Chapter 22: The Tacoma Run
Day 22 - September 7th
The mission to Tacoma required preparation. Thirty miles through zombie-infested territory, searching for a military group that might not even exist anymore.
Lucas assigned me a larger team this time: Maya, Lisa, Marcus, Rodriguez, James, and two new coalition members, a former EMT named Rachel and a mechanic named Tom.
"Eight people," Lucas said during the briefing. "Enough to handle threats, small enough to move fast. Your mission is to locate the Tacoma military group, call sign 'Iron Battalion', and negotiate an alliance against the chemical plant threat."
"What if they're hostile?" Marcus asked.
"Then you leave. Don't fight. We need allies, not more enemies." Lucas looked at me. "Ethan's in command. His call on all tactical decisions."
That responsibility sat heavy on my shoulders, but I nodded.
We left at dawn in two vehicles, a pickup truck and an SUV, both reinforced with metal plating. The drive south was tense. Highways were clogged with abandoned cars, forcing us to take side roads through suburban areas.
My Danger Sense pinged constantly, zombies everywhere, though most were too far away to be immediate threats. My new Combat Awareness skill let me see their levels from a distance: mostly Tier-1s and Tier-2s, with occasional Tier-3s.
"Contact, three o'clock," Rodriguez called out. "Tier-3 pack. Five of them."
I used Inspect. [Tier-3 Zombies x5, Levels 4-5]
"Can we avoid them?" I asked Tom, who was driving.
"Not without a major detour. They're blocking the road."
"Then we fight fast. Maya, Marcus, Rodriguez, you're with me. Everyone else stays with the vehicles, engines running, ready to go."
We exited the trucks, weapons ready. The Tier-3 zombies noticed us immediately and charged, faster than normal zombies, with that disturbing intelligence in their movements.
I activated Leadership Aura. Immediately, I felt the buff take effect, not just on me, but on everyone within ten meters. They moved slightly faster, hit slightly harder.
"Push forward!" I commanded, Stormbreaker crackling with lightning.
The fight lasted two minutes. My Advanced Swordsmanship made every strike count. Maya's Whirlwind Strike took down two Tier-3s in one spinning attack. Marcus's fire axe crushed skulls with brutal efficiency.
[TIER-3 ZOMBIES KILLED: 5]
[POINTS EARNED: 175]
[LEVEL UP!]
[ETHAN CHEN - LEVEL 6 → LEVEL 7]
[ALL STATS INCREASED BY 2]
[HP: 210 → 250]
[STAMINA: 230 → 270]
[MANA: 150 → 200]
[3 FREE STAT POINTS AVAILABLE]
Finally. Level 7. The power surge was immediate, my body felt stronger, my reactions faster, my mana pool deeper.
"You leveled," Maya observed. "I can see it. Your aura just got... brighter."
"Level 7," I confirmed. "First major threshold. Feels different."
"Good different?"
"Powerful different."
We continued south. The closer we got to Tacoma, the more organized the zombie presence became. Not just random wanderers, these were forming packs, coordinating movements.
"Something's controlling them," I said. "Or influencing them. This isn't natural behavior."
"The chemical plant?" Rachel suggested. "Dr. Chen said it was accelerating mutations."
"Maybe. Or there's another Tier-4 commander in the area." I marked locations on our map. "We'll need to report this to Lucas."
By noon, we reached Tacoma's outskirts. The city was in worse shape than Seattle, more fires, more destruction, fewer signs of survivor activity.
"Where's this Iron Battalion supposed to be?" James asked.
"Former military base, north side of the city." I checked coordinates Dr. Chen had provided. "Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Or what's left of it."
We found the base forty minutes later. It was heavily fortified, concrete walls, guard towers, actual military hardware. And it was clearly occupied.
As we approached, spotlights hit our vehicles.
"STOP!" A voice boomed over loudspeakers. "Identify yourselves!"
I stood up in the truck bed, hands visible. "Green Lake Coalition! We're here to talk!"
"Coalition?" The voice sounded surprised. "Lucas Reed's group?"
"That's right. We need to speak with your commander. It's urgent."
