Eyes quickly darting around at her family and its new additions, Sandra made a quick decision. “Hyliel, Lutheran, and I will be on the scavenging team. Theo, you will stay and watch over the boys and Wook.”

Theo’s eyes widened with disbelief at his wife’s choices. He immediately blurted out in refusal, “No way, honey! It’s too dangerous with just you three. I’m coming along. With the Nexus’s barrier and the shutter blocking all the doors and windows, the boys and Wook should be more than safe here.”

Sandra looked at her husband with suspicious questioning eyes. “It’s not because you're still worried over Lutheran, is it?”

Bingo. Theo went momentarily quiet from guilt, hit right on the head, figuratively speaking. However, it was not baseless for the husband to warily hawk at the new foreign man, who was nearly attached to his wife’s waist at every step. He trusted Sandra. That he was certain of, but even he could see the tall dashing man’s charm. The rugged Lycan staying every moment with his wife made Theo uneasy.

“Sandra. Put that aside. Even if I am, this has nothing to do with it. Although I don't like Lutheran, I don’t wish him harm unless he tries anything funny. Worst case scenario, Lutheran will have to defend the two of you. Even if he’s a great fighter, he will take damage. I know Hyliel is strong since she’s already LVL 10, but what if you all get mobbed or something? You will be the most vulnerable out of everyone. I’m coming. Period.”

Sandra hesitated. She felt it in her gut. Her husband had a point. The two summons could fend for themselves. They could also protect her if they run into a few enemies. However, if it was a large mob, Lutherman would be strained. Injury would be likely.

Sandra stood firm like a stubborn rock. She looked at Wook and said, “Then I will take Wook. I prefer one of us adults to stay here. Anton doesn’t have a fighting ability. Ansel’s abilities have not been tested either. So you can stay behind and help all of you get used to your abilities.”

Theo was about to argue back when Anton intervened, “Mom, you can go ahead and take Dad with you. I didn’t get the chance to tell you and Dad earlier, but the Nexus Barrier took heavy damage, and I used up all of the mana to recover some of it. The available HP is still decent, but we need more tribute to restore the reserves before the next countdown finishes. So Leave this place to me. Wook should be more than enough to deter anyone wanting to cause trouble. And I prefer Wook so that he can help track you all down if you guys stay out longer than needed.”

Anton saw the hesitation in his parent’s eyes. He knew they worried, but he also felt for a long time now—ever since he had trouble finding a job—that they lost trust and confidence in him. He wanted to prove to them that he was capable, but most importantly, prove to himself that he was not worthless.

“I understand. We definitely need more things to tribute for the Nexus. But I don’t know about not leaving one of us here, Anton. I would be more comforted knowing one of us is here with you two,” his mother stated with an uncertain voice while his father, although not saying anything, his tilted head and concerned eyes said it all.

Anton steeled his resolution. He wanted to change. And to change meant taking a manageable first step. “Trust me. You two know I can make good decisions. I’m not always a failure. The Nexus was my idea. It’s in decent shape. I will keep Ansel mainly inside the house. With Wook here, we will be okay.”

Sandra was shocked that Anton thought that way about himself. “Oh, honey. We don’t think you're a failure, Anton. Don’t take it that way. Honestly, I worry more about what Ansel might do when we’re gone,” Sandra plainly stated.

“Hey! What do you mean, Mom?! I’m not going to do something stupid. I’m good too! You saw the test I aced yesterday!”

“Yes, and you did a good job, too, Ansel,” Sandra added, and Ansel smiled, sticking his sharp nose proudly in the air.

Astonishment pulled the corners of Anton’s face, hearing that his mother worried more over his younger brother. The two got along better, and his mom usually glossed over Ansel’s mistakes. Anton, on the other hand, gets a good earful. Or at least, that is how Anton perceives it anyway. Sandra’s boys both get earfuls. That was inescapable.

“Since you’re a good kid, then promise me that you will listen to your older brother.” Sandra sternly said.

Ansel turned and glared at Anton, pouting and fully unwilling to promise his mother like it was worse than his detest for Brussels Sprouts.

Anton smirked at his younger brother. “You’ll promise to be good, right cheeky brat? Or else I’ll tell Wook here not to like you anymore.”

“Woooooo,” Wook whined, saddened by his new employer’s words.

“Fine! I promise! I can’t believe you blackmailed me, Anton! I’ll remember this!” Ansel rushed to Wook’s side, patting his crestfallen head. “Don’t worry, buddy! That evil brother of mine can’t ever split us apart! I won’t let him!”

