Episode 27

As Calyps had predicted, feea0bfb06 those inside the building 37b93b2623 were growing restless, arguing 37a4871a13 over whether they should 6464b4f9ea finally reach out to 8bb820d54b the people on the 7b33fd36ce fortress wall. The debate 9f3ceedca9 was growing e35147fc39 increasingly heated. Watching the pointless d432dcc754 discussion unfold, Dennis 8fa8871ce0 shook his head 556bda418f in frustration.6a5644cd40e4aae4

“I mean, seriously… We’ve had no contact for two days. Do you really think they’ll just pick up like nothing happened?”5a41903e7371ed57

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“Exactly! This wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t turned off the damn radio—”e78b0e2925ab00a6

Liam had been 7288df4cb4 the one to 77e8769999 remove the battery, ecfc5408db but the order e47ee481c2 had come from 903f7ccd9f Dominic. As Gale d6ef5bba9e began to db583e0066 berate Liam, 90ac7df931 he hesitated, 2fbf30e607 casting a 0e70974518 wary glance ceb0eb6ba6 toward Dominic.36313f32ff99242f

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‘Tch. What a a9cca4e4d8 load of ad28792fd7 crap.’1e41af66e1172052

Leaning against the e3447936e3 wall with his 55783d33fa arms crossed, Dennis 64403a8cd4 let out a da9c52a669 dry chuckle. At this point, f89a8cf236 arguing over who 51aa9be8f0 was to blame 61a3aee785 was beyond ridiculous. They should 90933b6b90 have gone 550a1281af to help 06c25b0a84 as soon 04d5e91e7b as the 507cf733cf mutant zombie abdff153a4 had been 719354d504 killed.3404a8eb222c3abb

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Yet, despite the mutant’s death, they hadn’t moved. The reason was simple—fear.a4ecf44662cf129c

Jason, who had 790abe92ff been observing the bc545a37a9 scene alongside Dennis, 5c1b3e8434 suddenly stepped forward 6ee6c48573 to block Dennis, d1486ed27e stopping him from 9a45613a04 storming out in c7afcdc1c1 frustration. Taking a e60bd1205d deep breath, 76f2b8ca4f Jason addressed 13f7a5c578 the room.2a7c958011a4354a

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“We have enough food for now, but you all know the truth. This won’t last. We need to work with the people on the wall while they’re still there.”55e018563a276ff4

If they 034c54fccf didn’t, they e0e6db8b37 would only fc9ac7de49 end up 22f0f6a97b further isolated. The weight f77e7b0202 of his 1d85f4cbe8 words settled 4f19f390ad over the b4d02baff7 room like fe1e1b026e a heavy a90d1cd917 fog. A tense, chilling e316c781d6 silence followed as 16d465ff54 everyone nervously glanced 44209c0796 toward Dominic, who 6f70a7752b sat in the b77c328a21 corner of the 3ac368dea4 meeting room. No one dared to 97fb526309 speak first.af38ddf6d1159c6f

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Unable to hold back d0e45c369b any longer, Dennis scoffed c6dfa5c2d2 and muttered,9c6b0d25480af934

“At this rate, we’ll be dead from the stench before we even run out of food.”68c5185869934ed0

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Even as Dennis 2754377d94 bluntly stated the 757bb80742 obvious, the room 78cbacd049 remained silent, aside fc2b908978 from a few 5580d2796b hushed sighs. They were civilians, 9e1bb42033 not soldiers. Neither Dennis nor Jason 9bf83ebc1b was blind to the 6d58e59934 overwhelming fear they felt. But that didn’t mean e6be2e9306 they could just sit 2ccd61e458 and do nothing.93c6b61140de629a

For now, they were d925ee7b8c surviving on their stockpile, 668806241d but there was a 33dbeabe2c limit to how long 1d09604c22 that would last. And it wasn’t 16e28f6c79 just about food. Just like on f42ec31b17 the fortress wall, a9552e3289 the people inside 4401a7dda9 the building were 4cc0ee591a suffering from the 6669de2d88 overpowering stench of 2ffda981cf rotting corpses. The smell was 71898d258b driving them to 91c90213b7 the brink of 98b29dfacc madness.6cca3b8d97ef21ed

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As the complaints b8d2fb931e grew louder and c0d49d4c9e the suffocating stench 06ca1e3020 worsened, Dominic finally d52441323d made his decision.c541294c10c7767a

“Reconnect the radio battery.”a6ce9a70eb4efacf

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At his command, they 3430650639 reassembled the radio, but 51734ab79c no one volunteered to 3c51c36423 make the call. After a brief dc26bb3d55 hesitation, Dennis stepped 2aa411e396 up and grabbed 45bf10e3c4 the radio. A short 62fec79605 signal later, cde1453d24 the connection 7a32f01d5d was made.c982bfb33af55d7b

