They had spent weeks honing their skills, focusing on training their bodies and mastering their weapons. As they gathered around the dinner table, exhausted but determined, conversation turned to the recent encounters with the undead.
"There are some zombies that can run," Souta remarked, her voice tinged with concern. "They're so much more dangerous than the slow ones."
"And they're incredibly attracted to noise," Lily added, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting the undead to appear at any moment.
"They're brainless walking dead bodies," Souta chimed in, his voice laced with both frustration and resignation. "We can't reason with them, but we can outsmart them."
Souta's mind began working on a plan to exploit the zombies' weaknesses. His eyes lit up as an idea sparked in his mind.
"I remember taking a working speaker from one of the houses," Souta said, excitement creeping into his voice. "We could set up some speakers in the opposite direction of where we're headed. Create a diversion, lure the zombies away with sound."
The group nodded, realizing the potential of Souta's plan. It was risky, but it could buy them the time they needed to raid the pharmacy safely.
With a week of intense training under their belts, Souta, Lily, Amy, Steff, and Nana loaded up in the pickup truck and set off toward the town. As they arrived at their destination, they made their way to a cluster of houses opposite the pharmacy to set up the speakers.
A few zombies in the vicinity noticed their presence, but the group dispatched them with ease. They hurriedly rigged the speakers, set a timer on Souta's phone, and started their trek towards the pharmacy.
As they approached, they came across the gate of their school, the sight that greeted them was disheartening. Many bodies of once they know is either laying lifeless or one of those walking dead.
It seems that the military had attempted a rescue operation, but it seemed to have gone awry. The plaza was infested with zombies, their numbers overwhelming.
Souta's group hesitated at the edge of the chaos, taking a moment to assess the situation.
"So that's where the gunshots we heard came from... the military did really failed." Amy whispered, her voice barely audible over the groans of the undead.
Souta's eyes narrowed, a flicker of determination burning within them. "We've come this far. Let's make the most of this opportunity. Move quickly and stay together."
They dashed towards the pharmacy, taking advantage of the diversion created by the blaring music from the speakers. The zombies were momentarily distracted, their attention diverted away from the group's approach.
Inside the pharmacy, they hurriedly gathered medicine and supplies, working as swiftly as they could. Lily stood guard at the entrance, her eyes darting between the medicine shelves and the occasional zombie that wandered close.
Minutes passed and they had successfully looted the pharmacy. Souta motioned for the group to leave, but a flicker of curiosity burned within him. He wanted to see if there was anything useful nearby at their old school, as the military is did rescue them.
They made their way towards the school, while Any and Lily wait for them to the pharmacy the journey taking them through a gruesome landscape of blood, bodies, and scattered organs. The horrors they witnessed were seared into their memories, but they pressed forward.
As they neared the school gate, they noticed a group of survivors huddled inside one of the classrooms that is near the gate.
"Look, Souta," Amy pointed, her voice filled with both hope and concern. "There are survivors."
Steff chimed in,
her voice tinged with empathy, "Should we help them?"
Souta's gaze fixed on the classroom, his mind racing. It was a risky move to involve more people, but if they could cooperate, their chances of survival might increase.
"If they're willing to follow my lead, then why not?" Souta decided, determination etched across his face.
They ran towards the classroom, Souta knocked on the door, thou Amy was the one to talk, her voice projecting a mix of urgency and sincerity.
"We're humans, and we want to help you. Open the door," Amy called out.
The survivors peered through the window, cautious yet desperate for aid. Slowly, they opened the door, revealing a room filled with weary faces
In the chaos of the abandoned school, a group of desperate survivors pleaded for help as Souta and his companions entered the classroom.
"Thank God, are you the rescue team?" some students asked, their eyes wide with hope.
Souta surveyed the room, noting the anxious faces of nearly 20 people, mostly students. As the class president, a girl with glasses, stepped forward, Amy and Souta recognized her.
"Hmm? Isn't she the school president?" Amy whispered to Souta.
