CHAPTER 913: CHAPTER 913 EVOLVED?

Sparrow smiled but stayed silent. He knew his partner was only worried about him. Despite the way they bickered like cats and dogs, Vulture was the closest brother he had among all their comrades. Sparrow understood that this concern came from genuine care, and it made him feel seen and looked after.

But right now, he only wanted to be of use to his Master and the Young Madam. To him, stopping, even just to catch his breath, felt dangerous, as if the world might shift again in that instant. He feared stagnation, knowing it could leave him vulnerable to mutated zombies or other superhumans who might one day threaten the HOPE Base.

After all, he’d already come face-to-face with death once, brought to the brink because he’d let his guard down and grown arrogant about his own abilities.

Now, more than anything, he wanted to grow stronger and become truly useful. Seeing this determination, Vulture could only shake his head and quietly watch over his brother.

The two of them observed as the village bustled with activity. Before long, Grandma Aldens finished cooking a hearty spread of beef with broccoli, chicken soup, shredded cabbage with pork, and perfectly steamed rice. The mouthwatering aroma instantly stirred everyone’s appetite.

Grandpa Aldens helped by serving the rice and ladling the dishes for the warriors. Those who had gotten their share found comfortable spots around the campfire, eating with gusto. With no limits on portions, they ate until they were full.

The people who had been training nearby quickly realized how hungry their training had made them. The energy they had burned while steadying their foundations left them famished, so they joined the line without hesitation. Many chose to sit close to the serving area so they could grab a second helping faster than the rest.

Vulture hopped down from the top of the truck to join the line, and Sparrow followed shortly after.

After the first batch finished eating, those assigned to guard the perimeter swapped places with them, lining up for their turn at the meal. Grandma and Grandpa Aldens were also sent to eat early, while members of the first batch who had finished eating took over serving food to the others.

Once the second batch was done, some warriors took on the task of washing the dishes. They didn’t use water from the well; instead, water-type awakened ability users conjured clean water, which was collected in drums and metal pails provided by the STAU. Since these utensils were used for eating, they couldn’t risk washing them in contaminated water.

Two warriors were assigned to wash the plates, bowls, and utensils with dishwashing liquid diluted in the conjured water. Others handled rinsing them; each item was washed twice in clean water before being set on a rack to air-dry. Once dried, the STAUs stored everything back into their Space.

Once the cleanup was finished, everyone settled down to rest. Keith personally helped his grandparents into their tent, making sure they were comfortable.

Since they were already old, he brought out a thick cushion, a comforter, and pillows from the STAU’s space, ensuring they had everything they needed for a good night’s sleep. As for himself, he set up in the tent right beside theirs, sleeping inside a sleeping bag so he could respond quickly if anything happened during the night.

Ironically, Keith ended up sleeping like a log, while his grandfather, who was a light sleeper, was the one who would have noticed trouble first. Grandma Aldens, on the other hand, slept soundly, wrapped in the soft comforter and blankets that made her feel as if she were floating on clouds.

By the time she opened her eyes the next morning, the camp was already a hive of activity. People were taking down tents and extinguishing the campfire. Thankfully, nothing major had happened during the night.

A few stray zombies had wandered close to the perimeter, but they came in ones or twos and were dealt with easily by the guards. With no real threats, most people slept deeply until it was time for their rotation.

In the morning, Grandma Aldens rose early and set up the cooking utensils again. She prepared a simple breakfast, toast, soft-boiled eggs, and sliced fruits like bananas, apples, and other nutritious options.

The meal was kept simple so there would be fewer dishes to wash, and it could even be eaten on the road as they traveled. Eggs, after all, were a great source of energy and nutrients, though they might cause a little extra gas; it wasn’t anything worth worrying about.

Grandpa Aldens helped his wife by cutting the fruit, while Keith boiled the eggs in a large pot over a gas stove. The STAUs took out the fruits for serving, this time choosing the Spiritual Fruits Kisha had given them.

She had instructed that the warriors should eat these from time to time to help increase and purify their Spiritual Energy, making this the perfect opportunity to include them in the meal.

Once the preparations were complete, Grandma Aldens handed each warrior five slices of toasted bread, two large bananas, an apple, five eggs, and whatever else she had on hand, practically stuffing their arms full. Before long, while many were still eating, everyone climbed onto the trucks, and they set out on their way.

By lunchtime, they arrived at Maple Leaf Town and decided to eat the pre-packed hot meals stored in the STAU’s Space, avoiding the need to cook. Sparrow parked the truck just outside the town, and they quietly ate their food.

Once finished, Sparrow moved ahead to scout the area first, while the others stayed alert, patrolling the outskirts to assess the situation within the town.

After leaving the others in Vulture’s care, Sparrow leapt from rooftop to rooftop, scanning the area ahead. The town was larger than he had expected; it was already on the verge of being recognized as a city, with tall buildings scattered around.

It looked as if it had been in the process of being redeveloped into another metro hub before the apocalypse struck. Even now, he could see its untapped potential.

Using his ’Hawk Eyesight’, Sparrow searched for Adam’s camp from a distance. It took considerable effort before he finally spotted it. To his surprise, the group had chosen to settle in a kindergarten.

Though small compared to high schools or universities, it offered several advantages: it was situated in a lightly populated area, bordered by a playground and a forest at the back, perhaps chosen to give the children peace and freedom.

The school’s grounds were well-suited for defense, with reasonably high walls that would deter intruders, a sturdy sliding gate, and a spacious yard. A platform had even been built along the walls, allowing lookouts to see beyond and monitor zombie activity outside.

The main building itself was two stories tall, modest in size, but large enough to serve as a secure shelter.

He didn’t head straight to the shelter. Instead, he remained still on a rooftop, shrouded by his ’Cloak of Darkness’, blending seamlessly into the shadows as he scanned for anything unusual.

For a long moment, nothing stirred. He was just about to pull out his walkie-talkie to signal his team to move in when movement caught his eye, a shadow emerging from beneath the playground slide.

It crawled out like a cockroach before darting to the side, skirting along the walls in a wide circle. The guards stationed above never noticed it; it stayed perfectly within their blind spots. The creature paused occasionally, sniffing the air like a hound.

Its body was pitch-black, as if charred, the skin rough and scaly. Long, curved nails tipped its limbs, and its face was short and stout like that of a dog.

No matter how Sparrow examined it, it didn’t resemble a zombie. It looked more like some twisted canine, and although it didn’t perfectly match the illustration from the mission notice, there was just enough resemblance to make him uneasy.

’Did it... evolve?’ Sparrow wondered, eyes locked on the creature. Without looking away, he pulled out his walkie-talkie and spoke in a low, firm voice.

"Everyone, store the truck back inside the Space and move on foot. I’ve got eyes on the mutated zombie, and I don’t want to alert it. Travel as silently as possible. Head northwest until you spot an ENX building—I’m on the roof. Find good cover below; no need to come up. I’ll give further instructions once you’re in position."

He kept the device close, his gaze never leaving the mutated zombie. If it really had evolved again, it would be stronger than they had anticipated, too strong for him to take on alone. He would need the whole team to bring it down.

Until then, the last thing he could afford was letting it know he was there.

Sparrow kept perfectly still, tracking the creature’s every move. So far, the mutated zombie hadn’t made any attempt to attack. Instead, it prowled around the perimeter, sniffing the air and scraping its claws along the ground, almost as if it were marking its territory like a dog.