The food was incredibly delicious.
As everyone enjoyed their meal, Ethan stood up.
"Today, the combat team showed exceptional bravery; I saw it all. The number of enemies you each took down was nearly equal, so I've decided to reward an extra team member today."
Ethan smiled, and the combatants were visibly pleased by this announcement.
Especially Blake, who had taken out one more enemy than Ian, making him the second most effective fighter. He was thrilled.
"I think everyone knows who the top two are. Please, Blake and Ian, step forward."
Blake and Ian immediately approached, nervously rubbing their hands together. After all, except for the Killer Priest, no one knew the process or the result of receiving the blessing.
"Relax, the blessing process won't hurt. Join your hands, close your eyes, and silently praise the God of Killing and Destruction in your hearts."
Ethan smiled, watching the two kneel and bow their heads. He placed his hands on their heads, silently invoking the Killer's abilities to enhance their strength and physique.
Though it was a small sacrifice for him now, once they were strong enough to defend the shelter, they could go out and eliminate zombies, making up for it.
After Blake and Ian closed their eyes, they felt a bit uneasy, but soon, they could sense a power infusing their bodies, making them stronger.
The blessing took only three minutes.
The others watched them intently, but there was nothing to see on the outside.
"Open your eyes and feel the changes within you."
After finishing the blessing, Ethan left the dining hall and returned to his quarters.
Jessica then also left, and the others immediately surrounded the two, eager to hear about the results.
"Hey, do you feel different? Did you get stronger?" Henry asked with a grin.
"I feel like my strength has doubled. I feel like I could lift the world," Blake laughed as he effortlessly hoisted Henry up with one hand.
Henry was surprised, "Okay, okay, put me down! I'm not a fan of heights!"
Ian chuckled, "Blake, let's test our new strength."
Now that his body was stronger, Ian felt he could crush his previous self with a single punch. No wonder the Priest was so powerful—if only they could receive this blessing every day.
"Alright, I was thinking the same thing."
Blake was eager to test his newfound strength.
The others made room for them to spar.
Ian took the first swing, delivering a powerful punch. Had it connected with an ordinary person, it would have been catastrophic. But Blake caught it in his palm.
The two then engaged in a test of strength, their faces reddening and veins bulging, until it was impossible to tell who was winning.
"Blake, you're incredible! I acknowledge your strength!"
Ian was the first to yield, smiling.
The others looked on with envy, silently resolving to aim for first place tomorrow.
Fortunately for the rest, Blake and Ian would be excluded from competing with them for blessings this week. They would have to wait until next week to compete again, and as long as they each killed a hundred zombies, they too could receive the blessing.
Everyone was filled with determination.
A month later...
As Ethan continued to distribute flyers, more survivors gathered at the shelter.
The population at the shelter grew to 300, with 100 combatants.
A solid wall was constructed within a ten-kilometer radius centered around the shelter, with all zombies within that zone eliminated, establishing a safe haven.
Ethan divided the combatants into three groups: one led by Jessica, one by Blake, and one by Ian.
Each combatant received at least five blessings, while Jessica received thirty, and Blake and Ian received fifteen each.
Their combined strength was more than enough to handle the Lickers and protect the shelter from zombie breaches.
Ethan's own power had also grown substantially. Over the past month, he had killed at least ten thousand zombies.
His punches could now easily demolish a building.
In the Priest's office, Jessica approached Ethan with a concerned expression. "Father, the food supply at Central Mall is running low. We have enough for only three more months."
Ethan pondered this for a moment before responding, "I know. It's time to reclaim the granary and the farming base."
Zombies don't destroy food, so even if the granary and the farm were damaged, the stored food would still be enough to sustain them for a long time.
Jessica nodded, "That seems like our best option."
She had no doubt that Ethan's strength was sufficient to clear out the zombies inside.
"You stay here to guard the shelter. I'll lead a group to recover the granary."
Ethan planned.
Upon hearing that Ethan was going to reclaim the granary, Blake immediately volunteered, "Father, I want to join you."
"Alright, take your team and a few trucks."
Ethan didn't mind who joined, as long as the mission was completed.
"Yes, sir!"
Blake grinned, knowing that completing this task would earn him significant rewards.
The city's granary was located 30 kilometers from Central Mall, and ten large trucks were sent out.
During the journey, Ethan gazed at the rapidly changing shelter and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
The ten-kilometer safe zone had been built by the shelter's residents, brick by brick, and it was their dedication that turned it into a fortress.
Unfortunately, there were still too few survivors, making the area feel empty.
As they drove, zombies were drawn to the roar of the trucks and swarmed toward them, but the trucks paid no heed and simply ran them over.
What they did have to watch out for were the Lickers hiding in the shadows, whose tongues could easily pierce the truck tires.
So, someone had to be on constant lookout in each truck, ready to fend off an attack.
Luckily, the Lickers seemed to sense the power of the people inside and didn't dare attack.
An hour later...
They arrived at the city's granary.
[Westhaven Granary]
Ethan read the sign above the gate. The closed entrance was barricaded with various objects, and the air was thick with the smell of burning.
It seemed there were still survivors inside.
"Half of you stay here to guard the trucks. The rest, follow me."
But just as he said that, the people inside the granary came out, armed.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
Forty or fifty men stood against Ethan's group, many of them wielding guns.
By the looks of their uniforms, they seemed to have been law enforcement officers before the apocalypse.
"We're from Central Shelter. We've come for food."
Ethan smiled, though it was a cold, almost menacing smile.
"This food is ours! Go back where you came from!" the leader shouted, raising his pistol in a threatening manner.
Seeing that Ethan's group was unarmed, he didn't think much of them.
"Sorry, but we're taking the food. You have a choice: join Central Shelter or refuse and face the consequences."
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