New Dawn Chapter: 0109

This piqued everyone's interest. Saeko shifted slightly.

"By absorbing the cores of those creatures." Tysone explained, grabbing a metal pipe he'd taken for demonstration, and easily twisted it like it was clay. "Not only does it grant enhanced strength, but also the ability to heal at an accelerated rate and improve cognitive functions. Speed. Strength. Heightened senses. The potential is seemingly limitless."

The mangled metal pipe clattered to the floor, the sound unnaturally loud in the sudden silence of the living room.

Marin's eyes widened. "So, those shiny rocks… they do that?" she practically vibrated with excitement.

Tysone met their gazes, his expression serious. "They do. Saya absorbed one. Saeko just did. And, as you just witnessed, I did too, albeit under… more extreme circumstances." He didn't elaborate on his near-transformation, not yet. That was a horror best kept contained for now. "It's a significant power-up. Practically the only way to fight back."

"So." Takashi began, taking a step forward, his voice eager. "How do we get more? Who's next?"

Tysone held up a hand. "Hold on. It's not that simple." He paused, letting his words sink in. His gaze swept over them, lingering on the new survivors. "What we're facing out there… it's not just mindless zombies anymore. The Evolved, as we've called them, are changing. There are different… types. Different abilities. They're growing stronger far faster than we are."

Tanaka gulped, his face turning paler.

Kenji clenched his jaw.

"The creatures we've seen are just the beginning," Tysone continued, his voice growing colder. "We need to prepare. And that includes being strategic with how and when we enhance ourselves. The decision to absorb a core is a serious one. It should never be made out of recklessness or haste. This means hunting them for these cores is incredibly dangerous. More dangerous than anything we've faced before, because each encounter will be with something new, something unpredictable."

Mai finally spoke, her voice tight, a tremor of something—anger? Frustration?—running through it. "So, what? Only a select few get to be superhuman? While the rest of us are… bait?"

The accusation stung, sharp and unexpected.

Tysone's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Mai. He could see the hurt, the feeling of being left behind. "No, Mai. That's not it at all." He sighed. "The truth is, we don't know enough. We don't know if everyone is compatible. We don't know the long-term effects. Saya and I… we absorbed them under duress. Saeko's was a calculated risk, but a risk nonetheless. I nearly didn't make it."

A collective intake of breath. Saeko's expression became grim.

"The priority," Tysone continued, his voice regaining its firm edge, "is to ensure the survival of this entire group. And right now, the ones best equipped to hunt these things, to take those risks, are those who already have a fighting chance or a specific skill set that can be amplified effectively. Saeko's swordsmanship, my… adaptability, Saya's intellect to analyze these things."

"And my marksmanship?" Kohta interjected, unable to hide the hope in his voice. "Takashi's all-around combat skills?"

"Exactly." Tysone nodded. "You two are high on the list. Rei as well, for her spear work and agility. But we need to be strategic. We can't just rush out there. One mistake, and it's not just one person we lose."

Officer Nakaoka finally spoke, her voice shaky but determined. "So, these… cores. They come from those… monsters? And absorbing them… it doesn't turn you into one of them? Permanently?" She looked at Saeko, then at Tysone.

"So far, it seems to enhance, not corrupt." Saeko answered, her voice calm and reassuring, though her eyes held a depth of understanding of the risk Tysone had just hinted at. "But the process is… intense."

Tysone picked up the thread. "The goal here is to ensure everyone's enhanced, eventually. However, the reality of our situation dictates a more measured approach. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks, especially considering that we still need time to fully understand the nature and effects of the enhancements. Regardless, the mansion is still the best place for everyone to live in for now. The world out there, from what we've seen in our short trip, is far worse off than it was when we first got here. We're safe here. And as we all enhance ourselves, our collective strength will become more than enough to keep us protected and thriving. For now, though, the primary task at hand is to secure the immediate vicinity and establish a sustainable, fortified perimeter."

Mai's expression, however, didn't soften.

...

"You should speak with her."

Surprisingly, the words came from Shizuka. She lay naked, by his side. After experiencing the full effects of an enhanced virility and stamina, she was exhausted. Tysone, on the other hand, could still go another couple of rounds, which left him slightly dissatisfied, but the woman beside him had given her all. Her vagina was hurting and out of commission.

Selfishly, he wanted to go out there, hunt an evolved zombie, and have Shizuka absorb its core, just so she could keep up with him, but Tysone had never been one to let his libido speak for him.

Maybe in the future...

'I'm not about to let the fucking zombie apocalypse cockblock me.'

"I'd never thought a woman would ever say something like that." He joked.

Shizuka gave him a flat stare, though he could see a smile at the edges of her mouth. "I mean it, Tysone-kun." She rolled around and straddled him. "I'm a woman too, you know?" She huffed. "I know how women feel. I've seen it in the eyes of Miku and Saeko when you look at me with desire. I see it in Saya when you're with Mai." She sighed, pressing her breasts on his chest. "Mai feels like she is the least desired, the most vulnerable. She feels like she is useless in comparison to the others, like her contributions aren't as important."

Tysone raised an eyebrow.

"What? It's obvious she has a crush on you. Don't act all surprised, Ty-kun. You knew it too." Shizuka's smile became sad. "That girl is lonely. I don't think she's ever been with anyone before. Whatever your decision is, just don't throw me aside, okay?" Shizuka leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

"..."

Shizuka's eyes became fluttery, her cute mouth wrenching into a yawn. She mumbled something before slumping on him, snoring slightly. He smiled, gently pushed her aside, got up, and put a blanket over her naked form. He walked to the bathroom to wash up his face. His mirror self was quite different than he remembered; the core had more effects than he realized.

His physique was the same, overall. His muscles were still well-defined and powerful, but there was a new, refined edge to them. It was as if his muscles had been tempered, hardened, and optimized for maximum efficiency. There was a denser quality to his frame, as though every fiber within him had been honed to a razor-sharp edge.

But what really caught his attention were his eyes.

He wouldn't have caught that tiny discrepancy if not for his own heightened perception.

The shade of his eyes were lighter. He doubted anyone had noticed, but he did. They weren't as dark as he remembered. The core's effects had slowly started to change his physiology.

He got dressed in casual clothes, no need for all that bulk of protection. Not in his home.

Then, he went downstairs, towards Mai's quarters.

It had been a while since they last had some alone time, and he realized he may have been neglecting his friendships.

He knocked.

There was no response.

He opened the door and peeked inside. "Mai...?"

There was a lump of a human being under her blankets, unmoving.

He frowned.

"Mai."

"I'm sleeping."

"Clearly you are."

"..."

"Look, Mai, we need to talk." He entered her room and closed the door. He walked towards the bed and took a seat. The lump shuffled, creating some distance between them. "Don't do that."

"Leave me alone." Came the curt response. "You have other girls to fuck, anyway."

Tysone's eyes widened slightly, before his brows furrowed in frustration. "First, you need to learn some fucking respect." His tone became deep. He grabbed the sheets, and yanked them off the bed. A very much irritated Mai stared back at him. "I don't care what kind of fucking mood you're in. You don't disrespect me like that."

"Disrespect!?" She stood up, her hands clenched into fists. "As if you've shown any kind of respect towards me!"

"You're a big girl, Mai. You know damn well how things are around here." He sighed.

"Of course! How could I not?!" Her face was red. Tears started pooling. "It's like you just took a liking to anyone except me! I don't even show up in your radar anymore, do I? To the point that even the damn dog gets more attention than I do!" She grit her teeth, trying to stop the tears. "I miss what we had, Ty... It was fun, it was great, and then..." 

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.