My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 582

"M-Master!!!" Vulture’s loud, trembling shout snapped Kisha out of her thoughts. She blinked, her gaze shifting to the fireball floating beside her.

Despite being so close, it didn’t burn her or feel excessively hot.

It radiated warmth, but other than that, it seemed harmless—more of a light source than a threat.

After a moment’s reflection, she walked toward Vulture, who was crouched in the far corner, mostly hidden by thick roots.

He was nearly invisible, save for the fireball hovering nearby, casting a soft glow around him.

"What’s wrong?" Duke asked, his voice steady as he approached. Kisha followed closely behind him, her eyes scanning the scene.

Vulture didn’t respond right away, his body still trembling as he crouched down. Kisha heard him stifle another sob, and her heart ached.

She stepped closer, her gaze drawn to a dried-up body half-buried beneath the twisted roots.

The body was eerily familiar, dressed in the same clothes Sparrow had worn the morning of their departure.

As Kisha’s eyes moved lower, she saw a dog tag resting on the corpse’s lap. The body, preserved like a mummified relic, was so desiccated that its features were almost unrecognizable.

The hair, tangled and matted like seaweed, clung to the skull, stained with dried blood.

The sunken eyes were hollow, and the mouth hung open in a silent scream, the expression frozen in terror, as if the person had died in agony, as it was being drained of life and blood.

In its final moment, the dried-up body lay limply, its head tilted downward. The jaw hung loosely, the teeth visible as the lips had withered like dry tissue, shriveled and drawn tight, exposing the teeth even more.

All that remained was a thin layer of skin clinging to the bones, a grotesque reminder of the body’s once-living form.

"Sparrow..." Vulture whispered, his voice breaking as he gently picked up the dog tag that had fallen into the dried-up body’s lap.

His eyes scanned the inscription—Sparrow’s codename and the date he had joined Duke Winters’ fold.

The weight of their discovery crushed him, and his hand trembled as he gripped the dog tag, holding it tight as if afraid it might slip away.

The sobs came again, wracking his body with grief.

Duke’s expression darkened, and his eyes reddened, though he remained still, standing in grim silence. His gaze was fixed on his fallen subordinate, the lifeless form of Sparrow.

It was as though he was piecing together the final moments of his subordinate’s life, imagining the horror and pain he must have endured before his death.

Kisha remained silent, giving them the space they needed to mourn Sparrow’s death. She couldn’t bring herself to say "condolences" — those words felt hollow to her now.

In the apocalyptic world, death was a constant happening, following them like a shadow, and over time, she had become numb to its weight.

Her own well of emotion had long since dried up, reserved only for her family and Duke’s.

Still, despite her detached exterior, she couldn’t ignore the small pang of sorrow for Sparrow, for he had been a part of Duke’s family, and in that, he had been a part of hers, too.

After what felt like an eternity, Kisha, Duke, and Vulture finally emerged from the pit. Vulture was carrying a body bag with Sparrow’s remains, his solemn expression unwavering.

Kisha offered to place the body in her inventory or leave it in her territory for safekeeping, but Vulture gently refused.

He wanted to carry Sparrow’s body back himself, as part of his mourning ritual, a final act of respect for his fallen brother.

The weight of the unspoken grief hung in the air, and the silence between them spoke volumes. _{freёwebnovel.com}