.
..
…
..
.
(POV: Third Person)
Seven days.
That was all it took for Fortress One to become more than just a sanctuary. Under Marco's command, it began to resemble a fully functional outpost—a stronghold with teeth, brain, and blood.
And it all started with the expansion.
The morning sun was barely rising when Marco gathered the team in the central garage. Everyone was already armed, armored, and caffeinated—thanks to Kaede-san's uncanny ability to preserve luxury in the middle of fucking hell.
"Alright," Marco began, tapping his knuckle on a digital map spread across a reinforced table. "This quadrant's ours now. But it's not enough. I want the full block. By the end of this week. We're not surviving anymore—we're shaping this damn apocalypse."
Saya-san nodded, arms crossed in her tight black Widow suit, glasses glinting. "Agreed. If we don't push the line now, we'll get boxed in by infected migration."
Shizuka-sensei raised a sleepy hand. "We're expanding? Ohh~ Should I start sorting medbay locations then, Marco-kun~?"
Marco gave her a half-smirk. "Do it. You'll have a new wing by the end of the day."
[Sector 1: Industrial Expansion - Northern Block]
Takashi-kun, Hiroki, and Izana spearheaded the assault toward the auto-repair depot three blocks north. It was packed with useful supplies—fuel, mechanical parts, vehicle armor plating—but overrun with zeds.
The team moved fast.
Suppressors spat quiet death. Hiroki cut down the ones too close for a gun. Izana moved like a Yakuza wraith, scything limbs with twin tantos. Takashi's rifle barked in short bursts, keeping the horde at bay.
They cleared the depot in under thirty minutes.
Kohta's voice came in through the comms: "Confirming fifteen drums of fuel, two welding rigs, and about a fuck-ton of replacement wiring. I'm calling this a win."
Marco's voice: "Seal it up. Mark it Sector 1. Industrial. Shizuka, it'll house your new garage."
"Yaaay~!" came her reply.
[Sector 2: Agricultural & Storage - West Wing]
Rei-chan, Saeko-san, and Kanako cleared out the garden supply store and three adjacent houses, connecting them to the main complex via a hastily-dug tunnel.
Rei kicked a zombie through a cracked fence and drilled its skull with one clean shot.
"This house is clear!"
Kanako slid her sidearm back into its holster and gave a thumbs up. "We'll reroute the greenhouse water tanks here. I already spotted a few solar inverters in the garage."
Saeko twirled her blade and smiled coolly. "And with some composting and hydroponics, we can sustain ourselves longer than any supermarket stockpile."
[Sector 3: Intelligence & Communications - East Wing]
Saya led the tech team alongside Kyoko, Chika, and Ayumu, who had been growing rapidly into a reliable field support member.
The area was an old electronics store repurposed with signal towers and cables ripped from military vans the team had previously looted.
"We've got a relay now that pings shortwave, satellite, and line-of-sight transmission," Saya said with a grin. "I call this place our brain."
Chika giggled. "And we don't even need to bring you snacks to keep you running, Takagi-san."
Saya deadpanned. "Just make sure Kohta-kun doesn't put hentai on the main screens again."
From behind the comms: "IT WAS FOR SCIENCE!"
[Sector 4: Barracks and Civ Housing - South Block]
With the rising number of survivors, new safehouses were reinforced and connected. Miho, Ruri, and Shinka helped direct the interior setup for the incoming survivors, ensuring the buildings had clean plumbing, extra rations, and defensive measures.
Mizuho worked with Ayumu and Shizuka to transform one building into a triage and infirmary.
And Marco, flanked by Saeko and Rei, personally cleared the remaining buildings one by one. His dual revolvers spat thunder, cutting through skulls, spinning through air like justice made steel.
After one brutal hallway battle, Rei panted at his side. "You always did have a flair for dramatic entrances, Marco-kun."
"If I'm going to survive the apocalypse, I might as well do it in style."
Kohta was assigned recon for the southeastern alley routes when Asami-san joined him.
"You always talk this much while aiming?" she asked, raising a brow as she peeked around a dumpster.
"Only when I'm nervous... or when I'm trying to impress a badass officer."
Asami gave a low chuckle. "You're cute when you're full of shit."
He flushed, lifting the scope. "Shit, we've got three rotters at six o'clock. I got two. You want the last one?"
She didn't answer—just pulled her sidearm and put a bullet right through the zombie's orbital.
"That's what I thought," he mumbled, half in awe, half in arousal.
Later that night, Marco's system registered a sharp spike in Kohta's focus levels.
Marco glanced toward the courtyard where Kohta and Asami trained in silence. He smirked. "Kohta's getting his groove."
