After a quick discussion about how tomorrow’s operation was going to take place, everyone began eating at the dinner table, their minds focused on the tasks ahead of them.

"I’ll go tuck her in bed," Marie said gently as she took her daughter from Leon, then went to her room.

The girl was already feeling sleepy and had almost fallen asleep in Leon’s arms.

Leon watched them leave, then his gaze shifted to Selene. She was staring straight at him.

’?’

Although initially confused, Leon quickly concluded that she simply had something to tell him. So, once he was done with his meal, he headed upstairs to wait for her.

He could hear the words of the students they had rescued coming from the other room, and he couldn’t help but feel that the apartment building had become livelier.

Hearing the sound of calm footsteps, Leon raised his head and caught a pair of cold blue eyes staring at him. If it was anyone else, they might have flinched from the cold intensity of that gaze.

However, Leon remained completely unfazed by her icy gaze. After all, she was only a temporary ally. Eventually, they’d go their separate ways.

"Well? Let me guess. You’ve reached Level 24?"

Selene replied, her voice frigid as usual, "No... Level 25."

Leon raised an eyebrow in surprise, seeing that this young lady had actually caught up to him. However, that barely mattered.

"In that case, I’ll assume you have already seen your evolution requirements," He said, earning a short nod from her.

Leon continued, "That makes it easier. Once you’ve completed your evolution requirements, you’d be offered a list of classes to choose from. One advice, though."

His voice turned low and deep.

"Do not make the mistake of choosing a class randomly. That class determines your growth in the future. I hope you understand."

Selene’s gaze left his face for a moment as she fell into deep thoughts. Then, she looked at him and nodded.

"I will remember your advice."

Immediately after, she asked her question, "Are you still intent on finding your family, or have you already given up?"

She stared into his eyes, searching for an honest answer. There was a reason why she asked. Although she wasn’t against the idea of having a base and rescuing humans, she still prioritized finding her mother and her elder sister more.

Therefore, to her, this act of starting a survivor base would only slow her down. Hence, she decided to ask Leon his current motive since he also had a similar goal to hers.

Leon tilted his head, blinking in surprise. "Given up?"

He chuckled, the sound soft and pleasant to the ears.

"No, I’ve not given up. It’s still my strongest desire. However, I learned something when we left Manhattan."

Selene perked up her ears, curious.

"Personal strength might be enough to protect you, but it isn’t enough to let you move unhindered. You’re Level 25 now, aren’t you? Can you break through a horde of Level 10 zombies numbering up to half a million? That’s very unlikely."

He turned his gaze to the ceiling, as if he could see through it and see the night sky.

"That’s why I understood that to truly reach the peak where you can protect your loved ones, you must have sufficient strength and competent partners. Or else it’d only be the pipe dream of a madman."

Selene fell silent at his words, then nodded. "I understand. We keep pushing, then."

Without saying anything, she turned around and walked to her room, her back fading like that of an enchanting goddess met in a dream.

Leon lingered for a few seconds before returning to his room.

His words hadn’t been for Selene alone. It was also for himself.

’Against something like that Manhattan zombie horde, a group of five to ten evolvers wouldn’t be enough.’

Of course, that was unless they were all overpowered protagonists of a novel. However, that was even more absurd, as even a novel only has one protagonist. Besides, this was reality where there was no plot armor.

’Therefore, I’ll go with the army route.’

With renewed determination, he stepped into his room and immediately locked eyes on Thyra.

She was lying on his bed, reading a novel she had found from who-knows-where. Seeing him enter, she turned to him with a smile.

"Oh, your talk with that block of ice ended early?"

Hearing her description of Selene, Leon couldn’t hold back a small laugh, which surprised him. He was actually getting relaxed around Thyra. Perhaps this was because she had been with him since the beginning of the apocalypse.

Leon soon dismissed the thought, since he actually enjoyed her company.

Taking off his shirt, he put on a singlet instead and approached the bed.

"Get up. I want to sleep."

Instantly, Thyra’s expression soured. "Why would you be so mean? Don’t bully me, Leon. I haven’t felt the comfort of a bed in a while."

"You did enjoy it this afternoon," He countered, his lips twitching.

Still, she pretended as if she didn’t hear him and patted the space beside her.

"Come on, don’t be stingy with something as mundane as a bed. I won’t bite you."

Leon’s gaze shifted between the bed and her, hesitation in his eyes. Then, he relaxed. Giving up on any argument, he pulled the sheets and tucked himself under the covers, his shoulders a few inches from hers.

Glancing at the lady who was now engrossed in whatever novel she was reading, he gave a little warning before deciding to sleep.

"Behave yourself, naughty demon."

Thyra chuckled but didn’t respond. Seeing this, Leon was relieved and soon fell asleep.

Hearing the rhythmic breathing of the young man beside her, Thyra turned to her side and looked at him deeply. She propped up her head with her hand, getting a better view of his sleeping face.

’You’re sleeping next to the most desired woman in the Demonic Army, yet you’re so relaxed. I haven’t met any man like you, Leon. Your thick skin amuses me.’

Chuckling to herself, she lay down on her back and closed her eyes too. Although she didn’t really need sleep as she was a ghost, it wasn’t bad to engage in such mundane activity.

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open and she looked towards the window.

A streak of light flashed across the sky before splitting into countless shooting stars that spread across the world.

Thyra’s purple eyes glinted in the darkness.

’So, it has finally arrived.’