The group continued their scavenging mission, searching carefully through stores and malls for anything that might help them survive.
They had just finished clearing out their third location when Laura caught sight of something moving in the shadows at the far end of the street.
As her eyes adjusted, she saw them—creatures nearly a meter tall, with thick, segmented bodies that resembled a fusion of ants and beetles. Their mandibles glistened as they clicked together, each snap sounding like a bone breaking.
"Those are creatures from the second wave," Laura muttered, her gaze sharp as she analyzed the half-dozen creatures advancing toward them. She turned to the others and spoke calmly. "Alright, listen up. This is going to be a lesson in combat. Watch closely and remember what you see."
Eric glanced at her, his hand instinctively tightening around his dagger. He opened his mouth to volunteer, but Laura shook her head, raising her hand to signal him to stay back. "Eric, you'll stay here with Miara and Essei," she commanded. "I need you to cover them in case anything else sneaks up on us."
He nodded, shifting into position slightly behind the two women, his eyes scanning their surroundings. He'd learned to trust Laura's instincts, and he knew she had a reason for doing things the way she did.
With slow, deliberate steps, Laura moved toward the creatures, her expression calm yet intense. She pulled another dagger from her inventory, one in each hand now, and positioned herself just a few meters away from the beetle-like monsters.
The creatures, though aware of her presence, didn't charge immediately, as if waiting for a cue. Laura gave a quick glance back to the group and mouthed, 'Pay attention.'
With that, she brought the daggers together, creating a small spark as metal clanged against metal. The sharp sound echoed, catching the creatures' attention.
Skrrriiiiii!!
One of them let out a screech that reverberated down the street, and then they surged forward, mandibles clicking as they charged her.
But Laura didn't flinch. She had slain dozens of creatures from the second wave by now and had the speed, skill, and experience to handle them.
She moved with lightning-fast agility, sidestepping the first beetle's charge and slashing at its side, her blade finding the soft tissue just below the joint of its exoskeleton. The creature shrieked, collapsing to the ground with one leg immobilized, but still alive.
Moving to the next creature, she repeated the tactic—attacking critical points, breaking through their thick exoskeletons without delivering a fatal blow.
Each creature she attacked was left immobilized but alive, their bodies twitching and hissing in helpless fury as they lay on the ground.
Miara and Essei exchanged looks, uncertain why Laura was leaving them barely alive. Eric, however, had been watching closely, and an understanding dawned on him, though he chose to keep quiet.
After about fifteen minutes, Laura finished her assault, the six creatures lying incapacitated around her. She straightened, looking over her handiwork before turning back to the others. "Alright, Miara, step forward."
Miara looked startled but did as Laura instructed, taking measured steps toward the motionless creatures. Laura handed her one of the daggers, its blade still glistening with the blackened blood of the creatures.
"Your turn to finish them off," Laura said, her tone firm but not unkind. Miara's eyes widened, and she looked down at the dagger, hesitating.
"I… I'm a Healer," she stammered. "I don't… this isn't…"
Laura's expression softened slightly. "I know. But there's more than one way to be a Healer, Miara. You could be the strongest close-combat healer out there if you're willing to push yourself."
"The stronger you become, the safer we all are, and the less likely you'll feel like a burden to anyone." Laura added.
Miara swallowed hard, gripping the dagger with trembling hands as Laura's words sank in. She glanced back at Eric and Essei, both of whom gave her encouraging nods.
With a deep breath, she steeled herself and approached the first creature, aiming for its head. She raised the dagger, and in one swift motion, brought it down through the creature's skull.
Thuck!
The creature spasmed once, then lay still. Miara stared down at it, her chest rising and falling as she processed what she had just done.
"That's one," Laura said calmly. "Let's keep going."
Miara moved on to the next creature, and then the next, her movements growing more decisive with each kill. By the time she finished, her confidence had visibly increased, and a new notification flashed in her vision.
Ding!
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
She had risen to level five, gaining two points to each of her base stats along with eight unallocated points to use as she saw fit. Laura gave her an approving nod. "Well done, Miara."
Next, Laura turned to Essei, who stepped forward without needing any encouragement. She had listened carefully to Laura's words to Miara, and they had resonated with her as well.
She moved with newfound determination, raising her bow and drawing back an arrow as she positioned herself over the remaining creatures.
Her expression was focused, her eyes locked on her targets as she delivered clean, precise shots to each creature's skull, her Target Lock ability helping her find the exact spot to hit.
Ding!
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
Essei's face lit up as she saw the notifications. She, too, had risen by two levels, her confidence growing along with her strength. She turned to Laura, who offered her a brief nod of approval.
"You've both done well," Laura said. "The faster you become stronger, the safer we all are."
Eric grinned as he watched his teammates. "Looks like we're turning into a pretty strong group, huh?" he remarked, a hint of pride in his voice.
Laura allowed herself a small smile. "Yes, but don't get too comfortable. We'll need every bit of strength we can get."
She looked around, scanning their surroundings to ensure no more creatures were lurking nearby. "For now, we head back to base. We've collected enough supplies, and the faster we're back, the faster we can regroup and prepare for what's next."
The group fell into step behind her, each of them invigorated by their recent level-ups and newfound confidence. The journey back to their rooftop base was quiet, each person lost in thought, digesting the experiences of the past day.
They had started as a scattered, uncertain team, but Laura could feel them slowly coming together, each person finding their place in the group.
By the time they reached their base, the sun was hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows across the ruined cityscape. They climbed the stairs back up to the rooftop, where they could catch their breath and organize the food they'd scavenged.
As they settled in, Laura turned to the group, her gaze firm but encouraging. "We did well today. But the apocalypse is only beginning. Each of us needs to keep pushing ourselves to survive, and that means training, gathering supplies, and learning to rely on each other."
Miara nodded, her expression serious. "Thank you for pushing me, Laura. I'm… I'm starting to feel like I can actually contribute."
Essei grinned, her earlier doubts gone. "And thank you for not holding back with us. I'm ready to do my part."
Eric looked around at his teammates, his grin widening. "Guess we're in this together, then."
Laura nodded. "Yes, and we'll need each other more than ever as the waves continue. For now, rest and prepare. Tomorrow, we begin training in earnest."