I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 116: 116:Flower.

For a few precious moments after Brian gave the order to withdraw, the contractors moved with remarkable discipline and urgency.

Years spent surviving beyond the sanctuary walls had taught every Rank One and Rank Two contractor the same lesson. Panic killed faster than beasts.

The different convoys quickly began accounting for their members.

”Team Three, report.”

”Everyone’s here.”

”Vehicle keys?”

”Ready.”

”Medical supplies?”

”Packed.”

Brian turned toward Silver and Ravenna.

”We’re leaving the same way we came from. It’s the fastest route back to the checkpoint and we’re bound to meet the reinforcements. If we encounter anything we’ll improvise as we move.”

Silver nodded, though his eyes never left the rows of abandoned buildings surrounding them.

”...Let’s hope it stays that way.”

The convoy had barely begun moving when every radio on the emergency frequency crackled simultaneously.

Static filled the air, then a calm, measured voice emerged. Unlike the hurried reports from earlier, this speaker sounded composed and professional.

*”This is Association Emergency Command.”

”Attention all exploration teams currently inside Detroin.”

”We have confirmed the source of the environmental contamination.”*

Every contractor immediately stopped talking even footsteps slowed.

The voice continued.

*”Based on reports from botanical researchers stationed at Delta Four...”

”...the organism has tentatively been identified as a mature moonlight Flower.”*

Silver’s eyebrows rose slightly. Finally a name.

*”We emphasize that confirmed information remains limited.”

”The moonlight Flower is classified as an extremely rare mutant flora.”

”Very few mature specimens have ever been documented.”*

The radio crackled briefly before continuing.

*”Current observations indicate the following.”

”It reproduces through microscopic pollen.”

”The pollen is capable of attaching itself to both beasts and humans.”

”Infected hosts unknowingly transport spores over long distances.”

”The flower’s underground root system absorbs nutrients from the surrounding ecosystem.”

”It is believed the migration of Green Zone wildlife observed over the past several days resulted from widespread spore dispersal.”*

Several contractors exchanged uneasy glances. Silver immediately remembered the herds, the flock of birds, and even the predators. It chilled him to know that they had been carrying the next generations of the plant.

The transmission continued.

*”At this time, evidence suggests the organism possesses limited influence over infected hosts after prolonged exposure.”

”It should be emphasized that infected individuals remain biologically alive.”

”They are not deceased.”

”The exact mechanism remains under investigation.”

”Our researchers believe the organism stimulates portions of the nervous system through specialized root structures.”

”It does not create corpses but carriers.”*

A chill settled over the gathered contractors. Claire quietly lowered her gaze.

”...They’re still alive...”

No one knew what to say. The announcement concluded with one final warning.

*”If you suspect prolonged exposure...”

”Avoid direct physical contact with unknown individuals.”

”Continue wearing respiratory protection.”

”Additional support forces have already departed nearby checkpoints.”

”Remain calm.”

”We will establish evacuation corridors as soon as possible.”*

The radio fell silent. For several seconds, only the wind blew by.

Silver slowly exhaled.

”So that’s what it is.”

Ravenna looked toward the distant rooftops.

”...A flower. It doesn’t seem real.”

Silver understood. After everything they had imagined... the enemy wasn’t some towering tree monster, it was something most people would step over without a second glance.

A simple flower, one that had patiently spread beneath an entire town.

Brian clapped his hands once.

”Information changes nothing.”

His deep voice immediately regained everyone’s attention.

”Our objective is still the same. We leave and stay together. If someone falls behind... We go back, no exceptions.”

Several convoy leaders nodded immediately. His confidence steadied the atmosphere because he gave everyone something to focus on.

The combined convoy slowly began making its way back toward the eastern district. Their backpacks suddenly felt much heavier than before.

Silver walked near the center of the formation. His rifle rested against his shoulder while his left hand remained close to his sword.

Ravenna matched his pace perfectly.

”...Head?” She asked quietly.

He smiled faintly behind the gas mask.

”It hurts but it’s not that bad. Using my senses isn’t as physically taxing, so it’s better”

”Tell me if you can’t anyone, I don’t want you fainting on me.”

