Apocalypse with my SSS Harem Beauties-Chapter 149: Night Came

"That’s great. So now we just need to look for the Ether Shard," Myles said calmly.

"Right," Michael replied without hesitation.

He stepped away from the altar as if ready to give orders. Then his vision swayed.

The ground tilted beneath him. His knees buckled and he dropped to one hand, his breathing suddenly shallow.

A wave of heavy and unavoidable weakness spread through his limbs.

"Michael!" Rafe moved first, catching his shoulder before he collapsed completely.

Hana rushed forward and knelt beside him. She placed her palm lightly against his arm and closed her eyes, using her skill to sensing his body.

"It’s exhaustion," she said after a second. "His body was too tired and injured from internal strain from earlier. You pushed too hard in that fight. Your body hasn’t recovered yet."

Michael clenched his teeth. "I’m fine."

"You’re not," Hana replied firmly. "You can’t move properly right now. If you force it, you’ll collapse again. We need to rest."

Silence followed the whole group for a few seconds.

Michael’s group exchanged looks. The ambition that had burned in their eyes moments ago dimmed under the reality of throbbing muscles and scorched lungs.

Even if they had not taken direct hits, they still endured the oppressive heat and Ether pressure from the battle.

Darius rolled his shoulder that held the shield and winced.

Rafe exhaled slowly. "Damn it... its true."

"She’s right. We won’t be able to fight like this," Selene said with a sigh.

Not far from them, Myles glanced at Victor and the others. No one needed to say it aloud. Their bodies felt heavy too and their MP reserves had dropped sharply during the fight.

"If we go hunting monsters now, we’ll risk our lives instead," Victor said quietly.

Kade gave a short nod.

"Alright, then. We go back now and recover first," Myles decided.

No one said anything. Even Michael already accepted the reality.

The group left the ruined district together, the massive altar standing silent behind them. The fading mist swallowed the structure once more as they moved toward their camp.

—

When they arrived, several people in the camp rushed forward to greet them. The smell of burnt fabric and scorched metal clung to their gear. Small burns and cuts became obvious under proper light.

"You’re injured."

"Sit down first."

"Bring water!"

Volunteers moved quickly. Cloth, salves, and basic medical supplies appeared from nearby tents.

Michael’s team received assistance immediately. Hana continued checking their conditions, stabilizing minor internal strain.

Myles and his group made their way to their own tent without much conversation.

Victor dropped onto his seat with a tired sigh. Daniel removed his gloves slowly and dropped his hammer to his side. Clara leaned her spear against the support pole before sitting down. Others took up their own places.

Myles lay back on his bedroll, staring at the canvas ceiling.

"I don’t see Lilian," George said after a moment, glancing around the tent entrance.

"Yeah," Ethan added. "I haven’t been able to say thank you properly."

"Don’t worry," Myles replied, eyes half-closed. "She’ll be back later."

Silence settled over them.

Outside, the camp gradually quieted as fatigue overtook adrenaline. The earlier tension faded into the background, replaced by heavy exhaustion.

Myles let his breathing slow.

He was curious about where Lilian had gone. She would not leave without reason. Something must have caught her attention.

But the thought remained distant in his mind. He did not dwell on it.

His body felt too tired to chase speculation so he closed his eyes.

He did not know that when Lilian returned, she would bring something surprising with her.

—

Night fell slowly over the camp. Dark sky stretched above the crystalline barrier that protected their perimeter, and the faint glow of Ether mist reflected off its surface.

In the center of the camp, a large fire crackled. Sparks rose upward as strips of meat sizzled over iron grills.

The smell of roasted fat, charred edges, and smoke mixed with spice spread quickly.

Myles opened his eyes.

His body still felt heavy, but the scent pulled him back to full awareness.

"Myles. They’re cooking meat!" Ethan’s voice burst into the tent.

Myles blinked and focused. Ethan stood near the entrance, his one remaining eye gleaming with excitement.

"Huh?" Myles rubbed his face and pushed himself up on one elbow. "Oh... right. Where did they get the meat?"

"It’s not important right now. Come on! The others are already outside."

"Uhh... right."

Myles sat up slowly, his muscles protesting. He had fallen asleep from pure exhaustion. It had still been daylight when he closed his eyes. Now darkness covered everything.

He glanced toward the tent opening.

Beyond the fabric, the air remained thick with faint Ether mist. The translucent crystal wall surrounding the camp reflected distant light, casting pale glimmers across the ground.

After everything they had gone through today, cooking meat did not seem like a bad idea.

Food meant morale.

He stood, stretched his shoulders, and stepped outside.

About thirty members of Michael’s camp gathered around the central fire. Some sat on crates, some crouched near the flames, turning skewers carefully.

Laughter mixed with tired conversation. The tension from earlier battles softened under warmth and smoke.

To his mild surprise, Ethan, George, and Daniel were already deep in conversation with several members of Michael’s group.

They looked almost like old friends.

Myles walked to the side where prepared plates were stacked. He picked one up and placed several pieces of grilled meat onto it. The surface glistened under firelight.

He did not join any group.

Instead, he moved toward the edge of the gathering and sat alone on a low crate. He faced the fire but kept enough distance to observe everyone.

The flames danced in front of him then he took a bite. Juice and smoke filled his mouth. It was simple and just roughly seasoned. But satisfying.

Footsteps approached him and a moment later Michael sat down beside him without asking. He also carried a plate, though his posture remained slightly stiff.

Michael stared into the flames. "Today changed things."

Myles chewed quietly before answering. "It did."

Michael’s jaw tightened slightly. "A B-Rank altar... If we control it, we will become stronger in no time."

"Control is a strong word," Myles kept his gaze forward.

Michael glanced sideways at him. "You’re not interested?"

Myles took another bite before responding. "I didn’t say that."

The firelight reflected in both their eyes. There was the same feeling of ambition flickering there.

"We must gather more strength. There is another group in this area, and they are evil. We need to annihilate them to secure our safety," Michael said suddenly.

Myles turned at him. He didn’t expect to hear that. But then he realized that it was something that should be in his expectation.

—