After meticulously cleaning and sharpening her beloved blade, which she had recovered the night before last, Kyoko placed the scarred weapon beneath her bed. It was no longer fit for combat. Had it not held sentimental value, she would have long since recycled it into the System for points.
But since it was a gift from my parents in this life, I'll keep it as a memento.
Before sleep, Kyoko conducted a final sweep for infected in the vicinity and double-checked the reinforced security doors and windows she had installed. Once everything was secure, she moved her folding bed into Hanahide's bedroom. She didn't want Hanahide to wake up and find herself alone.
Early the next morning, Kyoko was jolted awake by the incessant groans of the infected. Her golden eyes were dull and bloodshot; the quality of her sleep had been abysmal despite resorting to earplugs halfway through the night.
She glanced at Hanahide, who remained deep in her slumber.
"Hanahide, oh Hanahide... why are you still sleeping? I've been waiting for two days. If you don't wake up soon, I'm going to go find another woman."
Kyoko spoke seriously into the unconscious girl's ear. Seeing no reaction, she leaned in close, cradled Hanahide's head, and pressed her lips against hers.
It wasn't that Kyoko was taking advantage of her or being predatory.
Airway management is critical for comatose patients. Without consciousness, swallowing and coughing reflexes are weakened, making tongue displacement and aspiration high risks. Medical knowledge dictated that the patient should be kept supine with the head tilted to one side to prevent obstruction and facilitate drainage.
After Hanahide had been lying there for so long, phlegm had accumulated in her throat. Kyoko had to suck the filth out manually.
"Puh— Cough, cough!"
Kyoko nearly swallowed it herself, coughing several times before spitting the residue into a basin.
Next, it was time to turn her. She stacked two pillows under Hanahide's head to elevate her upper body, promoting drainage. Changing positions every two to four hours was essential to prevent pressure sores and assist in clearing lung secretions.
"Wait... why is it wet? Don't tell me... Ugh, my fault. I completely forgot about this. Dammit..."
Kyoko's hand brushed against Hanahide's lower body, and the sensation was unmistakable—damp. She had been so focused on turning her and administering IV fluids like glucose and saline that she had forgotten about... drainage.
"Argh! Heavens, what a mess!"
She lifted Hanahide, stripped her, and used a clean damp towel to wipe down her sticky skin before changing the bedsheets. It was a frantic ordeal.
By 8:30 AM, Kyoko began her power restoration work, connecting recovered solar panels to storage batteries on the rooftop. She didn't mind caring for the comatose Hanahide, but the noise from the infected outside was beginning to grate on her nerves. She felt a craving for violence.
Munching on some unhealthy packaged snacks, she summoned the System.
"System, what's in the shop today?"
[Kill Points: 347 | Exploration Points: 200 | Task/Recycle: 0 | Yesterday's Balance: 6897 | Total: 7444]
[System: There's some good stuff today, but it might drain your wallet dry.]
The shop listed several high-end items:
TITANS Tactical Riot Suit System (2,000 pts): A modular flame-retardant suit with ballistic plate inserts. High resistance to acids and fire.
ZY-FBK-BKK20-M Tactical Helmet (800 pts): 360° protection, impact-resistant face shield, and tactical rails for equipment.
TenPoint XLT Stealth Crossbow (1,200 pts): A high-performance, lightweight crossbow capable of shattering an elephant's skull. Range: 180m. Perfect for silent operations.
"System, did you raid a riot police warehouse? Why so much tactical gear?"
[System: Nonsense. This is all 'legitimately' sourced from other worlds. Buy it or don't, but don't slander me.]
Kyoko noticed the prices were lower than the standard shop. It was a deal she couldn't pass up. She also checked on the Individual Tactical Exoskeleton (12,500 pts) she had reserved. She had five days left to claim it.
"If I clear out this horde, I can afford the exoskeleton. For now, just give me the TenPoint XLT."
She also purchased specialized Carbon Fiber Bolts with various tips: armor-piercing, explosive, and tranquilizer.
Caressing the cold steel of the crossbow, Kyoko looked at it with the gaze of someone in love. "Time to see what you can do."
The infected still surrounded the building. Some had occupied the 5-story perimeter buildings, but Kyoko had already demolished the connecting stairs. The total number of infected seemed to be decreasing, and the van-sized 'Monarch' infected was nowhere to be seen.
"Target practice time," she whispered.
She cranked the winch, loaded a standard bolt, and sighted an infected through the high-powered scope.
Thwack.
The shot was nearly silent. The 70cm bolt shattered the target's skull and continued its trajectory, piercing through several more infected before losing momentum.
"Incredible."
Kyoko was floored by the power. The slaughter began in earnest.
However, as she switched to Explosive Bolts, the situation took a dark turn. The infected began a frenzy of cannibalism, devouring the fallen comrades until the ground was licked clean of green blood. They weren't attacking Kyoko; they were 'evolving' through consumption.
"Are they 'breeding' a King? Is that Monarch nearby?"
Panicked, Kyoko began tossing heavy M21 Anti-Tank Mines from the 20th floor. The explosions sent shockwaves through the horde, but the infected were undeterred. They began forming a 'Human Ladder', stacking bodies against the walls to climb.
"You've got to be kidding me..."
She watched from a small stool, sipping a drink and tossing empty bottles into the growing pile of flesh below. But then, the 'Big One' reappeared. The Monarch, enraged by the loss of its 'meat,' began swallowing its subordinates whole to grow even larger.
Kyoko fired an explosive bolt directly into its massive maw. The projectile detonated in its esophagus, causing it to thrash in agony, thick black smoke billowing from its mouth.
The roar of the Monarch summoned every infected in the district. The park, the shopping streets, the industrial zones—everything surged toward Kyoko's position.
"Hungry, big guy? Have another!"
Kyoko's arms ached from throwing MON-50 directional mines. The 'ladder' had reached the 6th floor, nearing the intact stairs on the 7th. She switched to her G18C on full-auto, spraying lead into the climbing mass.
"I should've bought a house in the suburbs," she hissed, her thumbs sore from reloading magazines.
Just as the Monarch began a second, more terrifying transformation, a thunderous roar split the sky.
Human Fighter Jets.
Over Fukushima Prefecture:
Three F-35A/B Lightning II stealth fighters soared through the clouds. Due to the lack of radio communication, they flew in silence.
Pilot Ayumu Yamoto noticed the 'SOS' marked building currently being swarmed. "Someone's still alive in there. And look at that big freak..."
He didn't need the ammunition for the return trip. Yamoto banked his jet and engaged.
The GAU-22/A 25mm Gatling gun roared, shredding the Monarch's body into unrecognizable pulp. Its evolutionary path ended in a hail of high-caliber rounds.
"Here's a parting gift."
He released a missile that detonated in mid-air, dispersing a thick, lemon-yellow gas—Reagent X, a potent deterrent that drove the infected away in disgust.
Kyoko watched the jets vanish into the distance. The yellow mist sent the remaining horde into a scattered retreat.
"I was just about to finish that guy! You stole my kill!" she grumbled, though her heart wasn't in it.
The System chimed in with good news:
[Mission Complete: Combat Training - 10 Special Infected Slain.]
Reward: Professional Shop Access unlocked + 300 pts.
[Mission Complete: Security Sweep - 100m Safety Zone established.]
Reward: 1,000 pts + M4A1 Rifle + 3 Magazines + 260 rounds.
Feeling the cold weight of her new M4A1, Kyoko finally felt a spark of genuine joy.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 115)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter116)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter82)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter144)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 118
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 111
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 80
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 112
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 80
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 74
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 48
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 50
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 47
Uma Musume: From Beginner 42
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