I Woke Up 120 Years After The Apocalypse-Chapter 38: Great Canyon

Rubayd, in turn, cleared his throat. He slightly tilted his head, his eyelids narrowed, giving the impression that he had not truly understood what Akram had just said... at least, on the surface.

"... Could you repeat that, Akram the Cursed?"

"The Grand Canyon."

Rubayd rubbed his face, clearly exasperated. He looked at Akram the way one might look at a madman.

"For what reason would you venture into cannibal territory? What are the benefits? Haven’t you already given enough of yourselves to that cursed land?"

"Yes, very clearly... But this isn’t a matter of choice. We don’t have a choice."

Yashyn tilted his head in turn, questioning Akram with his gaze.

"What do you mean by that, lil’ bud’?"

Akram then sat down and gestured for the two of them to do the same. They didn’t object, even though they remained skeptical.

Akram took a deep breath before laying out his plan to save Aphroa.

He explained that his objective was the building where he had been found, cryogenized, by the Vulkans a year ago.

The first part of the plan consisted of accessing the Cryopod and extracting the liquid gel from it. This gel had been designed to preserve bodies intact and repair injuries. Above all, it was meant to stabilize and heal the wounded. It was a rare resource, contained only within cryopods, and impossible to reproduce without technology far too advanced, even for Akram.

The goal was therefore simple: retrieve the gel and use it to heal Aphroa.

The second part of the plan involved testing Akram’s theories on Emy’s cryopod and awakening her. Emy was infinitely more knowledgeable and trained in medicine and medical research; it was her field. An asset like her in Vulkania could greatly help the small colony establish itself permanently in the region.

Yashyn and Rubayd were left speechless. Most of their doubts had been dispelled, though some still lingered.

"Lil’ bud... How many days’ walk is that building?"

"Three days at a normal pace. Two at a run."

Rubayd’s gaze darkened again upon hearing those numbers.

"So, letting the young mistress deteriorate for at least four days? Is that your plan, Cursed One?!"

"Yes, that’s exactly why it’s risky... but we don’t have any other option."

Rubayd locked eyes with Akram, staring so intensely that Yashyn discreetly uncrossed his arms, ready to intervene if things turned violent.

"Are you certain, young warrior?"

"Absolutely. It’s the only solution. That gel will save her life. I’m certain of it."

Akram held Rubayd’s gaze. He couldn’t afford to look away or show even a hint of hesitation. He had to be convincing. This was a matter of life and death.

After a few seconds, Rubayd sighed and straightened up in his chair.

"Very well. When will you leave, and with whom?"

"Tomorrow, at dawn. And probably with Ler—"

Yashyn cut him off immediately, asserting himself.

"With me. You’ll go with me."

Akram turned toward the bounty hunter, stunned.

"What? No. Someone has to defend Vulkania while we’re gone. It can’t be the Oathbearers, it has to—"

"Don’t you trust your guards, Mister Boss? And there’s Lerius."

"Lerius is busy watching over and treating Aphroa... He can’t handle defense at the same time. It’s impossible, even for him."

Yashyn leaned back in his chair, his relaxed demeanor returning.

"Mister genius... You don’t think much, do you?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"You’re about to walk into Varog the Terrible’s territory, MY target, with only a robot protecting you? You wouldn’t last if you were attacked, and you know it."

Akram had indeed considered that possibility. But the trauma, the fear of once again leaving Vulkania for the Grand Canyon and finding the city completely destroyed, terrified him so much that he avoided thinking about it altogether.

Rubayd sensed the hesitation in his gaze and stepped in.

"We, the Oathbearers, will defend your city alongside your people, Akram."

Akram looked up, surprised.

"Why? Why defend us after what happened?"

Rubayd kept the same stern expression, but his face was now marked with deep respect. His voice softened.

"Because you have proven your intentions to all of us. And as I told you, you will fight for us, and we will fight for you."

Yashyn raised his hands and stretched loudly.

"Then it’s settled! Go prepare your gear, lil’ bud’, and get some sleep."

The three men stood up. Akram and Rubayd clasped hands in a fraternal gesture.

As Akram left the infirmary, he noticed Nezra and Leyla talking. Their facial expressions revealed clear tension between the two young women.

As he approached, and once they noticed him, they separated. Nezra walked away, clearly avoiding Akram.

Leyla greeted him curtly, her brows still tightly furrowed.

"Uh... Hey Leyla? What just happened?"

"No, nothing-nothing... Don’t worry about it. Just a small disagreement."

"Mhmm... Yeah, right."

Akram let it go, choosing not to involve himself further, and returned to his own concern.

"Well... I’m going back to the Grand Canyon."

Leyla’s already raised brows furrowed even more.

"What? Are you stupid or what?! What are you playing at?!"

As usual, Leyla didn’t mince her words. She too carried that trauma, tied to Kra and the friends she had lost during the expedition. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Akram cleared his throat. He had prepared himself for this reaction.

"I’m not going alone... Yashyn will be with me. I don’t have a choice... There’s something I need to retrieve there, and it’s the only thing that can save Aphroa."

Despite the strength of his arguments, Leyla’s expression showed she wasn’t backing down.

"No way."

"Leyla..."

"No way, I told you. I’d rather go to war with the Oathbearers than send you back into that hell."

Leyla turned on her heel and kept walking. Akram followed closely, trying to reason with her, even though he fully understood how she felt.

He was about to return to the place where she had lost her entire new family—her son, her friends. Logic alone wouldn’t be enough to convince her.

"Leyla, I’m going with the person who got me out of there. Probably the strongest man in Varang right now. Even if we ran into Va—uh, the other one, we’d have a chance."

Leyla kept walking, without answering.

Akram gently grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to stop.

"Listen, you know I’ve changed. You saw it during my fight, didn’t you?"

"So what? Trained or not, Akram, that place is still just as dangerous..."

"Trust me, Leyla. I swear I’ll come back."

Akram held her gaze, filled with determination. After a few seconds of hesitation, Leyla finally gave in.

"Mhmmm... Okay... How long will you be gone?"

Akram sighed in relief and allowed himself a faint smile.

"Four days, total. Until then, you’re in charge with Elliot, okay?"

Leyla nodded, though she didn’t look thrilled about it.

"Thanks, Leyla. You’re the best."

Akram walked away, giving her a brief nod. Time was now running out before his departure. He had to make the most of every remaining hour to prepare for a journey that would be anything but easy.