With every corridor reinforced, every rooftop secured, and every passage sealed or tunneled, Fortress One grew stronger. It now spanned almost the entire block, with key sectors mapped and secure.
Marco stood on the overlook tower with Kyoko and Takashi beside him.
"The dead will keep coming," Takashi said, arms crossed.
"Then we keep killing," Marco replied. "One district at a time."
Kyoko pointed at the city grid. "East district next. That's where we'll find one of the water treatment control. Once we have that, we'll have infrastructure."
"Then we'll build a fucking safe heaven," Marco said. "Right here, on the ashes."
.
..
.
(POV: Marco)
The red-orange hue of the setting sun poured through the window panes of my room like liquid fire, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The fortress was quieter than usual — not silent, but more... contemplative. Like the whole place knew something was shifting.
Chika sat at the edge of my bed, her head tilted slightly, eyes focused on the flame of the candle flickering near the windowsill. Her hair shimmered in the light, and her expression held that mix of nervousness and curiosity that had slowly become familiar over the past few days. There was something raw and honest about her that made it damn near impossible not to be drawn in.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching her in silence. She noticed me, and a soft smile tugged at her lips. "You always stare like that, Marco-sama. Makes a girl wonder what's going on in that tactical brain of yours."
I grinned, stepping inside and locking the door behind me. "I was thinking… you've come a hell of a long way since Kohta-kun dragged you outta that hellhole."
Her smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of memory in her eyes. Then she nodded. "I still see them sometimes... the faces. The ones I couldn't help."
I walked over, kneeling in front of her, placing my hands on her thighs. "You're here now. You helped rebuild. You trained. You stood side by side with us. You're not that girl anymore, Chika-chan. You're stronger. Smarter. And… beautiful as fuck."
Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, but she didn't pull away. "You always know what to say, don't you?"
"Only when it's the truth."
I reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, letting my hand linger against her cheek. She leaned into the touch, her eyes locking onto mine. There was no hesitation now — not like before. Whatever barriers she had built, they were crumbling.
I leaned forward, brushing my lips against hers. Soft, at first. Testing the waters. But she responded with surprising fire, her hands tangling in my shirt, pulling me closer.
The kiss deepened.
I moved her back gently, guiding her onto the bed, one hand cupping her face while the other found its way to her waist. She gasped softly against my mouth, arching up into me.
My hand slid down to her hip, feeling the curve of her body through the fabric of her clothes. She looked up at me through half-lidded eyes, a mix of hunger and vulnerability.
"Marco-sama… I want to be close to you. I'm tired of feeling like I'm just another body here. You make me feel... like I matter."
I rested my forehead against hers. "You do matter. Every goddamn inch of you.
Her hands found the hem of her shirt, and I caught her wrist gently.
"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice low, the flickering candlelight dancing in the depths of my eyes, mirroring the hesitant yet determined flame in hers.
She looked up at me with such resolve it nearly knocked the wind from my lungs.
"Yes," she breathed, the single word a quiet affirmation that resonated through the stillness of the room.
My grip on her wrist loosened, my fingers instead tracing the delicate curve of her collarbone, feeling the rapid pulse beneath her skin. The vulnerability in her eyes, coupled with the burgeoning desire, was a potent combination, stirring something deep within me.
With a shared understanding, her hands and mine worked in unison, the soft fabric of her shirt whispering as it was drawn upwards, revealing the smooth expanse of her skin. The setting sun painted her in strokes of fiery orange and soft gold, illuminating the gentle swell of her breasts beneath the thin material of her bra.
My breath hitched. The innocence that had clung to her like a shadow was slowly being replaced by a blossoming sensuality, and I felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with a raw, undeniable desire.
Her fingers then moved to the clasp of her bra, her movements a little clumsy, betraying her nervousness. I reached out, my hand covering hers, my thumb gently guiding her until the clasp gave way. The bra fell open, revealing the soft, full curves of her breasts, their nipples already taut, as if anticipating my touch.
I lowered my head, my lips brushing against the delicate skin of her chest, inhaling the sweet scent that was uniquely hers. A soft moan escaped her lips, and her hands tightened on my shoulders, pulling me closer.
My mouth closed over one of her nipples, my tongue swirling around the sensitive bud, drawing a gasp from her. The taste of her was intoxicating, a blend of sweetness and a hint of something wild. I suckled gently, then harder, feeling her body arch beneath me.
Meanwhile, my hands explored the curve of her waist, then lower, feeling the soft fabric of her skirt bunching up around her thighs. Her legs shifted restlessly beneath my touch, a silent invitation.
With a shared urgency, we divested ourselves of the remaining barriers, the quiet rustling of clothes falling to the floor the only sound in the room besides our quickening breaths. Chika lay before me, bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of apprehension and a burning desire that mirrored my own.
