Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 83: They’ll Attack Us Head-on.

Chapter 83: They’ll Attack Us Head-on.

Kato’s eyes glinted with a smirk, his voice calm yet laced with menace. "Keep working on the collar. If the scientists can’t disable it in two days, let me know. I have... alternative methods. But make no mistake, the boy must stay alive. He’s the key to bringing my queen to me."

The woman standing before him gave a deep bow, her movements precise and submissive. "Understood, Boss. We’ll do just that." The guards present followed suit, bowing in unison before straightening once more.

Nearby, Jaden struggled futilely against the burly guards holding him in place. Tears streamed down his face as he cried out in desperation, his voice cracking with emotion. "Please let me go! I just want to find my sister! You’re all bad guys!"

Kato approached slowly, his steps deliberate, his gaze sharp. His tone was almost soothing, though the words carried an ominous edge. "I’m sorry, little guy, but that’s impossible. Don’t worry, though. Staying here with me will be... different from being with Victor. You’ll be well taken care of here."

Jaden’s cries only grew louder, his small frame trembling as he continued to struggle. Kato crouched down to meet his eyes, his face a mask of cold indifference. "Just be a good boy, and things will go smoothly," he said softly before rising to his full height and storming out of the room.

As Kato exited the building, Jaden’s cries echoed behind him, fading with each step he took.

______________

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Scarlett, Garvin, Maya, Louise, and Larry sat around a roaring fire. The aroma of roasting fish filled the air as they ate and drank, their conversation lively and filled with laughter. They all decided not to make use of cooker, but rather create a fire where they’ll all sit round it.

In an instant, the mood shifted as Kato appeared before them, his sudden arrival silencing the group. All except Scarlett flinched in shock, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons. Scarlett, however, remained seated, her expression calm and unbothered.

Maya’s eyes widened, her voice trembling as she broke the silence. "Where did you come from? How... how did you get here? Did the wind carry you or something?"

Louise shook his head, his brows furrowed in confusion. "No, there’s no way. We didn’t hear footsteps or see anyone approaching."

Kato ignored their questions, his focus solely on the fire. Without a word, he sat down beside Scarlett and grabbed one of the roasted fish, biting into it with little ceremony.

The group watched in tense silence as he chewed, his face contorting with displeasure. With a growl of frustration, he threw the fish aside and reached into the bucket of water which still had fish swimming in it. He then pulled out a live one and sank his teeth into the squirming creature, blood dripping down his chin as he devoured it with unsettling satisfaction.

"Now this is what I call food," Kato declared, his voice dripping with relish as he continued to feast on the raw fish.

The others exchanged uneasy glances, their discomfort palpable.

Finally, Garvin cleared his throat, his voice hesitant but firm. "Maybe we should just ask you this outright. We’re monster slayers, Kato. If you’re following us on this journey, does that mean you want to become a monster slayer too?"

Kato paused mid-bite, a sardonic smile creeping across his blood-streaked face. "Monster slayers? That’s funny," he said with a light chuckle, the sound sending chills down their spines.

Louise spoke up, his voice wavering. "You killed that old man in the prison. Are you planning to kill more people?" His eyes darted nervously to Kato, his grip tightening on the hilt of his weapon.

Kato’s gaze swept over the group, his expression unreadable. "If I were invested in killing humans, I would’ve started with the powerless ones among you now as I’m really hungry for flesh and blood." He locked eyes with Garvin, then Louise, and finally Maya, his penetrating stare enough to make them recoil slightly.

"For now," Kato continued, "I’m content with animals. But trust me, I really miss the human intestines, as they’re... unforgettable." He let out a heavy sigh. "Still, I suppose I’ll settle for the bad ones, people like that old man. He deserved it. If I kill bad humans, it’s a win-win. I save the people they’re terrorizing, and I fill my stomach." He burst into a laugh that echoed through the clearing.

