“hahahahaha”

“hahahahaha” Raine undoubtly just laugh his heart out internally. The situation right was kind of preposterous. This little pudgy golem, was indeed an unknown variable. A variable that has cause ripple inside his lazy heart.

For a while now, Raine was defending himself against that one punch kill attack. avoiding it while he busy decimating the other monsters. His steps was frantic although the pudgy golem was slow and steady but its attack was unstoppable.

On the floor of the 1st floor, multiples craters can be seen showing the power of just a punch. Raine cant help but fear this strength of it. if he was just graze by this punch on his arm, its not hard to say that he would undoubtly lost an arm.

Runic badger and Doberman pounce at every moment that they reach Raine, but Raine swiftly dodge it with his dagger on his hand quickly find its target. The dagger pierce the facial contour of the badger and at the same time he dislodge and grab a hold of the head of the Doberman and embedded his dagger like lightning straight into its soft and squishy jelly eye.

Another two died, but then another came up to him like mad. For once Raine mind was bewildered by something. he thought where does this horde of monsters came from, with the small space on this building, he would have thought that the number of these monster would be limited but the amount of them didn’t even decrease it bit. He could only came up with one conclusion.

“for them to breed quickly is impossible rather the more logical one would be… cant be right? A respawn point?” question Raine as another jaw trying to bite of his neck. But he easily evade it and pierce the jaw from below damaging it straight into its brain from below numbing its body as the soul within its body disappear.

Then a surprised punch straight into him as he was off guard by it.

“ah crap!”

This time he was too late…

---

Prior from before, a pair of eyes was watching this whole skirmish. His eye was wide and was shocked by this spectacle from a man he known as Lupin.

‘Raine, he… strong’ exclaim the man known as Holmes with his voice sounding like a whisper.

Holmes who was crouching down at the edges of the wall was looking at this whole scene from the time he heard all of those barking and growling. It was coincidence that Holmes training spot was near the staircase, with his inner self of being a curious person he cant help but take a few sneak watching it.

After watching it, only one word that he can describe it and that is ‘amazing’

Holmes POV;

‘growling? Barking sound? Is the monster coming up here?’

I was hearing these monsters getting riled up was starting to get cold sweats as I fear the inevitable. Without knowing it, my feet was already fleeing from the spot going straight into narrow pathway but as the door knob was held by clearly shaking hand. A feeling of self regret was felt by my inner side.

I stop on my feet, as I then start to just stare at the door knob.

‘no’

‘I cant be like this’

‘what am I training for if im just gonna be the same like this’

I clench the door tightly with my trembling hand but I know if I open it that was a sign of me acknowledging that im weak. Weak to even face a bit of hurdle, a hurdle that will be the root for my future in this new world, where the strong prey on the weak.

I don’t want to felt that intense fear any longer, I don’t want to cower in front an enemy anymore and most of all I want to be strong, strong so I can survive strong so I can live. Even Mui a lady that I know off, wasn’t afraid of embracing the unknown but as she move forward, she gain those abilities. Abilities that able her to do such miraculous feat.

I have once witness a surgery of a man abdomen, and the time taken to finish the surgery took 2 hour plus. Not only that the staff needed was exceedingly more than just two person with all the modern equipment and facilities at their disposal, Mui truly surprass the latter with just a simple equipments and such.

‘I cant lose against a women!’

Taking a step forward with much difficulty, I brace the intense pressure emitted by the nearby ruckus. Reaching the end of the corridor where the stairs was located, I take a peak while covering my whole body against the wall. But what I saw with these pair of eyes of mine was an incredible scene fill with killing intent and at the center of that was a man I have known since my first year in this university.

It was Raine. I was dazed by his current appearance and demeanor. The once gentle and lazy looking guy that I once know had clearly disappear with this sight of him gritting his teeth slaying those monsters around him one at a time. his movement was crude just by looking at it but he clearly was faster as he void those ferocious attack one by one, he only being minorly wounded.

But what amaze him the most was how Raine counter those attack with his own ferociousness. The dagger that he wield attack those location that indeed can be said as their weakpoint. He even stab one without looking at it as if he already know where it was.

