Chapter 854: The Calm before the Storm
The next morning arrived, and there were almost no zombies around the shelters.
It was reported not only on his side but also within the Regional and World Chat.
Everyone was talking about how there were barely any Zombies around.
[ Travis: It is the calm before the storm... ]
Travis described, and everyone agreed to this...
The Eclipse Domain, which should have a few gunshots ringing around, was unnervingly serene, too serene, as if the world itself knew that tonight, blood would be spilled.
’Are they preparing for the Red Night later?’ Shane thought to himself.
Nonetheless, everyone had something to do.
Inside the fortified perimeter of New Genesis Shelter, steam rose from the kitchens. Massive cooking units, some traditional, others purely alchemical, worked side by side, operated by chefs, and many kitchen helpers, and even a few other assistants...
What they were preparing wasn’t just a meal. It was a grand breakfast before the war against the zombies started.
The aroma was enough to lift the mood...
"Breakfast for Section C is ready!"
Shouted by the cook as he completed his preparations.
Soon, a Warden Unit lifted three massive trays and rolled off...
[ Delivering nourishment to frontline personnel. ]
The food they carried was only served on special occasions.
Every ingredient had come from Shane’s hidden world, his Fairy Realm Dimension... It was a sanctuary that only he could access.
Within it grew plants that didn’t belong to this world, vegetation nourished mana, and fish that lived in the mana lake.
Shane didn’t have a lot of these, but it was enough for a small serving for his main soldiers who would be fighting on the frontline.
The centerpiece of the meal was Misty Koi Stew, simmered with mushroom slices and slow-braised unknown meat from a Zombie drop.
The fins of the koi would sometimes release a mist that hovered above the bowl like a fog. Every soldier who ate it felt the immediate effects of the meals...
"Captain, this soup’s something else..." one of the previous scavengers murmured as he took another spoonful. "I swear I can hear someone practicing in the archery ground..."
His superior chuckled after seeing his reaction.
"That’s the Misty Koi for you. Don’t question it... Just eat."
Beside it was the Ironhide Pumpkin Roast, its orange flesh roasted in its own hardened shell...
The taste was earthy, rich, and in Shane’s opinion, it was deeply satisfying. A soldier could feel their fatigue ease away with every bite.
Then came the Razorleaf Cabbage Rolls, stuffed with minced meat, rice, and herbs.
Once cooked, the outer leaves could be dried and used as emergency throwing discs. Well, it was a joke that had turned into a field practice among soldiers.
"Finish eating before you start arming yourself..." one of the cooks teased when a group of people began testing the leaves’ sharpness.
For spice and courage, the cooks added Thunderbolt Pepper Paste and on the side, Glowroot Carrot Salad was served chilled.
"One serving’s enough for as the effects could last the whole day..." It was said by one of the medics as he packed portions for later.
But the rarest dish, one reserved only for command officers, Shane’s lieutenants, and a few honored guests and leaders, was the Troll Catfish Fillet.
The fish was black as midnight and grilled over an enhanced brazier.
When sliced open, the aroma could easily entice the Survivors...
"Good..." Shane muttered as he tasted one.
It was tender, but each bite sent a subtle warmth to their bodies, a sign that the mana was binding to the eater’s core... It wouldn’t last for long, but it tasted really good.
Consuming it permanently expanded one’s mana capacity. It was a miracle in itself, which was why the Elves loved it.
The bones were saved carefully, sealed for later use in enchantments and forging.
***
Shane sat quietly in the upper dining chamber, overlooking the courtyard filled with people...
Below, hundreds of survivors shared the same meal. They were soldiers, engineers, medics, farmers, and even the mech pilots. He had always believed that morale was as important as weaponry.
His own plate was simple: Misty Koi, a few slices of Glowroot Carrot, and half a fillet of Troll Catfish. He didn’t need the food for strength, his Bio-Armor and enhanced physique made sure of that, but he ate to share the moment with his people.
Arial stood nearby, helmet under his arm.
"All shelters report ready status," He said quietly. "Fuel reserves are stable. Warden production line is at full capacity. The outer turrets are calibrated to precision. We can just enjoy our meal for now... We’ve done everything..."
Shane nodded at the hybrid human in front of him. "And the civilians?"
"They were also equipped, but if the Zombies breached the inner wall, they could be easily evacuated or secured underground."
There was silence for a while as Shane wasn’t sure how many would survive in this Red Night Event...
Arial knew what Shane was thinking as he looked at the sky...
"It’s peaceful outside... I wonder what kind of Zombies will arrive first."
Shane looked down at his plate before he answered.
"Definitely flying Zombies... That’s why we prepared our anti-aircraft artillery..." Shane muttered as if he could see the future.
He had indeed created those anti-aircraft artillery with Cloud’s help and, of course, the other engineers together with the mute slaves who could build anything.
He had done this ever since he had seen that threat at the last moments of the Fourth Zombie Apocalypse. That Flying Zombie Lord was a terrifying opponent.
He believed that more and more flying zombies would appear that could threaten them from the sky, and he had to do something about it.
After all, they didn’t have a lot of Survivors with flight capabilities.
Shane then finished the last of his meal and set the fork down...
His gaze turned to the horizon before shifting to Arial, who was about to eat his meal.
"Eat well... You’ll need the strength tonight."