The pharmacy was large—easily three to four thousand square feet. Neatly arranged shelves stretched across the space, and an eerie silence hung in the air. There were no zombies in sight, at least for now.
Kael Voss hesitated for a moment before quietly closing the two glass doors of the pharmacy. To either side of the shop, there were connecting doors leading to adjacent stores. He walked over and shut those as well, ensuring everything was sealed.
As he closed one of the glass doors leading to the neighboring store, his eyes narrowed. Across from him was a bookstore, and between the shelves, he could make out three zombies wandering aimlessly. Fortunately, they were turned away from him and hadn't noticed his presence.
With all the glass doors closed and himself temporarily sealed in a relatively secure space, Kael exhaled slowly. He was alone in the vast pharmacy—for the moment, he could relax.
Quickly scanning the shelves, Kael found a bottle of medicine designed to improve blood circulation and treat internal injuries. After reading the instructions, he took the prescribed dose and then found some bandages to wrap the wound on his knee. Only then did he curl up in a corner and lie down to rest.
The medicine worked better than expected. By evening, a full day later, Kael felt that nearly half of his internal injuries had healed. Relief washed over him. At this rate, two more days of rest and treatment would be enough for a full recovery.
But once idle, his mind started to wander—drifting back to the betrayal by Elena Cross and Sylvan Viper. If he made it out of this alive, he swore he'd make those two traitorous bastards pay.
Still, he couldn't ignore the reality: after he was set up and left for dead, his old comrades likely didn't fare much better. Aside from the turncoats, the rest were probably either exiled or executed.
If that was the case, even returning alive wouldn't guarantee he'd be able to do anything to Sylvan. The man had seized control of the refuge and grown far stronger.
Kael rubbed his temples in frustration. Even if he returned, facing Sylvan and his entire security force alone would be suicide. No matter how good a fighter Kael was, the numbers weren't in his favor.
Maybe he could find a few reliable allies, form a squad, wait for Lyra Solis to secure him some proper gear—and then return for revenge?
It wasn't a bad plan, but it would take time. And while he was getting stronger, so was the enemy. It was like a game of attrition: advantages on both sides gradually canceling each other out. In the end, it would come down to who had the greater strength.
Right now, stripped of all control over the refuge, Kael knew he was at a distinct disadvantage. That's what really frustrated him.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck him—the woman he had encountered before her death had mentioned a pentagram.
She had warned him repeatedly not to go looking for it, but Kael couldn't help his curiosity. Deep down, something told him that the pentagram might hold the key to him becoming stronger. The idea lodged in his mind and refused to leave.
She had said that zombies and mutated beasts were converging on the Hanlon Tower, battling for possession of the pentagram.
If that were true, then no one had claimed it yet—but who knew how long that would last? The thought barely formed before Kael made up his mind. He needed to get to Hanlon Tower, and soon.
He wasn't about to pass up any chance to gain power, even if the opportunity was vague and potentially deadly.
Still, as eager as he was, the journey to Hanlon Tower was risky. He'd need to recover first. Fortunately, the next few days of recuperation would also give him a chance to explore the mall.
Truth be told, the mall had a lot of potential. The massive skylight above the atrium was easily the size of half a football field.
If he shattered it, the place would be flooded with natural light and fresh air. Rainwater could even be collected—solving the problem of drinking water in the long term.
He'd already noticed the indoor garden on the ground floor. Nestled among the green leaves were small, ripening fruits—apples or maybe tangerines. With a little rain, he'd have a steady fruit supply.
Most importantly, this was a large, well-stocked shopping center. The amount of material here could sustain a base for the long haul. If he ever managed to kill Sylvan and reclaim power, this place could become a new refuge.
While his thoughts drifted through a dozen possibilities, night gradually fell. Kael ate a light meal and leaned against the wall, drifting off into a fitful sleep.
He woke several times throughout the night, never sleeping deeply. In such unfamiliar surroundings, it was hard to relax—especially with zombies just a sheet of glass away on both sides.
As a pale gray light spread across the vast skylight, a new day began.
Kael stood up from the corner of the pharmacy and stretched deeply. His internal injuries were healing faster than expected.
He looked toward the glass door that led to the bookstore. Now was as good a time as any to explore the mall and prepare it for future use as a base.
Besides, he needed to train—real training. The best way to grow stronger was through combat, through killing. With that in mind, Kael decided to start with the zombies in the bookstore.
He unsheathed his talon saber, testing its weight with a few quick slashes. After collecting his belongings, he quietly opened the door and stepped into the bookstore.
He hadn't gone far down the aisle when he spotted one of the undead—a male—shuffling back and forth between two shelves, occasionally letting out a guttural moan.
This wasn't one of the female zombies he'd seen yesterday. That meant there were at least four of them in total.
The male zombie had its back turned, its body swaying clumsily. Kael crept up behind it, letting out a soft grunt. The creature heard the noise and began to turn.
Without hesitation, Kael drove his blade forward.
The tight space between the bookshelves made it difficult to maneuver. Unlike last time, where he had some distance and control, this stab only hit the creature's chest—not a fatal blow.
The zombie let out a howl and lunged forward with terrifying strength, forcing Kael to slide backward under its weight.
Seeing things go south, Kael leapt back to a wider area. He knew zombies were most vulnerable in the head. A clean hit there would end it.
As the zombie charged again, Kael aimed and swung his saber with all his strength. With a sickening thunk, the blade struck true—its snarling head tumbled to the floor.
The noise alerted the other three zombies—female ones—who came rushing from between the shelves. They charged him from three sides, toppling several bookshelves in their frenzy.
Kael quickly assessed the situation. Fighting three at once, even if they were all smaller, would be dangerous. One bite or scratch could be fatal.
Without hesitation, he sprinted through a few aisles, diving behind more shelves for cover.
Fortunately, the zombies were strong but clumsy. They couldn't keep up. After losing sight of him, the trio wandered aimlessly again.
Kael waited a moment, listening closely. When the noise died down, he slipped silently between shelves, using the layout to his advantage. One by one, he lured the female zombies into open space—where he dispatched them cleanly.