Where am I?

Looking around, Nathan noticed the area he was in was dominated by grass, with trees here and there. He also noticed that the sun was rising, meaning it was early morning.

A grassland...

Checking himself, Nathan noticed that his burns and injuries were gone.

...Did I get saved again?

"Oh, you're up, Nathan?" Zack said as he approached Nathan.

"...Where are w-- wait...Lilith!" Nathan suddenly exclaimed with an expression of extreme despair.

L-LILITH! I HAVE TO GO BACK...TO SAVE YOU!!!

Suddenly, Zack placed his hand on Nathan's shoulder in a calming manner.

"It's alright bro," Zack assured as he pointed with his other hand. "The woman that was with you is fine...see?"

Looking in the direction he had pointed, Nathan saw Lilith lying on the grassland several feet away and being cared for by the doctor. Although she still wasn't conscious, Lilith's injuries were gone. He also saw the rest of the NPCs conversing with each other.

"See? It's all good." Zack said. With the assurance that the person Nathan cared for was fine, he sighed with relief.

Thank goodness...

Wow. I didn't expect Nathan to be worrying about someone else this much.

"It's a good thing the developer told me to check with you guys," Zack said. "If he didn't, I wouldn't have been able to save you."

Ah...it's always the developer...that's the third time he's saved me..I must be valuable in some way.

"That's good and all," Nathan responded. "But...where have you been this entire time? While we were going through hell in the war. What were you doing with Ada?"

Suddenly, a downtrodden expression came over Zack as he held his head down, confusing Nathan. With trembling limbs, increased breathing rate, and breaking out in sweat, Zack was getting nervous.

Huh? Did he actually do something wrong?

"A-Aren't you going to say anything?" Nathan asked, clearly confused at Zack's sudden behavior.

"I-I'm sorry...you...were right." Zack stuttered.

"Right about what?"

"About Ada...she betrayed...us."

"...What happened?" Nathan asked as his demeanor became cold.

"She...made a deal with law enforcement...to remove her from the S-Class list...and in return, she'd tell them our original location..." Zack explained. "She...even gave them Olivia..."

Ah...so that's why we got ambushed.

"But...she saw my...attraction towards her...and thought I'd be useful...so she never...gave me in." Zack continued. "She pulled me in even further...with her words...she even...slept with me...not because she loved me...but because I was useful!"

Hearing this, Nathan scratched his hair.

"When I found out about what she had done...I wanted to kill her...but I just couldn't. I couldn't even do a damn thing...because I let my feelings for her overtake me! A part of me...thought we could all still be friends...if we just worked it out together...how stupid of me..."

Zack began to break down. Gripping his face in despair as tears formed, Zack fell to his knees.

"Failing to kill her only got me beaten...and humiliated...before she threw me away when I begged for my life. That woman did that...without a second thought! I'm just a useless bastard! I was never worth anything!"

Um...I didn't expect Zack to become such a wreck...sigh.

Just as Zack did to Nathan, Nathan placed his hand on Zack's shoulder in a calming manner, which snapped him out of his breakdown.

"Sigh...calm down, Zack," Nathan said.

"But, I--"

"Sure, you got laid with a narcissistic sociopath while the rest of us were fighting for our lives...But it doesn't matter now." Nathan said. "If it weren't for you, the one I cared about the most would have died...due to my limitations."

"...I was only able...to save you guys...because the developer gave me...your location..." Zack responded with sorrow in your voice.

Sigh...to think I'm cheering someone up...

"Look, Zack. You saved me, not the bastard developer. That's all I care about!" Nathan added. "I may not have considered Ada...or any of you guys in this...murder game...as friends of mine, and I don't think I will...but I thank you. Thank you for saving Lilith."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

With a warm and friendly smile, Nathan expressed his gratitude, causing Zack's eyes to widen.

"Ooh! She's waking up!" The doctor shouted excitedly, grabbing Nathan's attention.

"Lilith!" Nathan called out as he ran towards her.

"Ugh...Nathan?" Lilith asked as she sat up. "What...happened?"

Suddenly, Nathan wrapped his arms around her, embracing her with a hug.

"Oh my!" The doctor uttered.

"Thank god...you're okay..."

With bright red cheeks, Lilith blushed from the close contact with Nathan.

"N-Nathan?" Lilith stuttered. Becoming conscious of his actions, and seeing the stares of the NPCs (except for the NPC due to his mask still being on), Nathan immediately pulled away.

"S-Sorry..." Nathan apologized.

"Hehe..." Lilith chuckled due to his shy demeanor. "Wait a second..." Lilith said as she began to frantically look around. "W-Where's my katana!?"

"Here it is," Zack said as he approached her. In his hand was Lilith's katana, in a black sheath.

"Oh, thank you!" Lilith said as Zack returned it to her.

I'll need this to continue protecting Nathan.

Nathan didn't seem too happy about Lilith getting back her katana, however.

Damn...whatever. I'll make sure to get strong enough so she won't need to use it again!

"Hey, Nathan!" The blacksmith called out. "Since you're up, I've got something for you!"

"Huh?"

"C'mon, follow me!"

It must be items she has ready for me.

With a look of jealousy, Lilith watched as Nathan followed the blacksmith.

Hmm...who's that...actually, who are these people?

He followed the blacksmith to a parked truck in the grasslands.

"Here we go!" She said as she opened the trunk. Inside contained several weapons, but catching Nathan's eye was a strange suit.

"What's that?" Nathan asked as he pointed at the suit. "Is that my armor?"

