Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

(Bonus Chapter Due to Power Stones, Thank You to all who support my work! Special Thanks to all who have given me reviews. Thank you, your support keeps me going.)

[I still need more class suggestions, comment on chapter 39 to add your suggestions. 1 day remains till I spin the wheel containing all suggestions. If you have other suggestions, please comment them.]

The survivors retreated into the estate, closing the heavy gates behind them. Yuriko directed her squad with precision, barking orders as they dragged the wounded into the grand hall, which now served as a makeshift infirmary. 

The once-opulent room was stripped of its former elegance, replaced by bloodied sheets, scattered supplies, and the groans of the injured. Guldrin stood at the entrance, his gaze cold and detached as he scanned the chaos inside. He knew this wasn't over, there was no peace, only temporary lulls between battles; at least until they had a full functioning base, their warehouse would work wonders; if only they could make it there.

Yuriko's sharp eyes locked onto him as she walked toward him, her stride measured. "You fight well," she said, her tone neutral but tinged with curiosity. "But you're reckless. That kind of fury can get you killed, or worse, those you're trying to protect; that is, if you can't control it."

Guldrin looked at her, unflinching. "I've been reckless my entire life, and yet, here I am. Sometimes, a little fury is exactly what you need to survive. Trust me, I have complete control of my actions," He paused and lit a cigar filled with herbs, "My body is my own, I control it, not the other way around, been through too much to function any other way."

Yuriko frowned but nodded. She had seen enough of the world to know there was truth in his words. "Just make sure it doesn't consume you. We've all lost enough. I assume you are the leader of the-"

Saya interrupted their conversation, pulling her mother aside. "Mom, who were those people? Why would they attack us like this?" Her voice trembled, and her eyes darted to the injured and dead scattered around the hall.

"They're desperate," Yuriko said grimly. "People like them see us as a threat, an opportunity to take what they can't earn anymore. It's the world we live in now, Saya. It's cruel, but it's reality. This group wanted our women, I haven't allowed men to join us, and they saw us as an easy target. Little did they know we were former soldiers and families of soldiers. They gave us an ultimatum to submit to them or die, my second in command, Miki, answered by shooting the messenger." Yuriko explained to Saya as she brought her into a firm and loving hug.

Meanwhile, Shiro stayed close to Guldrin, her presence a quiet anchor. Her mana threads still shimmered faintly around her fingers, a reminder of her earlier display of power. She didn't speak, but her eyes followed his every movement, a silent reassurance that she was there if he needed her.

Kohta worked alongside Yuriko's squad, helping secure the perimeter and inventory what little ammunition remained. His rifle was slung over his shoulder, his face stoic. Saeko and Rei had retreated to a quieter corner, their expressions heavy as they cleaned their weapons and tended to minor wounds. The fight had left them shaken, if Rei's dry heaving was any indication, the weight of what they'd done hung heavy in the air.

Shizuka had jumped in and began helping treat the injured, her main life goal was to be a healer, and seeing everyone hurt, she didn't hesitate to help where she could.

As the group settled, Yuriko called a meeting in the estate's study, a room that had somehow remained untouched by the chaos outside. The survivors gathered, their faces pale and drawn in the flickering candlelight. Yuriko stood at the head of the room, her commanding presence undeniable.

"We've survived another attack, but it won't be the last," she began, her voice steady. "Our supplies are running low, and we've taken casualties. We need to decide our next move."

Guldrin leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "Staying here is suicide. This place is a target. We need to find somewhere more secure, somewhere they can't find us."

"Easier said than done," Kohta muttered. "Every place we've tried so far has been overrun or turned into a battlefield."

Yuriko nodded. "He's right. But we can't stay here, either. We'll fortify, for now, regroup, and plan. Miki and the others will scout the surrounding area for possible locations."

Saya spoke up, her voice wavering. "What about the others? The people you lost? Shouldn't we... do something for them?"

A heavy silence fell over the room. Yuriko's expression softened, and she looked at her daughter. "We will, Saya. But right now, we need to focus on the living. It's what they would've wanted."

The meeting ended with no clear answers, just a shared determination to survive. As the group dispersed, Saeko approached Guldrin, her movements graceful even in exhaustion. "You carried the battle tonight," she said softly, her violet eyes meeting his. "But you carry something heavier than any weapon."

Guldrin didn't respond immediately. His eyes flickered to Shiro, who had fallen asleep curled up on a makeshift bed nearby. "We all carry something," he said finally. "Some of us just hide it better."

