"Like a magician?" Mai's brows furrowed, holding her chin in thought.
Tysone took a moment to ponder the question. The similarities were not lost on him either, but that was besides the point. "Their flames aren't created by magic. At least, it didn't feel like magic. Seems more like some innate biological trait." Though he wouldn't rule out the possibility of 'magic' either. Magic was a difficult subject and thus hard to categorize as factual or fallacy, after all. "I would love it if there's something out there in this world or outside this world that is able to explain the exact source of their power, but in the current stage we are stuck in, it's far easier to treat this new threat as it is."
Saeko shifted back on the couch, crossing her legs as she nodded. "It was quite powerful physically and a big challenge to take on. There's no way normal citizens would last a single exchange with such a creature. And even then, what are the odds that normal weapons will bring these kinds of monsters down?"
"It... it was really scary..." Marin said, offering her own two cents. She hadn't really been a pivotal point of the battle. She had contributed little, especially in comparison to the others, but being involved meant she had witnessed and suffered the full horror of what 'them' were capable of. Shizuka patted her back soothingly, but in her heart she also feared the worst.
Kohta smiled sheepishly, one hand on his gun at all times. "The truth is that against these types of monsters, humans are starting to be outmatched... if not, it's going to take an amount of time to develop an anti-variant weapon..."
Yui's shoulders were hunched up a little, her fingers twitching and twisting her hair. Takashi's hands balled into fists. "I want to evolve too..."
Tysone could see the frustration clearly on Takashi's face. Everyone was dependent on Tysone and Saeko's prowess to keep the group alive, despite most of the rest being quite capable and determined as well. If they all could evolve... If they could have strength equal to Saeko's... they could take action instead of feeling weak and powerless.
They all had their own reasons for desiring such a feat. In short, they all wished for a strength that wouldn't cause the group to be held hostage, dependent on another.
Tysone sat on a chair beside them, legs parted, with both forearms propped on his knees. "I understand, Takashi. We'll do our utmost to ensure the core members of the are well-provided with 'cores' for evolution and right equipment in case you go through an awakening. Right now, we're working out how to acquire as much of that as we can in order to provide for everyone's needs. Our greatest, and right now only, assets are Saeko and myself. As much as that may disappoint you, the most important factor we have to consider, now, is the fact that neither Saeko nor I are able to supply an immediate fix. That's also taking into account that we don't always find evolved zombies lying about."
What's worse was that every evolved they met was different from each other, and more often than not more difficult to handle.
So this time, when their gazes drifted toward Tysone, filled with uneasiness, the latter only offered a nod and a firm affirmation. He wasn't going to let anyone go unsafe and unprotected in this current chaotic time.
"So, what should we do?" It was Rei's turn to ask, her tone grim as she crossed her arms under her impressive bust.
"We should stick together. Nothing much is going to change. We will continue to take in survivors whenever and wherever we can. We will search and loot for supplies, and more importantly, weapons and vehicles, in order to cover larger ground." He paused, and a heavy breath left his mouth. "Our objective is still the same, despite the new obstacles. New threats pop up every day. New mutants, and I can't guarantee everyone's safety. And that's exactly why we should keep striking, before the zombies get exponentially stronger than we already experienced."
Everyone shared a few uncertain and unsure glances.
In the end, a slow, though hesitant nod went through the majority.
The current predicament required action, not passiveness. No one present had a death wish. The plan was risky and probably insane, but it was the most pragmatic and it carried the best chances in the long term.
"Therefore, let me announce a new raid mission. We'll continue where we left off last time, this time, with a larger group. We can't afford to stay home anymore. With more manpower, and vehicles to haul supplies, I don't doubt that we can secure an effective way of scavenging, and maybe even kill more evolved—to evolve our numbers as fast as possible."
Saeko gave a slow nod of approval, her trusty katana always at her side.
"That being said, let's gear up. We'll go out in a couple of hours." Tysone informed, though not without being completely certain that they would succeed in this latest 'raid' and come out of it victorious and well supplied.
And of course, Saya was all kinds of weird around everyone else after having sex with her captain. Mai couldn't help but make a show of rolling her eyes.
…
Tysone had been waiting outside, his halberd readily in his hands. His grip strength had increased. The weapon barely weighed anything as if made out of cardboard. It was unreal how beyond human he felt. It wasn't the strength, not entirely, but the improved reaction time. The precision. His muscles could strain all they wanted but once his mind willed it, everything from his hands and legs followed in an instant. There were still limitations. But at the same time, his powers were surging to limits unknown to him, even now.
There was just... that feeling of invincibility. Of course, he wasn't stupid enough to believe he had the power to stroll through the apocalypse like an unbreakable God. But... Well, maybe... a demigod, was the best word to describe him at the moment. Or, at the very least, a fledgling of the concept.
Not to mention, as he tightened his grip on his halberd, something interesting happened. He focused on it. Willed it. And the handle began to heat up. Steam began to emit from it, covering it completely, surrounding it.
He sighed, pleased, a fiendish grin crossing his lips.
"Cool. Seems I gained the ability of fire too. Or is it heat only?" He was pleased. Very. The sheer versatility of his new ability could give him great tactical advantage, but it would take some getting used to. "I'll have to train more, of course." He nodded to himself, turning around just as footsteps approached him from behind.
Everyone filed out of the mansion and into the frontyard. They were all geared up. Leather clothes, covered helmets, body armors and vests. Anything and everything they could find that could help increase their chances at staying alive. Tysone nodded proudly at the sight. It felt like an elite squad, marching for battle.
"Looks like everyone is here." Tysone looked at each one of them, smiling confidently. Just as everyone looked back at him, brimming with the same determination and confidence. "Now, for obvious reasons, we have to leave some of you behind. First of all, the mansion can't stay vacant." Everyone nodded solemnly. "Second, someone has to take after poor Alice."
"Right, right." Alice, in the background, nodded twice, raising both her hands to her hips.
"I'll stay with our cute Alice!" Miku gushed, grabbing onto Alice's soft and lithe frame. She brought her to a tight embrace, sniffing on her like the cutiepie Alice was.
"Aghhh!"
Of course, poor Alice was unable to react, and thus trapped by Miku's fervent affection.
Tysone blinked slowly, staring at the duo. "Anyone else?"
Saya waved a hand, sighing. "I'll stay home too. I'm not as good or as capable as the others with weapons and whatnot..." She seemed conflicted, or rather, disappointed for being incapable of contributing on the battlefield. But she wasn't going to shun responsibility of protecting their temporary base just because of a lack of skills and competency.
"I'll stay too." One of the survivors, Haruto, a perpetually nervous teenager, said.
"You can't stay." Tysone was quick to shoot it down. "None of you who have been living it easy will stay home this time. How can I trust that you can protect yourselves if an evolved were to make its way inside? More importantly, your weakness could endanger others, which is something I won't tolerate."
The survivors gulped. Tysone never treated them unfairly, but he wasn't wrong either.
"You won't be at the frontline, but dealing with small fries shouldn't be an issue since we'll be there to ensure your safety. Now gear up and get in the truck."
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.