New Dawn Chapter: 096

The engine sputtered, coughed, and then died with a disheartening silence that the drumming rain immediately rushed to fill. The lights on the dashboard flickered erratically before extinguishing completely.

Tysone's hands tightened on the useless steering wheel. He tried the ignition. Nothing. Not even a click.

"What happened?" Kohta asked from the back, leaning forward between the front seats.

"Engine's dead. Completely," Tysone stated, his voice flat. He tried the ignition again, then the headlights. No response. "Electronics are shot."

Saeko, ever vigilant, was already scanning their surroundings through the rain-streaked windows. "We're exposed here."

"No kidding," Saya muttered, peering out. The downpour obscured visibility beyond a few dozen meters, turning familiar city streets into a grey, watery maze. "Of all the times for this rust bucket to give up the ghost."

Tysone unbuckled his seatbelt. "Kohta, any quick ideas? Or is this beyond a roadside fix?" His tone was calm, but an edge of urgency was there. He didn't like being a sitting duck.

Kohta was already craning his neck, looking towards the front of the vehicle. "With this rain, popping the hood is asking for more trouble. If it's electrical, and completely dead like this… it could be the alternator, the battery, or something deeper in the system. Could even be the ECU, fried." He shook his head. "Nothing quick, especially not out here."

Tysone nodded, his mind already processing the new variables. 

"In this?" Saya gestured at the deluge outside.

"The rain offers cover." Saeko observed, her gaze sharp. "Sound is muffled, visibility is poor for them too."

"Exactly." Tysone agreed, already reaching for his gear. "It also makes us harder to spot from a distance. We stick to the original plan: find one of those evolved types, secure a crystal, and get back to a defensible extraction point. This just makes the 'getting back' part more complicated." His earlier unease about falling behind had just been amplified by this setback. Risks were necessary for power.

He checked his rifle, then looked at the team. "We move fast and quiet. Kohta, you're on point with me. Saeko, you take rear. Saya, you're with Saeko; watch our backs and be ready to use that new strength if things get tight. Standard formation. Any questions?"

No one spoke. Their expressions were grim but resolute.

"Good." Tysone pushed his door open, the roar of the rain instantly intensifying. "Let's move. And keep your eyes peeled. We're in their territory now."

The city, shrouded in the downpour, felt more menacing than ever as they stepped out of the dead Hum-Vee, the relative safety of the vehicle vanishing behind them like a mirage.

The hunt had just become significantly more dangerous. Still, composure was key, and his teammates were reliable. Nothing to worry about, for now.

The moment Tysone's boots hit the flooded asphalt, the rain plastered his clothes to his skin. He locked his rider's helmet, as did everyone else.

It offered some protection against the deluge.

His rifle was held at a low ready, while his halberd was strapped securely to his back.

"Stay tight." Tysone ordered, his voice barely above the downpour's noise. "Visibility is shit. Don't want anyone getting separated."

Kohta nodded, his glasses already fogging despite his efforts to keep them clear. He scanned their immediate surroundings, his own rifle held expertly. "This way," he suggested, pointing down a narrower side street. "Less open space than the main road. Might offer better cover if we run into a horde."

"Good call." Tysone led the way, his senses on high alert.

They moved like ghosts through the watery urban landscape. The rain was relentless, turning alleyways into shallow streams and roads into reflecting pools that mirrored the oppressive grey sky.

"See anything, Saya?" Saeko asked quietly, her voice a low murmur.

Saya squinted into the grey. "Just rain and shadows, Saeko-senpai. And a lot of trash cans."

"Keep looking. They're out there."

Up front, Tysone paused at an intersection, holding up a hand. Kohta mirrored the action. The sound of dragging footsteps, distinct even through the rain, was approaching from their left. Too many to be a lone straggler.

Tysone gestured towards a recessed doorway of a boarded-up shop. "In. Quick."

They pressed themselves into the shallow alcove, the rain still lashing at them but offering a sliver of concealment. A small group of common zombies, perhaps six or seven, shambled past, their heads lolling, oblivious to the humans mere feet away.

