The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75

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Chapter 75

Nicole blinked in surprise. The guy used to be in special operations. She wasn’t even sure she could hold her own against him.

Still, backing down wasn’t her style. You only get better by going up against someone stronger.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

Truth was, Beatrice had wanted to challenge him for a while, but she never found the right moment. Nicole hadn’t expected the chance to fall right into her lap.

After a quick greeting, Nicole didn’t hold back. She stepped in and threw the first punch.

She fought like someone who didn’t know fear, every move sharp and ruthless.

But Zeph was on a whole different level. He moved like a seasoned master, barely using any effort to deflect her attacks.

No matter how fast or hard she struck, he dodged with ease and countered just as smoothly, pushing her into a clumsy retreat.

Three years surviving the apocalypse, plus her stubborn refusal to lose, lit something inside her. Her competitive edge flared, and her style shifted.

It wasn’t clean anymore.

Everything she threw was raw, improvised, and borderline dirty. It wasn’t exactly respectable, but in the apocalypse, it had kept her alive more than once.

The moment Cola saw them fighting, he immediately picked a side: his human. He lunged from behind, clamping his teeth onto Zeph’s shirt and yanking hard.

Then came a cheap shot.

Zeph got thrown off just enough. He didn’t dodge in time and got hit in the crotch.

His whole body froze. The sharp, composed look on his face cracked as it flushed red in an instant.

Nicole froze, too, like she’d just been struck by lightning. Being pushed into a corner triggered something ugly, a flash of those desperate moments when she had been surrounded with no way out.

Instinct took over, and she went low.

It was a direct hit.

The room fell dead silent. The air turned thick and awkward.

Nicole jerked her hand back and stumbled a few steps away, turning her face aside. “Sorry.”

Zeph didn’t say anything for a long time. Then finally, “Nice move. Just… Don’t use it on me again.”

He had dodged, but not completely.

That kind of pain wasn’t something you could really put into words.

Nicole felt like she wanted to disappear into the floor. The move worked, sure. Back then, it had saved her life

more than once when she was cornered.

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She just never thought she would end up using it on Zeph.

Cola, who had jumped in to help, looked just as confused. Why did they stop fighting?

Zeph stepped out into the living room and called from the doorway, “Cola.”

Cola tilted his head at Nicole. Only after getting her approval did he grab his food bowl and trot out.

“You did well just now. If you see a bad guy, you protect your owner.” Zeph patted his head in approval. “But Im not a bad guy. I’m your teammates.”

When Nicole heard that from outside, her face burned. She covered it with both hands. How was she supposed to face him again after this?

Zeph didn’t bring it up again. He just brought Poppy over.

After the lesson, Nicole went to return Poppy, only to find his door locked. He had already taken the dog out.

Right then, Gabrielle came upstairs to do a treatment. Nicole let Poppy stay inside and play.

Halfway through the needle therapy, Zeph came back with Cola. He had a bundle of bamboo in his arms.

With someone else around, he didn’t say a word. He walked in with a dark expression and shut the door behind him, clearly still irritated.

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