Saeko smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Perhaps. But don't let it crush you. I, too, carry a monster inside me, but it is getting harder and harder to keep her contained." Guldrin took a drag on his cigar and stared at her, nodding, "Then don't." With that, he walked away and surveyed the area, leaving Saeko to contemplate his words.

The night stretched on, and the estate grew quieter. The survivors tended to the injured, set up defenses, and tried to snatch moments of rest where they could. Guldrin remained restless, his body aching but his mind sharper than ever. He moved to one of the estate's balconies, the cool night air a stark contrast to the heat of battle earlier.

He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Yuriko. She held two cups of tea, offering one to him. "You don't seem like the type to sleep much."

Guldrin took the cup, the warmth seeping into his hands. "Not when there's work to be done."

Yuriko leaned against the railing, her gaze distant. "You remind me of someone I used to know. Stubborn, fierce, willing to do whatever it takes. It's a dangerous way to live."

"Dangerous is the only way to survive now," Guldrin said, his tone matter-of-fact.

Yuriko nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're not wrong. Just don't forget that surviving and living aren't always the same thing."

"Sometimes they are, at least until you have the luxury to be any other way."

"You might be right, it is strange, you seem older than you are… Like, your warrior's mentality, it is something a high school student shouldn't have." She paused and wrinkled her nose at the cigar that clearly wasn't tobacco, shaking her head she chose to ignore it and ask a more pressing question,

"Will you help me give mercy to the bitten and infected of my survivors? I don't wish to burden my squad with this, and you seem oddly mature for your age. So I am asking you, will you help me put them to rest?" 

Guldrin held her gaze, his expression unreadable. Slowly, he exhaled a thin plume of smoke, the herbal scent curling upward and dissipating into the night. "Mercy, a strong word… But, I'll do it," he said, his voice steady and devoid of hesitation. "But only if we do it swiftly and with dignity. No one deserves to turn into one of those things."

Yuriko nodded, her expression a mixture of relief and sadness. "Thank you. Meet me in the infirmary in ten minutes. I'll explain the situation and introduce you to those who are still conscious. They deserve to know what's coming."

Guldrin extinguished his cigar against the balcony's railing, the embers dying with a faint hiss. "Let's get it done."

The infirmary was a somber place. Dim candlelight illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls. Three individuals lay on makeshift cots, their faces pale and lined with sweat. The infection was spreading quickly; the blackened veins creeping up their limbs were unmistakable signs. Two of them were unconscious, their breathing shallow, while the third, a blue-haired woman in her late thirties, looked up as Yuriko and Guldrin entered.

"Captain…" the woman rasped, her voice weak but steady. "I know why you're here."

Yuriko knelt by her side, taking the woman's hand in her own. "Maki, I'm sorry. If there were another way…"

Maki shook her head, managing a faint smile. "I knew the risks when I joined you. I just... I just wish I could have seen my daughter one more time."

Yuriko's composure faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Your sacrifice won't be forgotten, Maki. None of you will be. I won't let your daughter see you like this, it is for the best that she remembers you as the hero you are, not… This."

Guldrin stood silently, observing the exchange. His sharp eyes swept over the room, taking in the small details: the trembling hands of the infected, the faint sobs from one of the squad members standing outside the door, the smell of blood and antiseptic lingering in the air.

Yuriko rose and turned to him. "We'll do it here. Quick and clean. No noise."

He nodded, stepping forward. From beneath his jacket, he drew a sleek, his trusted MK 23 It was a weapon designed for precision, not brutality.

"Are you ready?" Yuriko asked, her voice steady but laced with sorrow.

"Always," Guldrin replied.

Maki met his gaze and nodded. "Make it count."

Guldrin paused, lowering the weapon slightly. He glanced at Emily, her small form perched on his shoulder. 'Emily,' he spoke in his mind, his tone contemplative, "what do you think about trying one of the red crystals now?"

Yuriko's eyes widened slightly. "What? You mean, the ones you pulled from those undead monsters? Guldrin, this isn't the time for experiments." Guldrin didn't respond to Yuriko since he didn't mean to speak out loud, and he waited for Emily to respond, 'It couldn't hurt, it does make you more resistant to the virus, so maybe it will help' Getting an answer that sounded plausible Guldrin turned to Yuriko who was getting annoyed at him for not responding after proposing such a crazy idea.