Anton sighed, fatigued from dealing with Ansel. He looked at Wook and said, “Sorry, Wook, I was only joking, ok? I wouldn’t force you to not like my brother anymore. He’s a hard-headed brat who can be difficult to convince otherwise.”

“Am not!”

“Hmpf. Wook is nodding his head because he agrees with me.”

Wook was nodding his head. But at what, exactly, wasn’t known.

“No, he’s agreeing with me! Right, boy? See?!”

Theo jumped in and interrupted, “Sorry to burst in on your brotherly moment with Wook, but since we got this figured out now, let’s get going. No time to waste. Sandra, I think we should hit all the superstores first, specifically cleaning out the jewelry and electronics sections.”

“You’re going to loot unpaid for items?!”

“And you’re not? Wifey, let me tell you something. Everyone else will be looting. The power is out. We’re running on our own solar reserves right now. A weird power just shattered our planet. The end of the world just began. Do you think your bank cards will work anymore?”

A shrill shriek came out of Sandra’s mouth. “Oh my God! Theo! You rascal! You didn’t let me spend more money earlier! Now we have to go steal things!?”

“Better free, since everyone’s likely taking it anyway. Hurry, let's go to the garage to start the minivan.”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this. Ugh. This feels so wrong.”

“Well, look on the bright side. You can now shop till you drop. Just how you always wanted to.”

“Shut up. Get going, Theo. Come along, everyone, wave us out.”

“Not yet, honey. Let’s grab some weapons and gear first. Unfortunately, the bulletproof vest won’t fit your new summon.” Theo walked over to the open armory, took a backpack, and loaded it with ammunition before turning around and asking, “Do Lutheran and Hyliel know how to shoot guns?”

Sandra looked at the two summoned individuals, and they responded with Hyliel looking at the array of weapons and first responding, “I can only hope your unique weaponry will continue to work, Mr. Theo. Many times, items of the old world cease to function due to the removal of certain Universal Laws. If you would allow me, I would be willing to take that set of bow and arrows.”

“Of course, Hyliel,” Sandra said with a nod, “thank you for informing us. We should test out the guns once we leave and are safe to do so. We’ll carry some blunt weapons in case. How about you, Lutheran? Anything you fancy?”

“No, my Lady., for my body itself is the best weapon at your disposal.”

Theo huffed, “That better be all.” The Lycan smirked, and Theo grumbled before saying, “Anton, Ansel, come here. Here, take this, Anton. You two also choose something to defend yourselves with, and also take a vest each.”

Anton gulped, taking the loaded gun in its holster and also picking up a bat. Ansel eagerly looked at the gun, then at his father, who shook his head, and he pouted. But he did take a metal bat like Anton. The family had a thing for baseball bats as Theo picked up two more bats and two vests for himself and his wife.

Sandra stuffed some power bars and water bottles into Theo’s bag, chuckling while she recalled her husband’s comment as she led the group and unlatched the heavy metal door to their second-floor safe room. The family of four and their summons hurried down the stairs, with Wook having the most difficulty, knocking into the tightly packed spaces full of supplies all over the house.

First to enter the garage, Theo clicked the button on the wall for the garage door to open and walked forward but immediately froze as the metal rafters fully opened. Blocking his wife’s view, she ran into his firm back and groaned, “What the heck, Theo? Why did you just stop?”

“Uh…honey. You might want to take a look at this. We’re not going to be able to use the van anymore, or any vehicle for that matter.”

“Huh? What do you-“

Pulling the side of husband’s waist, she sidestepped beside him and also froze. Her mouth opened and blasted out a barrage of words.

“What kind of bullshit is this?! I need my van to shop till I drop! How can I do that when I can’t move my car with this freaking jungle blocking the way!? Where did all these trees and plants come from?!”

Lutheran ducked under the door frame as he strode to Sandra’s side and explained.

“My Lady, to answer your question, your world experienced a Mana Baptism, likely through the addition of the Universal Law of Mana. The exposure and intermingling of the profound energy increased the thresholds of all things it touched. Just as you have grown even more strikingly beautiful, the vegetation of your world experienced a massive growth spurt. That is why you see the jungle before you.”

Theo yelled at the Lycanthrope, “Hey! I said no funny business! You walk a fine line there, werewolf!”

Lutheran scoffed back, “My queen’s beauty cannot help but radiate like a blossoming rose. How can any man not compliment such a fine work of art by Mother Nature? You may be her husband, but I am her right-hand man. There is no wrong in what I said, but only truth.”

