Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 74: My Only Master Is Power Itself.

Chapter 74: My Only Master Is Power Itself.

Scarlett opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. Her thoughts tangled, refusing to form into coherent sentences.

Before she could gather herself, a knock sounded at the door, sharp and precise, breaking the tense silence.

"Come in," Garvin called, his voice steady despite the weight of their conversation.

The door creaked open, and Ethan stepped inside, his expression serious, his movements deliberate. "Hey," he greeted, his eyes scanning the room as if assessing the emotional state of its occupants. "How are you guys holding up?"

"We’re fine," Scarlett replied, forcing a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Ethan nodded but didn’t push further. "Maya and Louise are responding well to the treatment. Thanks to our powers, they should fully heal by tomorrow morning. Larry and I will keep working tonight to speed up the process."

"That’s good news," Scarlett said softly, relief evident in her tone. For a brief moment, the weight on her chest seemed to lighten. "We can leave tomorrow, then."

"Yes," Ethan agreed, though his hesitation was palpable. "But what about Kato? It’s clear he doesn’t share our goal of saving people or building a safe haven. His actions earlier were... brutal. I don’t think someone like him belongs with us."

Garvin sighed heavily, the sound weary and laden with frustration. "I agree. He’s unstable, dangerously so. If we let him stay, he might end up killing someone just because they annoy him. He’s a monster who can’t control his anger, hunger, or thirst."

"But even if we don’t want him with us, we can’t leave him here," Ethan said, his tone resolute. "If we abandon him, he’ll kill everyone left behind, and then he’ll kill more. It’s quite obvious he’s been killing people. We have to find a way to get him out of this prison, away from people."

Garvin frowned, his arms crossing tightly over his chest. "How? He doesn’t exactly seem cooperative. And beside if we get him out of here, he’s still going to keep killing people."

"We take him with us, whether we like it or not," Ethan replied, his expression firm. "If we refuse him now, he’ll dig his heels in just to spite us. But if we bring him along, we might still have a chance to persuade him, convince him to share our goals."

Garvin scoffed, shaking his head. "Persuade him? You really think someone like that can be persuaded? He’s wild."

"Well, if persuasion fails, we just have to deceive him," Garvin said grimly. "Let him think he’s part of the group. Then, if it comes to it, we’ll have to make him leave this apocalypse world forever."

Ethan hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line before he finally nodded. "Fine. But we’ll need to be careful. He’s not stupid."

Meanwhile, Scarlett sat silently, her gaze unfocused as if staring into the void. The weight of their predicament pressed heavily on her, the burden of leadership a chain she could not cast off. She was lost in thought, her mind spinning with plans, and the growing unease that lingered in her chest.

And then, as if summoned by her disquiet, a voice echoed in her head.

’Are you really going to keep playing the good girl?’ Kato’s voice sneered, laced with dark amusement. ’You know as well as I do that the only ones given these powers are those who’ve been betrayed, broken, or cast aside. This world doesn’t reward goodness, it rewards strength.’

Scarlett’s jaw tightened, her mental reply sharp. ’Is that what you believe? That our powers are meant for destruction? To kill and consume? Did the system tell you that?’

’The system?’ Kato’s laughter echoed through her mind, mocking and cruel. ’The system is a leash, Scarlett. Do you really want to spend your life serving its rules, bending to its will? Or would you rather make it your servant?’

’You’re delusional. You’re just like Victor,’ Scarlett shot back, anger simmering beneath her calm exterior. ’Why haven’t you joined him yet? You’d make a perfect apprentice.’

’Victor?’ Kato’s tone shifted, darker now. ’I don’t need him. I don’t need anyone. My only master is power itself. And if Victor gets in my way, I’ll kill him too.’

Scarlett’s fury surged, but before she could respond, Kato’s voice softened, an unsettling intimacy creeping into his words. ’I’ve been searching for you for a long time, Scarlett. And now that I’ve found you, you can’t escape me. Not anymore.’