"Yup! Take it out and wear it!" She suggested.

Obliging, Nathan proceeded to take out and change into the suit. The blacksmith respectfully waited for him at the other side of the truck.

"I'm finished," Nathan said as he came around.

"Wow, nice!" The blacksmith said as she was checking him out.

His suit consisted of a thick black military vest, with its collar kept up, covering his entire upper body, and black cargo pants. On the inside of the vest was a white uniform, similar to the super soldier's uniform, except there were black, rectangular accessories on the sleeves and black cuffs at the sleeve ends.

"So, I'm guessing this is a mixture of my old armor and the super soldier uniform." Nathan assumed. "So, how is it any different?"

"Lemme show you." The blacksmith said before taking a pistol from the truck.

Why does she need a pistol?

The need for the pistol became clear to Nathan, as suddenly she fired at his chest.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Nathan yelled as he instinctively covered his face. Much to his surprise, however, he didn't feel any pain, nor was his armor damaged in any way.

"What the..."

"The suit you're wearing is one of the strongest suits I've created!" She said. "It's 400% more durable than the original armor you had and the super soldier uniform combined! The material it's created from renders most weapons ineffective. It also has shock-absorbing properties, so if you get hit by super soldiers, you don't just get one shot."

"I see," Nathan said. "That is pretty good, thanks."

"No need to thank me. You just continue bringing more stuff for me!"

"Sure. What about the other weapons in the truck."

"Oh. Cluster grenades, EMP grenades, super-piercing ammo, and even a blessed shield. I I'll leave what they do as a surprise, but understand that these will also prove helpful for you." She explained.

"Wow, you did these pretty fast," Nathan said with an impressed look.

"Eh, I just prioritized the ones I thought would help you the most. There are still many other materials left."

"Even so...it's pretty impressive," Nathan said before storing the weapons in the truck.

That makes you wonder where the hell the bastard developer got these guys.

"What are you doing, Nath--?" Lilith asked as she and everyone else approached Nathan. Noticing his gear change, everyone was stunned, especially Lilith.

"Wow, looking good, Nathan." The C. Specialist complimented.

"Yeah, you look pretty cool, right Lilith?" Zack goaded, much to Nathan's shock.

"Y-Yeah...you look...pretty nice." Lilith complimented with red cheeks. Zack smirked, and Nathan shyly turned away at her response.

It's good to see you have someone you like, Nathan. Zack wholesomely thought as he looked on him and smiled.

"Well...I have to go now." Zack said.

"Go where?" Nathan asked.

"I have to break Olivia out of prison."

"Break her out?" Nathan repeated with confusion. "She's incarcerated, right? So why would you risk doing such a reckless thing?" Nathan asked. "We don't need everyone to finish the bastard developer's stupid ga--"

"She's still a friend, Nathan," Zack interjected. "Knowing the state, they'd put her back on death row. I'm sure it must hurt for her knowing that her oldest 'friend' Ada betrayed her and left her to die."

Sigh...this guy is too nice to be a criminal...

"Fine then...how are you going to save her?"

"Well...I'm not sure yet...but the developer will help me."

"That's right! I'm here to help you all!" The developer suddenly spoke on Zack's phone. Instantaneously, an expression of great annoyance filled Nathan's face upon hearing him. "It would be heartless of me to leave my character to be executed!"

"That would be heartless of you?" With bloodshot eyes and pulsating arteries on his head, Nathan asked. "Not you dragging Lilith into this mess and giving her trauma!? Not to mention everything else that you've done!"

"Sigh...do you always have to get angry, Nathan?"

The NPCs awkwardly turned away in response to the tension.

"A little trauma for Lilith is nothing." The developer added. "It'll be nothing compared to the strength she'll attain in the future if she keeps her mindset!"

Clenching his fist, Nathan was getting angrier with every word proceeding from the developer's mouth. Before he could release his anger, Lilith held his hand.

"Don't get angry. I don't like seeing you angry, Nathan." Lilith said. "It'll be okay."

Tsk...

Taking a deep breath, Nathan calmed down.

"Sigh...you can do what you want, Zack," Nathan said. "I'll continue with the war. You stay with the NPCs, Lilith."

"But Nathan!" Lilith yelled. "I'm s--"

"Don't worry, Lilith." The developer assured. "You'll get your time to shine later. All my characters do, after all."

"...okay."

You've taken my conviction to protect Lilith from all harm...to protect her from doing regrettable actions...and sullied it, developer. I'll murder you...with everything I've got.

"Anyways, where's Charles and Jack?" Nathan asked. "They could be helpful right about now."

"Charles has been going to work on some military bases." The developer explained. "And Jack...well..."

* * *

"AAAHHHHH!!! GET AWA--" The screams of a civilian were quickly shut up as they were tackled to the ground. The one who tackled them was none other than Jack.

"I don't think I want to get away from you, mate!" Jack taunted.

"P-Please...don't ki--"

They could not finish their sentence, as the last thing the civilian noticed was Jack's sadistic smile before he jammed his knife into their throat. Repeating the process four more times, he stabbed them multiple times, carving their neck into a bloody mess.

"Haha...that felt alright," Jack said as he stood back up. He was covered in so much blood that his white clothing was now dyed red.

"I wonder how long the buggers will take before they come here," Jack said as he began to walk. "How many more civilians will they let die!"

Behind Jack were the corpses of numerous people strewn across the road. Some were missing different limbs, their entrails, and even their heads. It was all done by Jack the Ripper.

"I'LL KEEP HAVING FUN MURDERING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!!!"