Inhaling polluted and smoky air, Peter and the rest of the group examined the changes that happened overnight. The city looked like it the aftermath of a civil war. Some sidewalks were covered in debris, ashes, and corpses, while others were riddled with battle scars.

The goblins from yesterday were nowhere to be seen as if they all decided to pack up overnight. After examining the state of the city, Peter returned to James’ question and let out some steam at the same time.

“That’s bullshit and you know it, James. How old do I look James? 15? You might be able to lie to them, but we all read that message. You saw those monsters. Either I kill them and improve myself or let them kill me…”

Peter exaggeratingly gesture filled Rem and Anne’s head with dark thoughts. “…so either I kill them or they kill me? We’re just going to accept this?” James grimly replied.

“Hell no. When I get strong enough, I’ll find whoever the hell did this to us, and kill them too. Ruined my carefree days of drinking and sleeping.”

“Th…that’s your reasoning!?” James exclaimed

“Well, what did you expect James? Some passionate speech about saving humanity?”

“Dad…I don’t think Sir Peter would save humanity either.”

“Hehe, good boy Rem!” Peter laughed as James scolded his son for not wanting to save humanity. ‘What a hypocrite. Stupid Dad, but I wonder what Anne thinks…’ Rem continuously nodded his head in agreement as his father nagged him about the importance of mankind’s existence.

The group walked for 20 minutes before finally encountering a new species of monsters. They looked like German shepherds, except these monsters had an alligator-sized snout.

[Meat Eater LV 20]

Watching Rem and Anne surround the monster, Peter felt slightly uneasy. ‘They didn’t have any trouble with the goblins…what’s the worst that can happen right?’

SNAP

The [Meat Eater] snapped its jaws loudly before running at Rem. Rem sidestepped the monster as Anne jumped on top of the beast and stabbed her sword into its snout. Despite breaking the skin, the sword didn’t go through the entire snout as she expected. Feeling a slight sting on the surface of its long snout, the beast bellowed. Surprisingly, it threw Anne off its back with ease.

The two regrouped and this time, Rem charged at the [Meat Eater]. After leveling up from slaying goblins, he distributed his free points into STR, which increased his attack power. Reacting immediately the dog opened its snout and prepared to eat the stupid human, running towards its mouth like a free meal. Before Rem fell into its jaws, he made a sharp left turn and Anne stabbed the monster’s eye from the right.

ROOooar!

Although its snout was tough to pierce, its eye wasn’t. Watching the [Meat Eater] bleed out and unyieldingly struggle towards its killer, Rem bashed its brains in.

“Good job.” Peter smiled and gave the two a pat on the back. “Anne, what did you invest your stat points in?” Anne responded, “AGI. I want to be fast.” Peter nodded his head in approval and asked Rem the same question.

“Sir, I invested my points in STR.”

‘Am I seriously that old?’ Peter couldn’t help but wonder why Rem insisted on calling him sir. “Rem, I’m 37, just call me uncle.”

“But… Sir… we’re not related.” Anne burst into laughter and didn’t stop for almost a minute. Rem seemed embarrassed about the situation and decided to stick with sir, to prevent further embarrassing himself in front of Anne.

~Cough, cough~

Peter pointed at the three [Meat Eater]s and the duo instantly became serious again. Confident in the duo’s ability to handle the three beasts, Peter simply watched on the sideline.

As the duo fought off the beasts one by one, Peter gripped James' shoulder. “Your son has potential to become an excellent fighter. Are you proud of him James?” James’ nervousness watching his son fight disappeared, and he replied, “I’m proud of Rem, but Peter, I don’t want this to be his life. He is young; he shouldn’t have to fight toe to toe with monsters that come straight out of a horror movie.”

Haha!

Laughing at James’ joke, Peter responded, “I didn’t know you joked. But, don’t you think you’re underestimating your son a little? When I first met this brat, he was crying his eyes out being chased by goblins. Goblins. James, you want to see him cry and run from monsters every time?”

James stood silently along Peter and watched his son fight the last [Meat Eater]. Sighing in defeat, James weakly said, “You’re right. Maybe I am too stubborn about this. However, I will absolutely not permit him to kill another human.” Emphasizing the word human, James looked fiercely at Peter.

Since James made a concession, Peter did not pursue the matter any further and disappointingly patted James shoulder again. 

Walking towards the tired duo, Peter ordered, “Take a breather. I honestly thought I would have to step in, but you two are genuine fighters. Anne your movements look trained; did you learn martial arts before?”

A tint of red appeared on her cheeks and she replied, “Yes, I took two years of Kendo back in middle school.” Rem seemed surprised, but easily got over it and inwardly praised Anne.