There was only one word that be describe, he was like a war god ravaging those goes against him. but the monster count didn’t ever decrease as I saw him fighting. Until a lone monster that clearly different from the rest was going toward Raine.

Looking at its small stature, I don’t think it can pose a threat to Raine but then an event that happen blow the perspective of mind after witnessing its immense strength. The clay doll like monster deliver a short and compact punch bursting a monster corpse into bits of flesh.

I was dumbstruck the strength that it possesses are out of this world, most likely if even Raine receive that kind of attack even he will falter and die a quick death. Even the sight of Raine’s face was clearly showing a displeasure to this monster capabilities.

Raine was clearly putting his best effort to avoid those crater making punch. I didn’t know how long does time pass but the scene was never stopping, it was like an action movie currently on fast forward. Not even taking a break or stop for awhile, it was like a torrent of monster that was hurling themselves against a big sturdy rock not budging from his spot taking ahold of his advantage on the above side.

But then the unthinkable happen, I saw it with my own two eyes. The claydoll monster was getting nearer to him with its pudgy fist ready to blow Raine’s body to pieces. I didn’t think that he wouldn’t notice it nonetheless his awareness toward the soon incoming attack was certainly oblivious.

‘nah it couldn’t be, he must have notice it’

But I was wrong, Raine was too preoccupied by the sudden urge of monsters around him that he lost track of that claydoll movement. Without a doubt he would die.

‘I need to do something but…’

I cant, my feet wont budge. But Raine would die if I didn’t help him. but im the traumatic experience from before halt me from stepping forward. i…

‘what am I thinking, his a friend, a friend that is in need of my help, a friend that have share my eccentric interest since way back playing along with my Holmes and Lupin act, I cant let him die’

I ran with my all using all of the courage that I had deep within trying to prevent the death of my own friend. Ignoring the monsters who were gunning to Raine. I take a quick glance to the claydoll as it was ready to released its punch.

Without a choice I leap and charge forward with a flying kick which I have been practicing since long ago. With the intended target not the claydoll but the body of Raine. my kick connect and he was flung to the other side while I tumble down on the floor.

---

‘BOOM!’

Raine was able to evade from the disastrous punch with the help of someone he know. Glancing to the side he saw an ashen looking Holmes breathing erraticly after saving him with a flying kick of his own. The punch was miss but the immense power behind it vibrates the air causing ripple to the whole surrounding, those monster who caught near the sight of the released punch was blown off just by the sheer force of it.

“I could have died just now” said Raine worryingly within his disheartened heart. He didn’t thought he would be save by thankfully he didn’t feel to bad about it as he knows if you die you wont come back to rise again.

With the miss attack, Raine stands up and shouted at Holmes;

‘Holmes get out of here!’

But Holmes didn’t budge, not because of fear but his eyes was showing his fighting spirit that wouldn’t be hinder by these monsters that was a lot more stronger compare to him.

‘I wont back down! I will assist you Lupin, you wont die as you will be lock up into jail by my detective prowess’ said Holmes with his eccentric tone.

Raine could only watch Holmes with a baffling face, he wouldn’t have thought Holmes would revert to his eccentric usual self amidst this grave situation. For once since these three days, at least Raine felt he was not alone as at this moment another person was there to help him.

The problem was even though he want to help the level disparity between Holmes and the monster was too large. Another burden that he need to shoulder, protecting Holmes while going against these monsters. But a burden that he would gladly with hold.

‘suit yourself Holmes, just don’t die on me’ snicker Raine with his playful word trying to shake Holmes resolution.

The situation ensue with the monster quickly dying by Raine’s dagger but the numbers isnt dwindling. This heavily put a strain on Raine’s stamina. He wouldn’t last if things going on like this. Then terrifying growl vibrates through the whole building making the situation turns into a halt. Both men and beast stop on their track.

The growl was loud and carry and intimidating aura, fear was struck to those who heard it even Raine himself couldn’t help but swallowing saliva in his throat. The monsters who were fighting just now retreat back with their fastest speed as if they are afraid of that growl, leaving behind two frozen body of men who cant help but feeling helpless against just a growl.

But that frozen state only last for a while as a near danger approach him.

‘BOOM!’

