My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 771

The drive back to the hidden base was mostly uneventful. Aside from retracing their earlier route and plowing through clusters of zombies, the group used the time to rest. Some even drifted off to sleep, mentally and physically exhausted.

The Winters' men from the hidden base, the Evans group, along with Dracon and his team, all nodded off one by one.

Among them was Melody — the moment she sat down and the truck started moving, she was lulled into sleep. Despite the bumpy ride, she slept like a rock, completely oblivious to the chaos around her.

"She's sleeping so soundly on the way back," Mrs. Evans whispered to her husband. Both wore complicated expressions, their emotions a tangled mix of relief and disbelief.

They had never expected that this mission outside the base would bring about such a change in Melody. If anyone had truly benefited from this experience, it was her.

They had assumed Melody would always remain the same — a pampered young lady driven by jealousy and resentment toward her sister.

Yet here she was, having stepped up in the face of danger, actively helping instead of abandoning them like she once did when they had fallen ill. It felt almost surreal, like a dream they struggled to believe was real.

Perhaps, deep down, Melody had already learned her lesson the first time she neglected her family when their lives were at risk.

She had distanced herself from them then, and the disappointment in their eyes when they woke up had left a sting far deeper than any words ever could — though she never dared admit it aloud.

After all, it's not harsh words that hurt the most, but the silent, piercing weight of disappointment from those you care about.

Maybe she really had matured overnight after experiencing hardship firsthand. Through it all, Melody finally realized that compared to Kisha, she was nothing — like a toad foolishly dreaming of eating swan meat.

She was lucky that Kisha hadn't put her in her place sooner, considering all the taunts she'd thrown her way. No matter how pampered she had been, Melody wasn't foolish enough to throw herself headfirst into danger.

Just Kisha's awakened abilities and close-combat skills alone were enough to kill her with a mere flick of the wrist. Besides, hadn't Kisha already taught her a lesson with just three slaps?

Those slaps had stung bitterly — Melody would never forget the humiliation and pain. If Kisha had used even a little more force, Melody's head might have spun like a roulette wheel.

Although Melody was fast asleep, she was actually trapped in one of her usual nightmares. But this time, unlike before, when she would do nothing but tremble and hide from the zombies, helpless as a leaf blown in the wind, she faced them head-on.

Instead of cowering, she lifted her head and raised her hands to fight back, summoning a bravery she had never felt before. Her dream was different now; she felt stronger, more powerful, and her subconscious fought fiercely.

In her sleep, she furrowed her brows and mumbled incoherently, a little trail of drool escaping her lips. Seeing this, Mrs. Evans couldn't help but chuckle helplessly. To her, Melody looked just like she had during her childhood — innocent, brave, and so very endearing.

Without even realizing it, Mrs. Evans gently reached out and guided Melody to rest against her shoulder, adjusting her position to shield her from the worst of the bumpy ride. Soon enough, a small smile appeared on Melody's sleeping face.

Watching her, both Mr. and Mrs. Evans felt a complicated mix of emotions. They knew they were partly to blame for how Melody had turned out.

After all, they were the ones who had spoiled her, making her believe the world revolved around her. If she wanted something, they made sure she got it.

If she was upset, they did everything they could to erase her tears. Though they had encouraged her to socialize, they had never truly given her the chance to grow on her own, to face hardships or see the world from a different perspective.

They had always paved the road ahead of her, shielding her from every bump and bruise. In doing so, they had unknowingly nurtured her "princess syndrome" — a belief that everyone should love, obey, and revolve around her as if she were the center of the world.