Apocalypse Baby-Chapter 70: Faction

She knew not to be too trusting as this place had a knack of changing people.

Ethan presence brought an air of confidence, and the uneasy tension in the camp began to fade.

Not only was Ethan someone they knew; he was the leader of this formidable-looking group.

"Jonah," Ethan called out, his voice steady and warm.

Jonah’s face broke into a smile as he walked toward Ethan.

The two clasped hands firmly, their grip lingering in a gesture of mutual respect and acknowledgment.

"Good to see you’re alive and well," Jonah said, his tone genuine.

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "What do you mean? Someone like me doesn’t die so easily."

The closeness between them was evident.

They weren’t acquaintances; they were cousins, and the bond they shared was unmistakable.

But Jonah’s smile faded slightly as his eyes shifted to the group behind Ethan.

These weren’t familiar faces.

They looked tough—each of them exuding a quiet menace.

His gaze lingered on one in particular: a man with unnervingly plain skin, slitted eyes, and an unsettling stare that made Jonah feel like prey being sized up.

"Who are they?" Jonah asked cautiously,

Ethan followed Jonah’s gaze, then turned back with a reassuring smile.

"Oh, them? They’re my combatants."

"Combatants?" Jonah repeated, his brow furrowing.

He studied the group more closely.

Each of them was equipped with armor and weapons that seemed far superior to anything Jonah’s group had.

They looked like warriors who had been through countless battles, their expressions hardened and intimidating.

Ethan then began to speak.

"Once we arrived here, I knew survival would depend on unity. So, along with the others who appeared with me, we headed for the nearest tower. It wasn’t easy, but we secured the area and began to build a stronghold. Along the way, we encountered others—like-minded individuals who were willing to join us. Together, we formed a group, and naturally, I took the role of leader."

The group stared at Ethan, their expressions shifting between awe and admiration.

Even in a nightmarish world teeming with monsters, Ethan’s leadership qualities shone through like a beacon of hope.

Ethan then scanned the group, his gaze lingering on their battered appearances. Torn clothes, bandaged wounds, and weary faces told him everything he needed to know.

"So, how’s it been for all of you?"

Jonah opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Thompson cut in with barely restrained anger.

"Mr. Ethan! That bastard! That piece of shit caused all of this!"

Ethan’s brows furrowed.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Alex," Thompson spat, his words venomous. "He’s here too."

The moment Ethan heard the name, his entire demeanor shifted.

This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.

His confident smirk disappeared, replaced by a cold expression.

His eyes darkened, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier.

"Alex…" he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Jonah and Nancy exchanged glances.

The sudden change in Ethan’s mood was palpable, and it was clear that Alex’s name struck a nerve.

Memories of his last confrontation with Alex flooded back and it filled him with frustration and anger.

So that trash is here, huh?

"Where is he now?"

Ethan demanded, his tone sharp and commanding.

Thompson responded eagerly. "He left the group after trying to kill me!"

Jonah immediately interjected, his voice firm. "Hey, don’t twist the truth. You know that isn’t what happened."

Thompson scowled, turning to face Jonah. "Oh, really? He refused to help us while we were fighting that boss monster! Then he had the audacity to blame me for Gustaff losing his hand. He’s completely lost it!"

Gustaff, standing slightly to the side, adjusted the bandage wrapped around the stump of his missing arm.

Earlier, he had said he didn’t remember much about what happened during the fight.

All he recalled was battling the tiger boss, getting overwhelmed by its ferocity, and succumbing to the searing pain when his arm was severed.

But Jonah didn’t buy it.

He had spent enough time with Gustaff to know the man was no fool.

Despite his massive frame and reputation for being all brawn, Gustaff was sharp.

Jonah was certain the giant had pieced together the truth but chose to keep quiet. It wasn’t cowardice—it was strategy.

Gustaff understood the group couldn’t survive more division.

They had already lost Alex; another fracture could spell disaster.

Jonah clenched his fists, torn between admiration for Gustaff’s restraint and frustration over the lies being tolerated.

Thompson, however, had no such reservations.

He stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. "So, what should we do, sir? We can’t just let him roam free. We should find him and make him pay for what he’s done."

Ethan turned slowly to face Thompson, his expression unreadable.

Thompson’s confidence wavered slightly under Ethan’s gaze, but he pressed on. "That bastard’s been a problem since day one. He thinks he’s better than everyone else. It’s time he learned his place."

Jonah frowned, unable to hide his disbelief. "Hey, there’s no need to go that far," he said, his voice firm but calm. "I don’t understand this hate you all have for Alex. It’s ridiculous."

Before anyone could respond, a soft, unsettling laugh cut through the tension like a blade.

Sythrel, the pale assassin who stood at Ethan’s side, stepped forward.

His movements were fluid, almost serpentine, and his slitted eyes gleamed with amusement.

Slowly, he unsheathed a thin, wicked-looking blade and ran his tongue along the edge of the blade.

"If you want, Ethan. I can hunt him down for you. It wouldn’t take long." Find adventures at novelbuddy

Jonah stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at Sythrel.

"That’s enough. We’re not hunting Alex like he’s some kind of animal."

Sythrel’s lips curled into a faint smirk, clearly unfazed and he responded, his tone cold.

"I don’t remember asking for your permission,"

Jonah’s clicked, his hands balling into fists as he glared at Sythrel.

The silence stretched, and group felt the tension rise as the standoff simmered, but before things could escalate further, Ethan spoke up.

"Enough, Forget about him. There’s no way that wimp would survive out there on his own. Not with all the beasts that’s out there."

Thompson hesitated, his jaw tightening as memories of Alex’s intimidating presence flashed in his mind.

With the strength Alex displayed he had proved that If anyone could survive this place, it was him.

Ethan didn’t know that.

But even he knew better than to push further so as not to provoke Ethan.

He let out a frustrated sigh and dropped the subject.

Ethan stood there, his mind still grappling with the thought of Alex. He wanted to find him, confront him, and end it all. But right now, survival mattered more. They couldn’t afford to waste energy hunting someone who might not even be alive.

Still, if Alex ever showed his face again...

That would be the end of him.

Shaking off the thought, Ethan refocused.

It was time to get down to business.

He looked at the group, eyes sharp.

"So, I believe you all want things to be easier. You want safety and security. That’s why I’m proposing you join my faction."

"Faction?" The word spread through the group, murmurs rippling like a wave.

Jonah blinked, clearly taken aback.

"You created a faction?"

He couldn’t hide his surprise.

How is that even possible... in such a short time?

Thompson then gave a nod of approval.

"As expected. Sir Ethan, you’re awesome."

Ethan smirked, a brief flash of pride before he continued.

"We already have about 40 members. We’ve built a camp with solid defenses to fend off monsters. You’ll stand a better chance there than out here on your own. So... what do you say? Do you want to join?"

Before anyone could respond, a sudden notification appeared for everyone in the group, flashing on their screens.

The group paused, their eyes flicking between each other, murmuring in disbelief. Ethan’s offer sounded too good to be true.

A safe haven, a chance to stop worrying about monsters... it was tempting.

They felt a wave of relief wash over them.

But then, as their eyes scanned the notification, their expressions changed.

The discomfort spread, first across Nancy’s face, then to the others as they read the small print.

Ding!

[Join the Etheral faction]

[By accepting, you become a recognized member of this faction. However, you will lose 20% of any tutorial points you earn from killing monsters.]

[Do you want to accept: Yes/No]