The Radiant Source: Part 2

The worn-out bunch stretched on the cold, hard floor responded to those words with a sudden jolt of energy, their tired eyes staring at Raymond as though he were a living legend, a ray of hope in their otherwise hopeless world. The delicate silence of the passageway was broken in a moment. Once a spotless corridor inside the military installation, the small passageway now had the ominous wounds of the end of the world. The low buzzing of fluorescent lights overhead created spooky, changing shadows on walls smeared with furious handprints and stains of dried blood, silent reminders of the mayhem that had taken place here. The combined smells of rot and disinfectant hung heavy in the air, a continual, uncomfortable reminder of the horrors that lay beyond these walls.

"You're the one?" As he fought to get up, a man with one arm covered in a dirty bandage with dark splotches rasped, his voice shaking with amazement.

"Is that you?" Another voice broke through the whispers, this time from a woman whose sunken eyes and thin face revealed days of lack of sleep, her hands gripping the edge of a frayed blanket.

"What did you do?" A third figure leaned forward and demanded, a large man pushing himself to his knees with a tone that was a mixture of desperation and curiosity.

A young youngster, speaking almost above a whisper, begged, "Can you save us?" He was sitting on the floor, cross-legged, holding a teddy bear whose fur was matted with grime and had one eye gone.

Raymond was inundated with these inquiries and a chorus of others like a never-ending tide. They had been stuck in this nightmare for weeks, so he couldn't blame them for their excitement, but it made him feel really uneasy. His breath came in short gasps as the pressure of their stares slammed against his chest. He wasn't used to being the focus of attention, much less in such a depressing setting. In an attempt to clear a small area from the excited, hopeful faces, he instinctively edged away, his boots scuffing against the broken tiles. His eyes followed Leopold's gaze as it pierced the crowd, wide with awe at first, then narrowing into a frown. Raymond could almost taste the animosity coming from Leopold's posture as his jaw tensed and his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He wasn't shocked; a guy like him wouldn't let such a slight to go unanswered, and Leopold's hold on power had briefly wavered.

Calvin interrupted with a composed yet authoritative demeanor, saying, "Guys, if you'll pardon me, we need our hero in one piece." Gently pushing the crowd back, he lifted his hands palms out. "I also need to work with him to organize our next rescue mission." His voice was fluid and infused with a natural authority that at least somewhat subdued the cacophony.

The noise didn't completely go away; instead, the voices became louder and echoed off the scarred walls in a cacophony of joy and dismay. Luckily, the group gave up enough to allow Raymond some space. Calvin guided him away from the crowd with a firm hand on his shoulder. Leopold was looking after Raymond as they proceeded, his large shoulders set as he tried to regain control. Raymond glanced back at him. In a gruff, strained voice, Leopold yelled, "Okay, everyone, back to work—we've got plenty to do." His attempt to regain his power was barely credible.

Raymond furrowed his brow and remarked, "I don't understand, Calvin," as they pulled away from the mayhem. "What took place while I slept?"

Calvin's face became serious. I should start by outlining the current circumstance. We attempted to communicate with the outside world while you were unconscious. Since the nation had proclaimed a state of emergency, our only means of communication were with the armed forces and governmental organizations. There has been no response from any of them. He spoke in a solemn tone, each word purposeful, as he were piecing together a somber jigsaw.

As he processed the weight of it, Raymond blinked. "What does that mean, wait?"

Calvin spoke calmly in spite of the grave consequences, "We can safely assume the plague has swept through the country." "It may not have killed everyone, but aside from this facility, it probably disabled the military as well. Right now, I'd bet that we're the only self-sufficient structure remaining in Sakurashi.

As reality set in, Raymond's pace slowed and his steps faltered. Although he had anticipated a difficult situation, it was a shock to learn that these animals had rendered their entire army, which was meant to be their lifeline, incapable of fighting. Images of overrun cities and deserted bases flashed across his head.