Larry and Ethan exchanged glances, their elemental powers subtly crackling in their hands, ready to strike if Kato so much as twitched in the wrong direction. Louise, Maya, and Garvin followed suit, their weapons drawn and their resolve steeled despite the fear etched on their faces.

"He’s crazy," Maya whispered into Larry’s ear, her voice trembling with unease.

"He’s always been crazy," Larry replied with a heavy sigh, his tone low but resolute. "Are we supposed to just let him kill bad humans then? Is that what we’re doing now?"

"That’s just a stupid excuse to fill his stomach," Maya murmured, her voice barely audible as she leaned closer. "He’s nothing like Scarlett. He feeds on humans more frequently. To be honest, I’m scared with him here."

Larry glanced at her, his expression serious. "We just have to stay on high alert. Scarlett said to remain calm. When the time comes, I’m sure she’ll be the one to kill him if he tries anything. Just watch." His voice carried a quiet determination that made Maya nod in reluctant agreement.

Scarlett’s voice cut through the tense whispers, drawing everyone’s attention. "We should all go to bed now. It’s late, and tomorrow we continue our journey." Her tone was calm yet commanding. "We’ll spend the night here since there aren’t many monsters in the area, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. Stay alert."

The group nodded in unison, their trust in Scarlett evident even amidst the tension.

Without delay, Scarlett used her powers to conjure tents and sleeping bags, her movements fluid and efficient. The others watched as the campsite was quickly prepared, grateful for her leadership even as unease lingered in the air.

As the group settled in, Kato claimed a spot on the outskirts, lying down with his back to the fire. His gleaming eyes, however, remained fixed on Scarlett. The intensity of his gaze was unnerving, but Scarlett seemed unbothered as she climbed into her tent with Maya.

Inside, Scarlett closed her eyes, appearing to relax, but her body remained coiled like a spring. Her heightened senses stayed on high alert, attuned to the slightest movement.

Larry, Garvin, and Louise huddled together in a shared tent, their unease evident. They had unanimously decided against sharing space with Kato, who occupied a tent of his own. Though they tried to rest, their eyes frequently darted toward Kato’s tent, as if expecting him to strike at any moment.

The night dragged on, heavy with silence. The distant growls of monsters echoed faintly through the forest, mingling with the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Kato, though outwardly still, never took his eyes off Scarlett’s tent. "She’s interesting. I wanted her for her powers but now, I guess I like her." He said with a wide smirk on his face.

Finally, his eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into a light sleep, his senses still sharp and attuned to the environment.

_______

Just when it seemed the night might pass without incident, a faint rustling sound broke through the stillness. It was subtle but unmistakable, like the soft crunch of footsteps on dry leaves.

Scarlett’s eyes snapped open immediately. She slipped silently out of her tent, her movements fluid and precise, as her sharp eyes scanned the darkness for the source of the disturbance.

Ethan, Larry, and Kato emerged from their tents moments later, their expressions tense and alert. Each of them instinctively sniffed the air, their enhanced senses picking up on the unfamiliar scent.

"It’s not monsters," Scarlett said under her breath, her voice calm but firm.

"No," Ethan agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. "It’s human. But who are they?"

"Victor’s men?" Larry speculated, his brow furrowing as he gripped the hilt of his weapon. "But Victor’s men wouldn’t hide in the bush as they’re not fools. They’ll attack us head on."

"Exactly. Are these people another group of people who formed organizations just as Victor then?" Maya raised an eyebrow, as she swallowed hard.

"There’s only one way to find out," Scarlett replied. Her voice was quiet but carried a steely determination as she led the group into the shadows, moving with the grace of a predator.

As they moved through the underbrush, the rustling sound grew louder. The air was thick with tension. Scarlett’s sharp gaze locked onto shadowy figures emerging from the darkness. The moonlight revealed a ragged group of humans, their clothes shabby and torn, faces smeared with dirt.

The moment Scarlett and her group appeared, the strangers froze in their tracks, their expressions a mix of terror and resignation.