Reborn in the Apocalypse :The son In-law's revenge

Chapter 9: Preparation

Twenty-four hours.

Leo stood on the rooftop of the Meridian Institute's outer complex, watching the red sky pulse. The hidden lab beneath the mall had given them a secret entrance, but the main building was still a fortress. Automated turrets. Bio-locks. Security drones that patrolled the perimeter in endless loops.

Below him, the Iron Fist survivors—now his survivors—moved with purpose. They had set up a forward base in the mall's ground floor, fortifying the entrances with concrete barriers and makeshift barricades. Marcus had organized the fighters into squads. Bruiser and Kevin led the defense teams. Lily had set up a triage station in what had once been a food court.

They had twenty-four hours until the First Wave. Twenty-four hours to prepare.

Leo opened his status screen.

[Name: Leo Vance]

[Class: Apex Plunder (SSS-Rank)]

[Level: 14]

[Strength: 55 | Agility: 42 | Vitality: 40 | Intelligence: 18]

[Skills: Basic Beast Tracking, Golden Tongue, Intimidation, Basic Command, Rally, Devour, Plunder, Synthesize]

[System Points: 0]

Level 14. He needed to reach Level 15 before the First Wave. The system had been clear—anyone below Level 15 would be purged from the safe zones. He didn't know what "purged" meant, but he wasn't going to find out.

He needed one more level.

"Elara," Leo called out. "Status report."

Elara emerged from the stairwell, her tablet clutched to her chest. "The Institute's outer defenses are active. Mia and I mapped the patrol routes. There's a gap in the eastern perimeter—a maintenance tunnel that leads to the main building. But it's guarded by a Tier 4 sentinel."

"Just one?"

"One is enough," Elara said grimly. "The sentinel is a prototype from Project Apex. It was designed to kill SSS-Class threats."

Leo's eyes narrowed. "Then it's exactly what I need."

---

He gathered his core team in the food court.

Natasha was sharpening her warhammer. Mia sat in the shadows, her pale eyes watching everything. Lily was organizing medical supplies. Bruiser and Kevin stood at attention, their faces grim.

"The First Wave hits in twenty-four hours," Leo said. "We don't know exactly what it will look like. But the system said anyone below Level 15 will be purged. That means we need everyone combat-ready."

"We've been grinding XP for hours," Natasha said. "Most of the fighters are Level 10 or 11. The civilians are stuck at Level 5."

"Then we split up," Leo said. "Natasha, you take the fighters and clear the dungeon's lower floors. There are still Razor Wasps and Bone Stalkers down there. Enough XP to push everyone to Level 12 at least."

Natasha nodded. "What about you?"

"I'm going after the sentinel," Leo said. "It's Level 18. That's enough XP to push me to Level 15."

"That's suicide," Lily said. "You barely survived the Hive Queen."

"I have a plan," Leo said. He turned to Elara. "You said the sentinel is a prototype. Does it have a weakness?"

Elara hesitated. "It has a power core. If you can disable it, the sentinel shuts down. But the core is protected by a reinforced shell. You'd need a Tier 4 weapon with armor penetration."

Leo held up the Hive Reaper. "Already have one."

Elara's eyes widened. "That could work. But you'll need a distraction. The sentinel is fast. Faster than anything you've faced."

Leo looked at Mia. "That's where you come in."

Mia stepped out of the shadows. "I can create a diversion. Draw its attention while you flank it."

"You'll be in danger," Leo said.

Mia smiled faintly. "I've been in danger since I was born."

---

They moved at midnight.

The maintenance tunnel was dark and narrow, barely wide enough for Leo to move through without scraping his shoulders. Mia led the way, her footsteps silent on the concrete. Behind them, Natasha and the fighters were clearing the lower dungeon. Lily had stayed behind to coordinate the defense.

"Ten meters," Mia whispered. "The sentinel is ahead."

Leo drew the Hive Reaper. The blue glow of the blade illuminated the tunnel.

They emerged into a wide chamber. The sentinel stood in the center.

It was humanoid, but wrong. Too tall. Too thin. Its limbs were jointed in places they shouldn't be. Its head was a smooth, featureless dome with a single red eye that scanned the room in slow, deliberate arcs.

[System Alert: Tier 4 Sentinel – Project Apex Prototype. Level 18. Threat Level: Extreme.]

