PoruShark Writer's Note:
Hey'a—everyone!
My new book—Isekai Livestream: Goddess's Vessel—is now officially contracted.
YEAY!
If you have any spare, Power Stones, Gifts, or Golden Tickets, I'd really appreciate your support.
Now, please enjoy the next chapter.
***
BANG!!!
"Hurry up and open the gate!" Kato shouted in panic, yet his voice could barely be heard clearly by everyone as he continued firing his assault rifle, expending all the bullets he had left.
Their situation had gone far worse than just encountering a group of rod-less and ball-less, mutilated undead.
More undead appeared behind them, as if those they had been evading earlier had finally caught up.
Perhaps they had been moving too slowly—so slow that even the slow-moving undead had managed to catch them.
But worse, among the horde were a few irregular undead.
One of the remaining two high school girls was seized and dragged away by a chubby undead flasher—the same type that had previously tried to assault Naomi and was killed by Rei.
Despite Rei trying to chase the undead to save the girl, Hisashi stopped her, saying it was already too late.
The other girl was snatched by the eight-foot-tall undead woman their group had hidden from earlier at the convenience store. At that moment, not even Rei could do anything as they fled, while the undead tore the girl's head off and used it to replace its own.
The remaining high school boys were also caught by the mutilated undead. Their rods and balls were taken before they turned undead and were put down by Rei and Naomi after killing the aroused undead that tried to assault them.
One of the firemen was slashed by an undead wielding an infectious blade, and his companion had to kill him—chopping off his head while he slowly turned undead.
Within just half an hour, as they finally reached the gate of the evacuation shelter, all that was left of their group were Hisashi, Rei, Naomi, Takuzo, Yamada, Ishi, Kato, and the last fireman.
BANG—
"I said get inside already!" Kato shouted once more, and this time, his voice was clearly heard now that he was out of bullets.
Hisashi quickly dashed toward the gate while everyone else held back the approaching undead with their makeshift metal spears.
But when he tried to push the double metal swing gate, it only moved slightly until the chain locking it from the inside came into view through the small gap.
"It's locked!" Hisashi shouted, causing everyone to glance at him in despair.
"Then climb over it, you moron!"
Realizing what should have been obvious, Hisashi jumped with all his strength, trying to reach the top of the eight-foot-tall gate—only to fail on his first attempt.
Still, he didn't give up, jumping again and again while the others continued to fight the slow-moving undead to buy him time.
With each failed attempt, Hisashi's fear and terror grew—until he finally grabbed the top and desperately pulled himself up.
Everyone thought Hisashi would sit on top of the gate and help the others climb up by grabbing their spears and pulling them up.
But to their shock, Hisashi jumped down as soon as he reached the top, saving himself on the other side as if he had decided to abandon everyone else—including Rei.
"Rei-san!" Naomi shouted, getting her attention.
Rei quickly understood what Naomi was asking her to do.
Although they still couldn't fully understand how they were able to move and fight with such enhanced speed and strength, they knew everyone else would die if they didn't act.
Rei rushed toward the gate. Using her spear as a vaulting pole, she skillfully launched herself up and landed sitting on top.
Naomi followed, grabbing the top of the gate in a single jump before pulling herself up and reaching out her hand to help Takuzo climb next.
"Go ahead, boys... we got this," Kato said, realizing what he had to do.
Seeing Yamada and Ishi still hesitating, the last fireman offered his parting words.
"It's our duty, both as professionals and as adults, to keep you kids safe," he said, trying to act cool despite his trembling hands.
Not wanting to insult their resolve, Yamada and Ishi rushed toward the gate, raising their spears toward Rei for help.
While they climbed over, Kato and the fireman held back the approaching undead for as long as they could.
Kato gripped his assault rifle by the barrel and smashed the head of the nearest undead.
The fireman swung his axe, splitting the heads of the undead closing in on him—until he was surrounded and devoured.
Yet he bit his lips, endured the pain, and didn't scream—not to maintain a cool and dignified death, but simply because he didn't want the students to become even more terrified hearing his dying cries.
The same fate soon reached Kato. Before he could turn, he drew his revolver, intending to kill himself rather than become undead.
But as he was about to pull the trigger, he saw Rei—on the verge of tears—looking at him.
Witnessing how strong she had become, Kato felt relieved, believing she could survive and meet her parents—his friends.
Still, he wanted to give her one last parting gift that might save her life.
"Stay alive... Rei-chan..." Kato whispered, before throwing his revolver to her.
Rei caught it—but when she looked back, intending to shoot him as he had planned, Kato was already gone, swallowed by the horde.
***
After wiping her tears with her right hand—still holding the revolver—while her left gripped her spear, Rei jumped down to the other side of the gate.
Everyone was exhausted, catching their breath—even Hisashi, who had at least waited for them.
"Let's go inside the shel—" he said, ushering everyone forward, only to be cut off as Ishi landed a punch straight to his face, knocking him to the ground.
"You bastard!" Ishi shouted before kicking him in the gut.
"Your plan was to use all of us as scapegoats, wasn't it?!"
Hisashi caught Ishi's leg and pulled him down, quickly reversing the situation with his karate experience. Straddling him, he prepared to strike back—driven by the fear and stress he felt for his family's safety.
But before Hisashi could land a punch, Yamada joined the brawl, kicking him in the face and knocking him down again.
As Ishi and Yamada were about to beat him further, Rei finally stepped in.
"Please stop, both of you," she said—not with intimidation, but with a pitiful look that only irritated Hisashi further.
"You should be thankful Miyamoto is still your girlfriend," Yamada said as he backed off, considering Rei had helped them earlier.
"We'll settle this once we confirm the shelter is safe," Ishi added before walking past Hisashi.
"Are you alright, Hisashi?"
Rei offered her hand, but Hisashi glared at her and slapped it away before wiping his bleeding mouth and standing on his own.
He then silently walked toward the shelter entrance without saying a word.
"What's wrong with him?" Takuzo said, waiting for Naomi and Rei.
"Let's go, Rei-san," Naomi added, ushering Rei to join them.
"I'm sorry, everyone... Hisashi was just worried about his parents and younger sister."