Elric's decision was final—he would leave for Chicago to find Emily. No amount of doubt or danger would deter him now. But first, he had responsibilities here. He couldn't abandon the women under his protection and return to find chaos or worse.
"Everyone, gather in the living room," he called out.
Within moments, six women assembled before him, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and anxiety. They could sense something significant was about to happen.
"I'm traveling to Chicago," Elric announced without preamble.
The room erupted immediately.
"Chicago? That's so far away!"
"It's too dangerous out there, Elric..."
"Can't you wait just a few more days?"
Everyone voiced their concerns—everyone except Rachel, who watched silently from the corner. Some worried genuinely for his safety, while others feared what would happen to them without his protection. In this apocalyptic world, a capable man like Elric was their lifeline.
Elric raised his hand, and the protests died instantly.
"I've already made my decision. This isn't up for debate."
He reached into his storage space, and with a heavy clack, placed ten Desert Eagle pistols on the table.
Gasps echoed through the room. Firearms had become incredibly rare—even before the apocalypse, strict gun laws had made them difficult to obtain. Now they were treasures of survival.
"You'll need to protect yourselves while I'm gone," Elric said, beginning to distribute the weapons.
Grace received one pistol, her hands trembling slightly as she accepted it. Shay took hers with quiet composure. The remaining weapons went to Natasha, who would oversee their safekeeping.
Elric deliberately chose not to arm certain individuals. Jenna was too impulsive, likely to make poor decisions under pressure. Rachel already possessed supernatural abilities—she didn't need conventional weapons. And Elsa... he had different plans for her.
Elsa's eyes widened as Elric turned toward her.
"You're coming with me."
"Me?" She pointed at herself in disbelief.
Before the world collapsed, Elsa had been a street racing enthusiast with genuine skill and trophies to prove it. She knew how to handle vehicles in ways most people couldn't imagine. That expertise was exactly what Elric needed for the dangerous journey ahead.
"You'll be driving the SUV. You're the best behind the wheel," he explained.
Understanding dawned on her face, followed by visible relief. At least she wouldn't be left behind, helpless and vulnerable.
No one objected to the arrangements. Even Jenna, despite her occasional bold front, recognized her own limitations. She knew a gun in her shaking hands during a crisis could cause more harm than good. Rachel merely smirked, well aware that trust still needed to be earned. Shay accepted her role with characteristic silence.
A tense quiet settled over the room as the reality of the situation sank in.
Elric's gaze swept across them one final time. "Watch each other's backs. I'll return—with Emily."
He turned toward the window where sunlight cut through the morning fog, already visualizing the road ahead.
"These guns are for defense only," Elric continued. "Watch online tutorials if you need to. You'll learn enough to protect yourselves in an emergency."
Natasha nodded firmly, accepting the responsibility without complaint. She understood the weight of what had been entrusted to her.
Then Elric's attention shifted to Rachel.
"You have powers. Their safety depends mainly on you while I'm gone." He paused meaningfully. "Do well, and there will be a reward when I return."
Rachel straightened immediately, a competitive grin spreading across her face. She was suddenly eager to prove her worth.
But Elric wasn't naive enough to place blind trust in anyone—especially someone still on probation. Using his [Fixed-Point Clairvoyance] ability, he discreetly marked her. An eye-like sigil appeared on the back of her hand, faint and completely undetectable to her senses.
Through that mark, he could monitor the situation here from any distance. And if Rachel betrayed them... well, he could strike her remotely with his Eye Whale ability. Insurance, nothing more.
Rachel didn't notice the supernatural marking. Instead, she blushed unexpectedly.
"You could just say it... Why are you suddenly holding my hand?" She looked away, her ears turning red.
Elric simply released her hand. "Just protecting everyone. Don't overthink it."
Somehow, despite his matter-of-fact tone, he could sense her favorability toward him rising. Women were complicated creatures, even in the apocalypse.
With all arrangements finalized, Elric turned to Elsa once more. "Let's go."
The other women watched their departure with mixed emotions—admiration, longing, and no small amount of jealousy. Why did Elsa get to go while they had to stay behind?
Outside the building, Elsa stopped in her tracks as Elric casually pulled a rugged off-road SUV directly from his storage space, the vehicle materializing from thin air.
Her jaw dropped for only a moment. She was gradually getting used to his impossibilities.
"You drive," Elric said, tossing her the keys.
"Got it!" Elsa slipped into the driver's seat with practiced ease, her hands finding their natural position on the steering wheel. This felt right—this was her element.
The engine roared to life with a satisfying vroom.
"Chicago isn't our first stop," Elric instructed as they pulled away from the building. "Head toward the Evergreen Market Office Complex first. We need to check on Lily and Rachel."
Elsa nodded, maneuvering the SUV smoothly through the debris-strewn streets.
Minutes later, they rolled up near the office building where Elric had left the other Lily and Rachel for temporary shelter.
Lily waved excitedly the moment she spotted the SUV approaching. Beside her, Rachel stood straighter, her condition visibly improved from when Elric had last seen her. The relief on both their faces was palpable.
Elric stepped out of the vehicle, his presence alone seeming to restore their sense of security in this chaotic world.
But even as he greeted them, urgency flickered in his eyes.
Because somewhere out there, in the ruins of Chicago, Emily needed him.
And Elric never abandoned those under his protection.
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