"Yeah, you're right," he replied.
With authority, the class president asserted, "I am the leader here."
Souta's gaze locked onto her. "I'll let you join us if you all follow my instructions, but first, we need to get out of here."
"But how?" a student asked, voicing the collective concern.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Our car can only fit 5 people. What should I do?" Souta teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Me! Pick me!"
"No, me!"
"Me!"
The students clamored, their desperation clouding their judgment as they competed to be chosen.
Souta glared at them looking at them with disgust. "Wait!" the president intervened. "I think there's a working military truck nearby."
"Where is it? Do you have the key?" Souta asked.
"We don't have the key, but I can start it without one," she replied with confidence.
"As expected of the president," Souta remarked.
"We can't let you do that" These people aren't only students but also some military personnel that survived a girl with a fixed determination stepped in.
"Oh?" Souta raise an eyebrow
"You all are still kids, we can't let you go risking your lif" She said
"Oh? Then will you go there?" Souta asked
"..." but the military girl was in silence
"Heh, I thought so, If you really want to you can save this students from here but fear is taking over you, all of you, you follow president here because she can think straight despite this tradegy"
"That's why I admire her, more than you guys, if you are that strong then you wouldn't fail in the first place noh?"
An old looking man military stepped in, "Stop." And everyone went silent
"You're right young man, you've proven your point, we know it fully well and what you said is completely true, is it true that you can save these students from here?" He asked
"Yes" Souta asked with confidence
"If so then please save them, what you said was right we failed, that's why many of them died... even so if there is a chance that we can save these students we'll do everything, even if using us as a bait will do"
"Hey-" the school president try to but in
Souta giggled, "now that's the resolve I want, but that resolve won't matter, wait for us here with the truck and quickly get inside that's all"
"Thank you" the oldman said and bowed
"That's... the first time I saw our captain bowed" one of the military personnel said
"Shut up" one of the military said
They proceeded to their plan, president pointed them in the direction of the military truck, and the group split up to make preparations.
Souta, Amy, Steff, and the class president hurried to reach the military truck. They ran with determination, encountering some zombies along the way, but dispatching them with practiced ease.
Upon arriving at the truck, they encountered more zombies, some of which were military personnel who had turned. Working together, they eliminated the threat while the president expertly bypassed the key requirement to start the vehicle.
"Steff, take the weapons and bulletproof vests from these military zombies. They'll be super useful," Souta directed.
Steff nodded, gathering the equipment efficiently.
After a few tense minutes, the president successfully started the truck. "Do you know how to drive?" she asked Souta.
"Pretty much," he replied confidently, taking the wheel as Amy and Steff joined him in the front seats.
They drove toward the classroom, where the rest of the students waited, ready with their makeshift weapons. Souta called out, "Get in!"
The students quickly piled into the truck,
the zombies from the plaza noticed them as they drive their way though the gates. and they drove off towards the pharmacy where their car was parked.
"Do you know how to drive?" Souta asked the president.
"A little bit," she replied nervously.
When they arrived at the pharmacy, Souta and his companions hopped out of the military truck.
"Just follow us, okay?" Souta instructed the president.
He got into their car and immediately started driving. As they sped away, the music suddenly stopped, catching the attention of nearby zombies. The undead started to chase after them, their grotesque hands reaching for the vehicle.
Navigating through the labyrinth of streets, they made their way towards the exit. The zombies closed in, grabbing onto the student's vehicle, but the students inside fought valiantly to keep them at bay.
Finally, they reached the gas station and came to a stop. The students were breathless, but they had survived another harrowing ordeal.
Their bodies weary from the ordeal. Souta called for a brief break, gathering the survivors around him.
"If any of you want to join us, you must follow my orders," Souta announced, his voice carrying the weight of responsibility. "If I tell you to kill someone, you do it. We're in a fight for survival, and we can't afford to be naïve."
The same military girl among the survivors objected, her voice filled with conviction. "I can't allow that. We can't resort to killing each other. Our duty is to protect the civilians, not harm them."