It was the pudgy golem, the pudgy golem didn’t seem to fear the growl at all as if its just a mechanical being without knowing any fear or any feelings. The punch that it sent out release a force of its own. Raine manage to evade it with a narrow margin.

With how things were, both of them would survive but to leave this golem alone was a bit dangerous as he sense that this monster would have no problem off him following back to the seminar room area that may lead to more catastrophic event.

The only option right now was to defeat it, right here right now.

But the question was how?

‘Holmes I know you have an identifying skill try to use it on that pudgy golem’ said Raine with his sight staring carefully to the movement of that pudgy golem.

‘on it’ reply Holmes confidently

Holmes keenly look with his eye to the pudgy golem while muttering silently;

‘identify…’

Monster Status WindowNameGranite GolemLevel14Health Point1342/1342Mana Point??/??Attack?Defense?[/tr

[tr]Magic attack?Magic defense?Resistant to?Weak to?Immune to?CategoryArtificial Creature{Mineral}A man made monster created from just a pile of earth{granite}, birth by the combination of the highest grade magic and the a pile of earth{granite}. Only an arcane user of the highest level could conjure such monster known as golem. A golem that boast high defense based on its body material and immense power that was bestow by the arcane user that conjure it. usually are use as a defender for arcane user as they are known are weak in term of physical abilities. Nonetheless those who fought against only could despair against their high specs.

Holmes special!! : power by a core

‘so how is it?’

Holmes gave a summary of the information that he gain to Raine. Hearing it from the mouth of Holmes, he was astounded. with only a difference of two levels between them, Raine felt silent about the disparity between their strength. This golem was truly powerful the one created it must have been a powerful arcane user.

‘I hope that arcane user isnt in this building if he is I would dare say we all would die’ said Raine with his face looking rather grim as if his death was already around the corner.

“no matter since the problem right now is the golem, lets handle it first. Holmes said that a core power up this golem and no matter how I look at it, the core was none other than the gem at the center of its small forehead.” Raine was making a proper preparation to counter this abnormality. Glancing at Holmes even though he was a low level, he believe since he has experience sparring in taekwondo that would at least sufficient for him to avoid those mad punch.

With the golem slow pacing movement, Holmes can at least avoid those attacks. Raine was thinking off something.

“should I let Holmes be the bait? Is that okay or should I check that golem out first” Raine wonder on what he should do. Then he move into action.

‘Holmes wait, im gonna try first’ said Raine

Holmes could only nod as he knows the one in front of him was something that he could hardly do anything.

Raine dash forward with the target this time the dim purple gem on the center forehead of the golem. The punches released was devastatingly pressuring him to avoid in every moment. He don’t have the luxury to even receive it even once.

With his dagger he knows if he uses it to attack the body of this golem it would only lead the dagger to break in half. So the only option was to break or either remove the gem. His speed reaches the golem in just seconds. He brandish his dagger and quickly strike the gem.

‘CRACK’

To his dismay even the gem was hard enough to cause a crack on his dagger.

“cheh still getting cracks” he contemplates the obvious result of attacking it head on.

The golem gave out another punch and he once again avoid it with ease. Moving around the target the golem cant even punch with precision as he was constantly on the move. Even so Raine cannot do anything to this indestructible golem.

While his mind wanders, a steel pipe flew past his mind.

“ah! My steel pipe”

Raine ran back to the box full of snacks and grab the steel pipe that he had long been using. Retrieving the pipe he move his feet while dodging another thunderous punch. At the same time he swing the pipe moving the box from blowing into smithereens.

‘that would have been bad’ snicker Raine.

He quickly move his feet rotating around the slow moving golem, trying to find the percent chance of breaking that gem. Then Raine took his chance seeing how the golem was unresponsive. He swing with all his might and the steel pipe connected with the gem.

But..

The gem prove to be a hindrance as even the steel pipe didn’t manage to do anything. One would have given up if the outcome didn’t came out as they expected but the current Raine do not have the mentality to give up. If he was like before he would have just given up when things starts to get tiring but this time it involve life and death not only him nonetheless others as well.

Smashing the gem with his steel pipe countless time, the result wasn’t favorable. Holmes at the back start to doubt his identifying skill. Is it truly reflect what it told to him? time would tell since after half an hour Raine has been hitting it continuously.

