Vampire Overlord's Harem In The Apocalypse-Chapter 37: Raiding Spree (II)

They approached the entrance of the shopping mall quickly, the air thick with an uneasy silence.

The world outside had become a chaotic mess, but it was still quiet here — unnaturally so.

Simon and Bethany both knew that silence didn’t always mean safety. In this new world, quiet often meant something worse was lurking, waiting.

Simon glanced at her, his face set in its usual stoic expression. There was an unspoken understanding between them now.

They didn’t need to say much to know what the other was thinking, and yet, Simon spoke anyway.

"I’ll make a crazed run inside," he muttered. His voice was low but firm. "There should be someone with firearms inside. I’ll probably get shot at, but I’ll handle it. You’ll take care of the others in the confusion."

Bethany didn’t flinch. She’d been through enough to know how to keep her cool. She gave him a small nod, a silent agreement.

Simon’s lips tightened into a thin line as he focused on the task ahead.

He was always calculating, always prepared, but the stakes were high. If anyone inside had managed to survive this long, they were likely desperate — and desperate people could be dangerous.

With a swift motion, Simon kicked the door with a force that made it fly forward, crashing into the walls and breaking the hinges.

The sound echoed through the empty mall like a gunshot, signaling the beginning of chaos.

Before the door even hit the ground, Simon was already in motion. His body blurred as he sprinted toward the man who had been lazily leaning against the counter just a few moments before.

The man’s eyes widened in shock as Simon’s figure rushed toward him like a blur. There was no time for hesitation.

The man raised his firearm, aiming at Simon, but his reaction time was no match for Simon’s speed.

The gunshot rang out, but Simon twisted his body, ducking and weaving with unnatural precision as the bullets missed him by mere inches. It was a dance of death — Simon’s movements like a predatory animal, too fast to track, too focused to fail.

In an instant, Simon was above the man. He twisted in the air, his foot coming down hard and fast, smashing into the man’s skull with a sickening crack. The man crumpled like a ragdoll, his body slumping lifeless to the ground.

The rest of the room seemed to hold its breath for a moment before everything descended into chaos.

The other two survivors in the room, their hands gripping wooden bats with the desperation of people who had nothing left, snapped to attention.

Their eyes darted between Simon’s body, still poised and ready for whatever came next, and the woman now standing by the door.

Bethany was already moving, her feet barely making a sound as she closed the distance between her and the nearest of the two. With a force that left no room for mercy, she launched a powerful kick into the man’s back, sending him hurtling across the room.

He slammed into a counter with a sickening thud, his face slamming into the cold metal with such force that it was clear from the moment he hit the ground that he wouldn’t be getting back up.

The second man took a hesitant step backward, his eyes wide with fear, but it was too late.

Before he could make any sort of move, Bethany was upon him. With a sharp, calculated strike, she kicked him in the waist, her foot driving into his side with enough force to shatter every bone in his torso.

His body crumpled under the pressure, a twisted scream escaping his lips before it was quickly silenced by Bethany’s brutal stomp to his head. She didn’t need to hear the crack of his skull to know he was finished.

For a moment, the mall was silent again. The world outside was still gone, the mall inside was now cleared of threats.

The only sound left was the echo of their footsteps.

Bethany let out a long, controlled breath, her heart still pounding in her chest. It was all too easy now — too familiar.

The fight, the violence, the killing. She had gotten so used to it that it almost felt like muscle memory.

She didn’t like it, but it was necessary. This new world was unforgiving, and if they wanted to survive, they had to be ready to do whatever it took.

Her gaze shifted over to Simon, who had already begun to search the area, his eyes scanning the shelves and counters for anything useful.

He was methodical, a hunter at heart. It was no surprise that he’d immediately shifted into his scavenger mode, forgetting everything else the moment there was something to collect.

Bethany sighed softly and shook her head, walking over to join him. She had been expecting something more.

Something deeper. But this was who they had become: survivors, always searching for the next thing to help them keep going. There was no time for anything else anymore.

Simon glanced up at her as she approached. His eyes softened just a fraction, but the rest of him remained guarded, focused on the task at hand.

He didn’t speak immediately. He didn’t need to. His eyes said everything— this was the way it had to be.

"I’ll check the storage rooms," Simon said after a pause, his voice carrying a faint edge of finality.

Bethany nodded. "I’ll hit the aisles."

Without another word, they went their separate ways, the air between them filled with a quiet understanding.

Bethany walked through the aisles, her boots clanking against the broken tiles beneath her. She found cans of food — canned beans, soup, vegetables — all things that would keep them fed for a little while longer. She tossed them into the bag over her shoulder, her mind racing.

There was so much they needed. Clothes, medical supplies, ammunition. Anything they could get their hands on.

She heard Simon moving around behind her, his footsteps deliberate and measured.

She didn’t need to look up to know that he was already methodically collecting what they could use. It was how he worked — always thinking two steps ahead, always staying focused on the next challenge.

They couldn’t afford to stop. Not now. Not ever.

After what felt like an eternity, Bethany found a small first aid kit wedged between two broken display cases.

She opened it carefully, making sure nothing inside had been damaged, and found bandages, antiseptic, and a few painkillers — enough to treat most injuries, at least for a while.

The sound of a loud crash echoed through the mall, making her freeze for a moment.

Simon had knocked something over, but she didn’t think it was a threat. He was just as meticulous about leaving no trace of their presence as he was with everything else.

She returned to the front, her arms full of supplies. When she found Simon again, his arms were laden with food, and his expression was as grim as ever.

They shared a moment of quiet acknowledgment, neither of them speaking as they prepared to leave.