Chapter 16: The Aftermath
We sat in the Convention Center lobby, exhausted and bloodied but alive.
Lucas's team was tending wounds and counting their dead. We'd lost one person, a young man named David who'd been overwhelmed by Tier-2s early in the fight. His body was wrapped in a tarp, waiting for burial.
I pressed a bandage against my chest wound where the Tier-3 had clawed me. The bleeding had slowed, but I'd need a health potion soon. My HP was hovering at 98/210, the level-ups had increased my maximum health, but the injury remained.
"Here," Lucas tossed me a red vial. "Health potion. You earned it."
I drank it gratefully. The familiar copper-and-fire taste, then blessed relief as my chest knitted back together.
[HEALTH POTION CONSUMED]
[HEALTH: 210/210]
[CRITICAL INJURY HEALED]
"Thank you," I said.
Lucas sat down beside me, Stormbreaker resting across his lap. "You fought well. All three of you did. That throw, giving me the sword mid-battle, that was smart tactical thinking."
"You needed it more in that moment," I said. "Your precognition plus the sword's power was the only way to kill the lord fast enough."
"Still. Most people would've held onto it, tried to be the hero themselves." Lucas studied me with those sharp, intelligent eyes. "You're not like most survivors I've met. You think strategically. You prioritize the mission over personal glory."
"I prioritize survival," I corrected. "Personal glory doesn't matter if you're dead."
"Fair point." Lucas handed the sword back to me. "Our deal was that if you survived and contributed meaningfully, you keep it. You did both. So it's yours."
I took Stormbreaker, surprised. "You're really giving it back? I saw what you could do with it. You could probably use it better than me."
"Maybe," Lucas admitted. "But I made a deal, and I keep my word. Besides, I've been thinking, you're level 6 now, right?"
"Yeah. The nest clearing gave me massive points."
"Then you're strong enough to make a real difference in this apocalypse. Seattle needs more people like you. People who can fight, think, lead." He stood up. "I'm building something. A coalition of survivors who work together instead of fighting over scraps. Green Lake is just the start. I want safe zones across the city, supply networks, organized defense against zombies and raiders."
"That's ambitious," Maya said. She'd been listening while tending to Lisa's minor injuries.
"It's necessary," Lucas said. "The zombies are getting stronger. Tier-4s now, Tier-5s eventually. If we don't organize, humanity loses."
"And you want us to join this coalition?" I asked.
"I want you to consider it. You three are capable, well-equipped, and you've already proven you can work with others. Having a team like yours as part of the coalition would make everyone stronger."
It was a generous offer. Lucas was basically offering protection, resources, and community. In the apocalypse, that was worth more than gold.
But it also meant giving up independence. Following someone else's leadership. Potentially being sent on dangerous missions for the greater good.
"We'll think about it," I said carefully. "Right now, we've got our own base established. We're doing okay on our own."
"Where's your base?" Lucas asked.
"Cascade View Apartments, Capitol Hill. We've secured the building, stockpiled supplies. It's working for us so far."
Lucas nodded. "Good location. Defensible, not too isolated. If you change your mind about joining up, you know where to find me." He looked around at his team. "We're heading back to Green Lake. You're welcome to come with us, get some rest before heading home."
"We appreciate it," Maya said, "but we should get back to our own base. Check on things."
We parted ways outside the Convention Center. Lucas's team headed northwest toward Green Lake. We headed east toward Capitol Hill.
As soon as we were alone, Lisa spoke up: "We should join them. Safety in numbers, right?"
"Maybe," I said. "But Lucas's coalition also means shared resources. We'd have to give up some of our supplies, take orders, risk our lives for people we don't know."
"Isn't that what society is?" Lisa argued. "Working together for the common good?"
"Society stopped existing on August 15th," Maya said bluntly. "Now it's survival. We help people when we can, but our priority is staying alive."
"That's pretty cold," Lisa said.
"That's realistic." Maya looked at me. "What do you think? You've been quiet."
I'd been thinking about the novel. In the original timeline, Lucas built a massive coalition that eventually had thousands of members. It became the largest safe zone in the Pacific Northwest, attracting survivors from hundreds of miles away.
But it also attracted attention. Raiders. Rival factions. Eventually, in chapters I'd skimmed, there was a major war between Lucas's coalition and the General's Army.