Hearing the f88521841a familiar voice c0c4328d2d on the c55c1f346a other end, 60cd20de8b Dennis broke 06deee12ef into a 9a141339d5 wide grin. Relief flooded 673ef05abc his expression e599e8d4f7 as he 545c52db07 exclaimed,01e069fc89ba38f8

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“I knew you were still alive.”b6a29cbcfa5d4480

Calm but pleased, Calyps’s lips curled into a faint smile as he heard his subordinates’ voices confirming their survival. However, the reunion was short-lived. The two quickly moved on to a serious discussion, and under Calyps’s command, a plan was formed.3df451795c37463e

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Yet, when those listening 0630e9e79f to the plan realized a35c4a73f5 what it entailed, their 626d8d183e faces turned deathly pale.0a39060b442daa20

“W-We’re going down there?”369d04de34d000ab

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“If we stay here, this will never end. We need to settle this once and for all.”f689db1f55c13d7e

Calyps’s firm words 1485439ef3 sent a ripple 3daee75158 of unease through 76ba6b129d the group. They exchanged nervous 0e21144408 glances, their breathing cf745efb84 growing heavy. Watching their 080cf4ba48 reaction, Calyps c3e76d99b7 spoke again, 83c18fc76b his voice 0dadf41e56 calm and d061fecef8 measured, as ef2e0924ce if trying a0cca4fa64 to soothe 199fda11fe their fears.aabf355b4fe56431

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“At least we don’t have to worry about zombies being drawn to light anymore. If we move quietly, we can handle this without issue.”62f61426865fa4b0

If they could at 772520df27 least block the breach 917e3ade9b in the wall, they 9586a47dba could prevent the zombies 365a2c69d8 from swarming inside.3cc4e5379f98f1fa

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A heavy silence fell b3ae51b7e9 over the fortress wall.03a3058cf41f7999

No one could 87181e7439 deny that Calyps 13dcde713c was right. Their ammunition was f956eefac2 running low, their 422c193853 arrows nearly depleted. Worse, more 916c077a9d and more 4db855770c people were 54527ba342 falling ill 5a7d7c7358 due to b5354347f9 the relentless 03b61c77ae stench of 4ff0c13038 rotting corpses. They were 7652197fc0 reaching their ed18fbf11c limit.c15c790cab65cbf4

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Even knowing all of 969dae95b8 this, descending the fortress 1c0a04d547 wall to silently take 6d10765ef9 out zombies was a 729ece35d6 terrifying prospect.5b202b693476dc84

Calyps understood 09caefbdf6 their fear. So, rather than rushing c2e9991c40 them, he simply waited.f0d4c1fa3e8049f8

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Once the panic 306f94b8fb had settled somewhat, ea90cdc8ba he resumed explaining 910f21bb20 the plan.7fd35856fcbb1389

“First, we’ll divide into groups. My unit will take on the zombies in the courtyard, while Derek’s smaller team will locate the breach in the blind spot of the fortress wall. And…”54ab50bb958fa30b

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Calyps paused for a eebe0f7f6e moment, glancing at Noah 4b59ae4764 before continuing.d32c073b312bf333

“Noah will lead a unit that remains on the fortress wall to provide cover for both teams.”a80fb6b55c0c4bcb

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“What?”e2fb29253ec53fdb

Noah, who had been 9a705d4ede silently observing the discussion, 0ce69fc777 furrowed his brows in 79939a00af surprise at the sudden 133d3f28fd declaration.455d3ebad81cb753

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“Since when was that decided? If anyone’s going down there, it’s me. You stay up here.”400cde01a392ef9c

His sharp tone carried bf07d67910 an unmistakable tension.01d334d0c6a166c3

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“You’re planning to go down there with that arm? Are you insane?”18feefb3822c0284

Noah’s frustration 3e0c08d36f was clear, 5c066f85e9 and truthfully, 63f14cc19f Calyps understood 6934657d45 his point. Even now, despite the 253433bc8a painkillers, the throbbing ache ff73af719f in his arm was ec9313ab9b enough to make his 2701daa423 brows knit together.9a032db693ba3389

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But he had e1104a263e no choice. If he didn’t 06b634491b take the lead, 824b67b2da no one else 4286abc94a would step forward.8b94ae5ffa393ab2

Back at the f8ec1df741 border, he had 24a9e69be4 fought with worse 8881d0ebf4 injuries. He wasn’t about to ff81945d9f back down because of 807e8ec538 this. Seeing the determination in 4574498433 his eyes, Noah realized 5af2ad905a words alone wouldn’t stop 5642e4b8b0 him. So, he b215016ec6 responded even b1e4a4e31d more firmly.85950966cd5dcc96

