared and undertrained. The casualties had been high before, and Selene refused to let that happen again.

Her resolve hardened. She would keep as many people alive as possible—whether the Vale family liked it or not.

She met the rest of her team in the living room, all of them geared up and ready to go.

Ethan had already double-checked their supplies, Zara had mapped out their exit routes, and Orion was running a final diagnostics on his barrier generator.

"Everyone ready?"

Selene asked.

Zara nodded.

"Let’s show them how it’s done."

Orion grinned.

"I’m ready to break some records."

Ethan remained silent, but his presence alone was reassuring.

Together, they headed out.

When they arrived at the entrance to ’Plentiful Collections,’ a nervous government representative stood waiting for them.

The man was a bundle of nerves, his fingers twitching as he held a clipboard against his chest.

As soon as he spotted Selene, his expression shifted to something akin to relief. He took a step forward, mouth opening to greet her—

But before he could speak, Valeria Clinton strode into view. Her boots clicked sharply against the pavement, each step a reminder of her authority and intent.

Her narrowed eyes zeroed in on Selene and Ethan, her expression a storm cloud of barely concealed hostility.

"Well, well! If it isn’t the government’s little pets.

Valeria drawled, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

The representative shrank back, his confidence crumbling under the weight of Valeria’s presence. His shoulders hunched, and he glanced nervously between the two groups, clearly wishing to be anywhere else.

Selene remained unruffled.

Ethan, on the other hand, offered Valeria a small, polite smile, the kind one might give a stray dog.

"Clinton. Here to play nice, or are you hoping to finish what you started yesterday?"