Joining Lucas meant being part of something bigger. But it also meant being part of that war.
"I think we keep our independence for now," I said finally. "We cooperate with Lucas when it makes sense, trade information and resources, maybe help with big threats. But we maintain our own base, our own supplies, our own choices."
"Allies but not followers," Maya said approvingly.
"Exactly."
We made it back to Cascade View by late afternoon. The building was still secure, our Safe Zone intact. It felt good to be home—or what passed for home in the apocalypse.
I pulled up my status screen to assess the damage and gains from today:
[ETHAN CHEN - STATUS]
Level: 6
Health: 210/210
Stamina: 230/230
Mana: 150/150(Still locked)
Strength: 32(+15 from Stormbreaker)
Agility: 26 (+10 from Stormbreaker)
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 17
Luck: 7
Points Available: 981
Skills:
• Basic Knife Fighting (Passive)
• Inspect (Active)
• Power Strike (Active)
• Enhanced Stamina (Passive)
• Night Vision (Toggle)
• Danger Sense (Passive)
Equipment:
•Stormbreaker Sword (B-Rank Legendary)
Titles:
• Reader (Hidden)
• Boss Slayer
• Tier-4 Slayer (New!)
I'd gained two levels, massive stat increases, and nearly a thousand points. I was now significantly stronger than the average survivor.
But I was also injured, exhausted, and facing a diverged timeline where my foreknowledge was increasingly useless.
"We need to spend these points wisely," I said to Maya and Lisa. "What are your totals?"
"Four hundred sixty," Maya said. "Plus I leveled to 4, so I've got three free stat points to allocate."
"Two hundred twelve," Lisa added. "Level 3 now. Never thought I'd be this strong this fast."
"Okay." I pulled out my notebook. "Let's plan our purchases strategically. We need skills that keep us alive long-term, not just flashy combat abilities."
We spent the next hour reviewing the System Shop, debating options, calculating trade-offs.
I decided on:
• Fast Healing (150 points) - Recover from injuries quickly
• Inventory Expansion (75 points) - Carry more supplies without weight
• Silent Steps (110 points) - Move quietly for stealth
• Crafting Basic (60 points) - Make basic items and repairs
[PURCHASES COMPLETE]
[POINTS REMAINING: 586]
Maya bought:
• Danger Sense (200 points) - Match my early warning system
• Enhanced Reflexes (180 points) - Even better dodge capability
• Quick Dodge (80 points) - Active skill to evade attacks
[POINTS REMAINING: 0]
Lisa bought:
• Basic Knife Fighting (100 points) - Proper weapon technique
• Enhanced Stamina (80 points) - Keep up with us in combat
[POINTS REMAINING: 32]
With our new skills, we were a much more well-rounded team. I could heal from injuries faster. Maya was nearly untouchable with her stacked dodge abilities. Lisa was becoming a competent fighter instead of just a survivor.
"We should rest tomorrow," I said. "Let our skills settle in, recover mentally. Day after tomorrow, we start scouting for more supplies and information."
"Agreed," Maya said. "I'm exhausted. Today was..."
"Intense," Lisa finished. "I thought we were going to die at least three times."
"We almost did," I admitted. "But we didn't. That's what matters."
That night, I lay on my couch and thought about everything that had changed in six days.
I'd gone from a scared transmigrator with no resources to a level 6 survivor with a legendary weapon and a growing reputation. I'd met the protagonist and earned his respect. I'd helped kill a Tier-4 boss.
But I'd also lost my foreknowledge advantage. The timeline was diverging faster every day. Events I'd relied on knowing were changing or not happening at all.
I was flying blind now, making decisions based on incomplete information and hope.
But maybe that was okay. Maybe that's what everyone did in the apocalypse, made the best choices they could with what they knew, and hoped it was enough.
My Danger Sense suddenly pinged, not urgent, but present. A warning.
I sat up, grabbing Stormbreaker. "Maya. Lisa. We've got company."
They woke instantly, weapons ready. We moved to the window quietly.
Below, in the street, figures were moving through the darkness. At least a dozen of them, armed and organized.
Raiders. The General's Army, probably, based on their military-style movement.
And they were surrounding our building.
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