’Searching for me?’ Scarlett’s confusion bled into her voice, her mental shield faltering. ’Why is that?’

’You’ll find out soon enough,’ Kato replied with a smirk she could almost feel. ’But trust me when I say this, you won’t be able to get rid of me. Not now, not ever.’

With that, the link snapped, leaving Scarlett alone with her racing thoughts. Her heart pounded as her mind reeled.

Why were they looking for me? Victor and Kato? What do they want? Scarlett clenched her fists, frustration and fear warring within her. Why are the bad guys after me?

’You could say something, you know,’ she growled inwardly, directing her anger at the system.

A soft chime broke the silence, and a holographic screen flickered into view.

Ding!

{Host, I don’t have answers to why they seek you. Those who’ve turned to evil have systems that mirror their choices. They’ve corrupted their original purpose, straying far from the intended path.}

"Damn it!" Scarlett hissed under her breath, glaring at the screen as if it could somehow solve everything.

But the system remained silent, leaving Scarlett even more frustrated.

"Scarlett? What are you thinking about so hard? Are you still worried about everyone?" Garvin’s voice cut through the haze of her thoughts, pulling her abruptly out of the whirlwind in her mind.

She blinked, startled, her eyes darting to Garvin and Ethan. Their gazes were fixed on her with puzzled expressions, concern etched into their features. It was clear they’d been trying to get her attention for some time.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked, his voice gentle yet laced with worry. "You kind of zoned out and didn’t respond to anything Garvin and I were saying."

"If you’re tired, you should rest," Garvin chimed in, his brow furrowed with concern. "We can pick this up tomorrow."

Scarlett forced a small smile, shaking her head lightly. "I’m fine, guys. Just a little... distracted. But you’re right. I’ll get some rest now. We can talk more tomorrow."

Garvin and Ethan exchanged a glance, clearly unconvinced but unwilling to push further.

"All right then," Garvin said, his tone softening. "Sleep tight, Scarlett."

"Yeah," Ethan added with a nod. "We’ll handle things for now."

Scarlett gave them a faint smile and watched as they walked out of the room, closing the door behind them. The silence that followed felt both comforting and suffocating, the weight of her responsibilities settling back over her like a heavy blanket.

_____________

Meanwhile, few metres away from the Axe Squad base, Jaden stood in the dim glow of the squad’s armory, a protective mechanical body suit they’d provided him. Unlike Golden, who had been left to fend for herself, the Axe Squad had equipped Jaden with tools for survival, a suit that enhanced his strength and resilience, along with a set of small explosive bombs attached to his waist.

These bombs, designed to ignite instantly upon impact, were his primary weapons, as he couldn’t use guns considering his young age.

The growls of monsters echoed through the night, their guttural snarls punctuated by the sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves. The pungent stench of decay filled the air, but the suit which was covering Jaden from head to toe maje it impossible for him to smell it. He crouched low in the bushes, his sharp eyes fixed on the horrifying scene before him.

A group of monsters roamed the area, their horror forms illuminated faintly by the moonlight. Some had four heads with rows of razor-sharp teeth that glistened in the dim light. Others stood taller than giants, their muscular bodies bristling with strength. Snake-like creatures slithered among them, their fangs dripping with venom, while bird-like monsters with bladed wings screeched intermittently, their cries piercing the otherwise heavy silence.

Jaden swallowed hard, his throat dry as he took in the horror scene. Tears streamed down his cheeks, the silent sobs wracking his body as he struggled to stay quiet. The overwhelming fear clawed at him, but the thought of Golden, Scarlett and her group kept him grounded.

I’m coming for you, big sister. Just wait for me. You don’t have to come back here. I promise I’ll make it to your side, Jaden thought fiercely, his determination pushing back the fear that threatened to paralyze him.

He reached for one of the bombs at his waist, his little fingers trembling slightly as they closed around the cold metal. He held it tightly, his grip firming as he steeled himself for what he was about to do.