My Sniper System in a Zombie Apocalypse World-Chapter 79: By Your Side

Jaxon stopped in front of Natasha’s door and knocked once before pushing it open.

Inside, Natasha was slumped on her bed with her back against the wall. One leg was bent, her phone resting in her hand as her thumb scrolled with focus.

"Natasha," Jaxon called, a small smile on his face.

She looked up at the sound of his voice. "You’re back already?" She locked her phone and set it aside before meeting his eyes. "How was the shooting training with the others?"

"They’re doing fine, they’re all working hard," Jaxon said. "If they keep practicing, they should be able to protect themselves against the infected."

Natasha hummed softly. "Hmm. That includes Na-rin too?"

Jaxon nodded. "She’s improving, she’s a quick learner. She’ll be a good shooter in no time."

Natasha studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing just a bit. Then she tilted her head. "What is it?" she asked. "You didn’t come here just to give me an update. You’ve got something to ask, right?"

Jaxon paused. "Well... I wanted to see you."

She snorted, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. "Don’t bluff." She said looking away.

Jaxon chuckled, then his expression turned serious. "I need your help. Can you scout some spots in the city using the drone?"

"What kind of spots?" she asked, sitting up straighter.

He stepped closer, lifting his hand as he spoke.

"High ground," he said. "Somewhere quiet. A place I can stay hidden without infected wandering in. Rooftops, buildings, anything with good cover."

"I need clear lines of sight," he continued. "Long streets, intersections, open areas where they move through at night. But I also need a way out. At least two escape routes. Stairs, ladders, maybe even a connected building."

Natasha froze. She turned to face him, as she realized his intentions.

"Jaxon," she said slowly, "what are you planning to do?"

"Scouting."

She stared at him. "Don’t lie."

The room fell silent. But Jaxon said nothing. He only met her eyes and held her gaze. The quiet stretched on as Natasha clenched her jaw.

"I’m coming with you," she said suddenly, her eyes narrowing.

"No," Jaxon replied at once. "It’ll be dangerous. I’ll be moving at night."

"What?" Her voice sharpened as she stepped closer. "You can’t do that. Why would you put yourself in that kind of risk? If you need coins, you can kill infected here. Snipe from above."

"That’s what I did last night," Jaxon said calmly. "But if I keep killing them around this place, they’ll notice."

"Notice what?" Natasha asked, frowning.

"This place," Jaxon said. "The infected aren’t mindless. They’re smarter than we think. If too many die nearby, they’ll figure out where the shots are coming from."

Her hands curled into fists. "Then why would you go out?" she demanded, teeth clenched. "You just said how dangerous they are."

"I know," Jaxon said.

He stepped closer, his voice low and steady. "But I’m still going. I need to get stronger."

Natasha opened her mouth to argue, but the words never came. When she looked into his eyes, she knew. This time, she could not stop him.

Her hands trembled behind her back as she spoke in a quiet voice. "You’re doing things on your own again..."

The memory rushed back to her. The moment Jaxon had risked himself to save them, drawing the infected away. She had thought she lost him then. The fear had crushed her, like losing a part of herself. It was only when she heard his voice again, that she managed to breathe.

"Why do you always take the most dangerous tasks for yourself?" she whispered. "Why do you put yourself in danger..." Her voice broke. "Just stay here with us. Please."

Tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks.

Jaxon froze. This was the first time he had ever seen her cry. Natasha was always calm, always sharp, never shaken. Seeing her like this made his chest tighten.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Jaxon reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Natasha," he called softly.

She didn’t respond.

"Natasha," he said again, a little firmer this time.

Slowly, she lifted her head, her eyes red as she looked up at him from his chest.

"Do you trust me?" Jaxon asked quietly.

Natasha nodded, her lips trembling. "That’s unfair..." she whispered, burying her face against him again.

Jaxon held her a little tighter. "I trust you too," he murmured. "Do you know why my body has changed so much?"

She stayed silent, listening, her forehead pressed against his chest.

"It’s because I get stronger every time I kill an infected," he continued. "I don’t just gain coins. I gain stats too."

This time, she lifted her gaze to him again.

"This is how my system works," he said gently. "I need to keep fighting, not just to upgrade or buy weapons. To keep protecting you and everyone else, I have to get stronger."

