Apocalypse: Transmigrated with an Overlord System
Chapter 114: After the Storm

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: After the Storm

Liora woke up again to a heavy, suffocating feeling. She groaned lowly, her throat dry and cracked, as she realized even moving a single finger was a struggle. It felt like her entire body had been battered and bruised, leaving not a single place untouched by pain.

Her lips parted, and a hoarse, broken voice squeezed out.

"Water..."

It was more a scratch than a word. The roughness of her throat made even that small sound feel like it was tearing something raw inside her. She needed to drink. Anything to soothe the burning dryness in her throat.

Just as she struggled weakly, trying and failing to lift her arm, someone moved close. A small hand helped tilt a straw to her lips. Without hesitation, Liora latched onto it and drank greedily, desperate as if even a moment’s delay would snatch the water away from her.

The cool liquid flowed down, washing away the terrible dryness. Every swallow brought relief, easing the scratching pain little by little until she finally emptied the entire glass.

Only then did she feel like she could breathe again. Only then did she have enough strength to force her heavy eyelids open.

The first thing she saw was a pair of sparkling blue eyes, wide and full of adoration and overwhelming relief.

A soft, unknowable smile tugged at the corners of Liora’s lips. She knew those eyes. She could never forget them.

"Eli..." she whispered, the name escaping her with a tremble.

Eli beamed, his little face lighting up as if he had been waiting forever to hear her voice. Without hesitation, he climbed up onto the small bed, hugging her tightly.

Liora’s heart softened even more. She lifted her weak arms and hugged him back, holding onto the little boy’s warm body as if she was afraid he would disappear.

But before she could say anything more, reality came crashing down on her like a cruel wave.

The memories of that day the desperate battle, the endless horde, the hopelessness, the friends who fought beside her—flashed through her mind in vivid, gut-wrenching pieces.

Her smile faltered. Then it disappeared completely.

Liora stiffened in Eli’s hug, her body frozen as she was overwhelmed by the terrifying memories. But even as she stiffened, she did not loosen her grip on Eli. She could not. She did not want to scare him. He had nothing to do with her sorrow. He was innocent.

Still, her heart ached. Where were her friends now?

Where were they?

Liora’s gaze darted around the unfamiliar room. It was small, tidy, and strange. She had never seen it before. Panic began to stir in her chest. Tears filled her eyes before she could stop them.

Maybe...

Maybe she had survived that nightmare.

But she had lost everything else in return.

A shaky sob slipped out of her mouth even though she bit her lip hard to suppress it. She did not want Eli to see her like this. She did not want to show him her weakness.

But Eli immediately noticed.

The little boy looked up at her, his blue eyes wide with alarm. His small hands clumsily wiped her tears away, confused and worried.

Why was his pretty sister crying?

Was she in pain?

But... Daddy said she would be fine now. Daddy had said she was already healed. Daddy said she would not hurt anymore.

Eli’s little face scrunched up in anger. He did not believe Daddy anymore. He must have lied. He must have not healed her properly. Maybe she was still hurting a lot, and Daddy just tricked him!

Eli puffed up his cheeks angrily and wiped Liora’s tears more fiercely, his voice soft but firm.

"Pretty sister, don’t cry," he said, his words filled with childish concern.

Liora froze for a second when she heard him. Her blurry eyes stared at his serious little face, and suddenly, the dam inside her broke.

Instead of stopping, her sobs grew louder. She buried her face against Eli’s small shoulder and cried harder, clutching him with all her remaining strength.

She cried not just for herself, but for everything she had lost.

She cried for her fallen friends.

For the home she could never return to.

For the loneliness that now wrapped around her like a cold, merciless chain.

The world had become so dark and cold.

Eli panicked a little when Liora hugged him tighter and cried even harder. His little hands could only awkwardly pat her back, but he stayed still and let her cry all she wanted. He did not understand what happened to her suddenly, but he knew one thing very clearly—his pretty sister was sad. Very, very sad.

And he had to stay with her.

Liora sobbed for a long time, her tears soaking into Eli’s t-shirt. She could not stop herself. She had kept everything bottled inside for too long. The fear. The helplessness. The crushing sadness of seeing her friends fall one after another while she could do nothing. It all poured out now, as if a dam had finally broken inside her chest.

Finally, after what felt like forever, her crying slowed down into soft hiccups. She loosened her grip on Eli, her arms trembling from exhaustion. Eli quietly wiped her tear-stained face again with his small hands, his face serious like a little adult.

"Pretty sister... everything will be okay," he said stubbornly, as if saying it would make it true.

Liora managed a weak smile. She reached up and gently ruffled his messy hair.

"Thank you, Eli," she whispered hoarsely. Her voice was still scratchy and weak, but at least now it did not hurt as much to speak.

Eli grinned, showing his missing front tooth proudly. "Hehe... you are welcome!"

Liora slowly sat up, grimacing at the soreness in every part of her body. She took a better look around the room now that her head was a little clearer. It was small but clean, with plain white walls and a sturdy wooden door. A single window let in a soft, warm light. There was nothing fancy, but it felt safe.

Eli quickly moved to stuff a pillow behind her back, trying to help her sit more comfortably. His little legs scrambled all over the bed, making the mattress squeak under him.

Liora smiled at his efforts and leaned back against the pillow with a sigh.

"Eli," she said, her voice gentler, "do you know where we are?"

Eli tilted his head and thought very hard, his eyebrows scrunched up.

He did not know at all where they were. He had only followed him here. But before he could voice out his turmoil—

Someone immediately knocked on the door and entered without even waiting for the response. "Are you finally awake?"

It was a simple question, but it left Liora stunned as she looked at the standing man in front of her like she had seen a ghost...

"Liang Zihan....."