Theo grumbled, unable to completely refute the claim. “I mean, yeah. Only the beautiful part, though! There is, and will only ever be, only one man for Sandra, and that is me! Make sure you remember that, Lutheran! Don’t dare try anything else.”

“I shall do whatever my Lady requests of me. Anything.” The Lycan egged on.

Lines formed on Sandra’s forehead, and she gave the two bickering men an ultimatum. “OK, if you two don’t play nice and get along, then you both can stay. We women will figure something else out. Lutheran, you flatter me like no other with your sweet praises.”

Theo frowned, annoyed and slightly hurt by his wife’s acknowledgment. Two pointy hidden wolf ears on Lutheran’s head perked up as the Lycanthrope showed a dashing smile across his manly rugged face.

Sandra gulped before adding, “However, Theo is my husband. Nothing will change that unless he cheats on me. And he knows not to ever dare, don’t you, honey?”

“I would never!” Some confidence returned to him from understanding his wife's clearly drawn line. “Right! So don’t try anything anymore, Lutheran. Your master gave you an order.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

The Lycanthrope remained silent but partially nodded his head. His eyes glanced down with a downcast look.

“I don’t mean to hurt you, Lutheran. Either of you. So please get along, you two. This will benefit us all.”

Lutheran continued being silent as thoughts raced through his head.

“Is that so, my Lady?” Lutheran finally said, recalling more about her earlier figure of speech that he took literally. He turned to Theo, recalling ‘if Theo cheats,’ and his eyes gleamed with unknown intentions. However, he quickly turned back to Sandra and said, “I shall do as you asked.”

Theo took the Lycan’s words literally. He tried to be friendly and advised, “You know, you’re already a good-looking guy who seems pretty loyal. You would have no trouble with the ladies. I don’t know why you’re stuck on my wife, but she is taken. I’m sure you can find someone just as great as Sandra out there.”

Lutheran whispered under his breath, “You understand nothing.”

“Huh? What was that?”

“I said, you are fortunate. But I shall take her at any moment of weakness, Theo.”

“Dude! What did we just agree upon? I said it will never happen!”

Sandra rolled her eyes and hugged one of Hyliel’s arms before walking off. “Let’s go, Hyliel. Leave those bickering fools until the next countdown finishes. We have work to do. Oh! By the way! You said you have an inventory. How large is it? We should shop till we drop!”

“I am not familiar with the term, but I believe I comprehend the gist of it.” The elf smiled and added, “Let’s do so, Ms. Sandra. It has been quite some time since I had some shopping therapy. My inventory is unfortunately not so large as of this moment. However, we can at least fill the same space as half of this metal carriage.”

“Half the minivan? I’ll take it!” Sandra said, exiting the open garage door and fully entering the dense foliage with Hyliel in tow.

Theo shouted at the hurrying backs of his wife and son’s assistant as they stepped and disappeared into the towering overgrowth. “Honey! Wait for me! Anton! You’re now the man of the house. Take care of your brother and the place! I’m also counting on you, Wook!”

“Got it, Dad. I’ll close the garage door once you’re all out.”

“Woof!”

“Me too, Dad!” I can help, too!”

“Alright, then. Be good and stay safe, boys. You, too, Wook.”

The Lycanthrope’s deep blue eyes widened with alarm as he yelled, “My Lady! It is dangerous! Let me guard your front!” Lutheran dashed past Theo, who ran first, swatting away the towering grass and leaves that stood even higher than his tall frame.

“Damn, speedy guy! Just you wait till I level up! Close the door, Anton!”

“OK, bye, Dad. Take care!” Anton said, waving his hand that stopped and pressed the switch to close the garage.

The metal rafters slowly rolled down, making a low metallic rattling noise as they touched the cement with a thud.

“I hope they’ll be ok. Especially Dad. I don’t know why, but Mom’s summon is a bit too stuck on her. It’s unusual.”

Ansel completely ignored Anton’s comments as he played with Wook, making baby noises as he complimented the large wolf.

“Wook is such a good boy! Wook is such a good boy! Let’s go eat something again, okay, Wook?“

“Woof!” Wook barked with a loud excited voice.

“Yeah? OK, come on! Follow me, Wook!” Ansel cheerfully replied, leading Wook into their family kitchen.

Anton sighed, feeling like he was talking to the wall. He knew better than to discuss subject matters his younger brother didn’t care much about. However, Anton straightened his back and stood tall. He promised to care for his brother and their home while his parents were away, and he resolved himself to do so.

