The Apocalypse Took Everything, This Time I Hoard It All First
Chapter 23: High Fever

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: High Fever

As she took in the sheer volume of supplies filling her space, Luna Dawson suddenly realized she was now wealthy enough to rival a nation.

A relieved smile graced her lips.

She decided against opening the twenty remaining sealed shipping containers for now. It would be too much of a hassle to break them down; she could deal with them later when the need arose.

She’d spent several hours organizing the supplies without even realizing it. When her consciousness returned from her space and she opened her eyes, the sky was already beginning to pale with the first light of dawn. The smoke from the earlier explosions had begun to dissipate.

Luna Dawson raised a hand to rub her aching eyes and retrieved a cup of spirit spring water from her space. The cool liquid slid down her throat, instantly dispelling the fatigue from having stayed up all night.

She glanced at her watch; the hands clearly pointed to 7:36.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out for a quick glance.

A chaotic jumble of unread messages filled the screen. She wasn’t in the mood to read them, so she shoved the phone back into her pocket and headed upstairs.

’Time to check on everyone.’ She would have to go door to door and confirm their conditions.

Luna Dawson’s hand tightened on the gun at her waist as she headed first toward Brother Evan’s room on the second floor.

The hallway was silent, the only sound the soft echo of her footsteps. A knot of unease tightened in her stomach.

’If the worst has happened,’ she thought, ’if Brother Evan has turned... I have to put him down with a single shot. No hesitation.’

’Someone as physically capable as him would evolve far faster than a normal zombie. He’d become an incredibly dangerous threat!’

Fortunately, her fears were unfounded.

She had barely knocked a few times when the door swung open from the inside.

Evan Olson stood there in clean casual wear, looking refreshed as if he’d just washed up. His eyes were bright, and he was full of energy.

Upon seeing Luna Dawson, they both let out a simultaneous sigh of relief, the worry in their eyes instantly vanishing.

"Are you okay?" Luna Dawson asked softly.

Evan Olson nodded, his voice steady. "I just woke up. Let’s split up and get the others."

With a shared understanding, they split up, knocking on the doors of the other rooms one by one.

Fortunately, everyone was safe and sound. Miles Dawson, in particular, was still fast asleep; it took a series of loud bangs on his door to finally rouse him.

Everyone gathered in the hallway. The only one left was Hector, in the third-floor master bedroom.

"What about Hector!"

Rhonda Dawson had been worried about him ever since she woke up. Her voice laced with anxiety, she turned and bolted for the third floor.

Luna Dawson and Evan Olson exchanged a glance and immediately followed with the others in tow.

Outside the third-floor master bedroom, Rhonda Dawson pounded on the door, her voice on the verge of tears. "Hector? Hector, are you awake?"

There was no response from inside. The silence was terrifying.

Evan Olson frowned, gesturing for the others to back away. He carefully gripped the doorknob and slowly turned it.

The moment he pushed the door open, a faint, strange fragrance drifted out.

The heavy curtains in the room were drawn, shrouding it in darkness. They could only make out the vague outlines of furniture and a bed, where a small figure lay completely still.

Rhonda Dawson’s legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed.

Luckily, Wayne Dawson caught her just in time. "Don’t panic."

But Luna Dawson’s sharp hearing picked up the sound of steady breathing. She strode forward and gently patted the back of Rhonda Dawson’s hand, her voice gentle yet firm. "Sis, he’s okay."

With that, she walked over to the window and yanked open the heavy curtains.

Morning sunlight flooded the room like a tidal wave, banishing the darkness and revealing everything in an instant.

Luna Dawson went to the bedside and gently patted Hector’s shoulder. The little boy’s brow furrowed, but he remained sound asleep.

She reached out and placed her hand on Hector’s forehead. A searing heat instantly met her touch, so hot it made her fingertips tingle.

Luna Dawson slowly straightened up and turned to the terrified Rhonda Dawson. "It’s okay. He just has a fever. He should be awakening."

