Chapter 1
When the apocalypse fell, I awakened the most useless ability of all—a healing power that could save only one person.
And I gave it to the man I loved, my captain—Gunnar Campbell.
I took the blow for him, intercepting the Zombie King's claws. As I lay on the brink of death, he didn't hesitate and shoved me straight into the hands of his sworn enemy, the madman base leader—the one rumored to delight in breaking people.
All was for one reason: his sweetheart needed the Zombie King's Crystal Core as a catalyst.
But I didn't die. Instead, I became the treasure in that madman's palm.
Later, when Gunnar's base was overrun by a zombie siege, he came to me on his knees, begging for my help, only to find the so-called madman gently feeding me the last can of strawberry preserves.
*****
By the third year of the apocalypse, I awakened my ability—S-Level healing.
It sounded powerful, but the limitations were so ridiculous that it was almost laughable.
I could only bind myself to one person forever, healing them endlessly until either they died, or I did.
The base's higher-ups were over the moon, eyeing me like I was some kind of human weapon.
They had me choose the one warrior most worthy of my power.
Without a second thought, I walked straight to Gunnar Campbell.
He was the hero of our base, the captain of our team, and the man I had loved for five years.
In front of everyone, I placed my hand on his chest and completed the binding ritual.
"I, Brinley Carlson, pledge to give my life and S-Level healing to Gunnar—everything I have, all for him," I said.
Green light poured from my palm, wrapping us both in its glow.
From that day forward, Gunnar became an unstoppable legend.
And I was the shield behind him, the one that would never fall.
No matter how badly he was wounded, as long as he returned to me, he'd be completely healed by the next day.
He pulled me into his arms, kissing me over and over.
"Brinley, you're my baby—my most precious treasure. I'd die to keep you safe," he whispered.
I believed him.
I thought our love could survive the harshness of the apocalypse.
But then, our squad came face-to-face with the Zombie King.
The Zombie King's power was beyond anything we could have imagined, and we suffered heavy casualties.
Gunnar risked everything to protect the supplies our base desperately needed, standing his ground against the attack.
The Zombie King's claws tore through the air, aiming straight for his heart.
Without a second thought, I threw myself in front of him.
The claws ripped right through my chest.
The pain was so intense that everything went dark. I could feel my life draining away in seconds.
I collapsed into Gunnar's arms, blood spilling from the corner of my mouth.
"Gunnar... run..." I gasped.
I thought he'd hold me close, maybe even heal me—just for appearances.
He did hold me tight.
But in the very next second, he rushed me across the battlefield.
On the other side, another group was eyeing us like predators, ready to pounce.
Their leader stood at the front in black combat gear, half his face lost in shadow, his cold, dead eyes glinting from the darkness.
It was Archie Harvey, the leader of Nocturne Base.
He was the notorious psycho everyone said loved torturing people and could kill without even blinking.
He was Gunnar's arch nemesis.
"Archie!" Gunnar shouted. "You want the Crystal Core? I'll keep it busy for you!"
Then he leaned down, whispering in my ear so only I could hear.
"Brinley, I'm sorry," he whispered. "Archie's the only one who can take down the Zombie King. We need that Crystal Core... to save Adelyn."
Adelyn Armstrong, his childhood sweetheart—his one true love.
She'd been in a coma for a week, infected by the virus.
My heart went cold the moment I heard those words.
Without even looking back at me, he used all his strength to shove me straight toward the Zombie King and Archie.
I became nothing but bait, a bargaining chip to exchange for the Crystal Core, just to stall for time.
The wind howled in my ears as I watched Gunnar lead his remaining team away, turning his back on me with ruthless finality.
That back, once my safe haven, the place I trusted most in this world, now abandoned me.
Now, it was the very thing shoving me straight into hell.
My consciousness was fading. I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the Zombie King to rip me apart, the agony I was bracing myself for never came.
Instead, I was caught in an unexpectedly strong, icy embrace.
The air was thick with the scent of iron and dust, wrapping around me.
I wasn't dead.
When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was an unfamiliar metal ceiling overhead.
The pain in my chest hit me hard, reminding me exactly what I'd just been through.
I shifted a little, and the pain flared up, making me hiss and draw in a sharp breath.
"Don't move." The command came in a deep, rough voice.
I turned my head and saw Archie.
He was sitting in a chair by my bed, carving something with a small knife.