As Dante and Maya approached the camp, the scattered bodies of lesser frogs painted a grim picture of a battle fought in their absence. The creatures' slimy forms were sprawled near the camp's perimeter, their lifeless eyes staring into nothingness. Survivors worked in the fading light, dragging the corpses away and reinforcing the barricades with salvaged wood and debris.
The camp was alive with subdued activity, but the tension was palpable. Every step Dante took reminded him of the fragility of their situation—each body on the ground a stark reminder of how close survival and death truly were.
At the entrance, Elden waited silently, his face lined with exhaustion. After exchanging brief nods with Dante and Maya, he retreated to his resting spot, leaving them to navigate the camp’s somber energy.
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Inside Maya’s tent, a soft glow from a lantern illuminated the simple space. A cloth partition divided the tent, providing a semblance of privacy. Maya disappeared behind it to change into more comfortable attire, leaving Dante alone with his thoughts.
As he sat on a wooden stool, his gaze unintentionally drifted toward the partition. Her silhouette was visible against the dim light, the graceful curves of her figure casting faint shadows. Flustered, Dante quickly looked away, focusing on the scattered gear on the floor.
Breaking the silence, he spoke. “You know, Maya, I never really had much of a personal life before all this. Between moving around constantly and training, there wasn’t much room for anything else.”
From behind the partition, Maya’s voice was soft but steady. “It’s funny, isn’t it? How this world forces us to face parts of ourselves we never paid attention to before. It’s like all the noise is stripped away, and we’re left with the truth.”
Dante smiled faintly. “Yeah. And sometimes, it brings you to unexpected moments like this.”
The sound of fabric rustling drew his attention as Maya emerged from behind the partition. She wore a striking red gown, a relic of a time before the world had changed. The elegant dress, though incongruous in their rugged surroundings, seemed to suit her. It revealed a hint of her neckline, and the playful glint in her eyes made her seem almost regal.
With a sly smile, she stepped closer and gently held Dante’s face. “Face it, tiger,” she teased, her tone light, “you hit the jackpot.”
Dante opened his mouth to reply, but the tent flap suddenly rustled. Jack barged in, his eyes widening in shock at the scene before him.
“Uh... Boss?” Jack stammered, clearly caught off guard.
Dante, scrambling to recover, stood quickly. “Jack. We were just... talking.”
Jack’s face turned crimson as he backpedaled toward the exit. “Right, uh, sorry! Didn’t see anything!” he mumbled before stumbling out of the tent.
As the flap fell back into place, Maya burst into laughter. The sound was genuine and infectious, filling the small space. Dante couldn’t help but join in, the absurdity of the situation breaking through the tension.
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After a brief reprieve, Maya re-emerged from the tent in a more practical outfit. Her playful demeanor had softened into the confident air of a leader. Together, she and Dante joined Natasha, Nir, Jack, and Elden around a makeshift table for a meal.
Natasha wasted no time getting down to business. “We’ve cleared a one-kilometer radius around the camp,” she reported, her voice steady. “Most of the area is secure, though we ran into a few level 3 and 4 zombies. Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
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Nir nodded. “And the traps are set. Natasha showed us how to make pit traps with sharp wooden spikes at the bottom. Jack was a big help reinforcing them.”
“I’ve gained a new skill,” Natasha added, her tone proud. “Trap-Making. It’s been useful so far, but I think it has more potential.”
Maya, ever curious, turned to Dante. “Why don’t you try looking at Natasha’s stats? It might help you get a better understanding of what we’re all capable of.”
Dante raised an eyebrow. “You can show stats to someone else?”
Natasha smiled. “You can, but it’s voluntary. You have to consciously decide to share your stats with someone, and it only works if they accept. It’s all about trust.”
With a nod, Natasha activated the feature. A translucent blue screen appeared before Dante, displaying her stats, skills, and current level.
NAME: NATASHA CARTER
Gender: Female
Level: 6
Job: None
Race: Human
Health: 110/110
Mana: 10/50
Stamina: 8/12
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
Defense: 7
Available Stat Points: 1
Title: None
Skills - 1:
1. Trap-Making (Basic) LV 1: Grants the ability to create simple but effective traps using available resources. Traps have a 10% higher chance to immobilize or injure enemies when activated. 10 mana per use
Dante marveled at the clarity of the interface and the possibilities it offered.
“Impressive,” he said, reading her skills. “Trap-Making will definitely come in handy.”
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As the meal wound down, the group gathered to discuss their next steps. Dante leaned forward, his expression serious. “We need to decide where we’re going next. Sitting here won’t keep us safe forever.”
Maya nodded. “Agreed. But we have three options.”
Natasha spoke first. “The police station. It’s where Selene and Sarah were last seen. If there’s any chance they’re alive, we have to find them.”
Jack countered, “What about the map we found? It points to a village. There might be resources or survivors there. We can’t ignore that lead.”
Nir chimed in. “Then there’s the military settlement to the north. If it’s as fortified as the radio transmission suggested, it could be a safe place for Maya’s family and the rest of the camp.”
The group fell silent, the weight of the decision pressing down on them.
Finally, Dante spoke. “We’ll split up. It’s the only way to cover all our bases. Jack, Nir, Oliver, and Natasha, you’ll head to the village using the map. Maya and her family will take the survivors to the military settlement. I’ll go to the police station. and we meet each other in two weeks in the military settlement ”
Natasha frowned. “Alone? That’s risky.”
“It’s the best way,” Dante said firmly. “The station might still have supplies or information, but it’s dangerous. I can move faster on my own.”
Maya placed a hand on his arm. “Be careful. If anything happens...”
“I’ll be fine,” Dante assured her. “You focus on getting the survivors to safety.”
The group shared a solemn nod, their resolve solidified.
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PARTING WAYS
As dawn broke, the camp buzzed with quiet activity. Supplies were divided, weapons were checked, and final preparations were made. Dante stood at the edge of the camp, watching as the groups prepared to leave.
Maya approached him one last time. “Thank you, Dante. For everything.”
He offered her a faint smile. “Take care of them, Maya. I’ll see you all soon in two weeks.”
With that, they went their separate way