"Commander!"
Vivian ran out of the dome-shaped structure.
She ran to the commander, checking him up and down for injuries. But she couldn't discover his hidden injury—the cracked ribs.
"Are you alright?"
She asked, concerned.
But her expression froze.
She saw his expression: dead serious and slightly reddish eyes.
He had his ability half-active.
"I'm fine,"
The commander gently patted her shoulder, but his voice carried coldness.
Vivian didn't buy it, but he gave her no opportunity to interfere.
The soldiers from within the vehicles slowly woke up and walked out.
They were exhausted.
The drivers turned off the engines.
"Brothers, you've done enough. Go inside and rest!"
The commander roared.
The exhausted soldiers entered the dome.
Their feet dragged, like zombies.
Through the elevator, they entered the depths of the base.
Lucian went into the base as well. He was too tired to care for anything.
Only the commander and Vivian remained outside.
"Commander..."
Vivian spoke, her eyes filled with concern, but the commander cut her off.
"Not now, Vivian,"
He didn't even glance at her. His gaze directed at the dome, his eyes gleaming with desire. Desire for answers.
Vivian's concern grew, but she said nothing.
They went into the base.
Vivian arranged soldiers.
The soldiers slowly unloaded the items and carried them inside.
Their hearts trembled as they saw the trapped child, but they had clear orders.
Don't touch anything, don't act on your own accord. Everything will be explained later.
As specially trained soldiers and as soldiers who had survived for almost a month now in the end times, they obeyed.
.
.
.
"Commander..."
Vivian ran behind the commander.
She had many questions.
What happened? How did he get the sabre? What about the child in the tube?
But the commander didn't speak a single word, just rushed forward.
The grip on the sabre tightened.
Anger burned within him.
And blood oozed from the corner of his mouth.
Finally, he stopped before a door.
He entered.
Vivian followed.
A simple room with a single bed and bookshelves covering the walls. A stone table stood in the center, surrounded by chairs.
"AGHHHHH!"
CRASSHH!
With a kick, the wooden chair flew across the room, slamming into the bookshelves.
The wooden legs shattered.
He laid the sword on the stone table.
Crack!
The table cracked under his fists.
His breathing filled the room. Rough.
"Ughh..."
Suddenly, a sharp pain attacked his chest.
His face turned purple. His mouth filled with liquid.
A metallic-tasting liquid.
"COUGH!"
Blood sprayed on the table.
"COMMANDER!"
Vivian rushed to him. Unable to bear it anymore.
"Please calm down!"
She exclaimed worriedly, checking his body.
"Are you injured?"
"I-I'm fine,"
The commander waved his hand dismissively, but the red in his eyes intensified.
"MAREK!"
Vivian's shout tore the room.
She called him directly by his name.
The commander's heart trembled.
He looked her in the eyes.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Please get a grip on yourself."
She cried weakly, tugging on his arm.
The usual strong, unbreakable Vivian was crying, crying desperately. Crying in fear and worry. She had never seen the commander this distressed.
"You are using your ability to suppress your pain."
She gently touched the side of his face. Her eyes carried gentleness, worry, and affection. Deep affection.
Unknowingly, a tear streamed down the commander's face.
He was touched.
Her words snapped him back to reality.
Tap! Tap!
Teardrops fell on the cold stone table.
The room turned silent.
"L-Livia..."
His tearful, begging voice tore the silence.
His body slid down the table, falling on his knees.
"W-What should I do?"
He cried.
"I'm tired. I'm sick of the people. Of this world."
The memory of the tentacle demon flashed before his eyes, and the memory of the Progenitor followed.
"Is there any point in doing what we are doing? Can we survive?"
His will was crushed.
The commander had no more energy to struggle.
Thud!
Vivian hugged him.
"I am with you,"
She comforted him.
"No matter what happens, I will always be with you,"
Her eyes flashed with determination.
"In life or death,"
Silence descended.
Vivian refrained from questioning for a while.
They remained together, hugged.
The minutes passed.
"Marek,"
Vivian's gentle voice broke the silence.
"Please tell me, what happened?"
The commander's eyes narrowed.
Grief assaulted his heart.
But he steeled his will and started.
.
.
.
He started from the beginning, the chase with the zombies, and then when they got surrounded by the group of zombies.
During the confrontation with the tentacled demon's group and the appearance of the Progenitor.
They barely survived.
"Huff-huff..."
Tears streamed down Vivian's face.
Her breath was ragged. Her body trembled in terror.
She imagined it.
The commander on the brink of death.
Her glance landed on the sabre on the table.
"Thank you,"
She kowtowed, her forehead touching the ground.
"Thank you, elder,"
Her cries filled the room.
"Thank you for saving him."
Truly, gratitude filled her heart, trembling in fear.
She almost lost him.
The commander's heart softened.
'So in this world, there is still someone caring for me, an orphan,'
He was an orphan with no one to care about him, his well-being, or his life or death.
No one to cry if he died or celebrate if he lived.
But now, he had Vivian.
"Thank you, Vivian,"
He stood up and helped her up.
His arms wrapped around her waist.
"I love you,"
He confessed.
Vivian nodded.
Their lips touched.
A seal to their love.
But gradually, the blood red carvings of the sabre drew their eyes.
"Vivian, inform the soldiers to pay more attention to survivor groups."
He still remembered the elder's request.
"Zyriel and Verun. Those are the names of the leaders."
The commander was not ungrateful. He remembered gratitude and repaid favors.
And the elder's life-saving favor he could never forget nor repay.
"If they meet, remember to take them under our wing."
This was the least he could do.
"Yes,"
Vivian nodded.
"Next,"
The commander's face darkened.
"I'll tell you about the laboratory,"
Vivian noticed the change.
Her heart tightened.
The commander started
...
Vivian's eyes grew wide.
Her eye sockets looked unable to contain.
"I-Impossible..."
Her voice trembled.
She stumbled backwards.
Vivian couldn't believe her ears.
Tears assaulted her eyes again.
Her ability activated. Mind raced. Mind several times more powerful than ordinary.
Vivian's eyes turned hazy, distant.
Blood flowed down her nose.
"Vivian, stop!"
The commander grabbed her shoulder, shaking her.
"C-Commander, I..."
Vivian snapped back to reality.
"Don't use your ability recklessly,"
He urged anxiously.
"H-How could they?"
Vivian cried.
"Who could do such a thing?"
But the commander shook his head.
"I don't know, but I know who holds the answer,"
Vivian gritted her teeth hatefully.
"The governor,"
Malice flashed in her eyes.
The commander nodded.
"Yes, but right now, we need to discuss. What to reveal to the council and how to reveal it,"
Vivian quickly realized the situation.
She suppressed her emotion, and they started discussing.
.
.
.
The time flew.
More than an hour passed.
Vivian and the commander finally finished their plans.
"Now, it's time to meet him."
The commander grabbed the sabre from the table.
"What about your injury?"
Vivian gently placed her palm on his chest.
But the commander shook his head.
"I'll get it treated after I meet him."
This time, Vivian didn't refute.
She was eager for the answer. For an explanation.
Who ordered those experiments?
"Summon the governor,"