"Go," Leo whispered.

Mia vanished.

She reappeared behind the sentinel, her blade flashing. The sentinel spun, faster than Leo expected. Its arm morphed into a blade and swung at Mia. She dodged, barely, and threw a smoke grenade. The chamber filled with thick grey smoke.

Leo charged.

He activated Rally. Golden light surged through him. He activated Power Strike. The Hive Reaper hummed with energy.

The sentinel's red eye pierced the smoke. It saw him. It lunged.

Leo ducked under its blade arm, spun, and drove the Hive Reaper into its chest. The blade pierced the reinforced shell. Sparks flew. The sentinel shrieked—a mechanical, inhuman sound.

He had hit the power core.

The sentinel's movements slowed. Its red eye flickered. Leo twisted the blade, and the sentinel collapsed.

[Devour Successful. +20 Strength, +15 Agility, +15 Vitality.]

[Level Up! You are now Level 15.]

Leo pulled the blade free and breathed. His hands were shaking. His HP was at 25%. But he was alive.

Mia emerged from the smoke, her mask pulled down. She was bleeding from a cut on her cheek.

"Not bad," she said.

"You too," Leo said.

[Mia's Loyalty has increased: 15% → 30%.]

---

They returned to the forward base to find Natasha and the fighters had cleared the lower dungeon. Everyone had gained at least two levels. Most of the fighters were now Level 12. Lily had reached Level 10. Elara had reached Level 9.

"We're still not at 15," Natasha said. "The civilians are too weak to fight."

"We don't need them to fight," Leo said. "We need them to survive. The First Wave is a purge. It targets the weak. If we can get them to Level 10, they might survive."

"We have twelve hours," Elara said. "Not enough time."

Leo looked at the system map. The red dots around Meridian were multiplying. A massive cluster was forming directly above the Institute.

"We have one option," Leo said. "The Meridian Institute itself. If we breach the main building, we can use the system's central hub to boost everyone's level. It's a gamble, but it's the only way."

Natasha crossed her arms. "And if the First Wave hits before we get inside?"

Leo smiled coldly. "Then we fight it together."

---

That night, Leo couldn't sleep.

He sat alone on the rooftop, watching the red sky. The system map flickered in his mind. The First Wave was less than twelve hours away. He had reached Level 15. His core team was combat-ready. But the civilians—over a hundred of them—were still weak.

He heard footsteps behind him. Lily.

"You should rest," she said, sitting beside him.

"Can't," Leo said. "Too much to think about."

Lily was quiet for a moment. Then she said, "You're not the same person I met in that gymnasium. You're stronger. Harder. But you're also... colder."

Leo looked at her. "I have to be."

"I know," Lily said. "But don't forget why you're fighting. It's not just about revenge. It's about protecting people. People like me. People like them." She gestured to the survivors below.

Leo was silent. Then he reached out and took her hand.

"I haven't forgotten," he said. "I just... I can't afford to be soft. Not now."

Lily squeezed his hand. "You don't have to be soft. You just have to be human."

[Lily Chen's Loyalty has increased: 50% → 65%.]

---

A notification appeared in Leo's vision.

[Global Announcement: 6 hours remain until the First Wave. All survivors must reach Level 15. Safe zones will be purged.]

Leo stood up. "It's time."

He walked to the edge of the rooftop and looked down at his army. They were gathered in the mall's parking lot—fighters, support, civilians. All of them looking up at him.

"Six hours," Leo said, his voice carrying across the lot. "Six hours until the First Wave hits. We don't know what it will look like. We don't know how many will die. But I know one thing—we will not go quietly."

He drew the Hive Reaper. The blue glow illuminated his face.

"We are going to breach the Meridian Institute. We are going to take control of the system. And we are going to survive."

The crowd roared.

[System Alert: Faction 'Apex' has been formed. Leader: Leo Vance. Members: 247. Bonus: All members gain +5% XP.]

Leo turned to his core team. "Natasha, you're with me on point. Mia, scout ahead. Lily, keep everyone alive. Elara, guide us through the Institute's defenses."

"And me?" a voice said.

Leo turned. Marcus, the former Iron Fist lieutenant, stepped forward.

"You hold the line," Leo said. "If we don't make it back, you get everyone to safety."

Marcus nodded. "Understood."

Leo looked at his team. His friends. His army.

"Let's move."