Apocalypse Supermarket: My Four Overpowered Husbands Wontstop Hoarding

Chapter 76: Chapter 76 House defense III

Miles and Luna moved through the defensive systems of the house, checking each mechanism one after another. Miles knew the place better than most because he had personally helped install several of the systems alongside the workers who were now dead. Luna held a remote control in one hand while staring at the main system panel, through which she could monitor almost everything happening outside. The situation was worse than she had expected.

Every helicopter was down. The awakened soldiers who had come with them were being slaughtered mercilessly by the creatures. They had exhausted themselves after repeatedly using their abilities in the sky, leaving them drained and vulnerable. They had become easy targets. One after another, the creatures tore through them—some were eaten alive, while others had their bodies sliced apart before being devoured piece by piece. Luna watched without blinking as blood covered the ground outside her home.

There were only three survivors left. Three people who had foolishly followed the government’s orders and somehow managed to escape the destruction. From what Luna could tell, they seemed to be best friends. Unfortunately for them, they had made it all the way to her mountain, and that meant they were now her problem.

Luna asked Miles where the oven pit buttons were, and he immediately pointed toward the wall, telling her they were over there. She walked toward the controls, which were hidden beside the television, disguised as ordinary switches. Unless someone knew what they were looking for, they would never realize that the entire wall was connected to the defensive system. Miles watched her and asked if they were activating all the traps.

Luna paused. She had initially intended to take things slowly—just a test. She wanted to understand these creatures before wasting all the defenses she had spent so much time preparing. The three awakened survivors were clearly powerful, probably among the strongest people the government had managed to gather. Yet they couldn’t bring those creatures down. Their magic barely affected them. The most serious injuries the monsters had suffered were torn wings and deep wounds across their bodies, and somehow, even after suffering injuries that should have brought them down, the creatures continued fighting. Their skin was incredibly tough.

Luna narrowed her eyes. She had never encountered anything like them in her previous life. For a moment, she considered holding back. Then she changed her mind. No. Activate everything. It was better to eliminate the creatures now than allow them to remain a threat. And if the survivors died in the process? Well, that wasn’t exactly her problem. In fact, there was a small, twisted part of her that wanted to see what would happen if those people managed to reach her house. Imagine thinking you had finally found safety. Imagine running toward a fortified home while monsters chased you. Then, just when you believed you had escaped death—snap. The traps would activate.

Luna almost smiled. She had experienced something similar once. She remembered standing outside the shelter of powerful people, screaming until her throat hurt. Begging. Pleading. She hadn’t wanted much—she only wanted to be allowed inside. If they had demanded that she work for them, she would have done it. If they had demanded that she serve them, she would have accepted. She had simply wanted to survive. But they had looked at her like she was nothing, then they had closed the doors, and she had died outside like a nobody. Now she had a house of her own, her own defenses, her own rules, and she wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

"Turn everything on," Luna said firmly.

Miles stared at her. "Everything?"

"Everything."

He hesitated before beginning to activate the controls—one switch, then another, then another. Lights appeared across the control panel as different sections of the property came online. Miles glanced at her and asked, "We aren’t letting those survivors in?"

Luna slowly turned her head toward him. "Why would I?" Her gaze sharpened. "To receive the same betrayal your friends gave me?"

Miles became quiet. "No."

"Exactly." Luna turned back toward the controls. "I’m not making that mistake again."

Miles remembered his friends. For a moment, his expression became complicated. Luna noticed and expected him to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, he continued activating the switches. After several seconds, he finally spoke. "You know, shouldn’t you be afraid that I might poison you?"

Luna looked at him, a small smile appearing on her lips. "Of course I don’t trust you, Miles."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I don’t even completely trust the people staying in my house." She shrugged. "So why would I trust you more?"

Miles stared at her. Luna continued, "And I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering why I’m not afraid that you might poison me." She leaned slightly closer. "Maybe I have an advantage."

Miles’ eyes narrowed. "What advantage?"

Luna smiled. "I’m not telling you." She paused. "And don’t make me reveal it."

The last switch was activated. Suddenly, the entire building seemed to change. A mechanical hum travelled through the walls, the lights flickered, and then a calm electronic voice echoed throughout the house. "Trap ground officially activated."

Silence followed. Luna’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. Miles looked around, stating, "You really activated everything."

"Yes," she confirmed.

He looked at the monitors. The three survivors were still climbing the iron structure, the monsters were waiting below, and the traps were ready. Miles swallowed.

