Chapter Sixteen: Crossroads of Departure

The morning sun cast its golden glow over the landscape as Major General Azzrael prepared to leave the haven of Raizel's treehouse. A sense of duty pulled him away, back into the heart of the military, where the remnants of order sought to carve a sanctuary amidst the chaos.

Raizel, aware of the impending departure, had prepared a simple bento lunch box for Azzrael—an unspoken gesture of gratitude for the unexpected camaraderie that had unfolded in the shadow of the undead apocalypse.

As Azzrael embarked on his journey toward the 9th Infantry Division in Brgy Tinangis, Pili, Cam Sur, the military base in Naga City, he was met with the respectful welcome of fellow soldiers. Comrades who had survived the ambush greeted him with nods of acknowledgment, a silent camaraderie that spoke of shared battles and unspoken understanding.

His assistant lieutenant, a friend forged in the crucible of military life, approached with a salute. "Welcome back, sir. We thought we lost you out there," he remarked, a mixture of relief and camaraderie in his voice.

Azzrael, his gaze fixed on the horizon, acknowledged the sentiment with a nod. "I'm not that easy to get rid of," he replied, the stoicism in his tone underscoring the resilience that defined his character.

Back in the solitude of the treehouse, Raizel, now alone, muttered to himself. "Thank God I hid my things well," he spoke aloud, his words carrying the weight of caution. The vaccine, the progress toward a cure—all concealed within the folds of the treehouse, guarded against the uncertainties that lurked beyond.

As the military base bustled with activity, Azzrael delved into the tasks that awaited him. Meanwhile, in the secluded sanctuary of the treehouse, Raizel continued his solitary pursuit of a cure. His muttered words, a testament to the wariness that defined his survival—a cautious dance in a world where trust had become a rare and precious commodity.

The threads of their stories, Azzrael's and Raizel's, unfolded in parallel—two individuals navigating the complexities of an undead-infested world, each harboring secrets and responsibilities that tethered them to a destiny intertwined with uncertainty and hope.