"It might be the only time," Guldrin replied firmly. "She's still coherent, still fighting the infection. If this works, it could change everything. It's worth a shot, if she's willing."

Maki's tired eyes flicked between them. "A chance... to live?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "If there's even a slim possibility, I'll take it. Captain, I'll try anything."

Yuriko hesitated, the weight of the decision heavy in her expression. Finally, she nodded. "Do it. But if this backfires... we don't let her suffer."

Guldrin nodded and reached into his pouch, pulling out a smooth, crimson crystal. It gleamed in the dim light, almost pulsing faintly, as if alive. He knelt beside Maki, holding it up. "I don't know what this will do. It might help. It might not. But if you're willing to risk it…"

Maki opened her mouth weakly, her trembling hand reaching toward his. With care, Guldrin pressed the crystal to her blackened lips. "Bite down," he instructed. "Let it dissolve."

The moment she did, the crystal seemed to burst into powder, a strange, glowing substance spreading through her mouth and down her throat. Her body convulsed, and she arched back on the cot, gasping as the blackened veins across her skin flared a deep red. Her breathing quickened, her hands clutching at the edges of the cot.

"Hold her down!" Yuriko barked, stepping in to restrain her.

Guldrin moved swiftly, pressing Maki's shoulders as her body writhed. Emily's pale white eyes glowed faintly, monitoring the situation. 'Her vitals are erratic, but she's still alive,' Emily said, her voice calm yet analytical.

The red glow spread, tracing the infected veins as though it were burning the corruption away. Maki's screams echoed through the room, guttural and raw, before they abruptly cut off. Her body stilled, and for a heart-stopping moment, silence enveloped the infirmary.

"Maki?" Yuriko whispered, leaning closer.

Maki's eyes fluttered open, the redness receding from her veins. Her breathing steadied, and color slowly returned to her face. She looked at Yuriko, then at Guldrin, tears welling in her eyes. "Captain… I… I think I feel… normal."

Yuriko's hand flew to her mouth, shock, and relief mingling in her expression. "It worked… it actually worked."

Guldrin stepped back, observing her carefully. "Don't celebrate yet. We need to see if there are any side effects." Looking at his feline companion, he spoke in his mind, 'Emily, keep monitoring her.'

Yuriko turned to him, her voice filled with gratitude. "You just saved her life. This could change everything for us. For everyone."

Guldrin didn't respond immediately, his sharp gaze fixed on Maki. "We'll see. One success doesn't guarantee anything. But it's a start. My whole group has consumed these crystals, they are like an evolution trigger."

The other two infected individuals were too far gone, as Emily had said. Their bodies had already begun to succumb to the transformation, the black veins spreading too extensively. Yuriko and Guldrin carried out their original plan, ending their suffering quickly and with dignity. It was a stark contrast to the miracle they had just witnessed, a reminder of the cruel world they inhabited.

The rest of the group was informed of what had happened before Guldrin could stop it. While Guldrin wanted to keep the use of the crystal hidden, it appeared someone had witnessed this whole event and spread it around. Whispers of hope and disbelief spread among the survivors as word of Maki's recovery reached them. Some clung to the possibility that the crystals could be their salvation, while others remained skeptical, wary of putting too much faith in the unknown.

Maki rested in the infirmary, her body recovering from the ordeal. Yuriko and Guldrin sat outside, the weight of the night pressing heavily on their shoulders.

"You have harvested the crystals dropped by those glowing zombies, and ate them?" Yuriko said quietly. "You're something else... That crystal… where did you even get an idea like that?"

Guldrin didn't answer immediately, his expression guarded. "From the creatures we killed. I had a hunch they were more than just monsters. Shiro and I watched the meteor storm, these crystals look like the shards from those meteors, you are going to think I am crazy but, I took inspiration from anime… If the world is going through a crisis, then the world will fight back or at least enable its inhabitants to have a chance to survive."

Yuriko studied him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You're full of surprises. But whatever your secrets are, I'm starting to think they might just keep us alive." She shook her head, "Anime… who would have guessed such a crazy idea saved my squad member, and maybe the rest of the world… We may just have a fighting chance with this."

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "We'll see."

The night stretched on, but the mood among the survivors was different now, even as they burned the deceased bodies, and sent them off how they could. There was a tangible Hope, a rare and fragile thing in their world, but for the first time in a long time, it flickered in their hearts. Guldrin had given them that, though he would never claim credit for it. For him, it was just another step in the fight to survive.

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