We didn't stay long fearing to meet a new group of cleaymors, we couldn't take the two dead people and burying them wasn't possible so we placed them in a car before igniting the reservoir.
Boom!!
We looked as the car exploded black smoke came out of it with the odor of gasoline.
We then started to prepare to leave this place, we stayed more than we should already have and I could feel some low-level beasts roaming around us in the aisles, so the strong ones shouldn't be too far and could come at any time.
And when I was about to call Sky that was still sleeping even with the sound of the burning car and the smell of gasoline,
Congratulations your beast is now a level six beast.
I stopped walking looking at the prompt before dismissing it, I already guessed he was upgrading when I felt the surrounding energy being sucked him,
At the same time sky opened his eyes, his yellow pupils a little brighter than before looking at the human away from the fire behind him and his master that looked at him.
He could feel the energy around him growing stronger before stabilizing to the level of a level 6 beast, I felt with my energy perception.
I couldn't see any difference about him but when he stretched himself opening his mouth showing his white fangs and taking out his claw that now looked sharper and digging them deep in the ground.
Awooooooooo!
He howled looking at the Sky trying to celebrate his upgrade but shut down when numerous other howls stronger and deeper reasoned in the distance making him shut his mouth, not wanting to contest those strong beasts even if he know his pseudo master would help him defeat them, he had his own pride and his bestial instinct didn't allow it.
When I heard those howls responding to sky not sure if it was to warn him or something else, but I could feel faint energy emanated from sky when he howled and the howls responding that echoed from afar being stronger than his own and there was many of them all over the city.
And at the same time, I could feel that my bloodline wanted to respond to something that looked like a warning or a challenge that was brought by this energy but unable to do it restricted by something, I took out a deep breath controlling my bloodline and energy, I went to the others Sky behind me.
everyone was ready to go once Sarah finishes healing the remaining people, the others watching the surroundings knowing that they couldn't let their guard down.
The three that got knocked out, stood up properly their seeing Chris coming, they went toward him and thanked him they heard that after they got hit and were unconscious he protected them.
" thank you for protecting us "
I was still in my thought and looked at the three of them standing in front of me, their head no more bleeding thanks to Sarah's heal, they were a little pale but overall they were fine.
" It's normal so far unless you decide to leave the group you are part of us "
I said waving my hand telling them it wasn't a big deal and passed them, coming back in my thought.
The three of them were stunned both from the pressure emanating from him and felt awkward not knowing what to say next the cold attitude of Chris making them unable to keep a conversation.
Everyone felt a small wave of energy pass them but barely noticed the message in those waves of energy apart from Lisa, John, and claire looking at each other and understood that they felt the same thing.
Lisa snake was undergoing an upgrade too, the part of his exposed body that got wounded by the cleaymors sharp long claws were starting to have new scale growing at a visible speed, while the others that were intact looked stronger shining on the Sunlight, the black, and green color now more vivid than before.
Sky seeing this snake catching him up at his level wanted to go and challenge the Snake but got stopped when he received a message from Chris.
' Stop it now we don't have the time for this '
I said I could feel his excitement and the fact that Lisa Snake was already standing looking vigilantly at him.
Sky took a last glance at the snake before passing Chris and went in the aisle of the buildings next to us, wanting to test his strength and also because he felt hungry.
Looking at Sky entering the aisle and feeling that the beasts in the direction where he went weren't enough dangerous and besides he could always escape so I relaxed and came to Fred.
- " Hey bro how have you been "
Fred that was talking with Alex the girl had changed a lot too this past few days when they first met her gaze was filled with different emotions but she still kept her smile knowing that the both of them had a lot to say she left them and went to Eillen and the others girls, Fred seeing her leave shook his head he started to understand her character those past few days and the both of them fighting together make them closer talking to what was their life before the Apocalypse.
He looked at Chris and smiled tapping the cold ground of the pavement.
It's has been only one day but they had so much to say talking about their and before they know Sarah had already healed everyone and recovered her mana it has been only fifteen minutes but it was enough for her, she was now able to use more of her Skills and her energy recovery was faster than before, everyone was ready to move again.
standing up stretching their bodies, thinking about what is waiting for them to get stronger, and fearing the beasts that kept getting stronger and faster than them.
We stood up too and left walking at one of the many hotels still intact in the district, we weren't sure where to go anymore, everyone wanted to rest and have a good shower if water was still working.
" Ok bro be careful, not that you would be in danger"
Said Fred laughing to the realization that his worries for Chris weren't necessary, seeing how he seemed bored.
