Apocalypse Transmigration - The Card Captor System

Leo sprinted across the rooftops, never once looking back. The moment he jumped over the final ledge, his grappling hook retracted into its launcher.

He then leaped into a deserted alley below and kept moving, refusing to slow his pace.

​Every few streets, he chose a new direction. He cut through narrow alleyways, climbed over collapsed walls, and slipped through abandoned buildings before coming out onto the next road.

His route was completely irregular , a chaotic pattern that made it impossible for anyone to track him.

​Only after twenty minutes of constant movement did Leo finally come to a stop.

His breathing had also become uneven by then.

​He stood before a half-collapsed apartment building. Most of its windows were shattered, and cracked concrete flaked off the outer walls.

He paused, scanning the area to make sure nobody had followed him, then quietly slipped inside.

​The interior was dead silent. Dust blanketed the floor, and broken furniture lay scattered across the corridors.

Leo moved from room to room, searching through the wreckage, but most of the place had already been cleaned out by survivors.

He found empty wardrobes, broken drawers, and shattered cabinets. Nothing of value remained.

​Just as he turned to leave, he stepped into one of the last apartments. In the corner, buried beneath a collapsed wooden table, lay an old, torn backpack covered in dust.

​Leo pulled it out and checked it over. One of the shoulder straps was tattered and a few small holes dotted the sides, but the material held together.

​”It’ll do.”

​Taking off the Robe of Shroud , he put the dark fabric inside the backpack . Removing the Robe revealed the tactical armor hidden beneath. Next, he removed his steel gauntlets. He packed both items away and zipped the bag shut.

​Staring at the battered backpack , Leo fell into thought.

The military had never seen his face, but they knew the black hooded robe. They had also seen the hidden blades extending from his gauntlets.

If he continued wearing them openly, it wouldn’t take much for the military to identify him.

​”I’ll have to avoid using them unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

​For now, staying a ghost mattered more than anything. He couldn’t leave Rendell City until he finished off William or confirmed his death.

It was the last debt he owed to Elena and Lily. He couldn’t just walk away and pretend none of this was his problem.

​He rested for a few minutes, waiting for his breathing to even out, then stood back up.

Adjusting the straps on his shoulders, he walked over to a dusty window and peered out. The coast was clear. He slipped out of the ruined building and back into the streets.

​An hour later, Leo finally exited Rendell City. He pushed forward without stopping until he reached the spot where he had parked his truck.

​As he drew near, he spotted Danny practicing the combat movements he had taught him earlier. The young man’s posture was still clumsy, but his balance was far steadier than before.

Nearby, Linda sat in silence, watching over Lily as the young girl slept in her lap.

​The moment Danny caught sight of Leo, he halted his training and hurried over.

​”Sir, you’ve returned.”

​Linda offered a respectful nod.

​Leo looked at the couple for a silent moment before speaking, his voice flat and calm.

​”I never left the camp today.”

​”I spent the entire day inside the truck.”

​”Understood?”

​Danny stiffened, then gave a sharp nod. ”I understand, sir.”

​Linda nodded right along with him, asking no questions. The two exchanged a brief glance. Neither of them was foolish, they understood exactly what Leo was telling them to do.

​Without another word, Leo climbed into the truck and pulled the door shut behind him.

​Once inside, he let out a long, heavy breath. He dropped the backpack by the bed and stripped off the heavy tactical armor, the combat pants, and his boots. Only then did he collapse onto the mattress.

​He hadn’t shown a hint of weakness outside, but now, every muscle in his body screamed. His shoulders ached. His back burned from the repeated impacts of Tony’s water bullets.

His legs throbbed where Rose’s rifle fire had struck, even though the Cloak of Shroud and the armor had absorbed the worst of the blows.

​Then there was the sheer physical toll .

The sprinting, the parkour, the strain of the grappling hook, and the brutal fight against the superhumans.

Even weakened, those superhumans were terrifying.

Leo was still just an ordinary human, relying on gear, experience, and careful planning to bridge the gap.

