Reborn: Apocalypse Ready. War Goddess by My Side novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29 Bianca’s Place

Vanessa finished cooking and brought everything to the table.

The meal was simple, and the simplicity of it said everything. Putting even this much together had probably cost the two of them several days‘ worth of groceries.

They were living lean, these two. Genuinely and quietly lean.

But that was going to change soon.

Finished

“Steven, I can’t thank you enough for what you did that day,” Vanessa said. “If you hadn’t been there, Bianca and I might have followed him right out of this world.“:

Steven kept his expression easy. “Mrs. White, I wasn’t going to stand by and watch. Bianca’s my classmate Looking out for each other is just what you do.”

Vanessa nodded, but the way she looked at him had quietly shifted. Most people, caught in a situation like that, would’ve run.

#

Steven had stood his ground and put that beast down with his own hands to protect them.

“Mom, let’s not talk about that anymore.” Bianca’s voice was gentle but firm.

Vanessa smiled. “You’re right. We won’t.” She turned to Steven. “Bianca tells me you look after her at school. Thank you for that. She’s always been on her own.”

“Mom…” Bianca pressed her lips together and dropped her gaze, cheeks warm.

Steven smiled. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Vanessa looked at her daughter with gentle amusement. “What? It’s the truth. Steven stands up for you and looks out for you.”

Bianca’s face went pink all the way to her ears.

“I’m not…I didn’t…” She couldn’t find the words, and the trying only made it worse.

Steven just kept that same easy smile and let the conversation drift into lighter things with Vanessa while time moved quietly around them.

Outside the windows, the light faded from gold into soft grey

dusk.

“I won’t keep you, Steven,” Vanessa said. “The apartment’s still what it is, and it’s getting dark. Nights can be unpredictable.”

“I’ll head back then, Mrs. White. Thank you for having me.”

“Be careful getting home.”

“You two should head inside.”

He looked at Bianca. “See you tomorrow.”

O

11:20 Wed, Jun 10

Chapter 29 Bianca’s Place

“See you tomorrow,” she said softly, her voice barely carrying.

Finished.

She already found herself looking forward to it. She liked sitting beside him. She liked the quiet steadiness he carried with him, and the faint, clean scent of soap that clung to him when he was close.

Night fell across the city.

In the heart of the civilian district, dark figures moved through the shadows and began to spread out.

“Olivia, have they surfaced yet?” Alan’s voice was clipped and low as he advanced toward his position at speed.

A crisp, alert voice came through his earpiece. “Estimated two minutes before they breach ground level!”

Then Peter’s voice cut in. “Cap, watch yourself. There are more of them than last time.”

“How is this happening again? Same location, twice in a row?” Peter muttered, not entirely to himself.

Olivia’s voice returned. “We found it. There’s an old drainage pipe running deep underground, connecting from outside the eastern wall straight into the city interior. The Bloodfang Rats must have stumbled onto

it.”

Peter’s response was immediate and colorful. “I’m blowing that pipe to pieces the second this is over.”

Alan’s voice came back steady and sharp. “Save it. Deploy the Divine Barrier now. Lock them in a perimeter. and keep the civilians safe.”

“Copy.”

“Copy.”

Peter was already moving through the dark when he reached the familiar stretch of ground from the last incident.

He reached back for the Divine Barrier stake.

And then he stopped.

11:20 Wed, Jun 10

“Blooddrinker, engage.

Full force, Take them all down.”

“On it.”

Steven stood watching the whole thing unfold, and something in his chest settled with a kind of old, bone- deep recognition.

He knew this rhythm. He’d lived inside it for decades.

Team Ashen moved like a unit that had earned its footing. Their overall standard was solid.

“Another beast breach?” he said.

The voice nearly made Peter drop his cigarette.

He’d completely forgotten this kid was still standing there.

Peter rounded on him with a sharp look. “Why are you still here? Clear out. This area is not safe.”

Steven glanced around with mild curiosity. “Bloodfang Rats again?”

11:20 Wed, Jun 10

Chapter 29 Bianca’s Place

Peter gave a grim nod. “More of them

this time.”

Finished

Steven’s brow pulled together. “Two incidents in a row at the exact same location. How?”

Peter weighed it briefly and decided it didn’t matter if the kid knew.

“There’s an old drainage pipe underground. Runs from outside the city wall all the way into the interior. We missed it last time.”

Steven nodded slowly. That tracked.

“Now will you please clear out?” Peter said flatly. “This is not somewhere you want to be standing right now.”

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