After a tense pause: "Proceed to the gate. Slowly. Any sudden moves, we open fire."
We drove to the main gate, where a dozen soldiers in actual military gear waited. Real soldiers, not survivors playing dress-up. They looked professional, well-armed, and very capable.
A man in his forties stepped forward, buzz cut, weathered face, the bearing of someone who'd spent decades in command.
"I'm Colonel Marcus Hayes," he said. "Commander of Iron Battalion. What does the coalition want?"
"To talk about a mutual threat," I said, stepping out of the truck. "I'm Ethan Chen, Coalition Officer. We've discovered something you need to know about."
Hayes studied me with sharp eyes. "You're young for an officer. And that sword, that's not standard issue."
"It's a System-bought legendary weapon. B-rank." I kept my tone respectful but firm. "We've been in this apocalypse for three weeks. We've learned a lot. Including that there's a Tier-5 or higher mutation forming at the Olympia chemical plant."
That got his attention. "Tier-5. You're certain?"
"Our scientist detected abnormal System energy concentrations. If it breaks out, it threatens every survivor group in the region. Including yours."
Hayes gestured toward the base. "Come inside. Let's talk properly."
---
The Iron Battalion base was impressive. They had over two hundred people, mostly military personnel and their families. They'd maintained discipline, organization, and military structure throughout the apocalypse.
In Hayes's office, I laid out everything: the chemical plant threat, the timeline for Tier-5 emergence, the coalition's capabilities.
"You're asking us to join your coalition?" Hayes said when I finished.
"I'm asking you to help us kill a Tier-5 before it wipes out everyone in Washington. The coalition is secondary."
"But you'd want alliance afterward."
"It would make sense. We're building something that works, democratic leadership, resource sharing, organized defense. You're doing the same thing. Why not combine strengths?"
Hayes leaned back. "Lucas Reed. I've heard stories. SSS-rank ability, level 8 now probably. Young, idealistic, thinks he can save the world."
"He's trying," I said. "And succeeding. We've got over a hundred people, two bases, a research division. We've cleared major threats and held territory against hostile factions."
"Like the General."
"You know about him?"
"We've had encounters. Lost some scouts to his people." Hayes's expression darkened. "He's a problem we've been avoiding. But if he's threatening you..."
"War is coming," I said bluntly. "Between the coalition and the General's Army. Probably within the month. If Iron Battalion stays neutral, you'll be next after we fall."
"And if we ally with you, we're targets immediately."
"You're targets either way. At least with us, you've got support."
Hayes considered for a long moment. Then: "I'll bring this to my senior officers. We vote on major decisions. But I'll be honest, I'm leaning toward yes. This Tier-5 threat is real, and we can't handle it alone."
"How long until you decide?"
"Twenty-four hours. Stay here tonight. Rest, resupply. Tomorrow morning, I'll have an answer."
---
Day 23 - September 8th
Iron Battalion voted yes.
Hayes delivered the news over breakfast. "We'll coordinate with the coalition on the chemical plant threat. After that, if things go well, we'll discuss formal alliance."
"That's all we ask," I said.
"But I'm coming personally," Hayes added. "I want to meet Lucas face-to-face. Judge this coalition myself."
"Fair enough."
We returned to Green Lake with Iron Battalion's commitment and six of their soldiers as liaisons. Lucas was pleased.
"Two hundred trained soldiers," he said, reviewing Hayes's capabilities report. "That changes everything. With them, we can handle the Tier-5 threat AND hold against the General if he attacks."
"If," Sarah emphasized. "The General might wait, let us weaken ourselves against the Tier-5."
"Then we move fast. Dr. Chen, how long until the Tier-5 fully mutates?"
"Best estimate? Five days. Maybe a week."
"Then we plan the assault for day 27. That gives us four days to prepare, coordinate with Iron Battalion, and scout the location properly."
The council agreed. Day 27 would be the chemical plant raid, possibly the biggest operation we'd attempted.
---
Day 24 - September 9th
Preparation consumed everyone. I spent the day training with my new Level 7 capabilities and distributing my free stat points:
• +2 to Intelligence (18 → 20)
• +1 to Wisdom (17 → 18)
Higher Intelligence meant more mana and better magical potential. I could feel the difference immediately, my mana pool felt deeper, easier to control.