Walking into the kitchen, his younger brother and his new assistant gobbled down salty snacks and dried jerky that lay beside Ansel’s baseball bat. He approached the kitchen island–also placing down his bat–and reached for some jerky in the large bag between Ansel and Wook. Pulling out a few pieces, he munched down on one before handing the others to Wook, who seemed to have a pitless stomach.

Anton chewed on the jerky while asking, “Hey, Ansel. What is your class able to do? You didn’t mention anything besides Teleport. Can it do other stuff?”

“Mhm,” Ansel replied, along with a mouthful of jerky. He washed it down with some apple juice in a box before saying, “Unlike yours, my job can do a lot. I can bend space. It’s not much right now, but I can inflict damage by disrupting the fabric of space around something, basically ripping open wounds.”

“Sounds fitting. You also have a way of cutting things with your words.”

“Hmmm. Maybe that’s why I have a decent affinity for the space element,” Ansel said, tapping the countertop while taking Anton’s sarcastic jab as a compliment.

“Should we practice, Ansel? Mom wanted Dad to train with us–not like he would know what to do anyway. But you should, since you have the skill.”

“Hmm…not bad, bro. I guess you can do something right sometimes, too!”

“Thanks, but your compliments suck. You need to work on that.”

Ansel shrugged, looking around for a target. However, everything inside was still newly bought by his mother. He didn’t dare destroy anything inside the house that was still usable. Looking at the half-full carton of juice in his hand, he quickly chugged its contents empty before placing it on the granite countertop. The younger brother rushed back, and Anton’s eyes widened–understanding Ansel’s intentions.

“Hold on! Don’t use your skill yet. Let me move stuff and get Wook out of the way.”

Leaving the empty carton, Anton extended his arm and, with one swooping motion, brushed everything on the countertop to the far edge of the kitchen island.

“This way, Wook! Stay away from that empty carton for now. Ansel is going to try to use his ability.”

“Wolf!”

“Ready?” Ansel asked.

“Yup, we’re good. Just the carton, ok?”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Hmm…how would a superhero do this? I need a cool signature move.”

Ansel suddenly turned serious. His eyes focused, pinned to the carton. He spread apart both feet and shot his right index finger into the air. Ansel smirked, and Anton cringed. The younger brother’s finger drew an arc down, pointing at the carton as he called out, “Die, box! Rip apart, Spacial Rupture LVL 1!”

The extra parts were unneeded, and Anton shivered from the embarrassment crawling down the back of his spine. However, the older brother’s eyes quickly widened with alarm. Ansel’s body flared with a purple fiery aura as a massive burst of mana raged out of his body. A spherical area around the empty juice carton warped unnaturally, bending the space and twisting the site. With an abrupt burst, the swirl of churning space fractured and shattered, sending blades of ripped space that shredded the carton into shredded cheese. The strips of thin wet cardboard floated midair, further disintegrating as the attack continued and slashed the granite countertop.

Anton yelled with alarm, “Shit! Mom’s going to kill us! Stop the attack, Ansel!”

And the attack did stop. However, Ansel collapsed onto his knees. The space-related skills consumed high amounts of mana, draining about half of Ansel’s available pool of energy with only one attack. The spacial attack ceased as Anton and Wook rushed to Ansel with worried faces.

“Wolf!”

“Hey, are you alright, Ansel?!” Anton shouted, squatting down as he inspected his brother’s head and upper body.

Ansel swatted away Anton’s worried hands that gently searched for any injuries on his neck and shoulders.

“Jeez, bro! You ever heard of personal space?! Stop touching me!”

“What!?” Anton was taken aback by the disregard of his good intentions. “Listen here, little twerp! I was making sure you weren’t hurt, okay?”

Seeing his seriously angry brother, Ansel lowered his voice but still said, “Well, you should still ask first,” unwilling to let Anton get one over him.

Deep lines scrunched and wrinkled Anton’s rugged face and stout nose that took after his father. He took both hands and ruffled the messy brown hair on his younger brother’s head.

“Dammit, Ansel! I wouldn’t want to touch you if it was the last thing on earth! But you dang clueless fool! Don’t you know how worried I was!?”

“Ew! Just don’t! I’d rather die!”

A firm grip tightened around Ansel’s shoulders, and he flinched from the pain. He glared at his older brother but stopped. A furious enraged face scowled down at him, further darkening as viens protruded up along the sides of his older brother’s forehead. The entire room weighed down from the heavy outpour of Anton’s fury. Even Wook lowered himself to the ground and kept quiet. Ansel did not know what triggered Anton, but he had never seen his brother so angry.

