Marie knocked her glass on the table a few times to get everyone’s attention as they enjoyed the delicious stew. The aroma of freshly baked bread and savory stew filled the air. The sky outside was dark, but the warmth within the home was all that mattered to the warm family.

“Today was a huge success for us. We can stand tall, knowing that we are strong independently and collectively. The future may be hard, but every step forward makes that future easier. I understand some of you will undergo racial evolution tonight and have allocated your stat points,” Marie began. “You can stay on the human path by informing the cosmic entity or evolve it for increased attributes. We’ve discussed this a lot, especially for those planning to have children.” She glanced at Adam and Michele. “If you choose a non-human path, ensure compatibility with your partner. Discuss thoroughly before deciding. Younger ones should consult with an adult for guidance, but the choice is yours. Remember, evolving into something like a troll can make finding a partner difficult. Trust me, no one wants to date a troll. I wish you all a joyful evolution day!”

Marie was proud of everyone. They were taking a big step into the future, and this was a big moment in the household’s advancement along the path toward a future of peace and security.

“I would like to say that no matter what you evolve into, we will still love you.” Linda said with a happy smile. All of her people were at the table with smiling faces and full bellies. “Though don’t look like a troll.” She said with a chuckle, causing everyone to laugh. “I have a cake for you.” She said, pulling a cake from her ring and sitting it on the table.

It read ‘Happy Evolution Day!’ in pink frosting on chocolate. The cute cake made everyone exclaim and cheer.

“Cake!” Leroy cheered in joy.

Derek was relieved to see that Leroy hadn’t lost his childhood spirit despite the day’s battles. It was a stark contrast to the blood-covered warrior from earlier. Michael still had a bit of that innocent joy too, while James had lost his childhood innocence. Jenny’s bright smile, as she ruffled Leroy’s hair, showed her little boy was still there. But her smile faded when she looked at James, revealing a sense of loss that tightened Derek’s chest, though he didn’t fully understand why.

“It’s a tradition in our family to share what we’re most thankful for as we cut the cake,” Linda said. Pulling Derek from his thoughts, she continued. “I’ll start. I’m thankful for each one of you and the strength we find together.”

After making a cut, she handed the knife to John. “I’m thankful that we have a warm food, warm family, and a warm home.”

John made his cut and handed the knife to Michael. “I’m thankful for the food and for being in our new home with new friends and new family.”

“I’m thankful for Mom and Dad, and Michele, and Victoria, Marie, and Janet, and Jenny.” Olivia said quietly, a bit shy.

“I’m thankful for everyone!” Everyone laughed, as little Victoria shouted and made an impossibly crooked cut.

One-by-one everyone expressed their gratitude with sincerity in their voices. Appreciation for family, food, home, and safety was common. The family laughed when Leroy said he was thankful for his sword. Then the knife was passed to Derek, and everyone seemed to grow serious for a moment.

“I am thankful for all of you. For turning this house into a place of warmth and family. For being the family I never had. For opening your hearts and accepting Marie and myself. I am thankful that I can work hard to help provide for you. I’m thankful for my place at this table. I know I’m not the easiest or the most emotional person, but having you here, despite the apocalypse, means the world to me and I am truly grateful.”

“Wow, Derek.” Phil spoke first. “That’s the most emotion I’ve ever heard from you at one time.”

Marie patted his hand with a warm smile as Leroy shouted. “Cut the cake!”

The serious moment died and the rowdy atmosphere returned as Linda took the cake and started handing it out. John fawned over Olivia and Michael, praising them for their performance. “You both were incredible today! I’m so proud of you!”

“What was that song you were singing?” Janet asked Phil.

“Oh, no!” Carson groaned.

“I’m glad you asked!” Phil exclaimed as he stood and started singing in a low baritone. “♪Through the land of the ice and snow, the resilience of the north only knows. Our hearts are cold, but our spirits burn. To the battle’s call, we return.♪” The room went quiet as his voice carried. Magic swirled around him as he sang.

“Raise your swords and shields up high, For glory, honor, never die. In the frost and fire’s glow, We fight for all we know.”

“Beneath the aurora’s shimmering light, We stand together, prepared to fight. Our foes may come with fury and might, But we hold strong, through day and night.”

“Raise your swords and shields up high, For glory, honor, never die. In the frost and fire’s glow, We fight for all we know.” Phil’s voice faded as he ended the chorus.

Leroy and Michael clapped enthusiastically, and the rest of the family joined in a second later. Phil bowed dramatically, appreciating the praise. The conversation ebbed and flowed as the night passed. Derek was happy for everyone and grateful to be alive, but something weighed on his heart. The group meant a lot to him, even though he sometimes felt like an outsider. Their joy reminded him of how far they had come together, and he wished he could share in it more fully. Watching Marie, her genuine smile as she engaged in conversation, he felt a sense of not belonging. Their happiness seemed distant, as if he were observing it from the outside.

Derek started to stand and leave, but Marie grabbed his hand without looking and held it down to the table. They shared a quiet moment, the warmth of the room and the sound of laughter around them making Derek feel, just for a moment, like he belonged.

