It was officially the next day, and just as Daemon had said, with the layout established and everything built on a solid foundation, the shelter’s operations quickly picked up speed.
Safe zones were mapped out, along with important resources and vital buildings. Everything progressed smoothly except for one critical weakness: the military.
It wasn’t that weapons were completely unavailable. While hot weapons like guns were scarce, cold weapons were plentiful. Knives, machetes, and other lee weapons could be found in decent numbers.
The base itself continued to expand, but the military strength lagged behind. In order to avoid being sward by zombies, they couldn’t push farther out to secure better positions for defense. The battalion could only protect scavenging teams sent to supermarkets for food, and even then, either Mai or Lucien had to accompany them personally.
That was when Lucien realized the core problem.
The shelter’s system of power and structure was good, but without introducing more awakeners, it would eventually stagnate.
However, awakeners were rare especially with the human population dwindling at an alarming rate.
Still, Lucien had finally achieved stability.
The shelter had grown to roughly five hundred people, occupying a section of an old industrial factory.
A warehouse had been stocked with food, living quarters had been moved into the factory complex, and through everyone’s combined efforts, basic fencing had been constructed. All of this took a full week.
So far, it had only been two weeks since the apocalypse began. The sky was still covered by dark green clouds, though faint rays of sunlight occasionally pierced through, providing dim illumination.
Among the five hundred people, there wasn’t a single awakener aside from Lucien and Mai. They had covered a large area, and most of what lay beyond was infested with zombies.
At this point, one could say humanity had truly fallen.
The population of normal humans was likely less than fifty percent of its peak. That ant over five billion people had either been turned into zombies or killed.
Tragic yet it wasn’t any better knowing elite zombies were lurking out there as well.
Lucien hadn’t encountered another one yet, but he couldn’t afford to lower his guard.
For now, he was attending an important eting with the provisional council.
The council had no official na yet, since its mbers were replaceable. Only Jeff and Daemon were likely to remain long-term.
At present, a total of twelve people were seated around a broken slab that served as a table, each wearing a stern expression.
"Everyone knows why we’re here," Jeff began heavily. "Although we’ve had success defending against zombie swarms, their numbers keep increasing. All we can do is defend, nothing more. At this rate, we’re playing a waiting ga. Once food runs out, we’re finished. And that’s not even ntioning the rise in unique zombies, slightly stronger, slightly faster. This can’t go on."
Jeff had laid bare the core issue.
They were stuck.
Their offensive power was insufficient, making expansion impossible. They could only defend. While they had two powerful awakeners Lucien and Mai, both were still human. They didn’t have infinite stamina. Eventually, they would tire out.
Even if Lucien and Mai expanded their patrol range, they wouldn’t be able to hold those areas permanently.
They had reached a stage where the top-tier power existed, but the middle and lower tiers were severely lacking.
"Maybe we should focus on searching for guns, raid a nearby ammunition store," soone suggested.
"That won’t work," another replied. "The nearest ammunition shop is at least thirty kiloters away. We haven’t mapped that area, and we don’t know what’s waiting there."
"Then what do you suggest?" another voice snapped. "Our army lacks the physical capability to do anything but defend. Zombies are getting faster and stronger. No offense, but aside from our leader and Boss Mai, no one else is an awakener. Death is closing in."
Argunts quickly broke out.
Across the table, Mai and Lucien exchanged glances and sighed.
They truly were stuck.
Lucien couldn’t grow stronger without killing an elite or higher-level zombie,if such a thing even existed nearby. He was already at the limit of the Beginner-Level Awakener realm. Mai was in the sa position.
Over the past week, Lucien had ensured she received the best food for recovery and strength. The two of them had been intimate multiple tis a day, yet even that had stopped yielding results.
Mai’s strength had capped at forty. No matter how many tis she slept with Lucien, her stats refused to increase further.
Seeing this dead end, Lucien smiled wryly.
"System..."
---
Status Display
Na: Mai
Rank: Beginner-Level Awakener (Peak) — Follower
Strength: 40
Speed: 40
Stamina: 40
Luck: 100
Position: Ordinary Heroine
Host: Lucien
Rank: Beginner-Level Awakener (Limit)
Strength: 50
Speed: 50
Stamina: 50
Ability: All Must Bow
Skills: Eyes of Desire, Appraisal
Luck: 30
Sexual Points: 1025
---
"Enough," Lucien said calmly. "Arguing won’t get us anywhere. We’ll observe how things unfold over the coming week. eting dismissed."
His voice carried authority, and everyone bowed instinctively.
Lucien’s position as leader had already solidified. He was cruel when necessary, but he always put the shelter first. He supported people when he could and never hesitated to punish the guilty young or old, male or female. Everyone was equal under his rule.
To them, he was a tyrant but a tyrant who made things work.
"Yes, Leader," the remaining eleven including Jeff, Daemon, and Mai responded as they stood to leave.
But then—
Knock. Knock.
The door was struck twice.
Jeff frowned. Only his lieutenant was allowed to interrupt a council eting.
"Chief, it’s Lieutenant Mikeal," a familiar voice spoke from outside. "The scouts have reported sothing... strange. Five humans are requesting to et the leader."
Jeff’s expression hardened. "Five humans? Who do they think they are, demanding an audience with the leader?"
"Chief," Mikeal said hesitantly, "they’re not normal. I’m afraid they’re like our leader and Boss Mai."
Silence.
Shock spread through the room.
Five awakeners at once?
Lucien and Mai alone had built a shelter housing five hundred people. Now imagine what five awakeners could do.
The council mbers exchanged looks, each harboring their own thoughts. So wondered what would happen next. Others considered switching sides if Lucien were defeated or overthrown.
A smile slowly ford on Lucien’s lips as his gaze drifted to his ability.
[All Must Bow Before ]
With this ability, the Host can automatically control all creatures weaker than himself. Controlled beings possess 100% loyalty.
Usage:
• Three individual targets — cooldown: three weeks
• One large-scale activation (1 km radius) — cooldown: one month
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