I knelt between her legs, my gaze traveling over every inch of her, taking in the soft curves of her body, the delicate flush that now covered her skin. She was undeniably beautiful, a fragile blossom slowly unfurling in the warmth of newfound desire.
I reached out, my hands gently caressing her thighs, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my fingertips. She shivered at my touch, her breath catching in her throat.
Leaning closer, I brushed my lips against hers once more, a soft, tender kiss that deepened with a shared sigh. Her hands found their way to my hair, her fingers tangling in the short strands, pulling me closer, her unspoken need a tangible thing in the air between us.
The kisses that followed were no longer tentative explorations but passionate embraces, our mouths meeting and merging with a growing urgency. My hands roamed freely over her body, exploring the curve of her hips, the small of her back, the delicate swell of her stomach.
Chika responded with an eagerness that surprised me, her body arching up to meet my touch, her soft moans filling the room. There was a raw honesty in her desire, a yearning for connection that resonated deeply within me.
I moved above her, my eyes locking with hers. The vulnerability that had been present earlier had now been replaced by a burning intensity, a silent plea for intimacy.
With a slow, deliberate movement, I entered her, feeling the initial resistance give way to a tight, welcoming warmth. Chika gasped, her hands gripping my shoulders, her body clenching around me.
A thin line of blood ran from her pussy.
I paused, allowing her to adjust, our eyes locked in a silent communion. Then, I began to move, my thrusts slow and deep, savoring the feel of her body around mine.
Chika's moans intensified, her hips lifting to meet my every movement. Her hands roamed over my back, her nails gently digging into my skin, urging me on. The rhythm of our bodies grew more insistent, the air thick with the scent of arousal.
The setting sun had almost dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a deep, fiery glow that seemed to mirror the heat building between us. Chika's breath came in short, sharp gasps, her body trembling beneath mine.
I felt the subtle contractions within her, the unmistakable signs of her approaching climax. Her cries grew louder, more urgent, her body arching and straining against mine.
And then, it happened. A series of intense shudders wracked her body, her muscles clenching tightly around me as she cried out, her release a raw, unrestrained expression of pure pleasure.
I held her close, feeling the waves of her orgasm ripple through her, my own release building in response. With a final, guttural groan, I came, my seed spilling deep within her, a warm, pulsing offering that sealed our connection in the most intimate way possible.
We lay entwined, our bodies slick with sweat, our breathing ragged. The room was silent save for the gentle rise and fall of our chests. The last rays of the setting sun cast long, dancing shadows across the walls, painting our intertwined forms in hues of deep orange and soft gold.
I gently withdrew, my gaze never leaving hers. Her eyes were soft and dazed, a look of utter contentment washing over her features. A small, genuine smile touched her lips.
"Marco-sama," she whispered, her voice still trembling slightly. "That was..."
"Real," I finished, my hand gently stroking her cheek. "You're real, Chika-chan. And you matter. More than you know."
She reached up, her small hand covering mine, her touch surprisingly strong. "Thank you, Marco-sama," she murmured, her eyes filled with a newfound light. "Thank you for seeing me."
We lay there for a long time, simply holding each other, the silence between us comfortable and filled with a profound understanding. The fiery hues of the sunset slowly faded into the soft glow of the candle, casting our intertwined forms in a warm, intimate light. The fortress outside remained quiet, as if the world itself held its breath, acknowledging the shift that had occurred within the four walls of my room.
Later, the room was dim save for the flickering candlelight. Chika rested her head against my bare chest, her breathing slow and steady.
I stared at the ceiling, one arm draped around her waist, my thumb gently stroking the curve of her hip.
It wasn't just lust — though fuck me, she was everything a man could ask for — it was deeper than that. In the chaos, in the ruins of what the world used to be, moments like these… they kept me from turning into a monster.
Her fingers trailed lazy circles on my chest. "You think we'll survive this, Marco-sama? All of us?"
I didn't lie to her. "Some of us will. Some of us won't. But I promise you — as long as I'm breathing, I'll fight like hell to make sure you're one of the ones who does."
She looked up at me, eyes glassy. "Then I'll fight too. For you. For everyone."
A knock echoed through the hallway outside. I sat up, reaching for my shirt and weapon instinctively.
Kyoko's voice came through the intercom. "Marco-kun, you need to come to the command room. Something's happened."
Chika sat up, worry flashing across her face.
"Go to the armory," I said. "Prepare and wait with the others. I'll be back."
She nodded, and I kissed her forehead before slipping out.
Whatever peace we had just found... was already burning at the edges.
.
..
…
..
.