While Candace and Olivia engaged in their own conversation, Michael and Leroy babbled about how cool the fight was. Their excitement was infectious, drawing smiles and laughter from the adults. Adam and Michele were subdued, whispering to each other but occasionally commenting to stay engaged with the family. Despite the challenges and dangers they faced, they were together, and that was what mattered most. Derek, holding Marie’s hand, felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could find his place among them.

Derek took the next day off. It was a calm before the storm as the various groups made their own preparations for the looming battle ahead. He drug Leroy, James, and John out of bed to work on the building. John’s evolution was pretty simple and needed little rest. While John worked on spray foam insulating the interior, the rest of them put up siding. With Derek and Leroy running screw guns mounting the siding, James used telekinesis to move the boards around keeping them supplied.

James couldn’t help but laugh when Derek accidentally hit his head on one of the floating boards. “Careful with that, old man. We wouldn’t want you throwing out your back.” Derek chuckled, “Watch it, kid. This old man can still outwork you.”

It was about breakfast time when John came out of the building and around to the side to check their progress. He made sure that everything was level and going well. Derek wasn’t an expert, but he could cut and make sure things were level as they installed it. John gave James some advice on how to arrange the boards on the wall so that all Derek and Leroy had to do was check for level and fasten. That increased their speed as John went in for coffee, only to tell them to stop for breakfast when he returned.

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After a hearty breakfast, the whole family joined the project. James, Leroy, and Derek worked on one side, Janet, Adam, Michele, and Candace on another, and newly evolved Olivia and Michael with Phil and Carson on the third. John moved between groups, offering advice and ensuring everything was up to standard. “Good job, Olivia. Make sure the edges are flush,” he guided, his tone both encouraging and authoritative.

As they worked, Derek noticed a steadiness in John. “You’re really stepping up.”

John shrugged. “We all have to, don’t we? If not…” John trailed off, leaving the grim reality unspoken.

When their wall was completed, James, Leroy, and Derek moved to the next wall. James focused his magic while Derek and Leroy were filling their tool bags with screws. The entire pallet of boards lifted into the air and aligned itself against the wall. With tension in his face, he aligned the ends against the corner and started chopping off sections where the windows would fit. How he managed to handle nearly two pallets of boards and make accurate cuts was way beyond anything Derek could have attempted.

By the time Linda, Jenny, and Marie had lunch ready, the entire building was covered in siding and insulated. Afterward, they set up paint and scaffolds, with stacks of plywood ready to cover the interior walls.

By dinner time, the building was painted, interior walls were covered with plywood, and lights were hung. While not completed, it was very close.

After dinner, Derek and the guys walked through the tunnel to the training room in the building’s basement. They laid out thick rubber matting while drinking beer and discussing the best room setup.

“This area should be for lifting,” Adam suggested. “We can put the cardio equipment on that wall.”

“Nah, the cardio equipment should be on the roof,” Phil suggested. “Women like to look out the window while they chat.”

“Good point,” Derek said, pulling three squat racks, two bench press stations, and an array of other equipment from a storage bracelet.

The guys arranged the equipment until they were satisfied. Derek pulled out mirrors, fastening them to the walls, and set up racks filled with dumbbells, plates, and other equipment.

Conversations occasionally shifted to the looming battle. “Do you think we’re really ready for tomorrow?” Carson asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Derek’s response was firm. “We don’t have another option.”

By the time Michele called them to bed, it was late, and the room looked like a proper gym. One section was open for weapon practice and sparring. John had outdone himself by changing the basement floor plans, adding significant space and windows that let in natural light.

As they finished up, Derek glanced around the nearly completed gym. “We’ve come a long way,” he commented with a feeling of satisfaction.

The guys returned to help their wives put the kids, who looked like young adults, to bed. Everyone but Victoria now appeared as an adult, even if their mentality hadn’t changed. This left Derek and Phil in the room, looking around the gym, pleased with their progress.

Phil handed Derek another beer. “Come on, let’s move the forge before Jenny gets started for the night.”

Derek nodded as they returned to the house, storing toolboxes, workbenches, and forging equipment in their bracelets. They talked as they set up the new workspace in the building.

“We’ve built something good here.”

Phil clinked his beer against Derek’s. “To the future, and to us.”

Derek pulled several large toolboxes from his storage device and lined them along the back wall. Job site boxes filled with new tools were left for someone else to organize. With the workshop staged, they set up the armory, which was essentially a long box filled with various weapons looted from monsters.

As the night wore on, Derek and Phil sat in the workshop, beers in hand. “We’ve done good work today,” Phil remarked. Derek nodded. “Yeah, but tomorrow’s the real challenge.”

Phil retired for the night when he started yawning, leaving Derek in the workshop alone. He contemplated tomorrow’s fight, not believing that it would be as simple as his previous fights. They were working with three other groups. He turned as he heard someone walking up the stairs from the basement.

“Hey Derek, Phil said you guys moved the forge out here.” Jenny stated.