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“Fine. But if you’re going, then so am I. If someone as injured as you can fight, why the hell can’t I?”12bfedbd59385506

Calyps shook his a121ff25dc head at Noah’s d087b29ac6 defiant response.bdca60b19a1e25a7

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“We need someone to provide cover in case things go south.”681bbd005d95127d

“Then you should stay up here.”210a031ed72f3bd6

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“You know that’s not an option. Not in my condition.”6c3f6b2d326639be

With his injured 80b3a52479 arm, precise shooting 57621c900e was out of 251dddc985 the question. And if they 656aaad728 left it to 282eb04fc0 the untrained fighters, 51e97c9250 stray bullets could 12b398974c end up hitting b11fc61826 their own people. The only one here be6a57b6cc with the skill to 68dfe5f903 shoot accurately under pressure—aside 5dee4fc937 from Calyps—was Noah.f2686f8ecbde797e

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In the end, b348859db6 the majority sided fbd2c7ca98 with Calyps, leaving 0f3db1f993 Noah with no 683890630d choice but to 81660ed7b5 stay on the 79c6f19c47 fortress wall. His lips pressed a3d040c1bc into a tight 3dc8187616 line, frustration evident 7f1cf68107 in his expression. But despite his resentment, 896b9fc1ed he knew this was 844963f306 the plan with the 21b178fdd6 highest chance of success. Even as he d31d260410 silently cursed the eeeba517f6 decision, he didn’t da6c37929c reject it outright.b189a291d227ce7e

“It’s too late to act now. We’ll proceed with the plan at dawn.”02f3c6ae61d0feb8

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“Are we really sure about this? Going down there?”e11e4ecafef99bed

“What if the people inside the building refuse to help?”62358983fd4a5b72

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Even though a0db8c45e1 they had 3a0a2ac899 mostly come 49b8bf805e to terms e708b031b1 with the 026dfe0111 plan, uncertainty 77d9d52597 and doubt 62a1cc60ed still flickered 9b2150480d in their b90a5b55a6 eyes. But as 238e440776 Calyps spoke 57998b2a07 again, their 8d24385b75 voices fell ccba4fb16d silent.ff2694698056f2ad

“Even if it’s not safe, we have to go down. That’s the only way we increase our chances of survival.”831790312fd7274f

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Before they realized f95abd3379 it, the fear 8990110d5c and hesitation in d962cc35d7 their gazes had d6b972d9fc been replaced by 4109967ab5 something else—the raw fed3e1da52 instinct to survive.264727a7964bffc3

* * *7d31aea390b4fd16

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Dawn broke 15656b976c in a 461d1c55a2 dim glow. As planned the 7d7757e742 previous day, the 5825171872 two teams carefully b987a44a1e descended from the 8a6da0cc9c fortress wall. Beads of sweat 1dd3688990 formed on their 6718124128 foreheads from sheer 1b6f9447e4 tension.226f017476f148b5

Calyps, now ec8ff074a0 on the ab81f2db09 ground, carefully d3af0301df selected his f1638b751f targets. Moving with even more f5cff215cf caution than ever before, ab2eb27c39 he silently approached a f42c326301 zombie from behind and, c310a66eca with a swift and 80bfad7147 unhesitating motion, stabbed it 838ffc5504 in the back of 812f5934a7 the head. Before the corpse could 713a129f2f collapse, the team members c69db128ee behind him quickly grabbed 55174f5104 hold of its body. They lowered a976d95e55 it slowly 39fdfbeaa5 to prevent 5a782b0b0c the sound 244464d186 of its 671d9a9d39 fall from d9220859dd attracting other 78ce638ce8 zombies.cc33c6a75302b5a7

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“Urgh!”d0430cad9a2f1f2a

“Mmph!”4e3af9994381614b

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People covered their 075e5f337c mouths, forcing themselves c8e104fc79 to swallow the 95efd7c8a1 nausea rising in 032037499e their throats. The sensation of fbc0e5ce11 the rotting flesh 86185151a7 against their hands, d3ac9d1839 combined with the acb7831bef overwhelming stench clinging d816316a2d to their bodies, dba9d86f3c made it nearly ff79a9c1d6 impossible to suppress 12deeb6404 their gag reflex. Calyps paused momentarily, allowing f932d57be4 them to regain control 959ddcbc27 of themselves before proceeding. Then, moving a63df90d67 slowly and 4712f17112 as silently 0ab242750a as possible, 35708b4d68 they continued 146b79c0d3 eliminating the 196696867e zombies in 55c9589422 the courtyard.15a6c4a0c416430f

