Zombie Domination-Chapter 46- Hope

The acting leader stood amidst the chaos, sweat dripping from his brow as he watched Celestia struggle to rise. He clenched his fists tightly. If we don’t act now... we’re done for. All of us.

Taking a deep breath, He stepped forward, his voice cracking as he shouted, "Wait! Please!"

The attackers paused, turning their eyes toward him.

Hans raised his hands. "My name is Hans Torent. I’m the acting leader of the civilians here."

The man with the lightning skill arched an eyebrow, amused. "And?"

Hans continued, his voice trembling but determined, "We’ve had enough of this life... starving, hiding, waiting to die. We’ll go with you, just let us join your group."

A beat of silence. Then, the man burst into laughter. "Ha! Hahaha! Did you hear that, boys? Look at them! The people this ice queen worked so hard to protect are the first to abandon her when things turn ugly."

He turned his eyes back to Celestia, who knelt on the ground, still smoldering with pain but unwavering.

"Tell me, Lieutenant," he said mockingly, "how does it feel? To be tossed aside like trash by the very people you risked your life for?"

Celestia looked up at him with her signature frost in her gaze. "It doesn’t matter. I was just following my orders."

"Hmph. Still so proud." He knelt down and grabbed her chin between his fingers. "What if I offered you something better? Be mine, and I’ll treat you well. You’re not bad to look at, and I like a woman with spirit."

Celestia didn’t even flinch. "I’d rather die than serve a pig like you."

His smile twisted. "Tch... Such a shame. But I’ll give you time to reconsider."

He stood up and waved his hand. "Bind her. All of them. We’re taking them back."

His men moved quickly, tying up the wounded soldiers and forcing them to their feet.

Then Hans stepped forward again. "Wait! What about us? We’re willing! Just let us come with you!"

The man looked at him, then sneered. "Did I say I needed you? No. You’re weak. Parasites. Trash."

Hans stammered, "B-But... we can’t survive out here—!"

The man’s underling raised his rifle and shouted, "Shut up! Next time you speak without permission, I’ll blow your damn head off!"

The civilians froze in terror. No one dared utter another word. Some whimpered, others bit their lips until they bled, but none moved.

Climbing into his vehicle, the man gave one last look at Hans through the window, grinning with cruelty. "Good luck finding your next group, parasites."

With that, their convoy rumbled to life and drove off, taking Celestia and her remaining forces with them, leaving the broken civilians behind in silence and fear.

------×------

Julian gripped the steering wheel tightly, the road rumbling beneath the tires as they sped forward through the dead city. Suddenly, a sharp flash of lightning tore across the distant skyline, unnaturally close and violent. It wasn’t from the clouds.

Clarissa leaned forward, eyes wide. "Was that lightning...? Is it going to rain?"

Julian narrowed his gaze at the horizon, then muttered, "No... that came from the direction of Celestia’s base." He shifted gears. "Everyone, buckle up and hold on tight. I’m stepping on it."

The vehicle roared louder as Julian slammed his foot down, the cityscape becoming a blur.

Minutes later, they arrived at the outer perimeter of the temporary military shelter, but what greeted them was devastation.

The barricades were broken. Smoke drifted into the sky. Supplies lay scattered across the blood-stained ground.

Julian jumped out of the car and scanned the area until his eyes fell on a man slumped against the wall. He rushed over. "What happened here? Where is Celestia?"

The man looked up slowly, his face gaunt and pale. "She was taken... by a group that claimed we stole their food. But we didn’t. We never did..."

His name was Hans, Julian recognized him from the group that had caused trouble earlier.

Veronica, Clarissa, Emma, and Aya stood behind Julian, all with nervous expressions and cold sweat forming on their brows.

Julian narrowed his eyes. Of course... the food they had looted from the butcher shop. He clenched his fists. So that’s what started this mess...

"Do you know where they went?" he asked, voice tight.

Hans shook his head. "No... But...please, are you leaving again? Can you take us with you? We have nowhere else to go..."

Others gathered around now. Dirty, exhausted civilians with pleading eyes. "Please! We won’t complain anymore! We swear!"

"We’ll follow any orders!"

"We’re sorry, just... don’t leave us behind!"

