=====Vol 2 Chap 13=====

“Archillies, Al, take our bags and go back. Oscar and I will check what’s happening.” Said Wayne.

Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t planning on leaving and hoping that he comes unharmed with the information, after all, seeing is believing, and the more witnesses the better.

Shaking my head, I said “I’m going. I need to see what is happening.”

“What if we can’t help you?” Said Oscar in a cold tone, but I could sense his kindness behind it since he is trying to convince me.

“I’m just like you all; I can escape if need be, so I doubt I will need help.”

Rumble..

The building shook again, thus urging them to choose.

“...Let’s just go, we can’t idle here any longer.” Said Wayne.

Unable to convince me otherwise, we all went towards the source after reporting it to Roland via the walkie talkie.

Obviously, he was hesitant about sending us over since we were the only scavengers in the group, but preparedness forced him to tell us otherwise.

To avoid losing the loot along the way, we found a small, safe building and stored our bags in it before finally leaving.

Explosions occurred occasionally every few seconds for nearly 5 minutes straight, but finally we were able to see the field of battle.

Scars of explosives remain on the streets, and what I failed to predict was the fighters.

At first, I thought it would be those who were in the vehicles fighting monsters with an explosive power or the like, but what I was wrong about is the fact that it is a human vs human situation.

Problem is, one side is using vans and the like, the other is in the sky, making a horde of helicopters that surround the neighborhood.

Due to the current scene before them, and traces of death, my group was perturbed, so I took them away into a nearby alley to let them digest what happened.

Thankfully, Al was in a better shape than Oscar and Wayne, so I wasn’t the only one being calm.

“Archillies, you alright?” Asked Al, worriedly.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Reminds me of those gory games I played.” I said, but half of it was a lie.

Finally calming down, we peeked out of the alley to see what is happening.

“W-we have to tell Roland…” Said Wayne.

Taking out his walkie talkie, he hurriedly told Roland what was happening, but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to continue talking before an explosion resounded.

BOOM!

Gunfire and explosions were spread both on land and in the sky, prompting me to feel wasteful at the large amounts of ammo that are being wasted.

The buildings rumbled once again, as if encouraging us to run back to the mall as quick as possible, so they quickly got away; yes, they, since I created a clone that looks similar to me, but sadly, it’s stats are only 10% of what I have, making it inefficient in combat.

Now with them gone, I released my invisibility and wore a black cloak with a purple masquerade mask taken from the store and modified by yours truly, with both enchantments and appearance changes.

Anyhow, now that this is done, time to appear as the ever so famous (going to be) Mask Man.

With the power of masks, I shall defeat the evil and live happily ever after with Rain.. Not, at least the first part isn’t.

Jumping out of the alley, they didn’t notice me at all, so I stood there for a while, waiting until they notice.

.. Nothing. Sigh.. Oh well, I don’t know who is good from bad so I’ll quietly wait until they are all done.

Observing all the infantry, or the side on land, I noticed one thing particularly special, which is that they are all women.

As for those in the helicopters, I don’t know, since I do not plan on jumping and climbing on the helicopter like a certain mutated man that shoots webs.

Exploring each and every one of the vans, I had accidentally listened on one of the women who is treating the injured.

“Are the stubborn still safe? Because we absolutely have to make them arrive safely.”

“Yes, we hid them in a nearby alley so we can move them when the battle is over.”

“Good..” Said the doctor while sighing in relief.

‘Stubborn’, huh. Seems very peculiar.. If possible, I want to talk with them to know what happened in the last few days; we were very isolated, and that feels bitter.

Activating ‘Predator’s Eyes’ and my presence detection, I look in the alleys in the vicinity, finally finding them with just a quick scan with my eyes.

Walking towards them, I notice how 4 out of 6 people are bound by ropes, the rest are women with assault rifles.

Come to think of it, where do they get all those guns? It isn’t like every citizen can purchase and/or use them

No matter.. Now that their place is known, I boldly walk in the middle of the road with no one detecting me, due to the immense amount of enchantments I had added on this masquerade mask, with many of them being useless.