His stamina was depleting, resulting on his current appearance. Ragged and tired, his breathing was erratic with his movement and speed starting to get sluggish. But that didn’t break Raine’s spirit as he still dodge those punches in a miniscule margin. He didn’t want to give up, he don’t have any choice its either the golem or the rest of us.

And us was not an option.

Raine once again smash his pipe right to its forehead and this time a rather sweet noise can be heard.

‘crack’

The gem cracking a bit, he could see it as his swing left a mark on the gem. The mark was small but it was testament that this gem can be break. His spirit surge, and his will burn knowing his effort isnt going to waste.

Raine summon all the energy that he can blast through these hard gem. Cracks started to appear on the surface as each blow right now was giving a nightmare to the golem. Contrary to that, the golem didn’t particularly care about its gem starting to crack. The golem itself lack a soul that personify an individual character. It care less that its doom was getting near.

Holmes who was watching at the side was astound, he didn’t have thought that Raine’s blow was coming to its fruition. His grip on the mirror tighten as he was utterly felt ashamed of him being so easily giving up and not like Raine who didn’t show any sort of hesitation.

Raine continue on this feat until the cracks surface surround the whole gem, it was like the gem was on its dying breath just withholding one more strike before it break. Raine need to deliver only once, only one more swing to deal the killing blow.

In that moment, Raine himself suddenly fainted in mid swing. As he was truly pushing his boundary to the limit. A rather sad fate for him as at the time he faint was the time for the punch to be released. A loud curling boom released from the golem and the target was the man who fainted just now. It was a head on attack with no room for error as even in his death he was not aware off.

But…

Before the punch could hit, the light on his eye shone immediately regaining conscious. He woke himself up true his pure will. A will that was hard to extinguish even when the man itself had fainted. At that decisive moment, Raine push the ground with the use of the steel maneuvering himself in a free fall like state.

He push himself up and the blow graze his left flank and hitting the steel pipe. The steel pipe bend an crush and flatten at the moment it make contact with the fist. Raine on the other hand didn’t give up as he withstand the pain from just a graze as he counterattack by grabbing a hold of the gem through his bare hands.

With his grip, he use the last of his strength as the gem cracks a bit giving way for Raine to grab it from the forehead of the golem. As soon as he manage to grab it, the dim light of the eye of the golem fades and with a loud sound it fall forward becoming lifeless like a soulless object.

Raine was too tired to even move as his body quickly give in to the accumulated fatigue. He drop down and lean on the wall. His eye was becoming blurry and his conscious was starting to fade. Holmes at the other side rejoice for awhile but after seeing Raine’s weak condition he ran toward him and making sure he was okay.

‘hey Raine! Raine! are you okay? Come let me bring you the seminar room’ said Holmes with his expression looking rather worried.

‘argh stop moving me, im hurting here’ said Raine while trying to push Holmes away with his feeble strength. Without him knowing it, the graze made by the golem left a bloody injury with blood already seeping out from the wound. Even the armor was tore a bit at the graze sight.

‘no I need to bring you back, Mui can do something to you’ said Holmes with his forehead wrinkling looking rather serious.

‘listen here Holmes, I can take care of myself right now all I want you to do go is go back and rest by tomorrow morning I would be fine’ said Raine calmly with his face looking rather pale.

‘but you…’ Holmes tries to refute.

‘no buts Sherlock, it’s a sad fate for a detective like you to be save by a thief, me Lupin. just go back and train yourself you weak fool’ said Raine with voice changing to fit in the character as Lupin.

Looking at how Raine can still be playing around with his words, Holmes knows Raine would just be fine and he also know the deep meaning behind what he said just now. For him currently was too weak to even safe someone, if from before if he was at least the same level as Raine he would at least be able to help to him. he knows where his weakness lie and now he know what is his objective right now.

Holmes stands up preparing to leave but then his eye shoot a glance to the snack as it was his instinct. He himself know he was hungry, but he didn’t dare to take it as he know the one deserving such luxury would only be the one who claim it through his own power.

