The sound of the gunshot echoed through the narrow street, the sharp crack cutting through the morning air like a blade. Time seemed to freeze as Kai watched the man in military fatigues collapse to the ground, blood seeping from the fresh wound in his chest.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Kai's eyes flicked to the group standing at the far end of the street, their weapons drawn and pointed directly at him and his companions. There were five of them—men and women, their faces hardened by desperation and cruelty. They looked rough, like scavengers who had long since abandoned any sense of morality.
"Well, well," the leader of the group said, stepping forward with a cruel smile. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dirty clothes and unkempt hair giving him a feral appearance. His gun was casually slung over his shoulder, but his eyes were sharp, predatory. "Looks like we've found ourselves some fresh meat."
Kai's heart pounded in his chest, but his expression remained calm. His mind was already working, calculating the situation, assessing the odds. Five hostiles. They had the advantage of weapons and numbers, but Kai had the element of surprise. His group was smaller and unarmed, but he had learned from the **Military System** that brains often outweighed brute force.
Behind him, Rina tensed, her breath quickening in panic. Yuki stood frozen, her eyes wide with fear, while Asuka's grip on her metal rod tightened, her gaze locked on the approaching group. Kai could feel the tension radiating from all of them, but he couldn't afford for anyone to panic—not now.
"We're not looking for trouble," Kai said, his voice steady and controlled. "We're just trying to get through the city. We don't want any conflict."
The leader of the hostile group chuckled darkly, taking another step forward. "No conflict? That's funny, kid. You think you can just walk through our territory without giving us anything in return?"
Kai's eyes narrowed. Territory. Of course. In this new world, it wasn't just the infected that posed a threat—other survivors were just as dangerous, if not more so. Groups like this one, driven by greed and desperation, would claim whatever they could, turning the ruins of the city into their personal hunting grounds.
"We don't have anything you want," Kai said, his voice calm but firm. "Let us go, and no one has to die."
The leader's smile widened, showing yellowed teeth. "Oh, I don't think you get it. You've got plenty we want. Your weapons, your supplies… and who knows what else?" His eyes flicked toward Rina and Yuki, a lecherous gleam in them that made Kai's blood run cold.
Rina took an instinctive step back, her face pale. Yuki, standing beside her, trembled in fear, clutching the bat in her hands as if it could somehow protect her. Asuka, on the other hand, stood her ground, her expression hard as stone. But even she knew they were outnumbered.
Kai's mind raced. There was no reasoning with these people. The only way out of this was violence—but it had to be fast, precise. He couldn't afford any mistakes.
"You don't want to do this," Kai said, his voice lowering, taking on a dangerous edge. "We've already killed to survive. If you push us, we'll do it again."
The leader laughed, loud and mocking. "Big talk for someone with a bat."
The others in his group joined in the laughter, their confidence obvious. They believed they had the upper hand—and they did, on the surface. But Kai wasn't going to let that stop him. His **Combat Proficiency** was already kicking in, mapping out the best way to eliminate the threat.
Before the laughter could die down, Kai moved.
In an instant, he lunged forward, swinging the bat with brutal precision. The leader hadn't expected the sudden attack, and his eyes widened in shock as the bat connected with the side of his head with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed across the pavement as he crumpled to the ground, his gun slipping from his grasp.
The sudden violence stunned the remaining members of the group. For a split second, they were frozen in disbelief—and that was all Kai needed.
"Asuka, now!" Kai shouted.
Asuka was already moving, her reflexes sharp and her instincts deadly. She drove her metal rod into the chest of the nearest hostile, her movements quick and efficient. The man let out a choked gasp as he collapsed, blood pouring from the wound.
Chaos erupted.
The remaining three hostiles scrambled to raise their weapons, but Kai was faster. He darted forward, grabbing the gun from the fallen leader and firing off a quick, precise shot. One of the attackers dropped instantly, a bullet between his eyes.
Rina stood frozen, her bat clutched in her hands, her body shaking with fear. Yuki screamed, her hands covering her ears as the gunshots echoed in the narrow street.