“Stop staring lover boy. Now, back to the point, your movements are complete and utter garbage.” Peter demonstrated a set of movements. It was a mix of footwork from boxing and muay thai. Occasionally Peter raised one leg in a sweeping motion or a blocking motion. After the flurry of movements, he looked back to Rem.

Rem seemed mesmerized by Peter’s beautiful footwork and immediately tried bouncing up and down first. Following the bobbing and weaving motion, Rem eventually understood the concept. It was to help react to sudden movements.

“Don’t practice yet. Just watch.” Demonstrating for fifteen more minutes, Rem and Anne finally recovered their stamina. Anne got up and started to stretch. On the other hand, Rem sat glued to the floor, still watching the spot Peter just demonstrated on.

“Let’s go lover boy.” Pretending not to hear Peter's provocative remark, Anne moved towards James.

“Hey, Anne. Do you feel scared when you fight those monsters?” James asked.

“Yeah, but I try not to think about it.” Lost in thought, James and Anne stood in silence for the next minute. Rem finally got off the floor and tried to mimic Peter’s footwork from earlier.

“You’re not going to learn it in one day dumbass. Let’s get going.”

Stopping his footwork training, Rem caught up with the group. They followed Peter’s lead and walked around the monsters traveling in groups. Eventually, they arrived at the Holland tunnel leading to New Jersey. Dropping down, the group felt a cold chill from the tunnel.

“I wonder what’s in there.” Peter grinned in anticipation and signaled the group forward. He stood in the front, followed by Rem, Anne, and James respectively. The tunnel was illuminated by glowing blue orbs embedded into the walls. Peter tried to remove the orbs but failed despite using all his strength. After walking through the tunnel for ten minutes, Peter gripped onto both swords. Feeling the tension, the group slowed down.

Peter grimly told the group, “There’s something big up ahead and it sensed me.”

GAHHH RA!

Ding!

[Elite Monster: Lonely Ogre Level: 31 Skills: Bludgeon, Scowl, Berserk]

The hulking ten-meter tall Ogre with a bulging pot belly stopped in front of the group and menacingly raised its log above its head. Its gigantic frame, which practically reached the roof of the Holland tunnel, made everything seem insignificant.

“Disperse!”

Even James, who stood in the back, ran away as quickly as possible. Unsure of how much damage the swing would do, the trio pulled almost thirty feet away from the ogre.

BANG!

The log left a miniature crater in the cement. Surprisingly, the log was intact after that swing. ‘What the hell SYSTEM? Where’s the physics? The force from the rebound should’ve snapped it in half.’ After inwardly complaining, Peter dashed towards the Ogre and jumped up. Reaching eye level, Peter thrust both swords into the Ogre’s eyes.

With Peter’s superior STR, both swords embedded itself into the Ogre’s eyes. Then Peter kicked away from the ogres’ face and twisted both swords out its eyes. Blinded by both rage and pain, the ogre dropped its massive log and swatted towards Peter. Turning his hips in mid-air, Peter narrowly dodged the brunt of the force, but still uncontrollably fell to the ground.

Falling from 5 meters was no problem. However, despite entirely missing Peter, the generated shockwave slammed him into the ground.

Crunch!

Landing on his left wrist, Peter howled in pain. Feeling the tremors on the ground, he immediately activated [Mystical Mark]. A rush of energy filled his body and his HP replenished instantaneously.

“That was a hell of a lucky shot, you blind oaf.” The blind ogre started flailing and jumping, but Anne and Rem didn’t stay quiet. Rem continuously beat the ogre’s foot and calf with his pipe while Anne hopped from one spot to another, inflicting minor cuts onto its tough skin.

Snap!

Anne watched in horror as her blade snapped in half, stuck on the Ogre’s calf muscle. Feeling a slight tinge of pain on its calf, the Ogre stamped the earth next to it exactly where Anne was standing.

“Anne!” Rem charged towards Anne, disregarding all danger, and shoved her out of harm’s way. A sickening crunch followed by a blood-curdling scream could be heard echoing throughout the tunnel. As the ogre’s foot lifted, Rem could be seen on the ground in a puddle of blood. Rem’s entire right torso to his leg was flattened into meat paste.

“REM! REeem!!” James ran towards his son, but before he could reach his son, the ogre lifted its leg for another stomp.

PUCHI!

The ogre’s stomp created a whistling sound. James fell to the floor, looking on in despair. He imagined and deeply hoped that Rem would somehow survive, but he could only feel emptiness in his heart. Yet, as the Ogre’s foot was about to crush Rem to death, a figure appeared next to Rem.