The moment the words left her mouth, Rhonda Dawson’s tense composure completely shattered. With a soft THUMP, she collapsed by the side of the bed.

Her trembling hands reached out to caress Hector’s cheeks. The scorching heat made her heart ache, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She sobbed, murmuring over and over, "You scared Mommy to death... *sob*... you really scared Mommy to death..."

Her soft sobs echoed in the quiet room, a sound of relief mixed with lingering terror.

DING.

DING... DING... DING...

In that instant, everyone’s phone pinged with a mass text from the disaster management authorities.

Emergency Notice: The first wave of biological mutation was completed between 00:00 and 08:00.

Due to the effects of this mutation, Blue Star’s seasonal cycle will henceforth consist of only a cold season and a dry season.

All households are advised to prepare for the cold season in advance. If individuals are observed to experience fainting or high fever, do not panic. This is a symptom of the superpower awakening and evolution phase.

A small minority of individuals may also enter a superpower awakening state after being attacked by mutated flora, fauna, or zombies. Residents are advised to quarantine such individuals based on the situation.

The duration of the awakening process is currently unknown. Superpower types include the five elemental series (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth), variant series (Wind, Lightning, Ice), and special types such as Spirit, Healing, Invisibility, Flight, Mind-Reading, Spatial, Dark, Light, etc.

Flora and fauna will also undergo synchronous evolution. Mutated creatures will contain energy Crystal Cores in their brains, and mutated plants will have them in their roots. Note: Ninety percent of mutated flora and fauna contain toxins and are NOT edible!

Citizens are advised to exercise discretion and actively engage in self-preservation. Promptly eliminate any household members who have turned into monsters. Collect and absorb energy Crystal Cores to enhance your combat effectiveness.

Additionally, due to disruptions in the Earth’s magnetic field, global satellites will begin to de-orbit over the next 24 hours. GPS and all grid-based communications will be disabled!

Citizens are urged to acquire radio equipment as quickly as possible and monitor broadcasts for further instructions.

We reiterate: Actively engage in self-preservation! Promptly eliminate any mutated individuals within your household!

Further rescue efforts will be organized and implemented in stages.

...

Grandpa was overcome with worry, his eyes red. "Is it really okay for the boy to have a fever this high?"

Luna Dawson squeezed her grandfather’s hand comfortingly. "It’s fine. He’ll wake up within three days at most. We don’t need to give him any fever reducers. Just put a cooling patch on him and let him sleep."

She then ushered everyone out of the room. Even though the room was large, it wasn’t good to have so many people crowding around and disturbing Hector.

Everyone headed downstairs and had a simple breakfast.

Luna Dawson told everyone to stay put and not to worry. She instructed Miles Dawson to look after the family, keep an eye on the two unconscious individuals in the security room, and make sure all the doors and windows were locked. No matter who knocked, he was not to open the door.

She and Evan Olson then set off to check on their four neighbors. After all, she had hired them, so she had to see how her "star employees" were doing. If they’d turned into "star zombies," then she’d have to personally put them down as soon as possible.

The villas in this neighborhood were spaced far apart, with at least a few hundred meters between each one.

As far as the eye could see, the landscape was pockmarked with meteorite craters and scorched vegetation. A few scattered villas that had taken direct hits were still burning.

In the distance, they could see zombies wandering about, and the faint sounds of crying and screaming drifted on the wind.

The mingled stench of blood, flesh, and smoke hung in the air, making them worry. They hoped their neighbors were all right.

Luna Dawson pressed her finger to the electronic lock on the garden gate. Once inside the villa’s garden, she and Evan Olson advanced slowly toward the house, guns raised. They rang the doorbell first, but after a long wait, there was still no answer.

She unlocked the door and they stepped inside. The last time she was here, she’d only stayed long enough to register her fingerprints for access after they’d agreed to her terms. She had no idea which rooms they slept in, so they would have to check the first-floor rooms one by one.

Their hearts were in their throats. They hoped to find the residents quickly, but they feared that what they found might not be human anymore...