Shinon couldn’t believe his eyes as he stepped out into the chaotic scene, with Miro leading the way. They joined a bustling crowd that had poured out of their homes and workplaces, each person reacting in their own way to the sudden alarm.

Amidst the crowd, some residents brandished makeshift weapons—a hodgepodge of baseball bats, pipes, and even a few kitchen knives—while others watched the unfolding spectacle nonchalantly.

It was this stark contrast that puzzled Shinon the most. Shinon couldn’t contain his confusion any longer.

"Why is everyone so calm? I thought we were under attack by a horde?" he asked Miro as they joined the crowd.

"We are under attack by a horde," Miro replied nonchalantly. "but there’s nothing to fear."

"Eh?"

Shinon’s eyes darted around, searching for answers as he followed Miro’s lead. As he observed the scene, he noticed people leisurely strolling about or chatting casually with neighbours. It was as if they were entirely unfazed by the situation.

"Why?" Shinon pressed, genuinely perplexed. He couldn’t wrap his head around the city’s strange response to the imminent threat. "I mean, I know we have a sturdy wall surrounding us, but isn’t everybody a bit too relaxed?"

Miro’s lips curved into a faint smile as if he were sharing a well-kept secret. He gestured towards the towering walls that enclosed Haven’s Refuge.

"Take a look up there."

Shinon followed Miro’s gaze, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. Massive turrets were positioned along the city’s formidable walls, each bristling with deadly weaponry.

The turrets, equipped with heavy-calibre guns, looked like something out of a war movie. Their barrels were pointed menacingly toward the approaching horde, ready to unleash their firepower at a moment’s notice.

But the grand spectacle didn’t end there. Shinon’s gaze was drawn to the guards stationed atop the walls.

These sentinels were armed not only with conventional firearms but also with more powerful weaponry, including bazookas and other explosives. The arsenal at their disposal was a bit of an overkill.

"Oh, right... I forgot about the turrets." Shinon shook his head. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"You might not believe me, but the hordes haven’t posed a threat to Haven’s refuge in years," Miro continued. "In fact, it is an event that most of us look forward to."

"Then what’s up with those guys carrying weapons?"

"There’ll always be paranoid souls everywhere," Miro shrugged. "I daresay it’s the humans one has to be wary of in this city, not the undead. But I think you know it beforehand."

"Alright, but if everything is under control, then why did we have to rush out-"

"To avoid suspicion, why else?" Miro replied. "No one in the city misses the event, and if we did, it would raise suspicion, and believe it or not, Caleb’s men would still be looking for us."

"As such, we need to act casual," Shinon completed Miro’s train of thought.

"Exactly. Since we’re already here, why don’t we enjoy ourselves before talking about the serious stuff?"

Shinon nodded as he remembered his journey so far. Of course, he was most cautious of the undead in his early days. But as time went on, he realised the undead were only the start, and the humans were still the worst out there.

Meanwhile, as the undead horde drew closer, the guards opened fire, and the night sky erupted into a dazzling display of lights and fiery chaos.

Explosions and rapid bursts of gunfire filled the air, drowning out the siren’s incessant wailing. The undead, seemingly unstoppable mere moments ago, were torn apart by the relentless barrage.

Of course, no one within the city could see what was happening outside the walls. But thanks to the live feed and the makeshift screens spread across the city, they watched the live show of The Walking Dead.

Shinon watched in disbelief as the relentless firepower of the turrets and guards rendered the undead nothing more than cannon fodder. Their advance had been reduced to a fiery spectacle. It was as if the horde’s existence had been reduced to fuel for the city’s impressive defence mechanisms.

"So basically, we’re here for a fireworks show?" Shinon muttered incredulously, struggling to reconcile this surreal scene with his grim struggles in the Phoenixes settlement.

Miro’s voice conveyed amusement as he responded, "In a way, yes. The turrets and the guards on the walls ensure that the horde never poses a real threat to Haven’s Refuge or the slums outside."

Shinon felt a strange mixture of emotions welling up within him. Relief washed over him as he realised the city was impervious to the horde’s assault.

However, with that relief came bewilderment at the stark contrast between this city’s defences and the dire circumstances he had faced in the past.

In the Phoenix’s settlement, every encounter with the undead had been a life-or-death struggle. Survival had been an everyday battle, and the community had banded together to protect what little they had left.

Back then, facing a horde of undead would trigger panic and swift action, with everyone arming themselves and rallying together to defend their homes.

But here in Haven’s Refuge, it was as if the alarm had merely signalled the start of an everyday event. For them, the undead were simply an inconvenience—annoying pests that could be effortlessly dealt with.

As the fiery display continued to light up the night sky, Shinon couldn’t help but wonder how life had come to this point. Every day in the Phoenix’s settlement had been a struggle for survival, and the undead had been a constant threat.

Here, within the safety of these walls, the city’s inhabitants carried on with their lives as if the world beyond was of no consequence. But that’s what scared Shinon the most.

Haven’s Refuge was too strong even for the Military to handle. But in a way, it also made sense why no one could ever do anything about the Eclipse.

"This place is weird..." Shinon smiled as he saw the faces of everyone around him.

"Well, there’s a reason why we call it Heaven’s Refuge," Miro replied, placing his elbow on Shinon’s shoulders. "Now then, let’s continue our conversation, shall we?"