But when she saw a long line of survivors waiting outside the gates, she felt her heart stir for the first ti in months.
After registering as a temporary resident, she went straight to the grocery building and froze.
Shelves filled with rice, flour, vegetables, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes. Cleanly packed bags of salt and sugar. Even milk.
Rain felt like crying, but no tears ca. She imdiately purchased food, only to learn there was a limit on how much each person could buy.
Her expression turned tense. After all, because of her superpower, she had a special need to eat more.
Just as she was wondering what she should do, the grocery store receptionist saw her and asked her kindly, "What happened? You looked troubled."
Rain was hesitant, her paranoid streak flaring up again. Her mind scread at her, ’Run away! He just wants to take advantage of you!’
Those words haunted her, and just as she was about to act on it, she heard a muscular man voicing her dilemma, "Hey, this is way too low for ! I am a super strength awakener! I need more."
The shopkeeper gave a polite smile and explained, "We can’t raise the limit until you don’t go to the limit-raising departnt. They will evaluate you and your diet before issuing the limitation according to your diet."
Rain’s eyes widened, and she wondered in her heart, ’Eh? There is such a thing? Wow! I never expected it...’
The bulky man nodded before shooting a glance in Rain’s direction and then leaving. anwhile, the shopkeeper smiled, understanding that the bulky man had asked that question just to help Rain out.
How can Rain not understand the gesture?
And honestly... she was overwheld.
Were there truly such kind people in the apocalypse?
’No! Don’t fall for it! They are just pretending! Or maybe it is just so kind of scam? I need to stay alert!’
But then, after she filled out an application describing her situation, the clerk handed her a slip.
When she showed that slip to the store manager, the man smiled warmly and allowed her to buy extra rations.
It broke her.
Not in a painful way... but in a way that made her realize sothing was still alive inside her.
Compassion still existed sowhere in the apocalypse.
Rain soon applied for permanent residency and was accepted. She was stunned.
Why would a base be so generous? Why wasn’t this place hoarding food? Why did the people here get to live like humans and not animals fighting for scraps?
She wanted answers, so she joined the military force stationed at the base. In reality, she had done it to repay the base for its help.
That was when she learned about an amazing young woman : their instructor was Ivy.
The Ivy who grew up fighting hardship from childhood.
The Ivy who fought for every achievent.
The Ivy who represented the base.
The Ivy, who worked day and night to protect everyone.
The Ivy, who had no awakened ability of her own, yet still fought the apocalypse head-on.
Hearing Ivy’s story was like sothing in Rain’s heart finally being pulled open.
If soone like Ivy, who had faced more cruelty than she ever had, could still choose kindness, why couldn’t she?
Rain had been living in resentnt, ignoring others even when she had enough strength to help.
But slowly, she realized:
Not everyone existed to use her.
Not everyone was selfish.
Not everyone would betray her.
So Rain started doing small things, helping carry supplies, covering injured soldiers in battle, and sharing extra food when she had it.
And unexpectedly, people began to help her back.
One day, while she was fighting zombies outside the wall, one nearly lunged at her from behind, but a soldier blocked the attack and grinned at her.
"Nice reflexes. You’re strong."
For the first ti, Rain felt warmth, not from the sun, but from another human being simply caring enough not to let her die.
’Maybe the world isn’t completely dark. Maybe I was just surrounded by the wrong people before.’
Her clarity deepened.
Then one day, while clearing out zombies on patrol, Rain stumbled upon a man struggling to carry a pregnant woman on his back, both of them bruised and exhausted.
They were collapsing, yet the man tightened his grip on his wife as though she were the last precious thing left in the world.
Rain stopped walking.
’When I was pregnant... my husband was never ho. Yet this man is willing to cross hell for the woman he loves.’
He could have abandoned her. He could have chosen survival over affection. Yet he didn’t.
And Rain saw sothing she had forgotten:
True love did exist. Loyalty did exist. Kindness did exist.
Not everyone was her husband. Not everyone was her daughter. Not everyone was in her past.
So people still choose to protect, even in the apocalypse.
Without hesitation, Rain rushed in their direction and started to fight, helping the man and the pregnant woman heaved a sigh of relief.
They wanted to thank Rain; however, the pregnant woman’s condition deteriorated, and the young man imdiately focused on the woman.
"Pearl? Are you okay? What happened?"
"Keith! Keith! My stomach! Ouch! It’s hurting! Please do sothing! Keith! I can’t hold on for long!" Pearl shouted, her face as pale as paper, while Keith, looking heavily injured attracted even more zombies.
Rain narrowed her eyes. ’There are too many. If they stay here, both of them will die.’
She stepped in front of the couple and shouted over the noise, her voice steady and strong.
"Get behind . Do not move."
Keith did not question her. He simply held Pearl closer and stepped behind Rain.
Rain exhaled once. Her muscles tensed. Her ability surged.
She charged.
Every zombie that moved within her reach was crushed.
Their skulls cracked beneath her fists, their bodies thrown aside like rag dolls. She moved like a storm, like rage, like release.
Within minutes, the path was clear.
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