Saeko cut herself with the cure. By squeezing her fist hard enough around it, it was the fastest away. In fact, the moment her fist unclenched, only a residual wispy smoke was left in the wake of what had been a solid.
Her heart, beating normally until a few seconds earlier, resounded with a thunderous thump that even Tysone could vividly hear. She fell on her knees, breathing heavily as everyone looked at her with some concern and confusion.
"It's okay." Tysone cut in, gently scooping her up and placing her on a couch, where everyone gathered around to have a closer look. "Absorbing a Rank 2 core isn't as simple as a Rank 1. I don't think she'll suffer like I did; mine was a mutant Rank 2. Let's give her some breathing room. Shizuka, Saya, monitor her vitals. Kohta, go get some water."
Everyone quickly did what they were told, Shizuka getting her usual med kit ready just in case, Yui looking the most nervous among the girls while the other looked either a little anxious or curious, depending on the person. Tysone carefully watched every minute expression and sign of pain coming from the her lips.
She didn't even sweat much, which either meant the absorption process wasn't as difficult as the one his had been, or her pain tolerance was through the roof.
Eventually, her rough breathing evened out, and Saeko with just the mildest signs of discomfort, fell into a deep sleep. Shizuka gently placed the back of her hand against her forehead.
"Hmm, seems fine." The busty blonde breathed a sigh of relief as her worried eyes flickered to Tysone's. "Her temperature is a little higher than usual, but she should be fine."
Takashi breathed a sigh of relief, watching her sleep with a relieved look on his face. "Man, good thing..."
"She's strong." Tysone said, his gaze lingering on Saeko's peaceful face. "Stronger than most. She'll sleep it off for a few hours. When she wakes up, she'll be in a league of her own."
Everyone seemed at ease after Tysone's calming statement. In fact, they were more at ease knowing she would wake up relatively soon with her core fully assimilated into her system.
Rei, who sat closest to her, offered Saeko a soft blanket and an endeared smile as she slept.
"Okay." Tysone nodded as Saya passed a folder his way, handing over the scans Saya had been talking about earlier. "... Now we need to sort out these two Rank 1 cores."
"Who will receive them?" Takashi asked, eyeing the pouch with curiosity. He had already received one, along with Rei and Kohta, which meant that they were out of competition.
Tysone looked around the room, his eyes scanning the faces of those who hadn't yet crossed the threshold of evolution. Mai, Miku, Shizuka, Marin, and Yui all stared back at him. The new survivors were currently resting or on guard duty, but even if they were present, they knew their place in the hierarchy.
"We have two left." Tysone began, picking up the small, polished black gems. They caught the dim light of the living room, looking unassuming yet holding the key to surviving this new world.
He leaned back, his expression turning pragmatic. "In a perfect world, I'd hand these out evenly. But we don't live in a perfect world. We live in a world where a single mistake gets us all killed. That means I have to prioritize our most vital assets first."
He turned his gaze toward the busty blonde nurse, who was currently jotting down Saeko's pulse on a notepad. "Shizuka."
Shizuka blinked, pointing a manicured finger at herself. "Me? But Ty-kyun, I'm not a fighter. I get scared just looking at those ugly things."
"Exactly," Tysone nodded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're our only medical professional. If Takashi or Rei gets a broken leg, they heal. If you die because a stray zombie gets past our frontline, we're entirely screwed. I need you faster, tougher, and more resilient. Your survival directly equates to the survival of this entire group."
Saya adjusted her glasses, nodding in agreement. "Logically, it is the soundest tactical decision. A dead medic is a dead squad."
Shizuka looked touched, a soft, genuine smile replacing her usual ditzy expression. She walked over to Tysone, accepting the core from his outstretched hand. "You just want to make sure I have the stamina to keep up with you." She whispered, leaning in close enough that only he could hear the teasing purr in her voice.
Tysone merely smirked. "That's a secondary benefit. Crush it."
Shizuka took a deep breath, squeezed her fist tight, and winced slightly as the core shattered. The black dust seeped into her palm. A moment later, a deep flush spread across her chest and cheeks. She let out a breathy gasp, her hands flying to her stomach as the surge of heat washed through her veins.
"Oh my..." she murmured, her eyes widening. "That feels... very warm. Like drinking a whole bottle of hot sake on an empty stomach." She flexed her fingers, looking at her hands with awe.
"One down," Tysone said, satisfied that her reaction was as mild and positive as Takashi's and Rei's. He picked up the final core, holding it between his thumb and forefinger.
His gaze bypassed Miku, who gave a small, understanding pout, and landed on the dark-haired actress standing near the back of the room.
"Mai."
Mai stiffened. Her blue eyes widened in genuine shock. She looked around, as if expecting him to be talking to someone else. "Me? Ty, I... I just organize the rations. I'm not exactly vanguard material."
"I told you before..." Tysone said, his voice softening just a fraction, remembering their private conversation from the night of the party. "Your contribution hasn't lessened, it just shifted. But that doesn't mean you should be left defenseless. When we are out there raiding, I need to know the people holding the fort can hold their own. I need you strong enough to protect yourself, and the others, when I'm not here."
Mai stared at him, her throat working as she swallowed hard.
The insecurity that had been gnawing at her for weeks—the fear of being useless, of fading into the background while the others became superhumans—seemed to fracture under the weight of his gaze.
She walked forward, her steps a little hesitant, until she stood right in front of him. She reached out and took the core, her fingers briefly brushing against his.
"Are you sure?" She asked softly.
"I don't make mistakes with my team." Tysone replied flatly. "Do it."
Mai closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and crushed the gem.
The reaction was instantaneous. She gasped sharply, her back arching slightly as the raw energy flooded her system. The sudden influx of power made her stumble, but Tysone's hand shot out, catching her by the waist before she could fall.
"Breathe." He instructed quietly.
Mai's eyes fluttered open. The blue of her irises seemed to catch the light differently now.
She looked down at her hands, then up at Tysone, a slow, disbelieving smile breaking across her face.
"It's... it's incredible." She whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of relief and adrenaline. "I feel like I could run a marathon and not even break a sweat."
"Welcome to the club." Takashi grinned from across the room, giving her a thumbs-up.
Miku bounded over, wrapping her arms around Mai in a tight hug. "That's so unfair! But I'm happy for you, Mai-senpai! Next time, it's my turn!"
"Patience, Miku." Tysone chuckled, letting go of Mai's waist as she steadied herself. "I promised everyone would get their turn, and I intend to keep it."
He clapped his hands once, the sharp sound cutting through the celebratory mood and pulling the room's focus back to reality. The brief moment of respite was over.
"Alright, the power-ups are settled for now. Saeko will sleep off her Rank 2 assimilation, and the rest of you have your new toys. But we still have a pest control problem to deal with. Let's take a break. Rest, drink, and prepare yourselves. Of course, keep an eye out on those three as well. We never know."
A chorus of agreement resounded throughout the living room as everyone dispersed to rest themselves and restock.
With Saeko on the verge of becoming a Rank 2, and with the addition of two new Rank 1 evolved in their group, Tysone was quite satisfied and felt more reassured about the mansion's future going forward.
Author's Note:
If you're enjoying the story and want to read ahead or support my work, you can check out my P@treon at [email protected]/LordCampione. But don't worry—all chapters will eventually be public. Just being here and reading means the world to me. Thank you for your time and support.