My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 79

"It’s just up ahead. Let’s take a quick breather while I send some bees to gather intel." Kisha’s words came between gasps. They’d been running around for half a day nonstop while fighting, her body wasn’t as strong as she was used to and this was already her limit while she was feeling lethargic and hot. She felt her blood pumping to her brain as if it was about to explode.

She did not know if she had pushed her body beyond the limit.

"Are you alright?" Duke approached her, concern etched on his face as he noticed her flushed complexion and labored breathing.

"Yeah, I just need a moment to catch my breath," Kisha reassured Duke, offering him a reassuring smile despite her exhaustion.

But Duke couldn’t help but place a hand on her forehead in concern. Kisha, in turn, noticed that he too looked red and sweaty, though he must have been masking it to avoid showing weakness in front of his team. Besides, he had always been physically fit and accustomed to such exertion from the regular training sessions he and his team underwent.

Unlike Kisha’s soft body, Duke’s physical endurance was already an advantageous asset. Despite this, both were sweating buckets, sharing a knowing glance that acknowledged they were both feeling terrible. Despite their discomfort, they couldn’t help but share a chuckle, lightening the tense atmosphere around them, if only slightly.

"Ah!" Kisha snapped to attention, her eyes widening with incredulity.

"What happened?" Duke’s body tensed as he waited for an explanation.

"Someone killed my bees up there!" Kisha’s expression darkened as she delivered the news grimly.

"Did they see if it was a zombie or a human?" Duke’s voice carried a sense of urgency as he sought the crucial details, his expression betraying none of his inner turmoil.

Kisha shook her head, her brows furrowed in concern. "It happened too quickly for the bees to react. They weren’t equipped to differentiate between the living and the dead."

The crucial piece of information slipped Duke’s mind amidst his worry. He massaged the bridge of his nose in an attempt to focus, but with each passing moment, his breathing grew more ragged, and his throbbing headache made it increasingly difficult for him to concentrate. It’s no wonder he overlooked something important.

"Given our uncertainty about the identity of our adversary up there, allow me to proceed alone. Master and young madam, you both appear fatigued; it’s best for you to rest for now," Vulture asserted, noticing the evident physical strain on Kisha and Duke. Unsure if the exhaustion and stress had taken their toll, he resolved to ascend and assess the situation firsthand.

His awakening bestowed upon him a heightened resilience against the virus transmitted by zombie bites and scratches, as Kisha had previously explained.

His proficiency with earth abilities makes him the most capable candidate to investigate and confront the threat above. Recognizing this, Vulture wasted no time waiting for Kisha or Duke’s agreement before he began ascending the ladder to venture forth and identify the source of the problem.

Duke and Kisha, feeling sluggish and overheated, readily acquiesced to Vulture’s suggestion. They leaned against the wall for support, their arms bearing some of their weight, while their companions offered assistance, only to be assured with a gesture that they were fine and simply in need of rest.

Like two peas in a pod, they stood together, united in their need for recuperation while not needing any help.

Ensuring everyone’s safety below, Vulture began his ascent up the ladder with caution. His heart raced as he climbed, troubled by the realization that the enemy had detected even Kisha’s seemingly inconspicuous bees with remarkable agility, swiftly eliminating them without detection. This underscored the formidable threat they faced.