***

“It seems like our neighbor is dealing with quite a situation,” a woman remarked, her emerald earring glinting as she adjusted it, her turquoise dress flowing gently.

“Are you sure we shouldn't ask him for assistance, Julia?” a man suggested, his voice meek, a neck brace plainly visible around his throat.

“John, remember, he's the one who injured your neck. A person that aggressive might not be the best company for us,” the woman named Julia retorted.

“I can't deny that I provoked him, Julia. I acted suspiciously, and that's why he mistook me for a zombie. After realizing his mistake, he even helped me back up,” John admitted.

Julia let out a sigh, removing her hand from her forehead and gazing once more out the window at the university surrounded by a transparent barrier.

“Don't be too trusting, John. Strangers can be deceiving. Besides, we aren’t the ones who allowed him access to our supplies, to the zombies we've been using to level up and to make use of our black building for his own benefit.”

“But that's his coins, Julia. We can't expect him to help us just because of that,” John interjected, his words laced with reason. After all, it was the man's own coins; they had no claim to it.

“Quiet, John. Why are you defending him so much? He's an impolite brat with a temper problem,” Julia snapped, her glare silencing John immediately.

‘I do get where you're coming from, but regardless, he's just an ill-mannered fellow. I can't fathom how he managed to clear out that swarm of mutated birds just now,’ he pondered.

Despite his desire to respond, John chose to remain silent. He had indeed heard the cacophony of those bird sounds, yet that man had seemingly eradicated the entire horde single-handedly. John had only witnessed birds dropping from the sky; he hadn't actually seen the man himself.

“He's merely an irritating neighbor, John. Don't extend your gratitude to someone who might betray us in the end.”

With that, Julia stood and made her way downstairs. A short while later, she descended and locked eyes with the others gathered below.

A total of ten individuals occupied the building. It was no small feat for ten people to endure together for an entire month. The place they occupied was a gym, complete with a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, hot tub, swimming pool, and a gym area, not to mention a restaurant within the premises.

“Kristian, Bella, Jeremiah, I want you three to search the upper floor for any remaining zombies. Our rather impolite neighbor seems to have cleared out a portion of them already. Focus on the steam room, and sauna, and don't forget to check the bathrooms.” Julia's instructions were precise, her tone firm.

“Matthew, Zaina, Jim, you three will head out and clear the zombies in front of the building. If we let them crowd the ground floor, we'll be at a disadvantage. We need to keep up with our neighbor's rate of clearing. We don't want to fall behind, especially if he becomes aggressive and puts all of us in danger.”

Julia's finger pointed towards the window, directing their attention outside. The trio of teenagers were assigned to clear the upper floors, while the three adults would take care of the lower ones.

“As for the rest of you – Rosa, Everly, John – your tasks for today include preparing food and cleaning. Is that understood?”

“Understood, Julia,” Rosa promptly replied. Everyone knew that in this situation, Julia's leadership was crucial. Without her guidance, their chances of survival would have been significantly lower.

Julia scanned the group, ensuring they comprehended their assignments. “Any questions?”

John hesitantly raised his hand. “Julia, I'm worried that your feud with the neighbor is clouding your judgment. Recklessness will only get us in trouble. One of us could end up dead.”

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Julia's response was swift and direct. “John, what does recklessness matter in an apocalypse? You're no longer the manager, and I'm not just a receptionist anymore. We need to take proactive measures. What's your level now?”

“I'm at level 13,” John admitted.

“And what's my level?”

“You're at level 17,” John conceded, knowing exactly where this was leading.

“In a fight between us, who would win, John?”

After a pause, John answered reluctantly, “You would.”

“Exactly. Do you want that kind of situation with that stranger? We know nothing about his so-called 'companion.' We're in the dark about him except for his face.”

Julia's gaze shifted to encompass everyone in the room, her expression conveying the weight of her mental exhaustion. “I'm not using my higher level to intimidate you all. But understand this – our greatest advantage is ourselves and the resources of the black building above us.”

“Miss Julia, can't you buy the same barrier they have?” Kristian, one of the teenagers, asked.

“I've tried, Kristian, but that barrier is only available to those of the lord class. Unfortunately, I don't possess that class, nor do I know how to obtain it,” Julia replied, her gaze shifting to the others. “That's why we must proceed with caution. Our neighbor may seem agreeable, but based on his behavior, has he shown any kindness towards us? He barged into our shelter, took our experience points, and didn't even acknowledge us as he left. It's as if he was raised without any manners by his parents.”

Her explanation was met with nods of agreement and understanding. Julia continued, her tone serious, “I don't mean to be overbearing, but you all need to understand – how many of us here have lost family, friends, homes, and loved ones?”

A solemn silence filled the room, an unspoken answer to her question.

“Yes, exactly. None of us are related, and you all are the only family I have left. For that man to become a lord, he must be incredibly powerful. We don't know him or his companions. The system tells us to follow the regional lord, but how are we supposed to do that when we know nothing about him – his actions, his personality?”

Her emerald earring gently swayed as she continued, “So, anyone who is a stranger, aside from us, must be eliminated in sight if you want to preserve your lives.”

Julia's gaze shifted to the other adults in the room, her judgmental thoughts about the teenagers evident. She saw them as inexperienced gym enthusiasts trying to act tough, possibly lacking the capacity for critical thinking or survival instincts.

Looking back at the other adults, she nodded as they acknowledged her words.

“Kill or be killed – it's your choice. I'll help anyone in need, but if you want to purchase a class or anything from the black building, please approach John. He's the most responsible one among us, though he may have a kind heart.”

She pointed her finger at John, who nodded in agreement.

“Our food supply is dwindling, which is why we need to clear out the zombies both outside and inside. This is for our safety and to earn coins. We need food, and that black building provides it, just like the food you've been consuming this past week.”

Julia let out a sigh, the weight of their situation evident in her expression. “That building is our sole advantage. If our neighbor or anyone else runs low on food or needs anything, our black building would be their first choice. We have something valuable here – a source of sustenance that others can't guarantee.”

Julia approached her bag and retrieved a gun, holding it out towards Matthew. “Matthew, as one of the three clearing the zombies’ downstairs, take this and be cautious. Only use it as a last resort; it's the only firearm we managed to salvage from the cop zombie downstairs. Be careful out there.”

A faint smile curved on her lips. “Now, let's get moving, everyone. We'll reconvene at dinnertime.”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted towards the large transparent dome outside, which served as their protective barrier. Despite its transparency, it had distinct limits where the zombies halted, and where the birds repeatedly collided with it.

Sensing her internal struggle, John, standing behind her, walked up and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Julia, go get some rest. I understand your concerns, but don't let the man occupy your thoughts. We'll face whatever challenges come our way together.”

Julia nodded appreciatively, torn between her determination to protect their makeshift family and her unease about their enigmatic neighbor. She knew John was right, but her responsibility weighed heavily on her mind. With a deep breath, she made her way to one of the locker rooms, hoping to find a moment's respite from the stress that had become their new normal.

Meanwhile, the others followed her instructions, dispersing to their designated tasks instead of sleeping.

John, on the other hand, sank into a sofa, letting out a sigh of relief. “I hope our neighbor doesn't hold any grudges when he visits again.”

His fingers touched the pendant hanging from his necklace, a small figure attached to it. He offered up a silent prayer, his voice soft but earnest. “Lily, please be alive. My daughter.”