I Built a Safe Zone in the Dead World Chapter 45: Collision And Instinct

The mont the ssenger moved forward, the battlefield shifted again, not just in intensity but in unpredictability, because unlike the Hunter, this enemy didn’t rely purely on speed or calculated reaction—she controlled the entire environnt, turning every movent into part of a larger design. Arata Kurozawa stepped in to et her, his focus sharper than ever, his body already adjusting to the fluctuating nature of her presence. His strike ca fast, angled differently from before, tid not just for impact but for the mont her form stabilized, and this ti the hit connected harder, forcing a visible distortion through her body. It wasn’t full damage, but it was progress. That alone confird what Miyu had said—timing was everything.

Yuna didn’t wait even a second. She moved in imdiately, her bat swinging with a wide arc aid to pressure rather than strike cleanly, forcing the ssenger to shift her form defensively. "Don’t give her ti to think," Yuna said, her grin sharp but her eyes completely serious now. Reina adjusted her position behind them, firing in irregular intervals, deliberately breaking her rhythm to prevent the ssenger from predicting her shots. Kaede fired from above, her precision still deadly even against a partially intangible target, aiming not where the ssenger was, but where she would stabilize next. Miyu continued analyzing in real-ti, her voice fast but controlled. "...Stability window is short but consistent. She phases every few seconds. We need to chain attacks during that gap."

Airi stayed close, watching everything, her breathing steady despite the chaos. She had learned. Not just how to move—but when. The ssenger shifted again, her body flickering as she stepped sideways, avoiding Arata’s follow-up strike with unnatural smoothness. "...You adapt quickly," she said softly, her tone almost approving. That didn’t sit well with Yuna. "...Yeah? Then adapt to this," she snapped, stepping forward with more force, her strike landing partially, enough to disrupt the ssenger’s position again.

But before they could press further—The ground behind them shook, Not lightly, Not subtly.

A heavy vibration, deep and unnatural, spreading through the broken street like sothing massive was moving beneath it.

Miyu reacted first. "...New signature," she said sharply.

Kaede’s voice followed instantly from above. "...Large. Very large."

Reina turned slightly, her aim shifting toward the source. "Another one?"

Yuna clicked her tongue. "...Of course there is."

The ground cracked, Then broke.

And from beneath the collapsed concrete, sothing rose.

Massive, But not like the Colossus, This one was different.

Its body wasn’t just large—it was layered, thick with uneven growths of hardened flesh, like armor built over ti. Its arms were oversized, dragging slightly as it moved, its fingers digging into the ground with every step. Its head was smaller in proportion, but its mouth stretched unnaturally wide, filled with jagged teeth that didn’t match any natural structure. Its eyes—Were focused.

Not empty, Not mindless, Aware.

"...That’s new," Yuna muttered.

Miyu’s voice ca imdiately. "...Classification unknown. Heavy-type mutation. Likely high durability."

Kaede added quietly, "...And it’s watching us."

The ssenger stepped back slightly, her smile returning as she looked at the massive creature. "...Ah," she said. "Perfect timing."

That confird it, This wasn’t random, It was coordinated, Arata’s eyes narrowed.

Two threats, Different types, Both controlled.

"We split," Reina said instantly.

Miyu nodded. "...One team holds the large unit. One engages her."

Yuna grinned slightly. "...I’ll take the big one."

Airi blinked. "...Wait, alone—"

"Not alone," Arata said.

He stepped toward the massive infected.

Yuna smirked. "...Yeah, that works."

Reina adjusted her aim. "I’ll support from range." Miyu added, "...I’ll coordinate both sides." Kaede remained above, her voice calm. "...I cover all angles."

That left—Airi, And the ssenger, The realization hit instantly.

The ssenger’s eyes shifted toward Airi.

"...So you stay," she said softly, Airi tightened her grip, "...I’m not running," she replied.

Yuna glanced back for a second. "...Don’t die," she said.

Airi nodded. "...Sa to you."Then everything split.

Arata and Yuna moved toward the massive infected, its heavy steps already shaking the ground as it advanced. The creature swung one of its oversized arms down with crushing force, aiming directly at Arata. He dodged at the last second, the impact shattering the ground where he had stood. "...Yeah, that hits hard," Yuna muttered, jumping in from the side and striking its leg. The impact barely moved it.

"...Tough," she added.

Reina fired imdiately, her shots hitting its upper body, but the bullets didn’t penetrate deeply. "...High resistance," she confird.

Miyu responded instantly. "...Target joints. Structural weakness."

Arata moved again, this ti aiming for its knee joint, his strike landing with more effect than expected, causing the creature to shift its weight slightly. That was sothing.

anwhile—Airi faced the ssenger, Alone.

Not completely alone, But without the others close enough to assist imdiately.

The ssenger stepped forward slowly, her form flickering slightly. "...You stayed," she said.

Airi didn’t step back.

"...I’m not weak anymore," she said, The ssenger tilted her head.

"...We’ll see."

She moved, Fast, Faster than before.

Airi reacted instinctively, stepping back just enough to avoid direct contact, her rod swinging forward to disrupt the movent. It passed partially through, but enough to slow the ssenger’s advance.

Above, Kaede fired.

The shot aligned perfectly with Airi’s movent, hitting the ssenger during a brief stabilization mont, causing a sharper distortion.

"...Good timing," Kaede said.

Airi exhaled slightly.

"...I’m trying," she replied.

Back on the other side, the massive infected roared, swinging both arms now in a wide arc, forcing Arata and Yuna to separate to avoid being crushed. Yuna landed and smirked. "...Okay, this one’s fun," she said. Arata didn’t respond. He moved again, targeting the sa joint, applying pressure where it had already weakened.

The creature reacted, Faster than expected.

Its arm swung back—Too fast.

Arata dodged.

But the shockwave from the impact behind him—Shifted the ground, Airi lost her footing.

Just for a second, And that second—Was enough, She slipped , Forward.

Directly toward—Arata.

Before she could stop herself—She collided into him, Hard.

Both of them lost balance And fell, Airi landed on top of him.

For a mont—Everything paused.

Her face—Close, Too close.

Their eyes t, Silence.

Then—Yuna’s voice, "...Seriously?"

Airi’s face flushed instantly. "...I—I didn’t an—!"

Arata didn’t react much, But he didn’t push her away imdiately either.

Kaede’s voice ca calmly from above. "...Poor timing."

Yuna crossed her arms briefly, her expression shifting between irritation and disbelief. "...Yeah, no kidding."

Airi scrambled quickly, moving off him, her face still red. "...Sorry!" she said.

Arata stood up imdiately, as if nothing had happened. "Focus," he said.

Simple, But—Yuna noticed, The half-second delay, The way Airi had looked at him, The way he hadn’t reacted harshly.

"...Tch," she muttered under her breath, The mont ended, Because the fight didn’t wait.

The massive infected attacked again, The ssenger moved again Everything resud.

But sothing had changed, Not just the battle , But between them.

And Kaede—Watched it all, Silently, Carefully.

Analyzing not just the enemies—But them.

Because in this world—Emotions were just another variable, And sotis—The most dangerous one.