Then Luna suddenly spoke. "You know," she said, and Miles looked at her, "maybe I might change my mind."

"About what?"

"Letting them in."

Miles’ eyes widened. Luna shrugged casually. "Of course, that’s only if they can survive." She pointed toward the monitors. "If those three can survive the traps, the four creatures chasing them, and actually make it to the house, then perhaps they’re strong enough to stay here."

Miles stared at her in disbelief. "You call that being kind?"

Luna nodded. "Yes."

His expression became even more incredulous. "How?"

"They get a chance to prove themselves." Luna folded her arms. "I don’t need weak people here. I don’t need people who will constantly drag me down." Her expression became indifferent. "So I’m giving them an opportunity."

Miles looked back at the screen. The three survivors hadn’t even reached the top yet. There was no guarantee they would survive the climb, and even if they did, they still had to cross the traps and deal with the monsters. He couldn’t understand how Luna could possibly call that kindness. But perhaps that was exactly what she wanted him to think. Maybe she was trying to prove something—to him, to herself. Or perhaps she simply didn’t care anymore. Miles wasn’t sure, and honestly, he wasn’t certain he wanted to understand her.

Luna suddenly turned away. "Come on."

"Where?" Miles asked.

"I’m hungry." She walked toward the kitchen.

Miles stared after her. "You just activated an entire death trap."

"And?" She disappeared into the kitchen.

A few moments later, she returned carrying a large bowl of popcorn. The popcorn machine had produced it earlier, and apparently, Luna had decided that watching people fight for their lives was better with snacks. She started walking toward the panic room. Miles sighed. "You’re really going to eat popcorn while watching this?"

Luna looked over her shoulder. "Are you coming or are you planning to join them?"

Miles groaned. "Fine." He followed her.

The heavy door of the panic room closed behind them. Inside, the room was much larger than anyone would expect—practically an underground apartment. There were beds positioned across different sections of the room, some along the upper level and others in the middle and corners. Couches occupied the center, and there was even a television, though it had become almost useless after the apocalypse. The largest section of the room was dedicated to the monitoring systems, with massive computers covering the walls displaying camera feeds from different parts of the island. From here, they could observe the mountain above Luna’s house, the surrounding land, and almost every important section of the property. The bathroom was located on the left side, fully equipped for long-term use. Someone could remain inside this room for a month without feeling as though they were trapped underground—it was almost another home.

The moment Luna entered, every man inside turned toward her. Ethan reacted first, rushing toward her before stopping. His shoulders relaxed as he released a breath he seemed to have been holding for a long time. "Oh, thank goodness."

Luna blinked, staring at him. "What?"

Ethan looked at her. "I’m glad you’re alright."

Luna’s eyebrows lifted, her expression genuinely confused. What was that expression? Was that... worry?

Kai, apparently unable to keep his mouth shut, immediately exposed him. "I don’t know what you did to Ethan, but he’s been asking about you constantly."

Ethan’s head snapped toward him. "Kai!" But it was already too late—Kai had said it. He immediately covered his face with one hand. Ethan sighed.

Luna simply shrugged. "Well, I’m alive." She walked past them. "And I’m in one piece." She dropped herself onto one of the beds and settled comfortably. "So let’s sit down and see who manages to survive the terror I unleashed outside."

The room became silent. Adrian stared at her. "You can’t be serious."

Luna looked at him. "What?"

"You’re talking about those people like they’re animals."

"They’re survivors."

"They’re human beings." Adrian’s voice hardened. "They’re just like us."

Luna popped a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "And?"

Adrian couldn’t believe her. "That’s wrong." He gestured toward the screens. "You’re playing with people’s lives. If this is what you’re going to do, then what’s the difference between you and the government?"

Luna slowly turned her head, a smirk appearing on her face. "My house." She pointed toward the ceiling. "My rules." Then she stretched her legs across the bed. "If you have your own house, you can go save the world."

Adrian fell silent. Luna’s eyes returned to the monitors, which showed the three survivors still climbing, exhausted, their hands bleeding, the iron structure continuing to shake beneath them, and below them, the wounded creature was waiting.

But there was something the others didn’t know. Luna had deliberately left a clue inside the trap system—a small opening, a hidden route, something that could save them if they were smart enough to find it. She wasn’t helping them, not exactly. She simply wanted to see what they were capable of. If they were clever enough to discover the path, they would survive. If they weren’t, then perhaps they weren’t worthy of entering her home.

Luna leaned back and smiled faintly. "May the smartest person win."