One of the hostiles managed to get off a shot, the bullet whizzing past Kai's head and slamming into the wall behind him. But Kai didn't flinch. His focus was razor-sharp, his movements fluid. He fired again, taking down another attacker with a clean shot to the chest.
The last remaining hostile—a woman with a scar running down the side of her face—looked around, panic setting in as she realized her group was dead. She raised her gun, her hands shaking, but before she could fire, Asuka was on her. With a swift, brutal motion, Asuka brought the rod down on the woman's head, silencing her for good.
And just like that, it was over.
The street fell into an eerie silence, the only sound being the heavy breathing of the survivors.
Kai stood over the bodies, the gun still in his hand, his heart racing but his mind clear. He had done it. He had eliminated the threat without hesitation, without mercy. And his group was still alive.
He turned to face the others.
Rina stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock and horror as she stared at the bodies strewn across the pavement. Yuki was on her knees, tears streaming down her face, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Asuka, on the other hand, remained calm, her breathing steady as she wiped the blood from her rod.
Kai approached Rina, his expression softening slightly. "Rina, it's over. We're safe."
Rina blinked, her lips quivering as she struggled to form words. "You… you killed them."
"I had to," Kai said, his voice firm but gentle. "They would have killed us if I didn't."
Rina's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded, though her body still shook with fear. Kai could see the emotional toll it was taking on her. She wasn't built for this kind of violence, but he needed her to stay strong. She was too important to lose.
"It's okay," Kai said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I'll take care of everything."
Rina looked up at him, her trust in him still evident despite the blood on his hands. "I… I just… I don't know if I can keep doing this, Kai."
"You don't have to," Kai replied, his voice calm and steady. "That's why I'm here. I'll protect you. I promise."
Rina's tear-filled eyes softened, and she gave him a weak nod. "Okay…"
Kai turned his attention to Yuki, who was still on the ground, sobbing quietly. She was a mess—fragile, terrified, and on the verge of breaking down completely. Kai knew she couldn't handle this much longer. But like Rina, Yuki was useful in her own way, and he couldn't afford to lose her to fear.
"Yuki," Kai said, kneeling beside her. "I need you to breathe. We're safe now. It's over."
Yuki looked up at him, her tear-streaked face full of fear and uncertainty. "I… I thought we were going to die…"
"You're not going to die," Kai said firmly. "I won't let that happen."
Yuki sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry… I'm just so scared…"
"I know," Kai said, his voice gentle. "But you're still here. You're still alive. That means you're stronger than you think."
Yuki nodded shakily, her body still trembling, but Kai could see the glimmer of trust in her eyes. She wanted to believe him—to believe that he could keep her safe. And Kai would make sure she stayed loyal to him, just like Rina.
Asuka, meanwhile, watched the entire exchange in silence, her expression unreadable. She wiped the blood from her rod, her eyes flicking between Kai and the others. He could feel her scrutiny, her quiet observation. She wasn't like Rina or Yuki. Asuka didn't need comfort or reassurance. She needed to see strength, leadership. And Kai knew that.
He stood, turning to face Asuka.
"You were right," he said, meeting her gaze. "We did what we had to do."
Asuka's lips curved into a faint
smile. "I knew you had it in you."
Kai returned the smile, though his eyes remained cold. "We'll need to move fast. Those gunshots could attract more survivors—or worse, the infected."
Asuka nodded, her expression hardening once more. "Agreed."
Without another word, the group gathered what supplies they could from the bodies of the fallen hostiles—guns, ammunition, and a few scraps of food. Kai felt a grim satisfaction as he slung the rifle over his shoulder. They were better equipped now, better prepared for what was to come.
But as they made their way deeper into the city, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that something darker awaited them. The man in the military fatigues had said something before he died—something about others hunting survivors. Kai knew the infected weren't the only threat, but now he was starting to realize just how dangerous other people could be.
The city was a battleground, and only the strongest would survive.
And Kai was determined to be one of them.