Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 148: I Need A Mate.

Chapter 148: I Need A Mate.

Scarlett, unfazed, simply smiled. Without a word, her face and body began to shift, bones restructuring, features softening and turning until, within seconds she no longer looked like herself. Instead, Maya’s face stared back at Kato, a perfect imitation of the dead woman.

"This is incredible!" Kato exclaimed as he nods his head approval.

"It doesn’t concern me," Scarlett replied, her voice calm, her expression serene. "Let them make their moves. Whichever route they take is none of our business." She leaned back slightly, folding her arms. "We both know their decision will lead to a war among themselves. It’s only a matter of time."

Kato scoffed. "The leaders know exactly what they’re doing. This is their way of ensuring that only the strongest among them wins."

Scarlett chuckled softly, shaking her head. "And yet, none of them will win." She met Kato’s gaze, her eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. "As long as they don’t find me, they’ll keep searching, keep wasting their resources, keep turning against each other. And even though they’ve threatened the survivors, they still need them. It’s all just a game of control."

Kato studied her for a moment before smirking. "And what about you? What’s your next move?"

Scarlett didn’t answer right away. Instead, she let her thoughts drift.

The Queen of Monsters can only pass her powers to a man she willingly chooses...

Her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on the fabric of the bed as she pondered the sudden shift in the game. This change, it wasn’t just a tactic by the organizations. There was something deeper at play.

And she needed to understand it.

To do that, I need a mate, she thought to herself, her smirk barely visible in the dim light. Someone I can trust. Someone worthy of sharing my power.

And she already knew exactly who that person was.

Kato, watching her closely, suddenly adjusted his position on the bed. His expression softened as he exhaled deeply.

"Scarlett, about earlier... I’m sorry." His voice was low, almost hesitant. "It was foolish of me. I wasn’t thinking straight."

Scarlett blinked, pulled from her thoughts. For a moment, she just stared at him before letting out a small, amused sigh.

"It’s fine," she said simply. "Now that you understand, we don’t have to dwell on it. Whatever thoughts you had about me should be cleared up now." She shook her head with a slight smirk. "I’m not looking for a romantic relationship, Kato. That kind of thing is absurd in a world like this. Survival should be everyone’s priority not some tragic love story."

Kato chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah... I get that now. Thanks for putting some sense into me."

Scarlett tilted her head slightly, her smirk softening. "And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry too. I got annoyed and lashed out."

Kato gave a warm smile in return.

The two sat in comfortable silence, the sound of the rain outside filling the space between them.

After a brief moment, Kato stretched and stood up. "Anyways, we should get some rest. Our journey continues tomorrow." He cast a glance outside, listening to the relentless rain pounding against the tent. "You can go ahead and sleep. I’ll join you later."

Scarlett arched an eyebrow. "Where exactly are you going in this heavy rain?"

Kato smirked. "You forgot, didn’t you? I haven’t eaten yet." He shook his head in amusement. "Unlike you, who, despite being half-human and half-monster, can still manage human food, I can’t. So, I need to hunt."

Scarlett’s expression darkened slightly, and Kato quickly reassured her.

"Don’t worry, I’m not going after innocent humans. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find some criminals or, if not, animals will have to do." He glanced at her one last time. "I’ll be back soon."

Without waiting for her response, he stepped out into the storm, leaving Scarlett and Hope alone in the tent.

________

The forest Scarlett and Kato had chosen for their temporary camp lay a fair distance away from a zone cleared of monsters and soldiers.

They had spent the day fighting off creatures and taking down the ruthless guards who were hunting survivors in the city. Thanks to their efforts, the remaining humans had managed to take refuge in the abandoned buildings scattered throughout the ruined city.

Unbeknownst to them, Scarlett had secretly used her powers to repair some of the structures, making them more habitable. She didn’t need thanks, just the knowledge that people had a better chance of surviving.

Kato stood in the middle of the ruined city, rain pouring relentlessly over him, soaking his already-drenched clothes. He had changed outfits before stepping out, but it made little difference now. Water streamed down his face, clinging to his skin like a second layer.

His eyes scanned the remnants of the once-thriving city. Though the bodies of monsters and humans alike had been buried to prevent the stench of decay, the destruction was impossible to erase. Buildings remained in ruins, except for a few with recently repaired roofs.

He smirked. Scarlett’s handiwork, he mused.

Then, his gaze drifted upward toward a towering satellite in the distance.

"Victor and the other leaders are watching," he muttered under his breath.

Every major organization had access to surveillance, keeping tabs on the various zones. Kato wasn’t under Scarlett’s invisibility spell, which meant anyone watching the monitors could see him. But that didn’t matter, he wasn’t with Scarlett at the moment. As long as he wasn’t caught in her company, he wasn’t a threat to them.

His stomach growled, an impatient reminder of why he was out here in the first place. He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening.

"She wouldn’t know if I killed a good human or a bad one anyway," he muttered to himself. His eyes swept over the nearby buildings, listening intently.

Even through the rain, he could hear it, the faint thudding of human heartbeats.

"I need to eat," he murmured, his hunger gnawing at him.

With renewed determination, he made his way toward one of the buildings.