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Chapters ahead: 6
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Momo's wound, though deep, wasn't infected. Yet. Kendo cleaned it as best she could with the limited supplies they had, her brow furrowed in concentration. Every scratch, every bite, was a potential death sentence in this new world. The Quirkfall Virus wasn't just transmitted through bites; it seemed to linger in the air, clinging to dust and debris, a constant, invisible threat.
Hana, still shaken but no longer catatonic, sat quietly beside Momo, occasionally glancing at the bandaged wound with wide, worried eyes. The small act of caring, of simply being present, seemed to be helping both of them.
Tetsutetsu paced restlessly, his steel skin gleaming under the dim light filtering through the boarded-up windows. "We can't stay here," he muttered. "It's not safe. Those dogs… they'll be back."
Tokoyami, perched on a windowsill, Dark Shadow swirling around him, nodded in agreement. "He senses… unrest. Many… shadows… moving in the distance."
Kendo sighed, rubbing her temples. They were trapped between a rock and a hard place. Staying put was risky, but venturing out into the unknown was even more dangerous.
"We need supplies," Momo said, her voice weak. "Bandages, food, water… anything."
"There's a pharmacy a few blocks from here," Kendo recalled, consulting a tattered city map she'd salvaged from the convenience store. "It's a risk, but…"
"We have to take it," Tetsutetsu finished, his voice firm.
The journey to the pharmacy was a tense affair. They moved through the deserted streets like ghosts, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. Dark Shadow, their silent guardian, darted ahead, scouting for danger, clearing a path through the scattered debris and the occasional lurking zombie.
As they approached the pharmacy, a chilling sight met their eyes. A group of zombified heroes, their Quirks twisted into grotesque parodies of their former selves, were clustered around the entrance, their moans and snarls echoing in the empty street.
Among them, Kendo recognized a distorted version of Cementoss, his concrete Quirk now manifesting as jagged, bone-like protrusions erupting from his body. Beside him, a zombified Midnight, her pheromone Quirk now exuding a sickly sweet scent that seemed to cling to the air, causing a wave of nausea to wash over Kendo.
"We can't fight them," Momo whispered, her face pale. "There are too many."
"We don't have to," Kendo said, her eyes scanning the surrounding buildings. "There's a fire escape on the building next door. We can get to the roof and try to access the pharmacy from above."
The plan was risky, but it was their only option. They moved quickly, scaling the fire escape, their hearts pounding in their chests. The groans of the zombified heroes echoed below, a constant reminder of the danger lurking just a few feet away.
They reached the roof, the cool night air a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere of the streets. From their vantage point, they could see the extent of the devastation. The city, once a vibrant hub of life, was now a desolate wasteland, its buildings scarred and broken, its streets littered with the remnants of a shattered society.
Kendo swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn't dwell on the past. She had to focus on the present, on surviving.
They crossed to the adjacent rooftop, carefully maneuvering across the narrow gap separating the two buildings. Tokoyami's Dark Shadow extended, forming a bridge, ensuring their safe passage.
They found a skylight leading into the pharmacy, its glass shattered, providing an easy entry point. Kendo dropped down first, her spear held at the ready, followed by Tetsutetsu, Momo, and finally, Tokoyami.
The pharmacy was a mess. Shelves were overturned, medicines scattered across the floor, and a thick layer of dust covered everything. But amidst the chaos, they found what they were looking for: bandages, antiseptic, painkillers, and a few precious bottles of water.
As they gathered the supplies, a sudden noise from the back room made them freeze. A low growl, followed by the shuffling of feet.
Kendo gripped her spear tighter, her heart pounding in her chest. "Tokoyami," she whispered.
Dark Shadow extended, slithering through the doorway, its form shifting and swirling in the darkness. A moment later, it returned, its form flickering nervously.
"A… child," Tokoyami whispered, his voice barely audible.
A child? Kendo exchanged a puzzled look with Tetsutetsu and Momo. Could there be other survivors?
They cautiously approached the back room, their weapons raised. As they entered, a small figure huddled in the corner, its eyes wide with fear, met their gaze. It was a young boy, no older than six, his clothes torn and dirty, his face streaked with grime.
He looked up at them, his lower lip trembling. "Please… don't hurt me," he whispered.
Kendo lowered her spear, her heart softening. Another survivor. Another lost soul in this broken world.
"We won't hurt you," she said softly, approaching him. "What's your name?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Izuku."
Kendo knelt down, her gaze meeting his. "It's alright, Izuku," she said gently. "We're here to help."
As she reached out to him, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her. The room seemed to spin, the boy's face blurring before her eyes. A strange, sickly sweet scent filled her nostrils, overwhelming her senses. She stumbled, her vision darkening.
The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was the boy's face, no longer filled with fear, but with a chilling, predatory grin.
The scent… it was Midnight's Quirk. But how…?
The world faded to black.