- " yeah I will "
The howls of beasts were getting stronger and could be heard everywhere around us and the beasts I felt with my energy perception that was close to us in high number about 20 or more and I felt as if I was trapped and my bloodline didn't like this feeling at all and was encouraging me to fight my blood slowly heating up but calmed down once I took the control of my bloodline.
I wasn't the only one feeling the tension of the city, the others were also the same
After walking for five minutes at a quick pace, we choose a hotel that had a good view of the surroundings, the entrance was a mess with broken glasses all over the ground and blood nothing new by now maybe some unlucky that got killed, at least from here we could saw them coming from the second-floor windows rooms that had a good view of the front and back of the hotel and the ground floor that we will reinforce when we come back before night with that we will be able to sleep without worries.
So once we entered the Hotel we only checked the first and second floor, that I scanned making sure there weren't any beasts, and Phillip and Eillen were eagerly checking twice since in this group their son was the only one at level three but that couldn't even protect himself focusing more of his stat points in speed, he could barely keep our pace for a long time in long distance.
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" I will stay in guard the first hour, after that, we will go out to hunt and gather more supplies "
I said to clement that was about to guard the entrance with George and Lester while the others were going to rest, making them sighing inwardly that they could rest even for one hour.
they looked at him and Clement said,
" thank you we won't decline the offer, we really need to take a small nap"
George and Lester, shaking their head thinking the same thing.
Physically they were fine but mentally the pressure the group of Cleaymors put on them and the others were so strong that their hands were still trembling, compared to when they escaped the horde of beasts, Edward, and the others weren't near them and they had to fight on their own.
And they knew that if it wasn't for Chris that came to help them it wouldn't only be two people that would have died.
Louise and Stella the two of them were the more affected in the group since they never faced the difficulty of the first day of the System arrival, compared to the girls in the new group of Lester and George that at least faced it the least few days and started to overcome it at their own way.
But having lost two people of their group yesterday the fine line that was keeping the altogether was starting to lose up, they wanted to fight like Alex or Claire the two of them were also girls like them but they were fiercer than them, going fight alone beasts head-on even if they know that one mistake and they could die.
All the girls choose to stay in the same room not wanting to sleep in a separate room and went minding their own business, Lisa went to talk with Claire, John, and Edward since they had most of the Energy core.
" Guys I can have my part of Energy core "
she said to Claire, that was about to upgrade her bloodline sitting near Edward and John.
" Take this, five should be enough if you need more go to Sarah and Emily we gave them all our Energy core since we don't want to lose them when fighting "
Said Claire that took her bag opened it and took five-level six energy cores that looked like diamonds with a faint white glow in them, by now she could tell the difference in the level of energy core when she touches them she was able to know precisely their level by the amount of energy she felt when her bloodline aura envelop them but she stopped before they got absorbed and handed it to Lisa, that thanked her and sat on the ground next to her and started to absorb them on the floor.
Lisa having the Energy crore started to absorb them and strengthen her Bloodline she could feel her body getting stronger with each level up but she felt that something was missing and the more she leveled and the more she felt a gap between her level and bloodline, she felt her energy having more power and control over her body than her bloodline.
And she instinctively felt that it was wrong since she could feel that she could barely use the full potential of her bloodline even if she didn't gain a huge gain in strength like John and Chris she could feel her body strengthening but the energy being stronger than her bloodline, her bloodline had half the effect to strengthen her body and her bond.
She could feel that with a better bond with her contracted beasts she would be able to fight with him and focus more easily and even fight stronger beasts if they work together for that she needed an upgrade of her bloodline, she wanted to find a way to increase her fighting power and by now it was the only idea she got using the information and instinct of her bloodline.
So she started to absorb her bloodline that was stuck to stage Two and slowly upgraded her bloodline, feeling her energy mixing with the aura and small point spreading in her body.
She could feel her bond getting stronger bond slowly and her body also that was hurting so much, that she was doing her best to not scream with every part of her body in fire and the worst was her head, but it quickly calmed down when her energy passed and calmed it with a cold feeling soothing her muscle, she felt like if she passed one hour in this upgrade process compared the last one with went through but it only lasted two minutes, the five energy core on her hands gone with a small stinging pain in her hands and opened her eyes feeling her clothes sticking to her she got up, wanting to see if in one of the upstairs showers were still working.