One being ‘Increase drying speed of clothes by 500%’, and there are many more, nevertheless, it isn’t time to immerse myself in reading the list.

Once I’m in the alley, I find no one, turning me confused and activating ‘Predator’s Eyes’ once again, finding that they are infact hiding.

Clapping inwardly for their safe approach, I keep the ability active while knocking the female guards unconscious, now to change my attention to the prisoners.

Two female, two male, and the males seem to be roughly beaten up, seeing how their bodies are full of scratches and blue spots.

Due to the sudden falling of the guards, they looked around frantically, reminding me that the invisiblity option on my outfit is toggled on, so I turned it off.

“Are you alright?” I asked no one in particular, making them nod.

“Well.. Does anyone of you have a backstory and information to tell? I also have a pill that could heal you out of any injuries, so once you tell me all you know, I’ll give it to you.”

Obviously, that is a lie.. Not, it is a pill filled with practically nothing except grinded sugar that absorbed some mana for the sake of healing, so even if one takes an extra and tries to recreate it, it is impossible.

For I am selfish and do not wish to share my amazing discoveries, this is who I am.

Anyways, while I was ‘thinking’, one of the men who were beaten up stood up and mustered the courage to talk with a bit of difficulty due to his missing teeth.

“W-when the apocalypse started, my friend and I were at a nearby gas station on the road, and many people were passing by us, so we were able to hear of the news every once in awhile.” He gasped for breath. “At first, people who passed by the gas station were escaping from monsters and the like, some of them even stayed with us and left later, but then many people started coming back from where they were from to the city past this.”

“Hmm.. And I assume the reason is the women in the vans?” I guessed.

Nodding, he continued. “West from here, the region is ruled by the Whips, and sooner or later I learned that they were a ‘Women Only’ faction, but their strength isn’t to be underestimated with the rise of the ‘Powers’.”

“So most of your information regards the Whips, but I heard that fairly recently there were many people in this city but have left due to the King Slime.”

“You are right, in both matters. Firstly, the Whips were small yet somehow grew incredibly quickly, then they suddenly started harassing men and capturing women to do who knows what, maybe brainwash them.”

“By the way, do you know who are those in the helicopters?” I asked, curiously.

“I-i heard before we were moved out of the van that there is a high possibility of them being the Dual Eagles.”

“Alright, open your mouth.” I said while nearing the pill to his mouth.

Thankfully, he didn’t need water to swallow it, since I had made it incredibly slippery once it enters the mouth, and thus, his body glowed for a moment before showing immediate signs of injuries being mended.

Now being miraculously healed, the other 3 were staring at him in disbelief, with the other man gulping loudly as if asking for one. However, I’m not planning to give them away like candy; they are going to become my ‘special trading card’ until someone with a healing power comes up, or someone with healing powers that don’t have a one-day cooldown per use.

Since I have all I needed, I quickly untie the prisoners and pass them the weapons that were used by the now unconscious guards then let them be on their merry way after pointing them to the mall’s direction.

Now that I got what I want, I exchange places with my clone as I get fed with the memories of what happened while he existed, being reminded that we are stranded in-between buildings.

With my ‘outfit’ now back in my Pocket Dimension, I stood there in my previous clothes, staring at Wayne and Oscar who are trying to clear away the rocks.

How did this situation happen, you ask? Well.. I blame luck, and the battle nearby, since there were moments where the attacks grew fierce for a short while then returning back to normal, with the minor shakes in the ground and the buildings being a proof.

While running, one of the buildings decided to collapse on the bridge we were under, thus effectively blocking our way, and prompting us to try our best to get outside.

Thankfully, there were a few holes here and there so we don’t have to worry about suffocation, nevertheless, being stuck here doesn’t feel so good.

Obviously I could go and blast the rubble away no sweat, however, I’d rather I keep my abilities in secret until I’m able to find a justification. After all, when I show my abilities once, it there will never be an end to it.

Alas, I’m still hesitating whether I should just ignore this ‘self-made rule’ and start showing my abilities off.

Anyways, what should I do with this current dilemma, huh.

..Should I add in a little bit of magic to this little trip?

…

=====Vol 2 Chap 13 end=====