"I think..." Saya, who had been quiet until now, pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "We should consider combat capability, existing skill sets, and potential for growth."
"I nominate Takashi!" Kohta chimed in, a gleeful look on his face. He gestured wildly at his friend. "He's our resident hot-headed protagonist! It's only right he gets a power-up!"
That got a few chuckles out of everyone, except Takashi himself who merely glared at his chubby friend and blushed in embarrassment.
But it was obvious he did want the core. And because he's been there from the start, Tysone had already taken him into consideration, even if Kotha hadn't said anything. "Any other nominations?" Tysone's gaze drifted to Kohta. "You've been doing a great job with the sniper rifle. Maybe we can make you into something more than a 'king of destruction'."
Kohta's eyes widened in surprise, the grin on his face faltering. "M-Me? No, no, no! I'm good where I am! I'm a support unit! The guy who rains death from afar! I leave the close-quarters stuff to you guys!" He said sheepishly, but he was just playing humble. Even if he was an otaku, he was a smart guy; he knew that a core would make him a formidable force.
And, in truth, the thought of becoming a superpowered sniper was... tempting. Extremely so.
But he also knew what he was good at. And he was content with that.
"Rei?" Tysone looked at the orange-haired girl. She had proven herself to be a capable fighter, with her spear and her combat skills. She would be a good candidate.
Rei hesitated, her gaze flickering towards Takashi. "I... I think Takashi should get it." She said, her voice soft but firm.
Takashi looked at her, surprise evident in his expression.
Tysone nodded. "I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but you do remember Shido's mishap, don't you? That was a close call. It could've gone very differently had I not stepped in. He acted recklessly and nearly got the whole group under the clutches of a megalomaniac. I haven't forgotten that."
Takashi bowed his head in shame.
Rei flinched at the memory, her fists clenching. "I know, but he's proved himself, hasn't he?"
Again, Tysone nodded. "He has, which is why he's considered a candidate for the core. But just because he's a candidate, doesn't mean he's the only one."
He then turned to Saeko. "Saeko, what's your take on this?"
Saeko, who had been observing the discussion with a calm, composed demeanor, met Tysone's gaze. "Takashi has a strong spirit and good will. He has also proven that he can handle himself in a fight. He would be a good choice." She paused. "But Rei is also a capable fighter. And Kohta, despite his protests, has the potential to become a great asset with a power-up. As for Mai, Miku, and Shizuka... I am not in a position to comment on their fighting skills. But I can say that they are all valuable members of the group."
She was being diplomatic. She was listing all the possible candidates, but she wasn't making a choice.
Obviously, if you were to ask her who not to take into consideration, then it'd be the newer members of the group. Even Shizuka, who's a non-fighter, had a degree of priority in lieu of being the only medical expert present.
"I see." Tysone leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin. "This is a tough decision."
Everyone waited with bated breath. The two black gems on the table seemed to pulse with an eerie light.
Three candidates, two cores. At the end of the day, only one would be left behind. One would remain 'normal', for now. He alternated his gaze between the three of them, who tensed up the moment he looked at them. They all held their breath.
The desire for power was a powerful motivator.
It was a double-edged sword.
He knew that giving someone the core was not just a matter of making them stronger. It was a test of their character. Would they use their newfound power for the good of the group, or would they be consumed by it? Of course, Tysone wasn't some pariah of virtue.
In this world, it was kill or be killed.
But he also believed in a certain code of conduct. A set of principles that separated him from the mindless, shambling corpses outside. A set of principles that he wanted to instill in his group.
And he needed to make sure that the people he entrusted with the cores shared those principles.
"Takashi." He said, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "Come here."
Takashi's head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise. He stood up, his legs feeling a little wobbly.
He walked towards Tysone, his heart pounding in his chest. He stopped in front of him, his hands clasped behind his back.
Tysone looked up at him, his expression unreadable. "Do you understand the responsibility that comes with this power?"
Takashi nodded, his throat dry. "I do."
"Are you sure?" Tysone leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Because this is not a game. This is not some shonen anime where the hero gets a power-up and saves the day. This is the real world. A world where a single mistake can get you, and everyone around you, killed. Can you handle that?"
"I can." Takashi's voice was firm, but there was a slight tremor in it.
Tysone stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to see into his soul.
Then, he nodded.
"Alright." He pushed one of the cores towards him. "This one's yours."
Takashi stared at the black gem, his breath catching in his throat. "R-Really?" He looked at Tysone, as if he couldn't believe it.
Tysone chuckled. "Don't look so surprised. You've earned it." He said. "But remember what I said. With great power comes great responsibility. And if you fuck up, I'll personally take it back. Are we clear?"
"Loud and clear." Takashi gulped, but a small smile formed on his face. He picked up the core, the smooth, cool surface a strange and foreign object in his palm. "Thank you, Tysone."
Rei let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Despite her misgivings with Takashi, they were childhood friends. Each of them had a different set of values, but ultimately were good people.
"Takashi, don't die." Kohta gave him a goofy, teary-eyed thumbs-up.
Takashi, with the core in his hand, gave a firm nod.
"As for the second core..." Tysone looked at Rei and Kohta, a thoughtful expression on his face. He knew that both of them were capable of wielding its power. But he also knew that they had different strengths, different weaknesses. He had to make a choice that would benefit the group the most. Not that he was biased, but he couldn't help but lean towards the one who would benefit the most.
He paused, weighing the options in his mind.
Rei was a capable fighter, but her skills were best utilized in close-quarters combat. She was also more emotional, more prone to making impulsive decisions.
Kohta, on the other hand, was a sniper. He was a support unit. His main strength was his ability to eliminate threats from a safe distance.
Rei getting a core meant more front line power. Kohta getting a core meant that his newfound strength would find no use in the hands of a marksman? Of course, enhanced perception, sight, and other physical buffs would still be beneficial to a sniper. But was it the most optimal choice? Bullets were groing less and less useful against the stronger zombies.
And Kohta, as a close-quarter fighter, didn't have any talent.
Rei's combat style, on the other hand, would become monstrous if she were to absorb the core's energy. She would be a frontline powerhouse, just like Saeko. Maybe not as skilled, but definitely stronger.
In the end, the choice was clear.
He pushed the second core towards Rei. "Rei, this one's yours."
Rei's eyes widened. She looked at Tysone, then at the core, then back at Tysone. "M-Me? But... Kohta..." She stammered.
Kohta, who had been bracing himself for the outcome, just gave her a small, reassuring smile. "It's okay, Rei-san. You deserve it more than I do. Besides, I'm happy where I am." He said, but there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes that he couldn't quite hide.
Tysone looked at him."Kohta, you're an excellent marksman, but you're a long-range fighter. Your strength lies in your precision, not your brute force. A core would enhance your physical abilities, yes, but it won't turn you into a frontline warrior overnight." He smiled. "I'm not going to leave you behind forever. This is just the beginning. But for now, we need to strengthen our vanguard. We need to be able to hold our own in a close-quarters fight, and those two are our best bet. But I promise you'll be the next one."
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.