Souta's gaze hardened, his hand resting on his gun. He stepped closer to the military girl, his voice dripping with both resolve and frustration.
Souta walk towards the military girl and point a gun on her head
"what a shame, to be killed here... the world has already change, what civilians and soldier if you were in danger are you not gonna fight for your life? Now that I'm pointing this gun into your head you're a military yourself aren't you? Save yourself then, can't do that? Figured"
Souta bring the gun down
"Are you really just gonna wait for the soldiers to save you? that's just a fantasy, wake up already... would you?" Souta said coldly
The old soldier, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, intervened. "Calm down, kid. What he said is true. You can't expect much from the military. It's survival of the fittest now, but that doesn't mean you have to kill someone to survive! At times like this we should extend our hands to help each other that's in need!"
They all began to understand to rely on themselves more.
The president, her voice calm and collected, chimed in, seeking a compromise. "What are you going to do, Souta? Will you build a safe base for everyone?"
Souta smirked, shaking his head. "No, that's not my intention. Building a base means protecting the weak, but some of the weak become greedy and endanger everyone. We can't afford that."
The president's curiosity piqued, she pressed for an explanation. "Then what is your plan?"
Souta's gaze shifted towards another girl and start walking towards her, his voice taking on a more chilling tone.
"Am I right?" Souta's voice was cold and unwavering as he confronted the girl.
The accused girl stammered, her voice shaking. "W-w-what are you going to do? You can't kill people just because you want to!"
A hint of a smirk tugged at the corners of Souta's lips. "Oho~, what's this? So when you pushed the boy earlier, isn't that killing?"
"W-w-what push! I never pushed anyone!" the girl protested, desperation in her voice.
Souta's glare intensified. "Don't listen to this man anymore! He's just a liar! I never pushed anyone, right?!" she implored the other students in a panicked frenzy.
Amidst the chaos, Souta's grip on his katana tightened, his resolve firm. "Don't listen to him. He was-" The girl's words were cut short as Souta swiftly swung his katana, slashing her before anyone could react.
The students erupted into panic, their fear of being the next target palpable.
"What are you doing?! She said she didn't do it!" the military girl spoke up, her voice filled with disbelief.
Souta met her gaze without a flinch. "So? If I said I didn't kill her, doesn't that also mean I didn't do it?"
Shock and confusion swept through the group. The old soldier, who had been observing silently, stepped forward. "No, he's right. She did push someone for us to move forward," he confirmed.
"I did see her push someone, but that doesn't mean you can kill her," the class president interjected, her tone calm and composed.
"I want to protect my loved ones from any threats, whether they be zombies or humans. Our mindsets differ. You want to protect the humans from the zombies, but I want to protect my loved ones from the enemy, be it a zombie or a human, you're a naive one you still doesn't understand human nature"
A moment of silence hung in the air as Souta's words sank in. The president and Souta locked eyes, understanding passing between them.
"I have a proposal," Souta finally spoke. "Let them choose which side they want to be on, two leaders in a group would ruin everything after all"
The president nodded in agreement, realizing the importance of individual choice. The students and some civilians sided with the president, while the five remaining soldiers contemplated their decision.
"Where do we stand, Captain?" one of the soldiers asked.
The old soldier chuckled, a mix of admiration and amusement on his face. "As soldiers, we should side with the president to protect the civilians. But personally, I'm leaning towards Souta's way of thinking."
Confusion filled the soldier's eyes, prompting another to inquire, "Why, Captain?"
"Because his mindset is different, and I appreciate how he thinks," the old soldier replied, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
The soldiers laughed, aligning themselves with the president. Souta, Steff, and the girls acknowledged their decision, accepting the consequences.
He made it clear that they wouldn't receive any weapons or the truck, reminding them of the consequences of their choice.
Souta drove the truck, while Steff took charge of the car. With a final farewell, he wished them good luck and drove off towards the mountains, leaving the others behind.