Raine who notice Holmes glance to the food can only said;

‘don’t worry about, tomorrow I will share with everybody so just hold on for awhile, you wont die just by starving for three days’ said Raine with tone carry a sarcastic way of telling it to Holmes.

Holmes nod and leave the injured and tired Raine. one thing for sure tonight he wont be sleeping. Returning to the seminar room area, he enters one of the empty seminar room and begin the so called training.

Meanwhile, Raine who was too tired too even move drag his tired body on the floor along with the box of snacks to the nearby storage room. opening it, this storage room was one of those newly build room endorse by the faculty but it hasn’t being fill up yet leaving it empty. He pushes himself to get into it and as he enter he lock the door while he fallen into a deep deep slumber.

---

4th day post Rapture

The morning was the same as any other day with no help coming to them. The peoples who are in the confinement of the room was starting to get restless. The seminar room of Raine’s classmates were on the bright side, most of them are still sane as they gone through a lot of things in this three days. Only a few were unstable but still didn’t lose its sanity.

While another classroom which was where Holmes originate were unaware of the things happening for the rest of these 3 days cant and some cant withstand anymore the feeling of pressure and helplessness. That morning one of them rush toward the door and ran toward the stairs but to her despair the stairs was not even existed anymore. Then she ran to the opposite stairs and ran as fast as she could passing through the monsters not giving them even a glance.

She manage to reach the foyer but only there where she stops. Her body maul and mangle into pieces as the monster catch up to her. her life ends just like that as she herself do not know about the whole concept of gaming system. She couldn’t even scream as her breath were already erratic and the fast attack of those monster leave her breathless in mere seconds.

The others in the classroom didn’t have the time to even be aware of the loss of their friend up until it was too late. She was already out and she never came back. when they became aware of it, theirs ears quickly turn sensitive as if to see what happen out there, but without hearing anything much less a scream, some of them start to be convince that she survive.

‘she survive? Did she really survive?’ one of them start questioning with the voice encompassing the rest of them.

‘that’s unbelievable, she could have not survive that, those things are monster!’ another one try to refute.

‘but what if there is no monster to begin with they must have leave, we didn’t even hear any growling as such’ other people start to join giving false hope to themselves and to others.

‘what about the loud growl that we hear last night, isnt that thing still lurking around?’ one to question about their bad decision that they are about to attempt.

‘don’t be stupid, it must have leave already I cant wait anymore I going!’ a guy with buff body ran first leaving the rest behind. The others who had make the same decision as him follow suit.

Along the way the corpses of a few monsters frighten them, but they still move on. They didn’t met a live one until their destination reach the foyer. those 6 people who had badly made such rash decision was bewildered by the scene in front of them. A pack of monsters was feasting themselves on a dead body, and that dead body clearly resemble someone that they know.

Some of them tears start pouring down while some some already too stiff to even move, the buff guy ran for himself leaving the five defenseless females to fend for themselves. One of them notice the buff guy running away through an alternative path circling the carnage in front of them. Not wanting to waste anymore she also left the three others behind. She manage to circle them and follow the path of the buff guy.

The monsters were now aware of the extra people or extra food around them. They lunge forward to the three frozen females and devour them as soon as they reach them. Sounds of scream vibrate through the whole foyer even reaching a bit to the seminar room.

‘KYAHHHHHH’

‘MAMAAAAAA HELP ARGHHHHHH’

‘WAAAAA’

Hearing those horrible screams, the rest of them in the seminar room was dumbfounded. At first all of them though it was safe but they hesitate. They don’t get it but they hesitate to go out there, but their hesitation save them from having the same fate as those six of them. One was even ready to follow out there but his hand start trembling the moment he heard of those scream. All of them turns depress and weak on their knees.

Their heads face down as they sense their life was not far from reaching it end. Even Holmes who was one of their classmate didn’t return back. to them he must have been the first to be dead. But unbeknownst to them Holmes didn’t die but he survive. For an eccentric man like him, he would have at time forgotten to return. In a this kind of situation, it was not his fault for forgetting as those who encounter such atrocity in this new life that he had no other choice than to prioritize to himself.

Moreover, the two who manage to slip away their fate was unknown. If there is fate there was also destiny, if they truly luck out in the future they may or may not be able to see them again.

