**Chapter 369: A Daring Idea**
Denton was nothing if not direct. He stood on the precipice of transformation, ready to let Nelson examine the peculiar odor wafting from his body.
“Nelson, go ahead,” he declared, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Do whatever tests you need—draw blood, take samples, even peel a bit of my mutant shell if it helps. We’re brothers now. I trust you.”
With that, he rose from his seat, enthusiasm bubbling within him as he prepared to offer Nelson something tangible to work with. But Tyler, ever the voice of reason, gently but firmly pressed him back into his chair.
“Eat first,” Tyler insisted, his tone brooking no argument.
He was right, of course. If Denton underwent his transformation now, the others would lose all appetite for food.
Nelson nodded, his expression serious yet filled with admiration. What a genuinely nice guy! Denton was allowing me to study him as much as I wanted. Now, that’s what I call a true friend!
Across the table, Caroline observed her friends laughing and engaging in lively conversation. In that moment, a smile tugged at her lips, a genuine smile that radiated from deep within her heart.
After the chaos and danger of the day, sitting here among friends, listening to their playful banter, for the first time, the apocalypse didn’t feel so unbearable.
In her previous life, she had wandered alone for a decade, a solitary figure in a world gone mad. Sure, she had teammates, but trust was a rare commodity; it was all about survival and personal gain.
Everyone kept their secrets close, ready to betray one another for supplies.
But now, she found herself fighting and sharing meals with people she could genuinely relax around. And that, in her eyes, was more than enough.
Meanwhile, Francis was grappling with a situation that nearly sent his heart racing into overdrive.
The ability user who had pilfered supplies from the army warehouse had just returned everything—of his own accord.
After the fierce battle, Francis had been so utterly drained that he had collapsed into a deep sleep before even tasting food.
Then, out of nowhere, a soldier burst into his room, shaking him awake with urgency.
Francis felt the familiar surge of irritation rise within him. He had made it abundantly clear—unless the sky was crashing down or another wave of mutant insects was about to engulf the city, he did not want to be disturbed.
But just as he had barely slipped into slumber, the ruckus outside his tent escalated.
Now, his head throbbed painfully, as if it were about to split open, and his heart raced so violently it felt as though it might leap from his chest.
“What is it now?!” Francis barked, pressing a hand against his chest in a futile attempt to steady his racing heartbeat.
The young soldier, however, seemed completely oblivious to Francis’s irritation. His face was aglow with excitement. “Colonel! Our supplies—they’re back!”
He quickly explained that a man who had always claimed he had no abilities had suddenly approached him, expressing a desire to return the supplies he had borrowed and seeking forgiveness from the army.
For a fleeting moment, Francis felt as though his heart had stopped entirely.
Then, with a surge of energy, he shot up from his bed as if he had risen from the dead. “Seriously? Things like this actually happen to us?”
After enduring one catastrophe after another, he finally felt a stroke of good fortune!
As the soldier confirmed the astonishing news, Francis felt the aches in his back dissipate, and his legs felt rejuvenated. A wave of energy coursed through his body.
“That’s fantastic! Amazing! Hahaha!” he shouted, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
Unbeknownst to him, the true catalyst for the man’s change of heart had been witnessing Caroline and the others bravely fighting on the front lines. The sight of soldiers risking their lives to protect others had filled him with a profound sense of shame.
Before the apocalypse, he had been just another faceless office worker, blending into the crowd. Even after joining the shelter, he lacked any real skills. He was young, yes, but utterly useless in a world that demanded strength and valor.
When others were sent out to scavenge for cockroaches to eat, he had cowered in fear, too terrified to even attempt it.
Then one fateful day, he discovered he had awakened a spatial ability. And just like that, his pride swelled. For the first time in his life, he felt powerful. Important. Special. But with that pride came dark intentions.
He stole supplies from the army, believing he could get away with it. He kept his actions a secret, relishing in his perceived cleverness. But his fleeting moment of triumph was short-lived. The insect disaster struck.
Ability users rushed to the front lines, while even ordinary civilians armed themselves with bats, knives, or anything they could find to fight back.
Yet, he remained hidden behind the safety of others, too cowardly to confront the worms.
He watched helplessly as a soldier hurled himself into a swarm of bugs to save him.
That soldier nearly lost his life. It took a group of civilians charging forward together to rescue him.
And what had he done? He clung to the stolen supplies, too frightened to even lift a wooden pole in defense.
Once the battle ended, he witnessed those soldiers collapsing from exhaustion. He saw hungry survivors gulping down water, desperate for sustenance.
The weight of guilt crashed down upon him.
Overwhelmed with shame, he finally approached Francis, returning everything he had taken and pleading for forgiveness.
Francis chuckled and waved a hand dismissively. “Everyone makes mistakes! You owned up to it—good enough for me! Now quit standing around and start handing out the food! Let’s eat!”
In an instant, the shelter erupted with cheers and laughter.

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