My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 121

When a horde rushed at them, no one became flustered. They continued to kill one zombie at a time, maintaining their composure. Suddenly, Duke called forth a lightning bolt, sending it into the midst of the horde and charring them almost instantly.

Everyone in the group, including Kisha, noticed that the lethality of Duke’s awakened abilities had reached a new height as if he had leveled up like Sparrow and Vulture.

Kisha and Duke exchanged a knowing look after the devastating attack that cleared the horde blocking their path. Without stopping, they ran straight ahead. Kisha and the others didn’t even need to lift a finger when Duke released his ability.

The potency of the Scarlet Honey was evident, and Kisha couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement as she watched Duke effortlessly use his ability without expending too much of his SP. She was starting to form a new conclusion in her mind that thrilled her.

Kisha monitored Duke’s SP usage every time he used his ability. Previously, each attack consumed up to 50 SP, allowing him to use his ability ten times before depleting, he currently has 500 SP and 100 HP. However, he typically stopped after five or six uses to conserve energy.

Now, thanks to the Scarlet Honey, his SP consumption had decreased to 45 points per attack, giving him an extra opportunity to use his ability one more time.

However, SP usage varies based on the type of ability being used. In Duke’s case, his awakened ability has a high SP consumption compared to Sparrow, who only needs half as much to summon his whirlwind. This difference is likely due to the potency of Duke’s ability, requiring more energy. Therefore, having a high-class awakened ability comes with its own drawbacks.

Fortunately, the Scarlet Honey seems to mitigate this issue.

As Kisha and the rest of the group ran, they didn’t even have to stop to dig out the crystal cores. The ever-resourceful Bell had sent her Scarlet Bees to retrieve them. Kisha hadn’t known this was possible, but despite being only half as powerful as their queen, the Scarlet Bees were still stronger and faster than humans.

Additionally, their size was significantly larger than that of normal bees, making it easy for them to transport the crystal cores back.

It felt as though Kisha had found a $10 million antique at a garage sale, an incredible stroke of luck that made everything easier not just for her but for everyone else. The task of retrieving the crystal cores was handled by just five Scarlet Bees. Their extreme agility and forelegs, as strong and sharp as knives, made quick work of digging the crystal cores out of the zombies’ skulls.

This made Kisha and their people’s journey remarkably smooth, allowing them to keep running without frequent stops. When they did pause, it was only to catch their breath. Kisha switched places with Duke once his SP was down to half.

She moved with great agility, controlling three military daggers with ease as they danced through the air as if alive. Unlike Duke, she could continue using her ability almost indefinitely; her SP consumption was only 5 SP for every 20 seconds of continuous use, or 1 SP per second.

With a smile, Kisha accepted the water before playfully teasing, "I never knew having a husband could be this delightful. If I had known earlier, I might have rushed into marriage sooner!"

Duke’s ears perked at her words, nearly prompting a grin to spread across his face. However, as he caught sight of Kisha’s teasing smile, he grasped the implications: while she found marriage appealing, it didn’t necessarily imply he was the groom. His expression soured instantly, and he scooped Kisha from her seat, settling her onto his lap with a displeased frown.

Observing Duke’s actions, those nearby tactfully looked away, giving the new couple some space. Some even discreetly stepped back, creating the illusion that they were not eavesdropping to maintain a semblance of privacy, albeit with a hint of curiosity. However, they were careful not to appear too obvious, mindful of potentially invoking Duke’s displeasure.

After settling Kisha on his lap, he asked, his voice laced with sour jealousy. "Then, who are you going to marry? Hmm?" He then pinched her side like a jealous wife.

Kisha yelped as Duke unexpectedly pinched her sides, a mix of pain and ticklish sensation coursing through her. She shot him a glare, only to find him pouting with clear signs of displeasure and jealousy. At that moment, he appeared more like the one being bullied, and Kisha’s own annoyance dissipated. She rubbed the tip of her nose, averting her eyes, recognizing she had pushed her teasing too far.

"Tell me, who would you rather be married to? Hmm?" Duke repeated his question, his tone laced with dominance this time. His right hand rested firmly on Kisha’s back, while his left hand slowly ventured beneath her clothes. His eyes gleamed with jealousy and possessiveness, fixated on her as if he wished to devour her then and there, a suggestive display of claiming ownership over her.