At this moment, Vincent Fox was genuinely baffled by his class president's intervention. He knew Autumn Summers meant well, but he couldn't accept her help his own mission and plan left no room to shadow her.
"Autumn, where did you get that compound bow? It's remarkably powerful," Vincent said, changing the subject.
Autumn furrowed her brow. "There's a shooting club just down the street. I found it there."
"Oh? Do they have knives?"
"A few," she replied.
"I need one," Vincent said immediately. "Can you take me there? I want a blade."Fighting zombies with bare hands risked dirtying his gloves. A knife suited his current abilities much better.
"You really want close combat?" Autumn warned. "Knives mean getting up close. If you're surrounded, you could get injured. Ranged weapons are safer."
"I know," Vincent said, palms up. "But I can't use a bow and firing a gun would only draw every mutant in the area with the noise."
Autumn nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. Follow me."
She led him into the deserted shooting club. Empty rooms lay in disarray; dried blood stained the floor evidence of the chaos when the outbreak struck.
"Here." Autumn pointed to a wall lined with long blades, likely a collector's display.
Vincent selected a sturdy machete and grabbed a short dagger as backup. He slung them over his shoulder and turned to Autumn.
"Thank you, Autumn. I'll see you later." He moved to leave.
Autumn's eyes widened. "What do you mean? You're going in alone?"
Vincent nodded. Autumn's brow tightened. "Vincent, don't be reckless. Sticking with me might not maximize your mission rating, but at least you'll be safer. We're classmates, I'd never let you get hurt."
Her genuine concern warmed him, but he had to refuse. His chosen mission was the most difficult of all saving the world itself.
As Vincent opened his mouth to explain, a sound from outside froze them both.
With a wet scritch, a red, muscled horror slithered through the broken window. No skin covered its corded muscles; its claws gleamed with malice; a long, dripping tongue flicked from its maw.
A Licker.
Autumn's face went pale. In her month of lectures, Professor Charles Joe had named the Licker among Zone 2's most dangerous creatures capable of obliterating an elite squad in moments. His advice: run as fast as you can and pray.
The creature pressed close, its body sliding along the wall toward them. Autumn stood paralyzed; her bow would be useless up close.
"Watch out!" Vincent's calm, deep voice cut through her fear. "When I say 'go,' head for the exit don't look back!"
Autumn stared at him, eyes shining. "Vincent, you."
"Focus. Remember my words." Vincent's gaze locked on the Licker.
He saw this as the perfect test of his Saitama Physique. If he could dispose of a Licker in seconds, he truly could tackle Mission Three.
His decision to send Autumn running wasn't cowardice but a strategic choice to conceal his full strength and slip away without endless explanations.
Yet Autumn assumed the worst: she believed Vincent was sacrificing himself so she could escape.
Her heart pounded as Vincent raised his machete, ready to strike.
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