While in the other room, they all heard of those scream and cant help questioning it.

‘what happen out there?’ Doen spoke

‘its better if we don’t dwell on it’ reply Jalani

‘don’t be so harsh Jalani!’ said Mirana

‘but it’s the truth, and the truth is even we cant help it’ Jalani sound explanation led the whole class to turn silent again. With all the commotion from last night most of them can hardly fell asleep moreover the menacing growl that echoes through the night leading their heart to tremble in fear. It was inevitable thing, even if one try to fought that fear they cant, the growl itself carry a terrible aura within it.

Then in these tense situation, a few growling also came from within themselves.

‘ugh im hungry’ said Rafi

‘shut up! Im also hungry’ shouted Lina with her angered still lingers on.

‘cant help it, we just need to endure’ comfort Mirana.

After four days, their fear are able to reduce a bit lessening the tension that they felt from before but the consequences was this allow their hunger to appear more prominently.

‘ughh I cant take this anymore’ complain Doen, he look at Suba and said

‘Suba, let me eat that succulent thigh of yours’ he directly said that while licking his lips. Then…

‘SLAP’

A slap land on his face came from Suba,

‘are you crazy, don’t go cannibal on me be more reasonable will you’ said Suba with a stern voice.

‘im just joking only hihi’ said Doen with a wink, but truly within him it would be good if he could get to eat something, he was damn hungry.

---

The sun was at the middle of the sky, giving heat to those underneath it. noon arrive and the stomach was still empty.

In the storage room, Raine woke up due to the hot temperature that kept rising interfering with his good condition for him to sleep.

‘damn that’s hot, haaa need to drink some water’

Raine with his eye still close search for a mineral water bottle with his hand. Rustling can be heard as he found the bottle. Quenching his thirst he then opens up his eye. Waking up, his fatigue from last night still wore him out.

He looks down looking at the injury on his left flank. Thankfully with a good night sleep his wound already close up leaving just a scar. But still he felt sad about the damage armor. He was grateful enough as he knows that without the armor it would have left a bigger injury.

‘no matter I still can get another armor if im lucky’

Raine take a choco pie out of the snack box and gobble it up in one swoop. After that a few more choco pie fell victim to Raine ravenous craving.

‘ah need to stop eating much, if not rationing wouldn’t be fair’ said Raine keeping mind of others.

With the tight food situation, Raine come up with rationing the food supplies. That’s why he was a bit reluctant to gave some to Holmes last night. thus he already prepare a way to gave out the snacks while keeping mind of the storage of food that he currently. With the amount that he has right now, it could only last around 2 to 3 days give or take. If they only eat once in a day.

For now he stick to that plan, rather than thinking too much. Besides he was the one who claim so his has all the right for it. getting up he check on his status first.

Status WindowNameRaine MahdLevel14Titles-Health Point890/890Stamina Point540/540Strength30(+3)Vitality11(+2)Agility30Dexterity5Intelligence18Attack16.5Defense38Magic Resistance4%-Azalea Leather Armour- str 2+ vit 2+

-Runic Leather Armguard- magic resistance +4% str 1+Status Point10

‘level 14 huh, hmm with all those that I kill last night I only managed to raise 2 levels only, getting harder already’ Raine was feeling disheartened abit after seeing how the process of leveling was getting harder as he raise his level.

‘for now lets balance it out, 5 on strength and 5 on agility, okay then time to gather some battle spoil’ Raine was enthusiastic as the fight from last night would have drop a lot of loot, if he was lucky maybe another equipment drop.

Taking snack box along, he step out of the storage room and walk to the battle site. Litter with bloody corpse and the soulless body golem, he scour through the area searching for anything that he redeem as something beneficial.

He was quite obsessive when dealing about this, as he search through every nook and cranny and the result was satisfying. Like always the majority of the loot that he gain was the cube. 43 Doberman’s cube and 39 Runic badger’s cube. Other than that a few red test tube around 10 was gain, but what made him incredibly happy was a book.

