Standing outside the dorm, Kael tightening the straps on his armguard, making sure it was secure. His jacket—crafted from wolfhide and stained with dried blood—only added to his appearance, giving him the look of a battle-hardened survivor. His pants, made from the same hide, matched well and completed the rugged ensemble.
Without his spear, though, Kael looked like a strange mix between a caveman and a medieval knight—primitive in presence, yet armored by something more refined.
The same couldn't quite be said for his squadmates.
Marcus—the bearded man wielding a massive bone axe—wore a patchwork of scavenged armor. Mismatched pieces clung to him like a walking junkyard, each one forged from random Soulshard drops.
Laura, the dagger-wielding girl, stood nearby in stark contrast. She wore a sleek black cloak over a fitted breastplate, her gear far more refined and tactical.
However, unlike the two of them Tomas the lanky guy was wearing nothing more than leather chestplate with the rest being athletic clothes that people that live in the dorms donate. His weapon of choice was the spear that Kael was using before.
And then there was the final member of Kael's squad—Zayn. He wore armor similar to Thomas's, crafted from reinforced leather, but instead of a spear, he carried a compact crossbow slung across his back.
His arm, which had been mangled before, now looked healthy. The color had returned to his face as well.
"Hey Kael, when are we moving out?" Marcus asked, resting the bone axe on his shoulder like a baseball bat. A cheeky grin played on his face, like he was excited about whatever the day had in store.
"Once Ellis and his squad are ready, we'll move out together," Kael replied, addressing his squadmates. "The plan is to work side by side and clear a path to the Math Department and the Business School. Once the route is open, it's go time."
"You think we're gonna run into anything truly dangerous?" Laura asked as she strolled over, hands behind her back.
"I hope not," Kael muttered with a half-chuckle. "I need a break after coming back with a broken arm—in seventeen different places."
"Why? Were you hoping we do run into something dangerous?" Kael asks with a puzzled look.
Laura bobs her head back and forth. "Well… not something that's gonna kill us. But we're not going to get any stronger if we don't face something tough."
"Stronger? You want to become stronger?" Kael asked. "Why?"
Laura turned her head to the side, avoiding his gaze.
"I need to find my parents," she said quietly. "And… I need to be strong enough to find my brother."
Kael, hearing her noble aspiration and sincerity, couldn't help but sympathize.
"That's a good goal," Kael said, then turned. "What about you, Marcus? You got a goal?"
"A goal…" Marcus echoed, frowning slightly as he thought. "I guess the main thing is, I want to be like a superhero. You know—protect the people who need it."
He scratched his chin.
"But that's more of a childhood fantasy than an actual goal. If I'm being real… I'm not too sure. My parents are already gone, no siblings, nothing tying me down. So I guess I'll just do what I like."
"Hey, nothing wrong with that," Laura said with a small smile. "Though now I'm curious. Hey, Tomas—what about you? What's your goal?"
"Me?" Tomas blinked. "Well… don't laugh."
He rubbed the back of his head, sheepish.
"I want to become a wizard. Learn everything there is to know about magic. Maybe even become a Supreme Sorcerer or something."
He paused, then added more quietly, "I also want to find my parents, of course. But... I never really liked them that much. They weren't terrible, but they weren't great either. So, for once, I think I'm just gonna focus on myself. On what I want."
"At least you have parents," Marcus chuckled dryly.
"Yeah, but is having bad parents really better than no parents?" Tomas countered.
"Well, if they're like my parents, then yeah—it's good to have them," Zayn chimed in.
"Not having parents means you grow up on your own. You make more mistakes. Learn everything the hard way. But even bad parents can teach you something. You learn what not to do. How not to treat people. That stuff sticks with you."
He paused, then gave a small shrug.
"But hey, that's just my experience. I'm sure it's different for everyone. Some families are loving. Some aren't. Some people have no one. But in the end… we are who we are. And that's what matters."
"Okay, Zayn—wise wizard of the seven seas," Marcus cut in with a smirk. "Thanks for the profound wisdom. But it's too early for this kind of deep thinking. Just say your goal and move on."
Zayn sighed, but a hint of amusement tugged at his lips. "Fine. I want to become someone important. Someone with a voice. So that what I say actually matters."
As everyone around the squad shared their thoughts, only one person hadn't spoken yet.
"Yo, Kael—what about you?" Marcus asked.
Kael paused, his gaze dropping slightly.