The zombies weren't exactly a threat, but Tysone wanted to avoid wasting ammo or energy.

Tysone watched them pass, his expression unreadable. "Still no sign of the big ones." He muttered, more to himself than anyone. That was to be expected, honestly. If another zombie cop popped out of a corner, just like that, then it'd either be a miracle or a disaster.

Once the last zombie staggered by, Kohta sighed, adjusting his fogged glasses beneath his helmet. "That was unlucky. What could have happened to our Hum-Vee?"

Tysone's gaze lingered on the spot where the shamblers had disappeared. "Sudden, total electrical failure like that…" He paused, a frown creasing his brow under the helmet. 'Could it be that EMP strike after all? Just… delayed?' He kept that specific thought to himself for now. Aloud, he said, "It's not normal. Something fried the systems completely."

"That's unusual..." Takashi mumbled.

"Or the old girl just finally gave out." Kohta added, though his tone suggested he didn't fully believe it was that simple. "But to die so completely, no warning… that's unusual for mechanical failure."

"Whatever it was, it means we can't rely on anything with complex electronics." Tysone said, firmly. "It also means we can't stay here either. We're on a mission; if we're to go back to base without the Hum-Vee, then we need a crystal, at least. That's what I want. Let's keep going."

…

Tysone, Saeko, Takashi, Kohta, and Saya were moving through the rain-soaked city. Under different circumstances, seeking out a zombie that dangerous would've been the height of folly. But in their world, it was a calculated risk that could lead to a significant advantage—the potential for enhanced abilities.

Tysone's eyes were focused and determined, his posture rigid. He led the way, his stride confident and deliberate. "Keep your eyes peeled. They're not exactly subtle, so they shouldn't be hard to spot."

Except that the downpour was making that task exceptionally difficult. And it wasn't like they could run around the city carelessly, which made the find even harder. 

Hours seemed to crawl by, each one a testament to their frustrating lack of success.

The constant dampness was seeping into their bones, and even Tysone's patience was wearing thin. The need for shelter was becoming as pressing as their hunt for a crystal.

"This is getting us nowhere." Takashi finally voiced, shouting over a particularly strong gust of wind that rattled loose shutters nearby. "We're soaked, and we haven't seen anything but walkers."

"He's right, Tysone." Saeko agreed, her usual composure strained by the elements. "We need to find a dry place to regroup, at least until this storm eases up."

Tysone scanned the bleak cityscape. His gaze landed on a large, multi-story structure a few blocks away, its signage barely visible through the deluge: a shopping mall. "There. A mall. Big, plenty of potential cover, maybe even supplies." It wasn't ideal, as such places could become deathtraps, but right now, any roof was better than none. "We'll check it out. Stay sharp. Malls attract crowds, living and dead."

The approach was cautious. The main entrances were barricaded haphazardly with overturned cars and piled debris. They found a service entrance at the rear, its metal door dented but still locked. With a grunt of effort, Saya, putting her newfound strength to the test, managed to pry it open just enough for them to slip through, the screech of tortured metal loud even in the rain.

Inside, the air was cool, musty, and eerily quiet compared to the storm outside. Only the natural light coming from outside helped the group navigate. "Clear so far." Kohta whispered, his rifle sweeping ahead.

They moved deeper, weapons ready. The silence was unnerving.

Rounding a corner into the mall's central atrium, they stopped. A small group of people—perhaps a dozen—were huddled near a makeshift barricade of overturned tables and display racks. They looked gaunt, scared, and poorly armed.

As Tysone's group emerged from the shadows, a collective gasp went up. A few of the survivors scrambled back, fear in their eyes.

Stepping forward from the group was a small woman in a rumpled female police uniform, her short light brown hair plastered to her forehead. She held no visible weapon, and her blue eyes were wide with a mixture of apprehension and a forced attempt at authority.

"S-Stop right there!" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. "This area is… is under the protection of the Tokonosu Higashi Police! I am Officer Nakaoka Asami! Who are you? State your purpose!"

Author's Note:

If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at P@treon.com/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.