The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 85: Ch : Threat of the Parasite- Part 2

Once everyone was safely outside the dungeon gate, Selene took a moment to catch her breath.

The cool air felt sharp in her lungs, a stark contrast to the suffocating heat inside the burning dungeon.

The survivors were sprawled on the ground, some coughing, others wiping soot from their faces.

Relief painted every expression, but an undercurrent of dread lingered.

However, they were not out of the danger zone just yet.

Selene straightened, her voice clear and steady as she addressed the group.

"Listen up. There’s something you all need to know."

Eyes turned toward her, a mix of gratitude and wariness.

"The monster we faced inside wasn’t just a beast—it was an infection. A parasite. It can control minds and take over bodies. Valeria wasn’t herself back there. She was a puppet."

A ripple of horror passed through the crowd. The government official, pale and trembling, opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Before you panic, I need to check something."

Selene’s eyes looked at the group in front of her as she spoke.

Her Insight skill activated, her irises glowing faintly as she scanned the group.

Threads of energy and signatures of life flared in her vision—each person appeared as a silhouette surrounded by a soft glow.

But interspersed among them were darker, twisted shapes—echoes of the same signature she’d seen in the dungeon.

Her blood ran cold. The parasites were still present. Dormant, but very much alive.

"It’s not over. Everyone, stay where you are! No one leaves yet."

She muttered, then raised her voice.

People shifted uncomfortably. A woman clutched her child tighter.

"What’s going on?"

One man demanded, his voice brittle with fear.

"There are still parasites among us. They’re dormant for now, but if we don’t act, they could take control."

Selene said bluntly.

The crowd erupted. Some screamed, others accused her of deception.

"She wants to keep us here! She’s trying to isolate us!"

"Who made you the leader, Shadow?"

"She burned the dungeon—maybe she brought the parasites herself!"

Selene remained unfazed by the chaos, her expression stone-cold. She subtly signaled to Ethan, and without hesitation, he moved.

In one fluid motion, Ethan slipped through the crowd, stopping behind a man who had been particularly vocal.

His hand snapped out, delivering a precise strike to the back of the man’s neck.

The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Before anyone could react, a thin, wet squelch echoed.

An eye, grotesque and unblinking, opened on the man’s back, surrounded by writhing, translucent tendrils.

Screams filled the air. People scrambled backward, some tripping over rocks and debris.

"That’s what we’re dealing with. The parasite hides until it feels threatened. If it takes control, it won’t just stop at you—it will spread to your families, your homes, your entire city."

Selene said, her voice cutting through the noise.

Her words hung heavy, and the panic slowly gave way to grim acceptance.

"What do we do?" freewebnøvel.com

the government official asked, his voice small and defeated. At least someone was willing to listen to her without Selene having to prove herself again and again.

"Stimulation. Extreme cold and extreme heat can kill these parasites. These parasites are extremely sensitive to a sudden temperature change. We can draw them out safely."

She turned to Noah, who was still reeling from what he had just witnessed.

"Noah, can you do it? It will be safer to cool the area than to burn it."

He swallowed, then nodded.

"Yeah. I can."

Selene guided him forward.

"Go one by one. Just a touch of ice at the back of the neck. If they’re infected, it’ll show."

Noah extended his hand, a soft blue glow emanating from his palm. He pressed it gently to the neck of an older woman.

Nothing happened. She exhaled in relief.

But the next person—a young man—twitched violently as a frozen mist spread across his skin.

The parasite emerged, an eye blinking angrily before it shriveled and died.

Noah moved methodically, and each time a parasite was exposed, Ethan or Zara eliminated it with swift precision.

By the end, over half of the group had been infected.

The survivors were exhausted, mentally and physically, but their relief was palpable. The parasites were gone.

The government official, looking a decade older than when they had entered the dungeon, approached Selene.

"You... you saved us. I don’t know how to thank you."

Selene regarded him coolly.

"You can start by giving our side better terms in the next negotiation. The Vale family isn’t the only force to be reckoned with. I’ll be in touch."

His nod was quick and eager.

"Of course. Whatever you need."

With the threat handled, Selene signaled for her team to regroup. She was about to lead them away when a hand caught her wrist.

It was Noah. His grip was firm, but not forceful. His expression was a storm of emotions—gratitude, confusion, and something close to desperation.

"We need to talk,"

He said, his voice thick.

Selene took a deep breath and gestured for Noah and Nora to follow her to a quieter spot away from the rest of the group.

The clearing was just beyond the edge of the camp, where the charred remains of the dungeon still smoldered and the air hung heavy with ash.

She cast a glance back at Ethan, who had taken a step forward as if to join them, but she raised a hand, her expression firm.

"Wait with Zara and Orion."

She said.

Ethan’s face fell, disappointment clear in his eyes.

But he knew better than to push. One look at Selene’s expression told him everything—this conversation was something she needed to handle alone.

With a resigned nod, he turned back to the others.

Once they were alone, the silence stretched, awkward and taut. Noah crossed his arms, his jaw clenched, while Nora looked between them, her eyes soft but cautious.

Selene didn’t waste time.

"You need to forget about me. Forget that you have a sister. It’s better for all of us."