I Woke Up 120 Years After The Apocalypse-Chapter 43: Traitor

Varang, Oathbearers territory: Vulkania.

Activity and trade in Vulkania were in full swing. No one was resting, even though a palpable tension hung in the air. Everyone understood just how important Akram’s mission was. If he failed, Aphroa was doomed—and Vulkania with her. Unless they found the culprit.

Leyla understood this last point perfectly. Even though she had blind faith in her friend, and knew he would return, her nature would not allow her to sit idle. So she continued the investigation on her own.

She searched through Akram’s belongings and his workbench, looking for his notes on the shooter’s crossbow. She found them in the same place where the gunpowder was stored.

Leyla began analyzing the weapon herself, forming almost the exact same hypotheses as the Vulkan leader. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

She wasn’t making much progress, but something bothered her. The pieces did not quite fit together, and she felt as though a detail was slipping through her fingers, like a memory she couldn’t fully grasp.

On the Oathbearers’ side, Zulfar spent most of his time playing with Hawk and Gayle. He had grown attached to the two children, as well as to Hawk’s father, Zofyan.

Strangely enough, the two men had only truly understood each other after a fight organized by Zulfar himself, eager to vent his frustration against a Vulkan inhabitant. From that moment on, they bonded over a shared passion: combat.

Rubayd, meanwhile, never left Aphroa’s bedside. He remained constantly at her side, accompanied by his two men, Rissam, and Lerius. Despite the trust he placed in Akram, it was unthinkable for the Oathbearer pillar to leave Aphroa unattended.

Clark, for his part, was perched atop one of the watchtowers. What made Clark an excellent scout, beyond his speed and endurance, was his instinct.

And this time, Clark’s instinct kept him on constant alert. He felt that something was wrong, that the shooter was not far away—much closer than anyone believed.

The sun began to set over Vulkania. Despite her efforts, Leyla still couldn’t connect the dots. She felt she was on the verge of understanding, but her mind refused to fall into place.

Elliot joined her at the research center, trying in turn to help identify the shooter. Without success.

The streets of Vulkania gradually emptied. The inhabitants and workers returned to their homes, bringing another day to a close.

"ALERT! FIRE! FIRE!"

A shout echoed throughout the entire village. Zofyan and the guards stationed at the gate immediately rushed toward the source of the alarm, leaving only one man behind to hold the entrance.

They found a house ablaze, already collapsing. It was uninhabited, and its combustion was hardly surprising given its poor condition.

"Shit... Well, that was bound to happen. Whatever... Activate the hydro-action system, let’s go!"

The men quickly got to work, extinguishing the flames and preventing them from spreading to nearby buildings.

Several minutes later, as they returned from their firefighting effort, Zofyan noticed that the guard assigned to the gate had abandoned his post, leaving it wide open.

"Fuck... Rake’s a pain in the ass. He probably went to take a shit again, like always. Close the gate, guys!"

Zofyan was terribly mistaken.

A few meters away from Vulkania, in a nearby crevasse, lay Rake’s body, his throat slit.

At the infirmary, Nezra was laughing with Rissam. Rubayd and Lerius were also taking part in the conversation.

Nezra suddenly turned her head toward the door, narrowing her eyes.

"Did you hear that?"

The others exchanged confused looks.

"What?"

Nezra stepped out of the infirmary and stayed outside for several minutes. She returned in a panic, out of breath, her expression nearly traumatized.

"G-Guys! The fire spread!"

Rubayd and the others jumped to their feet.

"What? What’s going on?!"

"I don’t know... Lerius, there are a lot of injured men, you need to go help them!"

Lerius immediately obeyed, rushing out of the infirmary to aid the Vulkan men.

Rubayd grew genuinely worried and grabbed Nezra by the shoulders.

"And Zulfar?! Is he hurt?!"

"Y-Yes... He’s trapped inside a building with the children, he’s protecting them!"

Rubayd’s eyes widened. His natural sharpness vanished, replaced by deep concern—almost panic.

He glanced toward Aphroa, hesitating, unwilling to leave her bedside.

Nezra placed her hand over Rubayd’s, trying to reassure him.

"Don’t worry, it’s safe here. Rissam and I will watch over Aphroa, you have our word!"

Rubayd hesitated for a few seconds longer, but his anxiety took over. He thanked Nezra with a slight nod and rushed outside.

Rissam, also gripped by panic, turned to Nezra.

"We’re safe here, right?! No chance the fire spreads this far! Right?"

Nezra smiled and gently rubbed his head.

"Yes, don’t worry. The others will handle it. We just have to wait..."

Rissam returned her smile, visibly reassured by her tone and words. He went back to Aphroa’s bedside to continue administering care.

Nezra called out to him. Her gaze now showed a strange uncertainty, as if she was no longer fully convinced by what she had just said.

"Uh... Rissam... Tell me..."

"Mmhmm? Yes, Nezra?"

"You’ll forgive me, right?"

"Huh?"

Rissam tilted his head slightly to the right, raising an eyebrow.

He didn’t have time to say anything else.

His eyes widened. His gaze slowly dropped to his chest.

A blade had pierced him straight through, emerging from the front. Blood rose into his mouth, filling it, then spilling out.

He turned his head with difficulty toward his assassin standing behind him. His eyes filled with tears as he realized his end was near.

All he saw was a smile in the darkness.

Then he went still.

His body collapsed heavily onto the floor, at Nezra’s feet.

Meanwhile, Leyla and Elliot continued thinking relentlessly about the shooter’s identity, still hitting a wall.

"According to Akram, it’s a woman, that’s certain, he says..."

"We don’t have any women in the guard who know how to use a crossbow. Not even among the population..."

"Mmhmm..."

Leyla remained deep in thought. Then, suddenly, everything connected.

Indeed, no woman was known for her skill with a crossbow. No Vulkan woman, at least. Leyla didn’t know the people who had arrived recently in Vulkania. Yet she had lived her entire life in the region and encountered many groups from different places.

One person stood out.

One person she was certain she had met before.

And she was not mistaken.

"Nezra..."

"Huh? What Nezra? You’ve got an idea, Leyla?"

"It’s Nezra. Nezra is the shooter!"

Elliot jumped out of his chair, stunned, his face twisted into a grimace of shock he couldn’t contain.

At the infirmary, Rissam’s lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor.

"Perfect. Let’s continue."

Nezra rolled up her researcher’s sleeve, revealing a hidden dagger, which she immediately armed herself with. She moved toward Aphroa, blade raised.

Nezra was the shooter.

Nezra was a traitor.