Silver laughed softly.

”You don’t want to carry me like a princess.”

She rolled her eyes in the mask.

The lingering mental strain from repeatedly activating Spatial Sense continued to build. Every few minutes another dull ache spread behind his eyes. His vision occasionally blurred for a second before returning to normal.

He could endure it, for now, but he knew he couldn’t continue using the skill recklessly.

Ravenna suddenly stopped walking.

Silver looked over.

”What, is something wrong?”

Instead of answering, she quietly shifted her backpack to her front and opened a smaller pouch. After rummaging for a few moments, she took out a small vial and held it out toward him.

Silver immediately recognized it.

”...No.”

She raised an eyebrow.

”No? You need it more,” she whispered harshly.

”I don’t, The Soul Restoration Elixir is yours,” he quietly said.

She shook her head.

”You gave it to me and I never used it anyway. Right now, you need know you need.”

Silver remembered. After the assassination attempt, he had gotten it as a reward but she hadn’t drunk it and kept it. He hadn’t really paid that much attention after that.

She smiled gently.

”I’ve still got it,” he stubbornly said.

”No you don’t,” she countered just as hard.

”I do.”

She lightly pressed the small vial into his palm.

”The one who needs it now is you, Silver. Stop being stubborn and put your pride to the side a little, look at the situation we’re in, what happens if we’re attacked and you’re suddenly overwhelmed, then what?”

Silver looked down at the liquid inside the bottle. This had been one of the most valuable items he had ever received.

He hesitated.

”You’ll be left without one.”

”So? You always think about me.” She folded her arms. ”Let me think about you once.”

For a long moment, neither spoke. Finally, Silver sighed.

”...Thank you.”

She smiled.

”There. That wasn’t so difficult was it?”

He removed his mask just long enough to drink the elixir before sealing it again. The cool liquid slid down his throat almost instantly. The pounding behind his eyes gradually eased and his thoughts became sharper.

The mental fog slowly lifted. A familiar notification appeared only for him.

[System Notice]

{Soul Restoration Elixir Consumed.

Mental Fatigue: 46% → 84%

Soul Stability: Stable.

Further use of Spatial Sense is now possible.}

Silver quietly released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

”...Better.”

Ravenna smiled.

”I told you.”

Their quiet moment didn’t last. One of the scouts hurried back from the front of the convoy.

”Brian!”

The large contractor turned immediately.

”What happened?”

”This is bad, the eastern road.” The scout swallowed. ”... it’s blocked.”

Several contractors stiffened.

”By plants?”

”No.”

”Collapsed buses and it looks recent.”

Brian frowned.

”Accident?”

”I...” The scout hesitated. ”I don’t think so.”

Silver immediately stepped forward.

”What do you mean?”

The scout looked genuinely unsettled.

”The buses... they’re covered.”

”Covered with what?”

The man’s voice dropped.

”...Flowers. And that’s not the worst part, there was also blood everywhere... wi... with ...with drag marks showing the bus had been dragged on the street. There were also some bodies around but most were mangled beyond repair and...”

Brian stepped closer to him.

”And?”

”... There were people there... here look.”

He lifted his shirt. Everyone had been too busy to notice but blood was seeping into his clothes. When he lifted his shirt, a fresh bullet wound could be seen. Thankfully it was only a skin graze.

”I got shot the moment they spotted me. Three people were standing on top of the bus.”

”How did they look?” Silver quietly asked.

”Their faces were pale and green vine-like lines were moving up on their faces from their neck. I couldn’t see very well since I got noticed... I think they’re the infected.”

Silence settled over the convoy once again. No one wanted to imagine what that meant. Brian slowly looked toward the side streets stretching deeper into Detroin then back toward the blocked road.

One route is closed, with an unknown danger ahead. There was no certainty anywhere. He inhaled deeply before speaking.

”We change routes.” His calm voice steadied the group once more. ”Nobody separates. We’re getting everyone out one way or another. I’m not letting a fucking flower stop me”

Silver looked toward the maze of abandoned streets. His instincts whispered the same warning they had all afternoon, the town was was quietly closing every door. If they get trapped here, they would end up as carriers or fertiliser, no option was good.