Evolution(The journey of Sam)

Chapter 11: Talk with Emmy

Sam sat on a chair, quietly observing the people taking stock of the inventory. His mind was occupied, thoughts swirling like a storm. The chaos of the past few days weighed heavily on him. Everything had changed, and he was still trying to process it all.

Ryan approached and sat opposite him. "Sam, we've received calls from other buildings and the female dormitory. They want our help."

Sam wasn't surprised. He had already seen survivors posting online about their rescues. One of the boys had even uploaded a video of their battle from yesterday.

"What are you thinking?" Ryan asked.

"I was thinking of rescuing some of my friends… but we have to discuss it with everyone first."

Ryan sighed. "I don't think everyone will agree, especially the non-fighters."

Sam nodded. Though a few were still reluctant to fight, they were a small group. Most people had at least their starting gifts.

"Maybe we could give them some food and tell them to stay in a secured floor," Ryan suggested.

"Do any other groups like us exist?" Sam asked curiously.

"Not as big as us, but yeah. There's a guy named Simon—he and his friends cleared a fifth floor. Roy Miller and his group are holding some floors in their building. Bob and the football team have secured the gymnasium. There's also a group of female students led by Shangguan Binger. They've occupied five floors in the female dorms."

Sam's eyes narrowed. "Shangguan Binger? Is she related to Binger Construction?"

Ryan chuckled. "You don't know her? She was a national high school topper. And yeah, her father founded Binger Construction."

Sam exhaled. He knew about Binger Construction—he had considered applying for a job there after graduation.

"How did they manage to secure five floors?" he asked.

"Shangguan Binger has a pistol and training in self-defense. The moment she sensed danger, she shot a few zombies. Then she gathered the female students and started clearing floors."

"Wouldn't the gunfire attract zombies?"

Ryan smirked. "Ever heard of silencers?"

Sam leaned back in thought. "So they also asked for help?"

"Yeah, they contacted Max. His girlfriend is in their group. They ran into a mutant cat."

"Why not just shoot it?"

"They're out of ammo. What do you think, she carries an armory with her?"

Sam chuckled. "Why isn't she contacting her parents?"

Ryan sighed. "She did. But they're stuck overseas."

Their conversation continued, covering various survivor groups. Sam felt encouraged knowing that others were fighting back like them.

Eventually, dinner was served—rice with scrambled eggs. Sam took his portion and ate quietly while Max handled inventory distribution.

"Hey, give me more scrambled eggs!" a student demanded, confronting the kitchen staff.

Max, standing nearby, crossed his arms. "Everyone gets one bowl of rice and one scoop of eggs. That's the rule."

"That's not fair! I saw you give more to those guys!"

"They're fighters," Max replied simply.

The boy's face twisted in frustration. "This food belongs to all of us! We paid tuition!"

Ignoring the commotion, Sam finished his meal and left. He knew the situation would resolve itself. He made his way to his room on the second floor, a quiet sanctuary amid the chaos.

Entering his room, he called out to the metal slime, watching as it eagerly shifted into a sword. This time, the shape was nearly perfect. Sam traced corrections with his hands, refining its form. The slime responded enthusiastically, solidifying into a two-kilogram sword.

He adjusted the balance, swinging it experimentally. The slime, sensing his satisfaction, vibrated slightly as if expressing joy. Sam chuckled. "You're getting better at this."

Bzzzz Bzzzz

His phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the name.

"Emmy."

He quickly answered, his voice softer than usual. "Hello?"

"Sam? Is that you?" Emmy's voice came through, slightly breathless.

A wave of relief washed over him. "Yes, it's me. How are you? Are you safe?"

"I'm fine. A dorm group rescued me yesterday," she said, her voice carrying both exhaustion and gratitude. "What about you? Are you okay? If you're near the dorms, some groups might be able to help you."

Sam exhaled, a small smile forming. "I'm with a group now. We secured our dorm building."

"Wait… are you with the group in Dorm E?"

"Yeah."

"Do you have a leader?"

"Not really. We just work together. Why? Do you need help?"

There was a pause before she spoke again, her voice quieter. "We're safe for now… but our food is running out. And there's a mutant cat blocking our path to the mess hall. Sam… do you think anyone in your group could help us?"

Sam frowned, gripping the phone tightly. The thought of Emmy being in danger unsettled him. "Do you have any details about the cat and the area around it? If you can tell me, I'll discuss it with my group."

"Really? Thank you, Sam!" Relief and gratitude filled her voice. "I know it won't be easy to convince them, but just knowing you'll try means a lot."

"Don't worry," he reassured her, his voice firm. "I'll do my best. I won't let you down."

There was a brief silence before Emmy spoke again, her voice softer. "Sam… I got something from the card."

"What did you get?"

"Not a weapon… a pet. A snake. But I don't know how to activate it."

Sam's eyes widened. "No way. What are the chances…"

"What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath. "I have a pet too. A metal slime. I had to summon it. Maybe your snake works the same way."

"Really?" she asked, excitement creeping into her voice. "How did you summon yours?"

Sam explained, giving her step-by-step instructions. "Try it when you get the chance. Also… I have something else for you."

"Something else?"

"I'll send you a PDF of two books. One of them is an Immortal Rank Technique. But don't share it. Just cultivate it yourself."

"Wait, what? An Immortal Rank Technique? Where did you get it?"

"From Blake. He's in our group. He's a good acquaintance."

There was another pause before she whispered, "Sam… thank you. Really."

Sam felt warmth rise to his face. "You'll understand when you read it."

A small chuckle came from her end. "Alright. Good night, Sam. Take care."

"Good night, Emmy."

As he ended the call, he stared at his phone, lost in thought. He had never shown this much affection toward Emmy before. And now, thinking back to their conversation, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

But deep down… he didn't mind it at all.