I practiced basic mana manipulation in private, following the knowledge the System had given me. Pulling mana from my core, shaping it, releasing it. The exercises were exhausting but necessary.
By evening, I could create a small flame in my palm, not a spell, just raw mana shaped into fire. It lasted maybe five seconds before flickering out.
"That's magic," Lisa said, watching with wide eyes. "Actual magic."
"Basic magic," I corrected. "But yes. Once I save up for a real spell skill, I'll be able to do more."
"Are you going to become a mage?" Maya asked.
"Hybrid," I said. "Swordsman with magic support. Stormbreaker already uses lightning, if I can learn lightning spells, they'll synergize with the sword."
"How much for lightning magic?"
I checked the System Shop. [Lightning Bolt - 600 points]
"Six hundred. I've got 261 now after the level-up. Few more good missions, and I can afford it."
---
Day 25 - September 10th
Colonel Hayes arrived with twenty of his best soldiers for the planning session. The combined leadership, coalition council plus Iron Battalion officers, filled the conference room to capacity.
"The chemical plant has three main buildings," Dr. Chen explained, projecting a map. "Building A is where the Tier-5 is forming. Buildings B and C are support structures, but they're infested with lower-tier zombies. Estimate: three hundred zombies total, plus the Tier-5."
"What do we know about the Tier-5?" Hayes asked.
"Nothing concrete. But based on mutation patterns, it'll be massive, heavily armored, and possibly possess special abilities. Tier-4 commanders can control zombies. Tier-5s might do worse."
"Worse how?" someone asked nervously.
"Environmental manipulation. Toxic gas. Area effects that kill dozens at once." Dr. Chen's expression was grim. "Tier-5s are designated as 'catastrophe-class' threats by the System. One could wipe out an unprotected settlement."
The room fell silent.
"So how do we kill it?" Marcus finally asked.
Lucas stepped forward. "Combined arms approach. Iron Battalion provides heavy firepower, explosives, heavy weapons, suppressing fire. Coalition strike teams engage directly with high-level fighters. We hit it from multiple angles, overwhelm its defenses, and take it down before it can use special abilities."
"What about casualties?" Hayes asked the hard question.
"We'll lose people," Lucas said grimly. "I won't pretend otherwise. But if we don't do this, the Tier-5 will break out and kill hundreds. Maybe thousands. This is necessary."
Hayes nodded slowly. "My people understand the stakes. We're in."
The plan took shape over the next hour:
• Phase 1: Clear Buildings B and C of zombies
• Phase 2: Isolate Building A, prevent zombie reinforcements
• Phase 3: Strike teams enter Building A and engage the Tier-5
• Phase 4: Extraction once target is eliminated
Simple in concept. Deadly in execution.
---
Day 26 - September 11th
Final preparations. Everyone checked weapons, reviewed assignments, said goodbyes to loved ones.
I spent the afternoon with Maya and Lisa.
"This is the biggest fight we've faced," Maya said. "Bigger than the Convention Center. Bigger than the depot."
"We've gotten stronger," I pointed out. "Level 7, level 5, level 3. Better skills, better equipment, better coordination."
"Still scary," Lisa admitted. "A Tier-5. I've never seen one."
"Neither have I," I said honestly. "But we've killed everything else that's come at us. This is just the next step."
"You believe that?" Maya asked.
"I have to," I said. "Because tomorrow, we're fighting it whether I believe or not."
That night, I couldn't sleep. I lay in my bunk, staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had led to this moment.
Three weeks ago, I was Park Ji-woo, dying in a Seoul apartment.
Then I became Ethan Chen, a scared transmigrator running from an abusive family.
Now I was a Level 7 Coalition Officer leading missions, making alliances, preparing to fight a catastrophe-class monster.
The story I'd read was gone. The timeline had diverged beyond recognition. I was writing my own story now, page by page, battle by battle.
Tomorrow's chapter would be written in blood and lightning.
I just hoped I survived to see how it turned out.
---
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