Chapter 214: After the Battle
Chapter 214: Chapter 214: After the Battle
Rhonda Dawson gripped her submachine gun, her eyes so fierce they practically shot fire. The bloodlust radiating from her was even more intense than Luna Dawson’s.
Seeing this, Luna approached and softly reminded her, "Rhonda, there are quite a few wounded over at the logistics team. Why don’t you go take a look?"
She knew that humanity’s numbers had dwindled sharply, making Healing Ability Users incredibly scarce. Every individual was a precious combat asset, and heading over there would also allow her sister to hone her superpower.
Rhonda snapped out of her daze upon hearing this and slapped her forehead. "I got so caught up in the killing that I completely forgot! Alright, I’ll head over right now."
Luna nodded. Her gaze swept over to Blake Blue not far away, and she called out, "Brother Ian, go with Rhonda. If anything unexpected happens, you can look out for each other."
She had to be cautious. The families of the wounded were prone to emotional outbursts. Even though the Military Command was maintaining order, there was no guarantee some hot-headed Superpower User wouldn’t threaten self-destruction to snatch a spot for treatment. She absolutely refused to expose her family to even the slightest risk.
Blake nodded in agreement. "Alright, don’t worry." He silently followed in Rhonda’s footsteps, escorting her toward the rear area.
Major General Dalton and the other top brass of the Military Command, regardless of whether they had superpowers, all stood at the front lines with guns in hand, fighting the enemy without putting on any airs.
Having witnessed the Sunset Squad single-handedly take down two Fourth Rank mutant bats, he pumped his arm in excitement and shouted, "Push harder, everyone! Once we return to the Kensington Base, you will all be rewarded for your contributions!"
He inwardly praised Captain Dawson. She looked so petite and delicate, yet she dared to take to the skies and slaughter enemies using just her Water Ability! It suited his tastes perfectly. Someone like her truly deserved to be the captain of the number one squad.
Without their high-level leaders, the bat swarm instantly descended into chaos.
Infected by the Sunset Squad’s frenzied killing momentum, the main force—along with a few survivors who joined the fray of their own accord—finally shattered the bat swarm completely just as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon.
Red hues stained the sky as the crimson sun broke free from the tangle of branches. The breaking sunlight spilled across the earth, raising the temperature by a few degrees.
The logistics team members in charge of clearing the battlefield bundled up tightly. Though shivering from the cold, they kept their heads down, harvesting Crystal Cores from the bat carcasses.
As the final bat fell, it was as if all the strength had been drained from the Sunset Squad. They slumped against the edges of their vehicles, completely exhausted.
Lynn Shelby pulled his jacket over his head and curled up in a corner. He couldn’t even be bothered to lift his eyelids, looking like a lump of mud plastered against the carriage.
Kevin Keane’s face was full of fatigue, but he maintained his aloof demeanor. His long legs rested casually over the edge of the RV’s roof, and he leaned back on his hands. The murderous aura around him hadn’t entirely dissipated. With a bloodstained face, he looked toward Luna, who was lying flat beside him.
He hooked the corners of his lips into a smirk. "You were killing more fiercely than anyone just now, but now you’re out of steam. Want me to fetch you a pillow?"
Luna didn’t even open her eyes, mumbling vaguely, "Hmph. Keep nagging, and I’ll throw you down to feed the bats."
She was so exhausted that her voice was a pitch softer. Too lazy to move a single muscle, she fully embraced doing absolutely nothing on the roof of the vehicle.
Crystal Core Solution could replenish superpowers, but there was no way to restore highly tense nerves and depleted spiritual power from combat.
With the grand battle concluded, everyone found a corner to slump into, lacking the will to move even an inch.
Pinky lay obediently beside the two of them. Little Tiger was already so tired that it curled up on Pinky’s back, letting out steady purrs.
Rollo, on the other hand, was still brimming with energy. It trotted over to where Tina and Pax were resting nearby, excitedly socializing with the canine crew.
Miles Dawson had really stolen the spotlight this time. When a logistics team member came over to ask if he needed healing, he originally wanted to act cool, planning to lean against the Marauder and casually dismiss them. However, once he sat down, he couldn’t get back up. He didn’t even have the strength to speak, so he had to secretly give up the idea. He thought it was better to forget about showing off.
