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Chapter 9: Shadows of Strength
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As the team rested in the electronics store, a newfound energy pulsed among them. They had taken down the Watcher, their first real victory against a more intelligent enemy. The shared experience boost from Kaito's Pathfinder title had already made them feel stronger, more capable. Kaito saw the changes reflected in their faces: Ryo's grin was wider, Hana's stance was more assured, and Ayumi's eyes held a fierce determination.
After a brief rest, Kaito pulled up his Pathfinder status window, eager to see how much his allies had progressed with their recent triumph.
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[PATHFINDER STATUS: PARTY GROWTH]
Ryo Takeda
Level: 2
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Endurance: 10
Perception: 7
Skill Acquisition Rate: +5%
Hana Suzuki
Level: 2
Strength: 8
Agility: 10
Endurance: 9
Willpower: 8
Skill Acquisition Rate: +5%
Ayumi Hayashi
Level: 2
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 9
Willpower: 8
Skill Acquisition Rate: +5%
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Kaito felt a rush of pride as he saw the updates. They were all leveling up, their stats gradually increasing alongside his own. But he knew the path ahead would demand even more from them. They'd have to rely on each other and trust in their combined strength if they were going to survive the days to come.
Clearing his throat, Kaito gathered their attention. "Everyone's leveling up. Thanks to the Pathfinder title, you're all getting stronger alongside me, and this is only the beginning."
Ryo clenched his fists, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Feels like I can actually make a difference now. Maybe I'm not just dead weight anymore."
Hana punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You were never dead weight, Ryo. None of us are. We're a team."
Kaito nodded, appreciating Hana's encouragement. "She's right. And if we're going to survive, we need to keep building on what we've started. Every kill, every mission, it all counts. That's how we'll grow stronger."
A new chime echoed in Kaito's mind, the system notifying him of yet another quest. His vision filled with the details as the others waited, noticing his intense focus.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE: NEW QUEST]
Mission: Secure a New Base
Objective: Find a location suitable for long-term shelter, defendable with access to supplies.
Reward: +500 Experience Points, Inventory Expansion (Group Shared)
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Kaito relayed the quest details to the group, watching as understanding dawned on their faces.
Ayumi's brow furrowed. "A defensible base… that's a big challenge. It means we can't stay in these makeshift places much longer."
Hana nodded thoughtfully. "Somewhere that's secure, where we don't have to look over our shoulder every second. If we could find something like that, it'd change everything."
Ryo grinned. "So, we're house-hunting in a zombie apocalypse. Got it. But I like the idea. Somewhere we could actually sleep without fearing we'll be torn apart in our sleep."
Kaito took a deep breath. "It won't be easy. But if we can secure a base, it'll give us a foundation to fight back. Somewhere to store supplies, plan our moves… maybe even gather other survivors."
They spent a few more minutes planning their next steps before heading back out onto the streets, sticking to the shadows and keeping a tight formation. The goal was to locate a building that fit their needs without drawing unnecessary attention. It was a risky task, but with Silent Step and the new Shared Growth system benefits, Kaito felt more confident in their chances.
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After an hour of searching, they came upon an old apartment complex with thick walls, relatively intact windows, and a series of stairwells that would allow them to defend multiple access points. Its location was near an old supermarket, giving them a potential supply source.
Kaito held up a hand to signal for the others to stop. "This might be it. Let's go in slow. Check each floor. Ryo and I will go first. Hana, Ayumi, keep watch from here."
Ryo flashed him a thumbs-up. "Ready when you are."
The two of them advanced through the main entrance cautiously, keeping their weapons at the ready. The building was eerily silent, with only the faintest creaks echoing down the empty hallways. They moved up to the second floor, clearing each room as they went.
As they reached the third floor, Ryo nudged Kaito and pointed to a door at the end of the hall. "Looks like there's something barricaded in there. See the scratches on the door?"
Kaito nodded, his grip tightening on the crowbar. "Let's check it out carefully."
They approached the door, listening intently. There was a low, guttural growling sound on the other side, faint but unmistakable. Kaito took a deep breath, then motioned for Ryo to stand by, ready to strike. With a swift motion, Kaito pushed open the door, revealing an infected woman crouched in the corner, her eyes filled with rage.
The creature lunged at them, her movements quick and erratic. Kaito sidestepped her first swipe, bringing his crowbar down on her shoulder, while Ryo struck her in the leg, throwing her off balance. With a final coordinated blow, they managed to bring her down, her body collapsing to the floor in a lifeless heap.
The two of them took a moment to catch their breath before scanning the room. It was mostly empty, save for a few scattered supplies—canned food, water bottles, and a small first-aid kit. Kaito quickly collected everything, knowing these items could be vital.
They repeated this process throughout the rest of the building, clearing rooms and gathering whatever supplies they could find. By the time they were finished, the apartment complex felt relatively secure, though Kaito knew they'd need to fortify it further.
Back downstairs, Hana and Ayumi joined them, relief clear on their faces.
"Well?" Ayumi asked, her voice barely hiding her anxiety.
Kaito nodded, a small smile on his face. "It's clear. A few infected, but nothing we couldn't handle. This could be the base we need."
The group breathed a collective sigh of relief as they entered the main lobby, setting down their supplies and taking a moment to rest. For the first time since the outbreak, it felt like they had a place they could truly call safe—at least for now.
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As the night set in, they took turns on watch duty, ensuring no infected could sneak up on them. Kaito sat by a window, looking out over the darkened streets, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. He knew they couldn't stay here forever; they would have to keep moving, keep growing, if they wanted to stay ahead of the infected.
Just then, a new system notification appeared in his vision, and he quickly checked it.
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[QUEST COMPLETE: Secure a New Base]
Reward: +500 Experience Points, Inventory Expansion (Group Shared)
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The new inventory expansion allowed them to store more supplies together, a shared space that each of them could access through the system. It would make managing resources far easier and give them more flexibility in what they could carry.
Kaito called the others over and explained the reward, watching as their faces lit up with excitement.
"We can all access it?" Ryo asked, practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "That's huge! We can keep extra food, weapons—"
"—medicine," Ayumi finished, her relief palpable. "This really does change everything."
Kaito nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him. They were more than just a group of survivors now; they were a team with a shared purpose, a goal to reclaim a world that had been snatched away.
"Alright," he said, his voice steady. "We rest tonight, and tomorrow… we start preparing for what's next. We'll scout the area, see what supplies we can gather, and fortify this place."
Hana smiled. "This is only the beginning. We've made it this far, and we're not stopping now."
The four of them settled in, each taking comfort in the presence of the others. The night stretched on, but for the first time, Kaito felt a glimmer of hope. He had a team, a base, and a purpose.
But even as he drifted into a light sleep, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind: the Watcher had been dangerous, but it couldn't be the only threat out there. There would be more. He would need to stay vigilant, keep pushing himself, and help his friends grow stronger.
They were just beginning to find their path, and Kaito was ready to lead them forward into the unknown.