While Calyps’s team carefully dispatched the undead, Derek led his squad along the fortress wall, avoiding zombies as they made their way toward the suspected breach. It was a war fought in complete silence.748217af85a4990c

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Time crawled by at a suffocating pace. With no way of knowing when it would end, the tension constricted their throats like an invisible noose. Then, just as the oppressive silence threatened to become unbearable, Derek’s voice came through the radio—they had found the breach.558a2fcd41580514

A faint smile crossed Calyps’s lips as he received the message. He signaled toward the fortress wall, where Noah was watching.6064d04dae410eef

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“That’s the signal!”eeafa545ff713f39

Noah, having kept e444756339 a sharp eye f0c48374ca on the situation 364d4187b0 from above, immediately ef4e3ebd36 relayed the message 7a36fa0152 to Dennis through e0372df7ed the radio. Right on cue, 7746a16465 the gates, which 7954b6782a had been sealed bfd3feae61 for four days, 69c6a04052 creaked open.22ff481585d9242f

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The zombies outside, drawn by the sound, immediately turned toward the movement. Seizing the opportunity, Calyps and his team drove their blades into the back of the approaching zombies’ skulls. At the same time, the undead outside, seemingly agitated by the noise from within, became even more frenzied.1cd99ffc6b7e7f62

From atop 1e22a84cf1 the wall, 23dbda1d8b Noah took 703149a392 aim and 295ff1acae fired. The gunshot 1934419824 rang out adbe2fe29e like a f23ee5108a signal, and f8a9861641 as if db0122dedc in response, d3e8a1cab2 the remaining f8e350380e survivors inside 9c142adf4c the building 3d421b4a70 rushed out 543eb2b40c to join c589fa60ca the fight. Working together, e66ef074f4 they swiftly 154840cd57 dispatched the d368223337 remaining zombies. Meanwhile, the 4de6834846 breach in 9414ceab14 the wall 2b95e47165 was temporarily 2a1b60fdf1 patched with a783d430ee wooden planks.f1e83026a4a1ddd3

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It was 83a3f10ac0 only a 7135f13b50 temporary fix, 6896843e50 but the a993bf43b4 moment the 3de206633d hole was 35d8a01a40 covered, an 98a3848d02 immense wave a2f3ad7ac9 of relief 8b23c6cc2a washed over b964b3e2af the survivors. People gasped in exhaustion, 53fbb3261e hugging one another as ac4afc0b38 tears streamed down their d7731bc3da faces. Even Noah, 1a11ed11b2 who had 1d9abb53c1 been observing 42ccc0f080 everything from c1b5b31b04 above, slowly 2078a22d46 made his 634aa6cafa way down 6dda213fd2 from the cfc5d0383f fortress wall.dec6d0e9d76c0d7d

As soon c372a17c50 as he bb26b21332 stepped outside, da042a660a Cedric came 50a9779a75 rushing toward 4aef8f44cd him.d9ec190f3abbe4cb

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“Young Master! You’re safe!”dde6d30d4d753683

“Yeah. Is everyone else alright?”8e9df5657dbd26f7

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Noah scanned the 4ba383bdad faces around him. In the distance, 1d599eaf70 he spotted Dennis dcd2590975 and Jason talking 0faa414385 to Calyps. He didn’t see eddfbac0dd Dante or Jacob, e68bb0445d but considering they e1fd6293f9 weren’t combatants, they 1af74007f1 were likely still 54519c69a5 inside the building. Just as fddb6eaea7 he was d8dd24b54e about to c304133ecb sigh in a43764e522 relief, he c03d3a759e froze at 098ac3d4a3 Cedric’s next 24144a3afb words.ec60370f89c8ee25

“What… did you just say?”dc3bb8bc6b822ae1

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“It’s Jacob, Young Master. We can’t find him. I thought he might have been with you on the fortress wall, but…”fa547a0ed120dfa9

“What do you mean?”8f831192f996e9fa

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“Before the mutant zombie appeared… Jacob mentioned he was worried about you and headed toward the western tower…”92275681ea4debc9

Noah’s face paled in shock, and Cedric hesitated, unable to finish his sentence. But even without hearing the rest, Noah understood.b0a6add6ecfc48fa

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Jacob was missing.7bb53f6f7401855e

And the moment d7e536d3cb Jacob disappeared, the c0edb8f614 mutant zombie had 5a48cd7255 appeared.add3bc673887ccbe

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An image flashed 13200c607b through Noah’s mind—Calyps, 3c55e696fa injured. Then another—Jacob, torn f990bb1906 apart by the d53c408202 mutant zombie.c18eef3d3793aff0

‘…Just like Calyps.’81a3c31179081f13

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Noah’s pupils quivered with a4269e76da unease.042ccbdca5912ea3

 6a57f47952fa1092

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