​Today’s fight had cost him everything he had. He had escaped by the skin of his teeth.

​The moment his head hit the pillow, the exhaustion he had been fighting back finally took over. Within seconds, Leo fell into a deep sleep.

While sleeping, Leo dreamed once again.

He found himself sitting on a wooden bench in a quiet park.

The afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm golden glow.

Beside him sat a brown-haired girl about his age.

On his other side was a tiny black-haired girl, no older than seven.

The little girl carefully licked the ice popsicle in her hand as though it were the greatest treasure in the world.

After taking another tiny bite, she hesitantly held it toward the two of them.

”Big Brother Leo...”

”Big Sister Selena...”

”Here.”

”I’ve already had enough.”

She dramatically rubbed her little stomach.

”I’m full.”

”I can’t eat anymore.”

Leo smiled and gently rubbed her head.

”Lia...”

”Today’s your birthday.”

”Just enjoy it.”

”You don’t have to worry about us.”

Selena also smiled and nodded.

The little girl lowered her head.

”But...”

”You both used all your pocket money to buy this from that expensive shop.”

”You should have some too.”

Leo chuckled.

”When you grow up and become our age...”

”You can buy one for us on our birthdays instead.”

Then he deliberately put on a serious expression.

”But don’t expect me to share mine.”

”Even if you beg.”

The little girl burst into laughter.

”Hahahaha!”

”Big Brother Leo, you’re such a terrible liar.”

”I know you’d give all of it to me if I asked.”

Then her eyes sparkled.

”Next week we’re all going to be adopted.”

”After my new family sends me to school...”

”I’ll study really hard.”

”I’ll earn lots and lots of money.”

She spread her tiny arms as wide as she could.

”I’ll become super rich!”

”Then I’ll buy both of you everything you want!”

Leo and Selena couldn’t help laughing.

Leo extended his little finger toward her.

”Then let’s make a promise.”

”When that day comes...”

”You can’t go back on your word.”

”Come on.”

”Pinky swear.”

Lia happily reached out her tiny finger.

Just before their fingers touched...

The world shattered.

The warm sunlight disappeared.

Darkness swallowed everything.

Lia’s smile vanished.

Her face turned deathly pale.

Blood covered her cheeks.

A knife protruded from her tiny chest, buried deep inside a gaping wound.

She slowly raised her head.

Empty, lifeless eyes stared directly into Leo’s.

”Big Brother Leo...”

”Why didn’t you protect me?”

Her voice was hollow.

”Why didn’t you keep your promise?”

”...Why are you the only one still alive?”

Instead of linking pinkies...

Her small bloodstained hand reached toward his throat.

Leo tried to move.

He couldn’t.

His entire body remained rooted to the bench.

His muscles refused to obey him.

Then...

Another figure slowly stepped out of the darkness.

It was Lily.

Or rather...

A zombified Lily.

Her tiny body was covered in bite marks and dried blood.

She looked up at him with empty eyes.

”Uncle Leo...”

”Why didn’t you protect me?”

Another figure appeared.

Elena.

Her face was streaked with tears and blood.

”Leo...”

”Why didn’t you save us?”

One after another...

More figures emerged from the darkness.

Men.

Women.

Children.

Faces he recognized.

Faces he didn’t.

Every one of them stretched out their hands toward him.

Every one of them spoke the same words.

”Why?”

”You could have saved us.”

”You abandoned us.”

”You deserve to die.”

Cold hands wrapped around his neck.

One pair.

Then another.

Then dozens more.

They tightened relentlessly.

Leo couldn’t breathe.

Just then...

William stepped forward.

His eyes were bloodshot.

His face was twisted into a look of madness.

He slowly raised his fist.

”Die.”

The punch came crashing toward Leo’s face.

”AAAH!”

Leo jolted upright in bed.

”Haa...”

”Haa...”

”Haa...”

His breathing was ragged.

Cold sweat soaked his body.

His chest rose and fell violently as his horrified eyes darted around the truck.

Only after several long seconds did he realize

It had only been a dream.