Derek waved toward the corner with the forge and the door that led into the grinding room. She walked over and lifted the lid on the box of monster equipment. Looking at the beaten and battered armor she sighed, released the lid, letting it fall to the ground with a bang and came over to sit down in Phil’s recently vacated chair.

“Do you think we’re going to survive?”

“I don’t know.” Derek replied heavily. “Tomorrow is going to be a hard day.”

“I don’t mean tomorrow, I mean for the next year, what about five years, or twenty years? I know Marie is working on her plots, plans, and schemes, but I’m scared we are going to struggle forever, only to be eaten by super goblins or something.”

Derek chuckled. “Who knows, Marie has gotten pretty cagy about certain topics lately. I think her Oracle abilities are causing some issues, but we really haven’t talked about it. All we can do is get stronger and build a place where we can live in relative safety.”

Jenny looked back at the forge. “I wonder what the group building the first atomic bomb felt when they watched their weapons decimate Japan.”

“Is that what you feel?” Derek asked.

“I feel like every time I swing that hammer, I’m sending my family to war. One battle at a time, wondering if they will return.” Tears fell down Jenny’s face. “My babies, all of them not even teenagers, and they have killed hundreds. They aren’t even kids anymore. My precious babies are going to war and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it!”

“I fucking hate this, Derek! I hate this stupid apocalypse. This stupid interface. This stupid world. I hate all of it. I want my innocent babies back! I want them to play in the yard and I want to take them to football. I want to sit in the stands and cheer for them! I want to see them go to homecoming and prom! I want to see them grow up and get married. I want to see them have children of their own and be happy! This stupid fucking world, I hate it!”

Her tears had turned to crying and screaming as she wailed for the lost innocence and Derek more than ever felt guilt for taking them into battle.

Phil retired for the night when he started yawning, leaving Derek in the workshop alone. He contemplated tomorrow’s fight, not believing that it would be as simple as his previous fights. They were working with three other groups. He turned as he heard someone walking up the stairs from the basement.

“Hey Derek, Phil said you guys moved the forge out here.” Jenny stated.

Derek waved toward the corner with the forge and the door that led into the grinding room. She walked over and lifted the lid on the box of monster equipment. Looking at the beaten and battered armor, she sighed, released the lid, letting it fall to the ground with a bang and came over to sit down in Phil’s recently vacated chair.

“Do you think we’re going to survive?”

“I don’t know.” Derek replied heavily. “Tomorrow is going to be a hard day.”

“I don’t mean tomorrow, I mean for the next year, what about five years, or twenty years? I know Marie is working on her plots, plans, and schemes, but I’m scared we are going to struggle forever, only to be eaten by super goblins or something.”

Derek chuckled. “Who knows, Marie has gotten pretty cagy about certain topics lately. I think her Oracle abilities are causing some issues, but we really haven’t talked about it. All we can do is get stronger and build a place where we can live in relative safety.”

Jenny looked back at the forge. “I wonder what the group building the first atomic bomb felt when they watched their weapons decimate Japan.”

“Is that what you feel?” Derek asked.

“I feel like every time I swing that hammer, I’m sending my family to war. One battle at a time, wondering if they will return.” Tears fell down Jenny’s face. “My babies, not even teenagers, and they’ve killed hundreds. They aren’t kids anymore. My precious babies are going to war, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it!”

Her voice cracked as she continued, her emotions overflowing. “I fucking hate this, Derek! I hate this stupid apocalypse, this stupid interface, this stupid world. I hate all of it. I want my innocent babies back! I want them to play in the yard. I want to take them to football games. I want to sit in the stands and cheer for them. I want to see them go to homecoming and prom. I want to see them grow up, get married, have children of their own, and be happy! This stupid fucking world, I hate it!”

Her tears had turned to crying and screaming as she wailed for the lost innocence and Derek more than ever felt guilt for taking them into battle. Derek’s heart ached as he listened to Jenny’s cries. He felt the full weight of her pain and his responsibility.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

Jenny’s tears turned into sobs as she shouted, “This is your fault! You did this! You took them into battle! You took CHILDREN into war! You did this to them! You violent fucking psychopath! How dare you destroy the innocence of MY CHILDREN! You fucking bastard!”

“I… I..” Derek muttered, trying to say anything.

Derek stood there, speechless, as Jenny’s accusations tore through him. When she slapped him, he barely felt the physical impact, but the emotional blow was devastating.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.” Derek repeated softly, looking at the floor.

“Leave!” she demanded with cold fury. “Get out!”

Derek nodded, “I’m sorry.” That was all he could say as he fled the room.

He turned and fled the room, the sound of Jenny’s wailing haunting him. His heart pounded in his chest as Carson rushed across the lawn, concern etched on his face. Derek couldn’t meet Carson’s eyes as he passed, heading towards the shop to comfort Jenny.

Derek walked toward the house, feeling overwhelmed by Jenny’s words and his own guilt. Tomorrow’s battle loomed in the distance, but it was the pain in Jenny’s voice that felt like the sword of Damocles.