“If you, ever—ever give up and die, I will chase down your fleeting departed soul and shove it back into your body. I will not let you die, Ansel. As much as we bicker and argue, I am your older brother. I will protect you. If someone needs to die, then it will not be you but me. I will always put you first. Got it, you cheeky brat?!”

For once, Ansel feared his older brother. It was only a manner of speech, but it was not a joking matter during the troubled times. He remained completely silent and only fervently nodded his head. Ansel winced again from the strong grasp, tightening on his shoulders.

Anton realized he was hurting his sibling, and he relaxed his hold. “I’m sorry I gripped you so hard, Ansel. But I don’t play around when it comes to your safety or the safety of my family. I hope you understand or one day come to understand.”

Ansel only nodded, still in shock from the display of a different, more aggressive side of Anton. It reminded the younger brother of his father when he was truly furious. The father and older son duo were the type to not say much or talk back often. But when they got angry. Oh, when they got angry, it was a fearsome surreal experience.

Lightening the mood, Anton looked towards the countertop and joked, “Well, Mom is going to be real happy when she gets back. She spent a lot on that granite countertop.”

Somewhat reverting back to his regular self, Ansel quipped back, “She can’t blame me this time. You wanted me to train my skill, remember?“

It took but a few sentences to turn the tables back onto Anton. He count not completely refute because he in charge, and he did ask Ansel to try to use his skill. However, he felt it to be entirely accurate. “Yeah, but you destroyed more than just the carton that I told you to.”

“I don’t know. It was my first time using the skill. You can’t really blame me for that. Besides, you said you would always protect me, right, big brother Anton?” Ansel smirked with a big devious grin. “So help me, and don’t let Mom kill me.”

“You! You little! Ugh. I just can’t with you. Fine! I will take the hit for this. And don’t joke about Mom doing something like that. It may be funny between us, but she would be seriously hurt if she heard. She cares—maybe even more than I could—about our family.”

Ansel smiled with victory from getting away with damaging the house, but his smile curved down with remorse. “Yeah…Mom would be hurt. That was my fault. I’m sorry.”

Anton looked at Ansel like he was a different kid he just met.

“So you do know how to feel bad and apologize?”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?! Huh?!”

“Nothing. You should apologize to me more often, too.”

“Yeah, right! You wish, Anton!”

Anton laughed, seeing a cuter side to his brother. But Ansel tilted his head and pouted in confusion. Anton lifted one hand and patted his brother’s head.

The genuine smiling face and soft pats on the top of his head further confused Ansel. To him, it seemed his brother was treating him like a dog. He slapped away Anton’s hand and the odd sensation growing in his chest. However, he was already starting to see his brother in a different light. They both did.

“Stop being weird.” Ansel huffed in annoyance.

“Sure, brat.” Ansel stood up and looked at the many micro-slash marks on the countertop along with the shredded pieces of the juice box. “It’s a powerful attack, Ansel. But you’ll have to be careful because it tires you out and damages a decent area of space. The problem now is if I can restore-“

A certain detail about one of his new assistants popped into mind.

“Eureka! Restoration! Hyliel! My savior!”

“Hyliel? She’s going to choose me, not you, Anton!”

“Sure, sure. Grow up first.”

“Shut up. Why did you bring her up then?”

“He - he - he. She has some pretty nifty skills. There’s one called Restoration that can repair broken things. I just need her to get here before Mom does.”

“Oh, that is pretty cool. Can I see her status screen, too?”

“Huh? No. Well…maybe. You would have to see if she would be ok with it. Wait, no. Cancel that. I think she would feel obligated to. Don’t ask her.”

“Aw, please, Anton? I just want to know more about Hyliel.”

“Don’t act cute. It’s still a no. Are you okay with me looking at your status screen?”

“No!”

“See? It’s private, right? Something personal that you don’t show just anyone. You won’t even share yours with me, your own brother. Think about Hyliel. We’re strangers to her. It would be even more awkward. Maybe as you get to know her, she will be willing to share, but don’t be rude by directly demanding her. Besides, it would be good practice for you to properly learn how to talk to women. You have four years before you become an adult. So it should be a good experience.”

“I already know how to talk to girls!”

“Well then, what happened to Ling Ling next door?”

“That…um, it doesn’t-”

Ansel stopped mid-sentence as the two brothers looked at Wook, who suddenly turned and growled in the direction of their front door.