"For me… I want to become strong," he said slowly. "Strong enough that I don't have to worry about where I'll sleep at night. Strong enough to protect the people who can't protect themselves. Strong enough to be… me."
He clenched a fist.
"I want to feel like I tried. Like the effort I put into myself actually meant something."
Then he glanced over at Marcus and smirked faintly. "And you're right—it's too early for talks like this. Besides, looks like Ellis is done messing around."
"You ready, Ellis?" Kael asked as he walked over.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Ellis replied, cracking his neck. "I'll lead the way—you just try not to fall behind."
"Me? Fall behind?" Kael snorted. "Did you not see my flaming hot sabers? Pretty sure you're the one who needs to keep up."
Both men smirked at each other, the playful rivalry sparking.
"And since you're so sure I'll fall behind," Kael added, "how about a little competition? First one to rack up the most zombie kills on the way gets the highest-tier Soulshard we find today."
"Deal," Ellis said without hesitation, clearly more than happy to take the challenge.
With that, the two men took off—leading the charge toward the Math and Business Department, the others pressing forward behind them.
As they advanced, they ran into a handful of stray zombies—each one noticeably stronger than the ones they'd fought the day before. It was like the undead were adapting, slowly getting used to the energy now running through their reanimated bodies.
Kael cleaved through another with a clean arc of his saber.
"That's number thirteen for me," he called out over his shoulder. "Looks like poor little Ellis is stuck at eleven."
Ellis didn't respond immediately—he was busy dodging the fangs of a snarling mutant wolf.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Ellis shouted, stabbing his blade through the beast's skull. "I had to fight a wolf! You're just dealing with zombies!"
Kael shrugged with a grin. "I don't know, man. I didn't force you into the bet."
He turned slightly, tossing Ellis a smirk.
"Embrace it, Ellis. Don't be a sore loser."
"We're not done yet," Ellis growled. "You better hope there's nothing left outside the department—or I'm catching up."
Kael laughed. "Count your days, Ellis. Count your days."
As they approached the department building, both squads slowed, standing at the edge of a collapsed wall. Through the break in the structure, they peered toward the main entrance.
A handful of zombies lingered near the front, but what caught their attention—what made the breath catch in their throats—were the bodies.
Dozens of students. Maybe more. Far more than they'd seen anywhere else.
Kael's expression darkened. "What do you think happened?"
Ellis narrowed his eyes.
"From the looks of it, something strong came through here. Either it's still inside… or whatever it was already left after wiping out everyone."
He exhaled, steadying himself.
"Whatever the case, most people didn't have someone like us watching their backs. We take it slow, clear room by room—we should be fine."
"My train of thought as well," Kael said, nodding in agreement before turning to face his squadmates.
"Alright then. Dawn Squad, form up."
At the name, his squad groaned collectively.
"Dawn Squad?" Thomas complained, rolling his eyes. "Come on, man. Couldn't you think of something better?"
The others murmured in agreement, clearly not fans of the name either.
"What? What's wrong with Dawn Squad?" Kael defended. "It rhymes. It's easy to say."
Thomas gave him a flat look. "It's also lame."
Kael waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever. Ignore the name. Let's get serious."
His expression hardened, voice turning firm.
"Like we discussed last night—Marcus, you're taking point. Laura, you'll move around the edges and hit their flanks. Keep it fast and clean."
He turned to Tomas next.
"Tomas, you're on support. If another zombie tries to jump Marcus while he's engaged, you draw its attention or take it out. Otherwise, assist where needed—don't tunnel vision."
Finally, Kael's gaze settled on Zayn.
"Zayn, you're our first striker. Whenever we meet an enemy, you take the first shot."
Zayn's eyes widened slightly, but Kael held up a hand.
"I don't care if you miss. It's your first time using a crossbow—I'm not expecting miracles. So don't stress. Just focus."
Kael took a breath, then added "And if, during the fight, you see an opening—where you can take the shot without hitting one of us—take it."
Each of them nodded in response.
"What about you, Kael?" Marcus asked.
"Me?" Kael smirked. "I'll be out front, drawing most of their attention. If I need backup, I'll fall back into formation. Just stay sharp."
He raised a fist, grin returning.
"Alright—let's do this. Dawn Squad, out!"
With a laugh, Kael broke from cover, stepping over the rubble they'd been hiding behind. The squad followed close behind, ready for whatever came next.
His squadmates still shook their heads at the name—but as they peered over the ridge, the smirks faded.
The battle was coming. And Dawn Squad—name or not—was ready to meet it.