The Starborn Order had originally engineered the zombie inhibitor, created to scramble zombie nerve signals and shut down their movement. Theresa had encountered it before. The Starborn Order used the compound to pacify zombies, leaving them quiet and still like statues. Professor K watched Tania sprint toward the front line with several crates stacked in her arms. He lowered a hand to ruffle his dog's fur. "Grandpa's here. I won't let anything touch you." "Woof! Woof!" The little dog leaned into him, tail sweeping the floor in happy arcs. Theresa had returned. The zombie inhibitor had arrived in bulk. A noticeable shift washed across the battlefield. Ansford reacted first. Ark Camp One next. Then Ark Camp Three. Finally, Ark Camp Two. The raging zombie horde slowly softened. Their frenzied movements dulled into sluggish, confused motion. Theresa slept through it all. Her body had dropped into a deep, heavy slumber that felt bottomless. A voice surfaced in the dark. 'Ding! Assessment complete. You have cleared the Ultimate Leader System mission! You now stand as the strongest leader alive!' ''Rewards allocated: ten billion points! Prestige at 100! System manager upgraded! UAV system upgrades complete! Anti-missile system upgrades complete! Radar system upgrades complete! All combat power within your territory doubled! Territory defense enhanced!' 'Additional rewards: one advanced warship blueprint and ten weapon blueprints!' 'Final reward: one day to make any wish real.' Her mind drifted through the words. They passed through her like distant echoes. Only the last reward stirred something inside her chest.If I get one thing... even for a single day... I know exactly what I want. I want a world where the outbreak never existed. Her eyes flew open. She stared ahead in mute shock. She lay on an old wooden bed. A familiar wardrobe stood opposite. A wall clock ticked softly. A bookcase sat by the window. A desk sat in the corner. Is this not my childhood room, the one I emptied long ago? "Woof! Woof!" A dog bounded onto the bed and showered her with happy barks and frantic nuzzles. "Summer..." Her arms wrapped around him instinctively. His warmth only deepened her confusion. How is this possible? Her heartbeat spiked. The outbreak. Where— Her phone buzzed beside her. She picked up the old device she hadn't touched in years. A foreign number lit the screen. She hesitated, then answered. "Terry, still remember me?" "Aunt Tania?" Theresa froze. "Knew you wouldn't forget me!" Tania's voice burst with excitement. "I land in an hour, and your uncle's with me. Want to come grab us?" "I... Yes, of course!" Theresa lowered the phone slowly. Her legs carried her to the window before she even thought about it. She looked down at a lively city full of traffic, noise, and neon color. Not a single trace of the apocalypse. She held Summer close, slipped into her slippers, snatched her keys, and rushed out the door. Her little car joined the morning rush. People filled the sidewalks—talking, laughing, and living. Two girls carried iced drinks as they walked by. A family of three was happily chatting. Students in uniforms gathered near a crosswalk, while elders walked small dogs. Everywhere she looked, she saw joy. The world seemed to be celebrating. The red light ahead brought her to a halt. A line of soldiers marched past with impeccable precision, their uniforms sharp and spotless. They averaged around six feet tall; each of them appeared crisp, competent, and surprisingly handsome in uniform. Excited shouts rippled through the crowd. Theresa recognized the faces instantly: Kyle, Graham, and Dave. All three looked up as they heard their names. Their curious eyes spotted her car. Each flashed her a warm smile before continuing on. A military truck rolled through behind them. Through the side window, she spotted Lucas inside. Theron leaned halfway out, waving wildly at everyone with his trademark grin. "He's gorgeous!" "That smile is lethal!" "Please let the government assign me a soldier already!" The chorus of cheers grew louder. Theresa watched the truck disappear down the street. Two sharp honks jolted her out of the moment from the car behind her.