But it's not all gone," Calvin added, breaking through Raymond's tumultuous emotions with a slightly raised voice. "Raymond, you've turned into these men's hope. You spared them from the doom that afflicted this land for weeks by defying death. For them, it meant everything, even though we both know it won't last forever. You were a miracle to them. Now that they have begun striving to better their lives, they won't give up on life so quickly.

Raymond turned to face the gang, who were working amidst the building's debris. Men moved with purpose, hauling wreckage aside; others pounded at homemade barricades, strengthening what little security remained. A group of people squatted over a generator, their faces smeared with oil as they tried to revive it. He admired their capacity to maintain a basic faith and to remain resilient in the face of adversity. Ironically, he had become the epitome of hope, their only hope for survival, even before the world collapsed. "Fate loved its cruel twists," he thought bitterly.

"So, do you know what needs to be done next?" Calvin's tone changed to one of expectation as he asked.

With a hint of confusion in his voice, Raymond said, "I was hoping you'd tell me." He preferred unambiguous responses to subtle cues. "To be completely honest, I've had a terrible time these past few days."

"That hope needs to be amplified," Calvin said, his words shocking Raymond with their force. There was a glimmer of happiness in them, but it was cold—rather, his voice throbbed with a passionate enthusiasm that made Raymond uneasy.

"How are you going to accomplish that?" Unease crawling up his spine, Raymond pressed. "And why do you feel so happy—"

With ease, as though he had foreseen the interruption, Calvin said, "I'll answer both questions now, if I may." "Are you familiar with the human pyramid theory?"

Raymond scowled. "What?"

Calvin repeated, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "Humanity's pyramid." It is a theory concerning how human society has evolved over time. According to this theory, people have always aimed for a bright source of energy—a desired item, or, more simply put, the solution to the universe. No creature on Earth can actually reach it, despite their ceaseless efforts. What actions do you believe people have taken to pursue it since ancient times?

"I don't know—try to figure out how to get higher, I guess?" In the haze of his perplexity, Raymond dared to ask, searching for a response.

Calvin quickly responded, "They would, in fact, do that," grabbing upon the response. At first, they would help one another, working toward the same objective. However, others turn to... harsher means when they realize that good intentions and teamwork alone won't enough. There will always be people who try to achieve the goal by killing other people and building a staircase to get there.

The grimness of it all made Raymond's stomach turn. "That sounds too pessimistic to me," he muttered.

Calvin retorted, unfazed, "Oh, but we live in a world governed by this theory." "More people have died in every conflict, all for fictitious reasons. According to the belief, the world's ultimate solution will finally come from these sacrifices. In my opinion, it is preferable to think that those fatalities had a legitimate reason.

Raymond was unable to comprehend the cheerfulness Calvin infused into such somber stories. Did he really like disturbing those around him, or was this his actual nature? He dismissed the idea and changed the subject. "So, how do my questions get answered by this?"

As though he had been waiting for the cue, Calvin remarked, "This theory underpins the strength of my words, Raymond." With widespread devastation, bodies scattered across the nation, and the living dead taking over our surrounds, the globe has descended into an unprecedented state of chaos. The power of humanity has diminished. It's also our best chance to advance, though. This theory's main takeaway is that the only way to achieve an ideal world is through destruction. Until we can live better than before, our goal is to remove these undead.

"Hold on, eliminate every zombie." Incredulous, Raymond's voice soared. "I recall that you asked me to vacate the building. But a whole nation? Or even a city? Doesn't that seem a little unrealistic?

Unfazed, Calvin adamantly maintained, "It isn't." We'll demonstrate to everyone present that their optimism is more than just wishful thinking. We have to move quickly to do it. We'll start by getting rid of every zombie in this city in a single day.

Raymond was astonished by the plan's boldness and stood motionless as Calvin said these things, half to himself. Calvin remained unfazed, turning on his heel and advancing on the group with a loud voice. "Be quick! Tell our warriors that we are going to retake this city over in three days!

In response, there was a roaring commotion, a tidal wave of yells and applause that filled the hallway. Men sprang to their feet, pumping their fists; others embraced in ferocious solidarity. They had a strong feeling of purpose for the first time in weeks, signaling the daring start of Raymond's new expedition.