Yup a book, never in his life he was this happy when getting a book. And the title of the book was;

[Skill book: Runic Iron Hide]

Like the title said, it was a book that bestow those who read it gain a skill. by the title of this book it was none other than the skill manifesting from a Runic Badger. Although it’s a defensive skill, Raine was happy enough as currently he has a useful skill compare to the sleeping skill. at least he would be a lot tougher compare to before and rather resistant to dying.

The exact mechanism of learning a skill through a book was still shrouded in mystery but Raine right now do know that he need to take his time before he learns it. from games that he play just with a click he would easily learn it. but right he would prefer to take time rather than pressing on.

Beside the skill book, he also obtain the dull purple gem from the golem. He didn’t know what to do with it so he could only keep it for now. After collecting his battle spoils, Raine return to his private seminar room where there lies his treasure cubes. He transfer all that he gain and kept it there even the book was left there.

For now he need to do some charity work. Carrying the load fill box, he went out and search for the one who had help him, Holmes.

Peeking one room to another, he search for Holmes. Then he stumble open a dark room, but he can hear a rather silent sound of the air being slice apart. Knowing this he enter the room and switch on the lights. With the blinking lights, a half naked man revealing his top body was cover with beads of sweats. It was Holmes and by the look of it he was training hard.

After a while did Holmes glance to Raine. noticing Raine, he walk slowly toward him.

‘don’t bother Holmes, go continue training here are a bottle of water and a pack of cookies, enjoy yourself and sorry for the lack of protein, I be sure to get some protein for you’ Raine casually said to him while sneaking a few jokes in there.

‘thanks Raine’ said Holmes in low set of voice. He knows this was enough to keep him going, for him to share was already kind enough of him.

With the close and light off, Holmes continue on with his training. Raine then went to the Holmes’s group seminar room. there as he open the door. The men and women in the room turn their frantic eye to the door as they know the only thing that can came out of those door was only death.

But after a few seconds of silence, the one before them was undeniably someone that they know. Raine whose eyes saw their dumbfounded appearance didn’t know what to say.

“hmm, why are they looking at me like that didn’t Holmes told them anything”

Beside the appearance of Raine just wearing leather armor and tight fitting brief, the more shocking thing was Raine coming in with food.

One of the men spoke with much difficulty.

‘Raine, how come you are alive? Is help coming? Where did you get those food? Is it from help’ a large build and tall man ask of Raine.

Raine looking at the man know who he was, he was Alf. One of those rich parent’s children, usually dress well and always seen with branded items, his behavior was hardly resembling the stereotype of children with rich parent. He was a humble guy and also smart. He treat his friend cherishly, even Raine was one of those friend. But due to study reasons they went far apart.

‘Sorry Alf, no help is coming. Im just here to share some food, here take one’ Raine reply with an apologetic looking face.

But Alf didn’t want to lose hope, he didn’t believe Raine. looking at the food he question Raine of where it come from.

‘Raine, where did you get this? And why didn’t you share with us since the beginning? Are you keeping it more to yourself?’ out of the constant confinement in this room and the loud noise of monster every now and then cause Alf to be emotionally unstable, the Alf that he know off has turn rather frantic trying to point out to some error in anything that led his life astray and this time the fault was blame to Raine.

‘I get it from the foyer, Im the one who get it so im oblige to do whatever I want it, so I don’t have any reason to give you’ said Raine calmly. He pity their state right now, but what he could do the only thing he can was sharing the food that he have and it was all due to his kind hearted nature.

Alf who hear this turn more dumbfounded, to him Raine was lying like always he had thought Raine as someone who was weak and lazy and didn’t have the guts to do anything. The thought of him walking around there with monsters running around was preposterous for him. the only logical answer for him was he loot it before the rapture happen.

‘don’t talk nonsense Raine, anyone who goes out there will die! You hear me, dead! None of them came back alive and you telling me that you could survive out there? don’t bullshit me Raine, now give me those food that you stole, its not worthy for someone as you holding on to it’ Alf spoke to Raine with a rather harsh and belittling tone. Alf even have the nerve to even stole it from Raine.

Raine hearing all this nonsense didn’t want to prolong this futile argument any longer. He had anticipate this to happen didn’t though the one who will do it was Alf.

“I guess people change then” murmur Raine within his sadden heart.

