My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 329

After Kisha finished admiring her status window and the significant boost in her stats, she took a moment to savor a glass of milk. Now, with her stomach full, she set out for the square where the warriors were already assembled. Aston, Sparrow, Vulture, and the rest were waiting on the front porch, ready to accompany her.

Their mission was clearly on everyone’s minds, and Kisha’s leadership was crucial for the next steps. As they gathered, the anticipation was palpable. Kisha, still focused on her objectives, was unaware of the murmur of speculation among her team about Duke’s absence. She led them with purpose, eager to begin the task ahead.

They scanned the area but found no sign of Duke. Given their familiarity with his recent exhaustion, they quickly concluded that he must have been too fatigued to make an appearance. This explanation was well understood among them, so they chose to remain quiet and proceeded to follow Kisha without any further comment.

Each of them had their own assumptions about what the mission might entail. This was their first mission since taking over the base, and excitement was palpable among the group. Sparrow and Vulture, in particular, were eager. They had grown accustomed to the rigorous training and were itching for the exhilarating sense of purpose that came from real combat.

They yearned to experience the thrill of fighting outside against zombies, relishing the growth and development they felt in every life-and-death battle.

Now that Kisha had mentioned a mission, a tremor of anticipation ran through them. Despite their previous experiences in battles—whether in territorial disputes, drug wars, or other dangerous missions—they often felt morally conflicted, as their opponents were still human. However, this mission promised a different kind of conflict. They were about to face monsters, not people.

The removal of this moral burden was liberating, allowing them to focus purely on the task at hand without the weight of ethical concerns.

They could fully unleash their bloodlust and grow exponentially stronger, a process they had eagerly anticipated. This was their sole purpose, their raison d’être. Duke had nurtured and trained them to become elite warriors, and in this world of combat, they felt a profound sense of belonging, as if it had been tailor-made for them.

In contrast, Aston was an exception among Duke’s ranks. A soldier by trade even before the apocalypse, his mission was to save and protect civilians. His focus remained on preserving life rather than indulging in the violence that drove his comrades.

Although Aston was skilled and capable, he remained constrained by his intrinsic values. Unlike Duke’s warriors, who thrived in their primal environment and reveled in their brutality, Aston felt a sense of dread rather than anticipation. For him, the impending mission was a stark reminder that it could result in injury or death among their ranks.

His focus was on the potential harm that could befall his comrades, rather than the thrill of combat.

As they approached the square, each absorbed in their own thoughts, they found the warriors engaged in a lively debate. The air was thick with speculation about the purpose of their summons and the nature of the upcoming mission. While rumors had been circulating, nothing had been confirmed, leading to a palpable sense of nervous anticipation among the group.

Over the past few days of training under Duke’s guidance, the team had not only honed their physical strength and reflexes but also learned group and pair formations designed for real combat scenarios. However, despite their intense efforts, the rapid pace of their training meant that their muscles were still adapting and their skills remained underdeveloped.