What is this insane power she has!? Why is she so strong!?
The system was right. Dead right.
I must never provoke enemies who possess a system this early on… or I'm going to die.
Those words echoed, rumbling in my mind like thunder as I watched the devastating force she unleashed against the horde of zombies.
Just a while ago, I struggled so hard to hold them off without the help of the fortress… or Ella's buffs.
Now they were nothing but rotting flesh scattered like ashes in a storm.
I felt… small.
Weak.
Belittled.
But strangely, it didn't crush me. Instead, it fueled something deeper.
A hunger.
A burning desire to fight more. Kill more. And rise higher.
I carry the Limitless System, the Ultimate System, and I'll unlock every ounce of its potential no matter what.
Seconds later, the girl with the overwhelming power teleported back in front of me.
She looked calm, composed—despite the destruction behind her.
"What's your name, young lad?"
"Jefford," I answered, then quickly gestured to Ella, who was still unconscious beside me. "And this girl… she's Ella. She needs treatment—she's badly injured."
"I understand."
She stepped forward with quiet confidence, her hand glowing as radiant magic gathered around her fingers.
"Let me hold her. I'll heal her myself."
She cradled Ella gently, like a feather, and cast a powerful healing spell that bathed Ella in a warm, golden light.
A moment later, Ella's eyelids fluttered open.
Her gaze found mine.
"Jefford… you really came back for me," she whispered, tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.
"Yes, Ella. But first… let's thank the one who healed you."
Ella blinked, confused, then looked to the girl beside her.
"Thank you, Ms…"
"Meliane Smith," she replied with a smile. Then she turned to me, paused for a moment, and vanished, heading swiftly toward the largest house in the walled subdivision.
I watched her leave—half in awe, half in disbelief—until a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat stepped quietly beside me.
His voice was cold, but not unfriendly.
"Mr. Jefford and Ms. Ella. Please follow me. We've prepared a spare room where you may rest."
I looked at him and nodded, then turned to Ella.
"Ella… can you walk?"
"I… yeah, I feel a lot better after Ms. Meliane healed me."
Hearing that, I gave a small nod and turned back to the man with the hat.
We followed him, and as we walked, I scanned the surroundings.
The entire subdivision was clean. Unbelievably clean.
No bloodstains. No destruction. No signs of struggle or chaos.
It was like the apocalypse never touched this place.
Every house stood intact, as if frozen in time before the world collapsed.
Eventually, the man led us into a small but modern house. And inside… my breath hitched.
There they were.
The two people I prayed to see again the moment this all began.
My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. My feet moved on their own, faster and faster, until I finally crashed into their arms and embraced them both tightly.
"Mom… Dad… I'm here now.
I'm sorry for everything I've done. I promise… I'll be a better son."
"Oh, it's all in the past, son," my mother said softly, smiling through teary eyes.
Her dark eyes—so much like mine—gazed into me with warmth.
"What matters now is that you're here."
"Hey, hey," my father chimed in with a chuckle, "Don't get so emotional. The girl behind you might start thinking less of you as a man."
"Yes, Father," I smiled, wiping a tear away.
"And since you mentioned her… she's Ella. My girlfriend."
My father raised a brow and grinned.
"Well, you've got yourself a very beautiful girlfriend."
Then he turned to the man in the hat.
"Jorge, I'll take things from here. Go get some rest."
Jorge nodded and silently stepped out.
Once he was gone, my father's attention snapped back to me with concern.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet, Father. But… there's something I want to show you."
From my inventory, I pulled out a large turkey and all the ingredients needed to cook a proper feast.
"Let's have a mini Thanksgiving party… for the one I missed last year."
My father's eyes widened.
"Son… do you have the power of a system too?"
I leaned closer, lowering my voice.
"Yes, Father. But please… for now, let's keep this between us—me, you, Mother… and Ella. We can't trust strangers so easily."
Understanding my tone, he nodded.
Soon, we began cooking together. Just like old times.
When the turkey was finally ready, I brought out a bottle of expensive wine and four glasses.
As we sat at the table—me, Ella, and my parents—I felt a strange warmth in my chest.
Happiness.
Genuine happiness.
This… this is why I keep fighting. Why I refuse to give in. Even if fighting brings me long, painful suffering… it's better than the short pain of being devoured.
We laughed. We talked. We ate like it was the last feast on Earth.
Then, as the meal came to a close, Ella turned to me, curiosity dancing in her eyes.
"Jefford… what really happened when you received that red rune?"
I took a breath.
"Ella… after I got the rune, I fell asleep and woke up inside a palace.
There… I fought a powerful being who tested me—tested if I had the resolve to keep going, even in utter hopelessness.
I won… because I remembered you.
And my parents.
I knew you were still waiting for me."
I smiled at her, and at my parents—though I carefully left out one haunting detail:
That I had been tested… to see if I could kill Ella if she ever became a threat to humanity.
After dinner, we cleaned up. Then my father called me and pointed upstairs.
"That's where you and Ella will sleep tonight."
Ella froze.
She blushed furiously, her cheeks as red as a sunset, and tried to hide her face.
My father noticed instantly.
"Oh dear, no need to be shy. Jefford's gentle," he teased with a laugh.
Ella buried her face behind my back, her embarrassment almost too much to bear.
My father finally took pity on her, waved goodnight, and headed downstairs.
Once he was gone, I turned to Ella and said softly,
"I promised I'd protect you. That includes not forcing you into anything unless it's for your safety.
So relax. Let's get some rest. We've had… one hell of a day."
Tears gathered at the edge of her eyes again, but this time… she smiled.
"Yes, Jefford. Let's sleep. I'll stay by your side.
And comfort you… just like you've done for me."
Minutes later, we lay in the same bed.
For the first time in what felt like years, I let go of everything.
All the tension from fighting thousands of zombies…
Three mutant monsters…
Meeting another system holder…
And seeing soldiers—especially Private Anderson—die in front of me.
Breaking the promise I made…
That no one would die in front of my eyes again.
As I drifted into sleep, my mind conjured a vision.
Humans fighting wave after wave of undead… until a massive rift tore open behind the horde.
Out of that rift came hundreds of mutant zombies, all roaring with hunger and fury.
Bit by bit, they overwhelmed the last line of defense.
I watched the horror unfold… until suddenly, I wasn't watching anymore.
I was there.
Inside one of the humans being eaten alive.
Face to face… with death itself.
And for the first time, I felt it.
Truly felt it.
The fear of what's to come.