Her chest tightened. She felt a knot of fear coil inside her. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy for him, she was, more than anything. But at the same time, a quiet worry settled in her heart. She realized that soon, she might not be able to follow him anymore. One day, she might only slow him down.

"I..." Her voice caught, and she swallowed hard. "...Alright," she whispered.

She stepped back from his chest and forced a small smile. "Go."

She didn’t notice when things had changed so much. When they were younger, they were always together, side by side. Now, it felt like he was moving ahead, and she was left watching his back.

"Natasha? Are you okay?" Jaxon asked, noticing the sadness in her eyes.

"I..." Her voice caught in her throat. She understood what he wanted to do, the risks he was willing to take to protect them. But she couldn’t bear the thought of being only a bystander, only a burden. She shook off her fear, gathering her courage, and spoke her selfish wish.

"I... I just want to be by your side."

Jaxon froze. Their eyes locked, and he saw it all, the quiet determination, the fear she tried to hide, and the desire she refused to let go of. Without realizing it, a small smile spread across his face. A throb of warmth echoed in his chest, a feeling he hadn’t noticed before.

"You can come with me," he said gently, a hint of a smile on his lips. "But you have to wait."

Natasha looked up at him, confused.

Jaxon explained about his new exclusive skill, the damage stack, the max upgrades, and the possibility of making someone far stronger than normal.

"I haven’t tried it with the other rifles yet," he added. "But if I fully upgrade them, I think they’ll work the same way."

Natasha didn’t let him finish.

"Jaxon." She stepped forward and hugged him tightly, arms wrapping around his waist. A bright smile spread across her face as she buried it against his chest.

"Jaxon... Jaxon..." she whispered happily. There was a way. A real way. He wouldn’t have to carry everything alone anymore. She could help him. They could face it together, side by side.

They stayed like that for a long moment. Slowly, Natasha calmed down. Then she realized what she had done. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she quickly pulled away.

"I... that was..." she stammered.

"That was cute," Jaxon said with a quiet chuckle. "It’s the first time I’ve seen this side of you."

Natasha’s blush deepened, and she quickly cleared her throat, regaining her composure.

"A rifle that has these... magical effects," she said, her voice sharper now. "Jaxon, you have to keep this an absolute secret. The infected, your system... there’s definitely something unusual here." Her voice grew more serious. "And the government... no, not just them. Every leader in the world is desperate for answers or any connection to the infected. If this gets out..."

"I know," Jaxon said, nodding. "I only told you."

Natasha nodded, still flushed. "Anyway, we have to use that function carefully. Don’t tell anyone, even after you upgrade the guns... not Mom or Cindy," she whispered. "It’s not that I don’t trust them..." she added quickly.

"I know," Jaxon said. "I trust them too, but I won’t put them in danger."

"Mm," Natasha murmured. "I’ll check if there are similar cases to your system. Maybe we missed something." Her voice softened. "And... if you go out later, be careful, alright?"

She picked up her pistol from the table and handed it to him. "Hold onto this. You might need it."

Jaxon opened his mouth to say he didn’t need it, but then he simply nodded and took it.

.....

On top of a tall building, Jaxon was slumped against the rough concrete of the rooftop.

His hood was drawn low. Dark, anti-glare tactical glasses hid his eyes, absorbing any hint of light. A face wrap covered his nose and mouth. His tactical jacket and pants were tight and worn, made for stillness and patience. Over his shoulders draped a short sniper cape, soaked with infected blood.

Every piece of his gear had been chosen carefully, bought through the system. As long as he stayed still and kept his movements small, he was nearly invisible. Just another shape swallowed by the night and concrete.

This was one of the spots Natasha had marked for him.

He had sprinted here before darkness fell, climbing stairwells and ladders. Now the city below was slowly becoming dark.

The first distant howls rose from nearby buildings, then more joined in. Shapes began to stir, shuffling into the streets as the infected awoke.

Jaxon adjusted his rifle, slipping it into night vision, his focus sharpening.

He needed coins.

Yesterday had been fruitful, but not enough to fully upgrade Natasha’s pistol. Tonight, he would complete it.

Below, an infected staggered into the open, its head snapping upward as if sensing something off.

Jaxon smiled beneath his face wrap.

It was time for another sniper’s hunt.