Alf approach Raine with his tall and large build that reach 181cm in height. He was domineering in size and his overall aura. His appearance was certainly like a bully who want to earn which was not his but sadly he was going against Raine.

Raine was still calm with the approaching Alf, but a single action silence the whole lot of them in this seminar room. most of the male in his batch he know off but for the female sadly not all of them he recognize let alone being friendly with them. So he knows what those glare mean when coming from these women.

Raine bang the wall of the seminar room and a small crater was made at the end of his fist with cracking sound hinting the wall was getting cracks. The onlooker was dumbstruck by this event and the glare that they give to Raine turn to another emotion, fear. Even Alf who saw this with his own eyes just in front of him saw the magnitude of Raine power. He body starts to shakes uncontrollably. Right now he didn’t even have the guts to even see him eye to eye like from before. He was frozen there like a statue.

With the whole class turn silent, Raine take a head count in the room.

“only 12 huh, too bad”

Raine drop a few snacks down exactly the number that he count. He left the room not batting an eye to them. For him to be treated like that was a first but even for him he felt hurt a bit.

He return back to his own seminar room. with the sound of the door being open it was like second nature to these people to watch the one who was entering this place. Mui who saw Raine said it out loud;

‘Raine!’

‘yeah im here, guys catch’ Raine throw a few of those snacks to his friends in his class. As every one of them get the snacks. All of their eye turn bewildered, they all stare to Raine with a few questions of their own. But Doen beat the rest by asking;

‘Raine where did you get this?’

‘let just say, I take it from the foyer now eat up guys and for water I will leave it here for each and everyone of you 1 bottle only. Try to be sparing with the water.’ Explain Raine with tone voice quite different from before.

While everyone start eating, even Lina start to devour the snacks like a madman. Her starvation was already at her limits. Some of them, came near to Raine with pitiful looking eye one of them was Suba. She ask of Raine;

‘Raine can I have other snack I don’t really like this one’

Raine hearing this could only released a sigh, he then explain to her.

‘Suba, you need to understand we cant be picky in this situation you just need to eat live right now’ explain Raine.

Suba fell silent, she knows she was way going above her head asking like that. Even Rafi who was also attempting to exchange was shot down with a dejected look. Then Lina was the next one, she approach him with her head down, with her hand reaching out to him. a feeble voice came out from her mouth.

‘wa..nt…mo..re’

With her hardly can be heard voice, Raine ask her;

‘what is it Lina’

‘I want more!’ ask her with her tone carry a demanding character.

‘do I need to explain it again? The food isnt much if I don’t ration it all of us would be starving for the rest of the other days, so for now try to endure’ explain Raine this Lina that he know off has a bit of temper but this time her temper was all over the place.

‘don’t give me that bullshit, you just want to eat more don’t you let me have it!’ Lina retort to Raine and quickly her hand try to reach for the snacks.

Raine who witness that cant help but sigh;

“lina lina why do you always be this rash”

Raine with his speed already above them all move the box swiftly not allowing for Lina to reach them. But Lina was persistent she move all over the place following the box that Raine carries. But to no avail she didn’t manage to even touch the box. After 15 minutes or so, the run and chase turns to a halt. Lina drop down to the floor panting for her breath. She was breathless as her attempt was futile.

‘just give up Lina, tomorrow you will get another one, anyway where’s Jalani?’ ask Raine about the where about of Jalani.

‘his at the neighboring room’ said Doen

‘oh, Doen can you please call for him I need to give his ration and I got something to discuss with you all’ said Raine while maintaining his composure.

After Jalani enter the room and gain his ration, the rest of them focus to Raine on what he was going to said;

‘I will cut to the chase, starting today you guys will undergo for some training’ said Raine, the rest of them turn silent clueless on what to say to that. Jalani who has a logical mind ask of Raine about the details of this training.

‘Raine can you explain more, the rest of didn’t know what you meant’ ask Jalani

‘im getting you all to escape this building hehe’ explain Raine simply

All of them turn wide eye, but in their heart a spark of flame start to manifest itself. The words that Raine spoke was the very hope they were waiting for. Among those flames, a woman can barely control her excitement.

‘its about time’ said Mui slowly. A small grin appear on her lovely fair face.