A Glimpse of the Sun

"Well then... should we buy four more?" Jason asked, glancing at the others.

"Sure," they agreed in unison.

After settling the decision, Jason handed the magnetic card to the staff, swiped it, and made the purchase.

Before long, the staff brought the knives from the warehouse.

Sakura took the dagger, inspecting it in her hands. "Not bad, perfect as a backup knife."

Jason couldn't help but gasp when he heard Sakura's words. A backup knife? To him, this dagger seemed more than capable of being a primary weapon. But Sakura was treating it so casually.

Before heading back, the group also bought some military-grade backpacks and spare magazines for their handguns. Since Jason's gun was homemade, it would take an extra day to replicate a new magazine.

The group spent another 100 survival points.

As they made their way back, Jason noticed that the training hall was much busier than usual, with twice as many people and some unfamiliar faces. Their team had long met the conditions to upgrade to a Level 2 team, but they'd been too focused on training to take care of the formalities.

Now, with training paused in preparation for their mission, they made their way to the administration office on the first floor to upgrade their team. The process went smoothly, and another team even voluntarily stepped aside to let Jason's group cut in line.

Since the fight with Zhao Yang, many people had backed off from approaching Sakura. The defeat of a Level 2 team in that confrontation had made it clear to everyone just how strong Jason's team was.

In no time, they were upgraded to a Level 2 team. The staff informed them that they would need to move to Room 007 in Block B within 24 hours. The expansion of their team meant they could now have five members, so they were assigned a larger room in the Level 2 section.

As they were leaving the administration office, Jason noticed a few people who had learned about their upgrade to Level 2. They approached, trying to inquire about joining their team. Jason politely declined each time. He didn't want any opportunists who only sought safety without contributing.

When word spread that they would soon be leaving for a mission, more people backed off, not wanting to risk being involved with a group heading into the dangerous unknown. Jason couldn't help but shake his head at their mentality. He knew that many of these people were just looking for easy survival, not willing to fight and bleed for their place in the world.

"Picking teammates is just like guarding against family thieves. You have to be careful," Jason thought to himself.

Back at their new room, the group started unpacking. The new quarters in Block B were about 10 square meters larger than their old one in Block A, with an extra bed. They each chose a spot and placed their belongings.

By now, news of their mission had spread throughout the tower, and rumors had started circulating. Some even placed bets on whether Jason's team, "Sunset Glory," would make it back alive.

In the room, the four of them silently cleaned and checked their weapons, the mood heavy.

Jason tried to keep calm on the outside, but deep down, he felt immense fear. Tomorrow, he would face not just any enemy, but the cold, merciless zombies. He was trying to convince himself that he wasn't killing humans, just zombies, hoping it would lessen the guilt.

Fatty, usually carefree and laughing, was now serious, focusing intently on practicing loading and unloading ammo.

Old He leaned back against the bed, eyes closed, deep in thought. Jason couldn't read him at all.

Sakura, on the other hand, was casually twirling her golden dagger, showing little to no concern for tomorrow's mission.

"Sakura, aren't you worried? We're going out tomorrow. Don't you feel scared?" Jason couldn't help but ask.

"Scared? Why should I be? I'm not afraid of living people, so why should I fear the dead?" Sakura replied casually.

"But don't you have any worries?" Jason pressed.

"Worries? Not really..." Sakura hesitated for a second before answering.

Jason didn't push further, sensing it wasn't the right moment. He wisely fell silent.

Ten hours later, the staff from the weapons shop delivered the tactical suits and spare magazines Jason had ordered the day before. With only eight hours left before departure, the four of them headed to the training hall.

Since they would be flying by helicopter, they would need to know how to parachute. Two of the trainers spent hours teaching them the essentials of parachuting and operating the equipment.

The reason they would need to parachute was simple: if the helicopter descended too low, the noise from the blades would attract nearby zombies, making it impossible to land using a rope ladder. Parachuting would ensure a safer, quieter drop.

After several hours of training, they went to the cafeteria for their last meal before the mission. They ate in silence, knowing that soon they would be heading into danger.

Once they finished, they got the rest they could, waiting for the scheduled time. They donned their newly purchased gear and stepped out of their residential area.

On their way out, the others they passed had different reactions. Some admired their bravery, while others believed they were walking to their deaths. Regardless, each person had their own thoughts about the group's upcoming mission.

Jason, however, didn't care about the opinions or looks from the others. All he cared about now was pushing forward, fighting his way through, and surviving.

Soon, they arrived at the combat readiness hall. Captain Adam of the command center directed them to the C Block, elevator 2.

Jason checked the time—it was just right—and led the team to the elevator. They entered and pressed the button.

Ten minutes later, the elevator reached its destination: a large warehouse with a helicopter waiting for them. The pilot was already inside, ready to take off as soon as they boarded.

"Let's go. Get on," Old He said, leading the way.

The moment they were on board, the helicopter's engine roared to life. The metal hatch above slowly opened, and the helicopter began to ascend into the sky.

Once again, Jason found himself staring at the gray, oppressive sky, just as he had days ago, but this time, with a sense of finality. The world outside had changed, and now, so would they.