Chapter 980: Brave Girl

"Get your people ready—we’re moving out." Ethan’s voice was low but firm as he watched the last of the lower-tier zombies scatter toward the rooftop noise.

Lieutenant Park nodded. "Understood."

With a few sharp commands, the National Guard soldiers began filing in—just over a hundred of them, boots thudding in unison, rifles slung, eyes sharp. Ethan gave a small nod of approval. Say what you will about the military, but these guys had presence. Even staring down a death trap, they didn’t flinch.

But then Ethan’s expression soured.

Because among the soldiers, striding in like she owned the place, was Officer Carter.

"The hell is she doing here?" Ethan said, his disgust plain. "Leave her up here with the rest of the dead weight."

"Who are you calling dead weight?" Carter snapped, puffing out her chest. "I’m a Tier 3 Enhanced, thank you very much."

"Tier 3..." Ethan gave a dry chuckle and turned to Park. "If you’re bringing her, then she’s taking point. I’m not risking my people for her."

Park winced. He knew damn well that without Ethan’s team leading the charge, they weren’t getting out of here alive.

"I’ll take point," Carter said, already marching toward the window. "I’m not afraid."

Ethan smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Brave girl."

Then his tone dropped. "Oh, right—forgot to mention. The ones still down there? The ones that didn’t chase the noise? Lowest among them is Tier 3."

Carter froze mid-step.

"What?" Park’s eyes went wide. "All Tier 3?"

"No," Ethan said, voice flat. "I said that’s the minimum. There are Tier 4s down there too."

Carter’s face drained of color.

"Officer Carter," Park said, turning to her, "you’re staying here."

"No! I’m going down. I can fight!"

"Officer Carter," Park’s voice hardened, "I need you to think about the bigger picture."

"I—"

She didn’t get to finish. Park gave a subtle nod, and two Tier 3 soldiers stepped forward, grabbed her by the arms, and dragged her back without a word.

"Alright," Ethan said, turning back to the group. "Now that the liability’s out of the way, here’s the plan. My team jumps first. You follow close behind. No hesitation."

"Got it," Park said, his tone matching Ethan’s.

Ethan stepped to the window, gave the street below one last scan, then swung his metal staff and shattered the glass with a single blow. Wind rushed in. Without a pause, he vaulted through the opening.

He dropped like a stone, landed hard, knees bending to absorb the impact. His boots hit pavement with a dull thud, and he straightened smoothly, barely rattled. At Tier 4, his body could take it.

The zombies noticed him instantly.

They surged forward, snarling, jaws snapping.

Ethan’s staff swept out in a wide arc, cracking skulls and sending bodies flying. Blood sprayed. Limbs twisted. He moved like a machine—precise, brutal, unstoppable.

Seconds later, Chris and the others followed, landing in a tight formation around him. They hit the ground running, weapons already in motion, carving a path through the undead.

Then came Park and his soldiers.

They dropped in waves, rolling on impact to break the fall, then rising in perfect sync. No hesitation. No wasted motion. They hit the ground and immediately joined the fight.

Ethan couldn’t help but be impressed.

These weren’t civilians. These were trained fighters. Even with the thirty-foot drop, not one of them froze. Not one of them panicked. They moved like a unit—tight, efficient, lethal.

Most were Tier 2, a few Tier 3s mixed in. But even against a swarm of Tier 3 zombies, they didn’t falter. Their teamwork was razor-sharp—one soldier blocked, the other struck. Shields and blades, rifles and bayonets, all moving in harmony.

Ethan had fought above his tier before. He knew how hard it was. But these guys? They made it look easy.

Clean. Controlled. Ruthless.

And for the first time in a long while, Ethan felt something stir in his chest.

Ethan watched the soldiers fight, eyes gleaming with something close to envy.

Now that was what a real team looked like—disciplined, fearless, efficient. The kind of people you could trust to hold the line when shit hit the fan. Not like the loose cannons or tagalongs he usually had to deal with.

Too bad they were military.

Soldiers like that were loyal to the flag, not to people. You couldn’t just sweet-talk them into joining your crew. And while Ethan didn’t have any grand plan to go toe-to-toe with the government, he wasn’t exactly looking to play by their rules either. In a world where the old order had crumbled, he wasn’t about to let some half-rebuilt bureaucracy tell him what he could or couldn’t do.

Especially not with people like her still in uniform.

So yeah—soldiers like these? Great to fight beside. But that was about it.

Still, their combat performance blew past Ethan’s expectations. With his team of six Tier 4s leading the charge, the group carved through the undead like a blade through wet paper. The soldiers followed tight behind, covering flanks, cleaning up stragglers. It was smoother than he’d dared hope.

By the time the rest of the horde caught on and started swarming back, they were already out of the kill zone.

Ethan’s team alone had taken down two Tier 4 zombies and over a hundred Tier 3s. He didn’t have time to scoop up all the Tier 3 crystal cores, but he made damn sure to pocket the Tier 4s.

Priorities.

Once they broke free, the group sprinted through alleys and side streets, zigzagging through the ruins of the city. The horde gave chase, but Ethan led them in circles, doubling back, cutting through collapsed buildings and narrow gaps until, finally, after ten grueling minutes, they lost the undead for good.

At a quiet intersection, Ethan slowed to a stop and turned to Park.

"Well, this is where we part ways. Hope you make it back in one piece."

Without waiting for a reply, he gave a nod and took off with Chris and the others, disappearing down a side street.

Lieutenant Park opened his mouth, but the six were already gone.

He let out a long breath.

A group like that... if command found out, they’d either want to recruit them—or neutralize them. Six Tier 4s, operating independently? That was a threat, no matter how you spun it.

He needed to report this. Fast.

Park turned to his men. "Let’s move. Head for the Safe Zone."

They didn’t have Ethan’s True Sight ability, but they had their own recon tools and instincts. They’d make it back.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s crew looped around the city and returned to their base: the luxury home in Lakeview Estates.

All things considered, the day had gone pretty damn well.

Everyone was now officially Tier 4. Ethan himself had consumed four Tier 4 crystal cores earlier, and picked up two more during the breakout. Six in total. He could feel the power humming under his skin, his body tighter, faster, stronger.

"Two more Tier 4 cores," he muttered, clenching his fist, "and I’ll be at the peak."

They were just starting to settle in, prepping for dinner, when a knock came at the door.

Instant tension.

Everyone froze.

Ethan activated True Sight and glanced outside—then chuckled. "Relax. Just a few poor bastards from across the street."

"The folks from the other luxury home?" Chris asked.

"Yep."

"You think they figured out we snagged that crystal core?" Chris frowned.

Ethan shook his head. "Doesn’t look like they’re here to pick a fight. More like fishing for intel. Pete, get the door."

"On it." Skinny Pete jogged over and pulled it open.

Standing there were Ray and Evan, flanked by two guys who looked like bodyguards. Ray, at least, had the sense to be cautious.

"Sorry to bother you," Ray said politely. "We’re from Building 12. Looks like it’s just our two houses left standing. Figured we should come say hello."

"No snacks? No welcome gift?" Skinny Pete asked, deadpan.

"..."

Ray gave an awkward laugh. "Sorry. Came in a rush. Next time, yeah?"

"Well, now that you’ve said hi, you can head back. We’re low on supplies, and it’s the apocalypse—we’re not exactly running a bed and breakfast," Pete said, already starting to close the door.

"Wait, wait—"

"We’re neighbors," Ray said quickly. "Mind if we come in for a minute?"

"Let them in," Ethan called from inside. His voice was calm, curious. "I want to see what they’re really here for."

Pete stepped aside. "Come on in."

...