Shiiing!
Mediocre's claws scraped against Anna's sword as it flinched her away with an annoyed expression.
Anna panted, blood dripping from several wounds on her body. Yet, she stood. Like a broken machine refusing to turn off, she raised her sword defiantly and charged at the zombie.
Roar—!
In response to her charge, it roared and lunged for her head—intending to finish her in a single snap.
She instantly understood its intentions and swerved under it, claws barely missing her face. Her sword lashed out in response. It coiled around the zombie's mid-section and spun rapidly like a blender.
Before it could be skewered into two, it hurriedly freed itself from the bizarre weapon and jumped away from Anna.
'I couldn't...'
Anna thought, her vision turning hazy. She was slowly succumbing to unconsciousness. She forced herself back to reality by stabbing her own leg, though.
"Ugh!"
She groaned as she stood up properly, glaring at Mediocre. That small zombie glared back at her, visibly infuriated. It was the most intelligent zombie Anna had ever encountered. And now, she realized how threatening they could be.
Yet, she couldn't afford to lose. Even if she couldn't win, she absolutely couldn't lose. The others still needed her. She still needed to find her grandparents, Cassie needed to stay alive. And Leon...
These things fueled her resolve. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she rushed at it with calculated steps. Before it could react to her charge, an axe struck it squarely in the back.
Bang!
Its small body flew towards Anna uncontrollably, eyes wide with shock.
Anna didn't hesitate. Her whipsword coiled around its whole body and slowly spun. The blade tore into its flesh and bone as it tightened like a snake's hold.
Before it could break free, Daddy Ye appeared again, then struck his axe on its head.
Crack!
The skull gave way under the heavy force—yet, the zombie didn't die. Its struggles lessened, head ringing from the fatal injury.
'Die!'
Anna's expression morphed into that of savage hatred as she forced the sword to spin faster, shredding the zombie's body into chunks of meat.
When the zombie finally dropped dead, she paused, dazed. The threat that had tried to kill her repeatedly was now at her feet—just a corpse.
She raised her head to look at the older man before her. He stood firm, expression determined.
"You've healed." She managed to say in a hoarse voice.
"Yes," Daddy Ye nodded, then turned to look at the others. They were done killing the first level zombies around. "I didn't expect this development at all."
"Hey kid, are you okay?"
Old Pipe asked as he walked towards them, noting Anna's wobbly figure.
"Anna!"
Cassie's cry was the last thing she heard as she fell unconscious.
...
In the tower, all the top members gathered around Anna's unconscious form. A young woman in her early thirties treated her wounds with surgical precision. Before the apocalypse began, she had been a hospital nurse. Trapped in the hospital, she had thought her life was doomed until Old Pipe's squad had come to save her and the other survivors. Now, she was able to repay them.
"She'll be fine." She said, "Her body has been overtasked. That's why she's unconscious."
Ice and the others nodded. They understood. Although Leon was a monster who could face a Second Level Zombie at the first level, Anna wasn't as monstrous as him.
Even though she had once insta-killed a second level beast, it was a surprise attack. Yet, she held her own against a second level zombie and came out victorious.
"She's impressive."
Little Tiger muttered, awed by her strength.
"There's still work to do." Old Pipe said as he patted his shoulder, then turned to Daddy Ye. "You. Good thing you woke up rather quickly. I was tempted to slap you awake."
The latter gave him a blank stare, not finding the joke funny.
"Cut the crap will you, old man?"
Together with Ice and Shadow, the three left the room. Cassie stayed behind, her expression downcast.
'Anna fought that zombie... to protect me.'
She had personally seen it. The way Anna's expression changed when she spotted the zombie close to her. Her cold mask was filled with worry and fear.
"I'll grow stronger." She whispered as she held Anna's hands. "And I'll protect you too."
...
While Cassie stayed with Anna, Old Pipe's group were gathered—strategizing.
"We've got the people in the neighborhood. Now however, it's obvious we need more evolved."
Old Pipe said, his eyes filled with seriousness.
"You're right." Ice added, "According to Leon, we need ten crystals to purchase a first level evolution potion."
The others turned to her, listening.
"Right now, we have up to forty. Which means four evolution potions."
Daddy Ye nodded, "We need to pick those four. Were you granted access to the Crucible?"
Old Pipe shook his head. "Both Cassie and Anna were granted access though."
"Then give Cassie the crystals. Leave the four new evolved to me."
The others nodded. They trusted Daddy Ye on that—after all, he was a former soldier.
"That won't work."
Someone suddenly said. Turning to the new voice, they realized it was Cassie. However, something about her had changed. Gone was the innocent and childish look that always lingered in her eyes.
Now though, her eyes were sharp and calculating—even rivalling Leon's unnerving eyes.
"Why do you think so?" Little Tiger asked with a pout. He disliked the fact that this lady had outright rejected their plans and ideas.
Cassie's eyes shifted to him with an intangible weight.
"Because the core of our strength needs to be improved before any other thing."
Old Pipe's expression changed. He understood her words.
"All of you except Daddy Ye, fights with ordinary weapons. That's disadvantageous." She started, her eyes shifting from one member to another. "And don't forget, there are other humans out there who are not so moral. They won't hesitate to kill to get what they want."
The evermore group's mind wandered back to the Camp Master. A cruel person who would kill any lady that refused his advances. Ice had almost been a victim, if not for Old Pipe's intervention.
"So what should we do now?" Shadow, who had been initially silent, spoke up.
Everyone looked at Cassie with expectations in their eyes. She nodded.
"First off..."
Just like that, the real strategic meeting began.