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My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 79

"It’s just up ahead. Let’s take a quick breather while I send some bees to gather intel." Kisha’s words came between gasps. They’d been running around for half a day nonstop while fighting, her body wasn’t as strong as she was used to and this was already her limit while she was feeling lethargic and hot. She felt her blood pumping to her brain as if it was about to explode.

She did not know if she had pushed her body beyond the limit.

"Are you alright?" Duke approached her, concern etched on his face as he noticed her flushed complexion and labored breathing.

"Yeah, I just need a moment to catch my breath," Kisha reassured Duke, offering him a reassuring smile despite her exhaustion.

But Duke couldn’t help but place a hand on her forehead in concern. Kisha, in turn, noticed that he too looked red and sweaty, though he must have been masking it to avoid showing weakness in front of his team. Besides, he had always been physically fit and accustomed to such exertion from the regular training sessions he and his team underwent.

Unlike Kisha’s soft body, Duke’s physical endurance was already an advantageous asset. Despite this, both were sweating buckets, sharing a knowing glance that acknowledged they were both feeling terrible. Despite their discomfort, they couldn’t help but share a chuckle, lightening the tense atmosphere around them, if only slightly.

"Ah!" Kisha snapped to attention, her eyes widening with incredulity.

"What happened?" Duke’s body tensed as he waited for an explanation.

"Someone killed my bees up there!" Kisha’s expression darkened as she delivered the news grimly.

"Did they see if it was a zombie or a human?" Duke’s voice carried a sense of urgency as he sought the crucial details, his expression betraying none of his inner turmoil.

Kisha shook her head, her brows furrowed in concern. "It happened too quickly for the bees to react. They weren’t equipped to differentiate between the living and the dead."

The crucial piece of information slipped Duke’s mind amidst his worry. He massaged the bridge of his nose in an attempt to focus, but with each passing moment, his breathing grew more ragged, and his throbbing headache made it increasingly difficult for him to concentrate. It’s no wonder he overlooked something important.

"Given our uncertainty about the identity of our adversary up there, allow me to proceed alone. Master and young madam, you both appear fatigued; it’s best for you to rest for now," Vulture asserted, noticing the evident physical strain on Kisha and Duke. Unsure if the exhaustion and stress had taken their toll, he resolved to ascend and assess the situation firsthand.

His awakening bestowed upon him a heightened resilience against the virus transmitted by zombie bites and scratches, as Kisha had previously explained.

His proficiency with earth abilities makes him the most capable candidate to investigate and confront the threat above. Recognizing this, Vulture wasted no time waiting for Kisha or Duke’s agreement before he began ascending the ladder to venture forth and identify the source of the problem.

Duke and Kisha, feeling sluggish and overheated, readily acquiesced to Vulture’s suggestion. They leaned against the wall for support, their arms bearing some of their weight, while their companions offered assistance, only to be assured with a gesture that they were fine and simply in need of rest.

Like two peas in a pod, they stood together, united in their need for recuperation while not needing any help.

Ensuring everyone’s safety below, Vulture began his ascent up the ladder with caution. His heart raced as he climbed, troubled by the realization that the enemy had detected even Kisha’s seemingly inconspicuous bees with remarkable agility, swiftly eliminating them without detection. This underscored the formidable threat they faced.

As the intense exchange of blows continued, Vulture began to sense a familiarity with the close combat style employed by his enemy. Strangely, he also noticed a subtle shift in the intensity of the enemy’s attacks, as if they, too, were experiencing a similar recognition. It was as though a mutual understanding had silently dawned between them.

After subjecting Vulture to several more punishing blows, the assailant abruptly ceased their onslaught, granting Vulture a moment to catch his breath. Sweat poured from him like rain, his breaths ragged from the relentless assault.

Before he could even collect his wits, the man’s voice, low and menacing, cut through the chilly air with a threat colder than their surroundings. "Who are you?!" he demanded.

Recognizing the familiar voice, Vulture choked back a gasp before exclaiming, "Ah!"

Hearing Vulture’s urgent cry from above, those lurking in the manhole abandoned all caution and swiftly emerged. ’Vulture!’ they exclaimed in unison.

"Vu...Vulture?!" The man’s voice quivered slightly before pressing on. "Are you truly Vulture?"

Having caught his breath, Vulture nearly shouted the man’s name upon recognizing the familiar voice, though his voice came out a bit hoarse. Nonetheless, he still remembered who it belonged to. "Tristan?!"

Upon hearing Vulture call his name, he felt certain that the figure before him was indeed the familiar acquaintance he had hoped for. His tense muscles gradually relaxed, and he released a sigh of relief, feeling the dissipating grip of his bloodlust.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern. Then, as if a sudden realization struck him, his muscles tensed once more, and he leaned forward anxiously. "And what about Master?!" His eyes flashed with a hint of red, as if bracing for the worst possible outcome.

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