Aaron Palmer sat down next to him, panting heavily. "I’m dead tired... My body still has some strength, but my head feels so heavy I don’t want to move."
Among the entire group, Hector was surprisingly in the best condition. He neatly took off his stained outer clothes, climbed into the vehicle to change into something clean, and even pulled cheese sticks out of the fridge, handing them out to the logistics team members who came to check on him.
It was rare to see such an obedient and adorable little dumpling in the apocalypse. The team members couldn’t help but rub his head, taking the cheese sticks and chattering away to thank him properly before leaving with smiles on their faces.
After all, across the entire battlefield, only the Sunset Squad didn’t need anyone’s help to dig out Crystal Cores. They had already cleaned up thoroughly during the fight, not leaving a single bat carcass behind in their area, fully displaying their formidable strength.
After lying there for over ten minutes, Luna waved her hand and summoned the villa, ushering everyone to head to their rooms, take a shower, and get some proper rest.
By this time, Francis Grant had also caught his breath. Following their direction, he came looking for them, only to see the members of the Sunset Squad lined up at the villa entrance, taking off their clothes and pants...
Luna happened to be standing at the very back. She was responsible for gathering all the dirty laundry, intending to store it all in her space so they could be sent to a specialized disinfection and cleaning facility once they returned to the base.
Just as he approached, he stumbled right into this mass undressing spectacle. Francis’s footsteps halted, his usually composed expression cracking instantly. He subconsciously averted his eyes. "COUGH COUGH..."
Catching a glimpse of his unnatural expression, Luna said in amusement, "Colonel Grant, you sure know how to pick your timing. Don’t be shy, we’re only taking off our outer layers."
Francis composed himself. He stepped forward, avoiding the undressing crowd, and praised her. "Captain Dawson, your Fourth-rank Water Ability is just as extraordinary as your Space Ability. We completely relied on your squad this time to solve the massive headache of those two Fourth Rank bats. Thank you so much."
Luna tucked the last dirty jacket into her space. She clapped her hands and looked up at him, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "Colonel Grant, your gratitude isn’t very sincere, is it?"
Francis was taken aback and asked, "...What part of my words wasn’t sincere?" He felt his attitude had been earnest and his tone sufficiently solemn.
"Gratitude shouldn’t just be lip service; it has to come with practical value." As Luna spoke, she stood on her tiptoes and leaned closer to him, lightly rubbing her thumb and index finger together right in front of his eyes. Her gaze was brimming with slyness.
Looking at her like this, Francis sighed helplessly. For some reason, Captain Dawson’s bluntness always managed to break through his defenses. It turned out that to her, a thousand words of thanks weren’t as practical as a few Crystal Cores.
"You really don’t hide your calculations at all." Francis laughed in spite of himself, his steady features softening considerably. "Would I ever shortchange you?"
"You never know. Anyone can make empty promises." Luna crossed her arms and tilted her head, wearing an expression that said she didn’t believe him. She wagged a finger in front of his face. "Crystal Cores are the only hard truth. The more there are, the more sincere you are."
Amused by her money-grubbing demeanor, Francis had no choice but to compromise. "Alright, alright. Don’t worry, Captain Dawson. As soon as I get back, I’ll report to the higher-ups and secure the maximum share of the Crystal Core reward for your squad. No shortchanging."
Having received this guarantee, Luna immediately beamed, her eyes curving into crescents. She clapped her hands. "Now that’s what I call sincerity." Saying so, she pushed him backward. "Shoo, shoo. I need to go inside and take a shower. Stinking of blood is incredibly uncomfortable. If you need anything, call me on the earpiece. Don’t just stand here like a door god."
Francis was pushed back a couple of steps. Watching how eager she was to get inside, he felt both exasperated and amused. He shook his head. "Alright, I won’t bother you then."
As he turned around, he could still hear Luna shouting into the house, "Whoever washes the fastest gets dibs on the bathroom!" That vibrant energy of hers completely unwound the nerves he had kept taut the entire way.
Kevin and Lynn tugged at each other, neither willing to let the other enter the room first, dead set on claiming priority over the bathroom.
Inside, Miles was clinging to the bathroom door, fighting Aaron for first place. Wayne Dawson helped his grandfather sit down on the living room sofa, while Mrs. Dawson handed Hector some snacks. It was a lively and secure scene, seemingly a world apart from the messy battlefield outside.