Julian stared at them in silence for a long moment. He knew the truth, these people were weak, helpless. They would slow him down. They weren’t soldiers, and they had already turned their backs on Celestia the moment the pressure rose.

With a cold expression, he replied, "I’m not taking cowards like you."

He reached into his inventory and pulled out crates of food, the supplies they’d taken from the mall. He dropped them in front of the crowd.

"This settles my debt. Nothing more."

Then he turned his back to their cries.

As the group lunged desperately for the food, fighting and scrambling over each other like starving animals, Julian walked calmly back to his vehicle.

"That’s mine!"

"No, I saw it first!"

"Back off! That’s my share!"

Julian didn’t look back.

He opened the car door, climbed in, and started the engine.

Emma glanced over from the passenger seat. "So... what now? Are we going after Celestia?"

Julian’s eyes didn’t leave the path ahead. His voice was calm but sharp as steel.

"We’re going to war. Gear up."

The car sped off into the dust, following the tire marks left behind by the group that had dared to touch what was his.

-------×-------

The iron doors clanged shut behind them, echoing through the cold, damp corridor as Celestia and her surviving squad members were shoved into a makeshift prison cell deep within the enemy’s compound. Chains rattled. The stench of rust and blood filled the air.

One of the captors sneered at them through the bars. "If any of you try to escape... you’ll die where you stand."

The steel-toed footsteps faded down the hall, and silence settled over the cell, until one voice broke the stillness.

"...It’s over, isn’t it?" whispered Reinar toss, a lean, sharp-eyed soldier with short ash-blonde hair and a restless energy in his limbs. His specialty was [Quick], a speed-based skill that let him outmaneuver enemies, but now, with exhaustion weighing him down, even speed was meaningless.

Across from him, a broader figure leaned back against the stone wall. Cassian Drehl, stoic with midnight-black hair and a calm gaze, replied firmly, "Don’t say that. We’re not finished yet." Cassian possessed [Precision], every attack he made could strike the enemy’s weak points with lethal accuracy.

Reinar scoffed bitterly. "And what do you want me to say? We’re starving, exhausted, and rotting in a cage! What kind of war is this?! Even our commanders left us to die. What the hell were we fighting for?"

His voice cracked, and for a moment, silence returned.

Then Celestia, still kneeling from the pain of her injuries, looked up slowly, her silver hair matted with dried blood, her eyes cold but steady. "This is my fault."

Heads turned toward her.

She continued, "We’re here because I wasn’t competent enough to protect you all. I was too slow. Too naive. If you want someone to blame, blame me."

Reinar opened his mouth, but she raised her voice.

"But don’t ever give up on yourselves. Don’t let my failure be your end. If I’m to carry that guilt... I want it to be for people who are still alive."

A heavy silence followed, and then, slowly, one by one, her squad lifted their heads.

Hike Brenwald, known for his unshakable discipline and [Suppression] skill, stood and pounded a fist against the wall. "She’s right. We’re not done yet. We will survive this."

Another voice rose, a defiant smirk forming on cracked lips. "Maybe... just maybe... he’ll come for us."

It was Igan Volter, muscular and slightly scorched from past battles. His ability, [Ignite], allowed him to channel fire through his body and weaponry, perfect for short-range havoc. "That Julian guy, he sliced that mutated zombie like it was butter. You all saw it. Maybe he’ll—"

Reinar scoffed. "That guy? You mean the flirt driving around with four girls like it’s some post-apocalypse harem?"

A few chuckles bubbled from the despair, even if they were short-lived.

Then, a quiet voice cut through them.

"I believe he’ll come."

The soldiers turned to the back corner of the cell, where a small-framed young woman with chin-length raven hair sat quietly hugging her knees.

Mira Velin. Petite, soft-spoken, and often overlooked. Her face flushed as attention turned to her.

"I left a signal... a trace," she said shyly.

Hike blinked. "What do you mean?"

Mira hesitated, then looked up. "I... I didn’t tell anyone, but I have a skill. It’s called [Light Bloom]. It makes a small light visible only at night. It’s weak and... I always thought it was useless."

She bowed her head. "I’m sorry I never told you. I was... ashamed."

Celestia’s lips parted in faint surprise, then softened.

"Mira..." she said, her voice low but firm. "That may be our one hope."

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