"Don Capo’s taking us out to the woods tomorrow. I wanna meet a few bears and wrestle ’em!" Alex rubbed his nose, picturing himself pinning a bear.
Spoiler: he’d never win.
Chaewon didn’t bother replying. She’d heard worse. Instead, she watched Ace pound a straw dummy and wondered if he’d invite her, too. Her dad had dragged her on countless camping trips when she was little, so she could teach the newbies tricks they’d never dream of. It had been ages since she’d slept under the stars, and the idea excited her.
Ace knew all this, though. He wanted to drill his crew on the basics so they’d stay alive when the Gate opened. He also hoped to snag a handy passive skill or two out there.
"I heard you’re heading out to the woods with the guys."
"Absolutely okay if I tag along?"
Ace went back to his strikes while Chaewon twirled away to tell her dad she’d be gone a few days. She didn’t get out much—martial‑arts practice ate most of her time—so her dad signed off on the paid leave without a fuss. He knew she could handle herself, and the gang adored her.
She ain’t gonna be alone with Don Capo, either.
At dawn Ace herded the gang to the base of their apartment block. Everyone except Mercer rubbed their eyes, desperate for bed. Heavy packs sagged on shoulders, stuffed with clothes and nutrient bars. No tents—only shovels and daggers.
"Oh, big sis is here!" Mercer called, pointing at Chaewon.
The crew usually saw her in a gi. Seeing her in a hoodie and black leggings snapped them wide awake. Chaewon ruffled Mercer’s hair.
"Morning!" she beamed.
"Morning, Chaewon sunbae‑nim!"
Ace grinned. "Glad somebody else’s awake. All right, let’s roll. Mercer, you ride the bike."
"You bought him a bike?" Chaewon’s eyes lit up.
"Nah—rented," Ace said.
He figured the kid couldn’t walk for hours like the rest of them, so a bike made sense. Mercer and Chaewon smiled bigger; they’d bonded over sword drills since Mercer joined a week ago. The kid was the real deal with a blade.
After a short chat they set off. Hours of hiking drained the crew—no surprise after years of city living—but Ace kept them grinding forward. When the treeline finally appeared, a few guys cried.
"Trees look awesome!"
"We’re splitting into two teams," Ace said. "One builds shelter, the other forages. First we find a good spot."
More walking. The gang groaned but obeyed. Soon they found level ground ringed by thick trunks. Ace nodded.
He tapped the soil. "Team one, dig a big hole here."
"That’s a ton of work and not exactly newbie‑friendly," Chaewon said, watching the boys unstrap shovels.
Nothing’s newbie‑friendly in the apocalypse.
This pit worked best against undead in the first Gate he planned to clear. Makeshift huts got spotted and smashed, leading to extra fights and casualties.
"How good a forager are you?" Ace asked.
"I’d give you a run for your money!" Chaewon laughed.
"Perfect. Take team two and show ’em what’s edible. I’ll stay and dig. If I don’t watch ’em, they’ll just make a hole."
When Chaewon’s crew disappeared into the trees, Ace lifted his shovel. His phone buzzed.
He checked the screen. Of all the DMs he’d fired off, only one had answered.
Europe’s strongest—Isabella, the Queen of Death.
If she lands in my first Gate and her necromancy pops, she’ll solo the place. No shot she flies to the States just because I ask. And, yeah, I probably texted her too much.
Frustration built up after days of silence, so he’d gotten personal—way too personal. He’d even told her where her hidden beauty marks were.
[Isabella: Call me "perv." I dare you.]
Don’t flip that on me. The future you started this.
[Ace: Power ain’t bad or good. It’s how you use it.]
[Isabella: Yawn. You drop that fortune‑cookie line every. single. time. Morals, power—blah blah. Meanwhile some creep has seen me naked! Be glad I haven’t called the cops.]
[Ace: I’m grateful. But trust me, the doubt hits later. You’ll wonder if you’re still human. You are. People stay human no matter how crazy two months get.]
[Isabella: OMG. Are you some ancient internet perv?]