Congratulations you gained an Innate Ability [Spirit Fight]: (Both you and your contracted beasts during a fight can use the energy of the surroundings to increase your fighting capacity in many ways, up to you to choose the path this ability will take)
She was stunned for a few seconds when she saw this prompt but calmed and checked her status screen and saw that indeed a new case Ability appeared and there was something new with her bond, not just the sharing of thought, and she was now at a High stage two bloodline, but she felt that she needed another thing to upgrade to Stage three and that even if she takes a level seven energy core nothing will change but she set it aside.
For now, she wanted to know more about her ability and take a shower it's really uncomfortable and the smell of her body was disgusting with blood and smell sweat the altogether was too much for her making her frown.
" wait I'll come with you I just finish upgrading my bloodline too."
turning her head she saw Claire in the same state as her, her clothes soaked that accentuated her body curve making both John and Edward that was talking took a glance but turned their gaze when they saw the two girls sending them a deadly glare before going upstairs.
Them too knowing it was a good time to upgrade sat down knowing that even if the girls weren't here Chris that was at the entrance would protect them and started upgrade for John his bloodline first and after his level and Edward just his level.
Chris him was sat behind the reception and checked his status screen, he had enough energy points and energy core to level up and upgrade his bloodline.
Name: Chris Specie: Human Talent: In process... Bloodline: Warlord - stage 2/10 [Medium]
Path: [ leader - 30% ]
Energy point: 7765 Level 7 - [ 0/7000] Abilities: Natural Regeneration, Mind Fortitude Trax: 1000
Looking at my status screen if something new appeared but no, apart from my [Leader] path that augmented but for now I can't found something that changed about me, but maybe now the idea of commanding felt more natural even if I still have some reserve about it, it was less strange not that I minded it and it seemed my bloodline was proud of it and wanted to let out my aura to show off or it was me not sure.
I smirked shaking my head, ' it sure this bloodline is sentient I would have to ask the others if their bloodline gave them the same feeling'
allocating my energy points, I felt the energy in my body getting stronger my sens slightly sharper and my aura getting slightly stronger, I controlled it but it stopped a few feet from me it was like an invisible bubble around me with a menacing feeling and dignity in it but it was faint and disappeared as fast I sensed it leaving only the pressure feeling.
I could see some scar on my hand fading leaving only those I got from the cleaymors that took more time to disappear, so I took three-level six energy cores in my bag on the ground next to me and absorbed them, upgrading my bloodline that created bluer points than the others in my body but them too were changing to black to blue slowly and at the same time using the energy emitted by my bloodline, I could felt my skin getting tougher as some the blue points embedded in my muscles others spreading in my body strengthening me.
And now I just needed to fight or complete some requirement for my next stage upgrade and I could reach the Stage three High level easily since it seemed that the Stage and level were equal but strangely even with a low Stage so high-level core was enough to help me reach Low level Stage three and it double or triple sometimes not sure why and we could compete with beasts one or two-stage higher than us depending on the orientation of our bloodline.
taking a look at the john and Edward that was leveling the surroundings energy being suck by them and at the same time the aura around John felt heavier when he used his own aura toward him and he felt both aura clashing each other.
John opened his eyes in surprise from the small pressure he felt and looked at Chris that was smiling at him.
" Seriously dude you can't wait I open my eyes "
He said frowning at Chris's attitude.
And Chris seeing that his small test wasn't funny gave an awkward smile, " Sorry I felt that you finished and wanted to test something next time I will warn you "
- " And there will be another time? "
But John hearing his answers looked at him not sure what to say.
They stared at each other for some time before smiling and shaking their head, they felt that this small talk calmed down their stressed mind even for them although they were excited about fighting they felt like a huge weight on them making them always on their guard and it was even more true for Chris since it seemed that energy perception was unconsciously scanning the surrounding and at the small movement he will turn his attention trying to found out if the energy was too strong for him and the others.
Edward seeing the both smiling stupidly shook his head not wanting to know what happened, and instead allocated his five stat points putting two of them in STRENGTH, the rest in AGILITY, CONSTITUTION, and STAMINA, his body feeling a little lighter and when he tried to raise his huge shield it almost weighted nothing now compared to before.
The one-hour rest passed quickly and everyone came down at the hall ready to go out once again, their face showing that they wanted more sleep but still, they know they couldn't wait tomorrow to get stronger who knows maybe the beasts would be twice stronger than them by then and their life would be more difficult.
Checking their weapons and eating quickly some snacks to have something in the stomach before going out of the building s the ominous pressure of the city washing them as they advanced steadily in the street of the west district leaving slowly the devastated rich zone for further back at the center city entrance.