Chapter 3
With our departure imminent, I have begun to consider what next. If we find them, where will we go? What will we do? An option would be my boss’s walmart. That place has enough supplies to last a while. It also has what would be needed for farming, and it would make a good defendable home. But what about my sister? I should leave a note for her, just in case she comes here. She has always cared about me. Ideas for the road. The gas station is about a 20 minute drive, and another 20 minutes to reach Hector’s place. I find it fairly likely that they stayed, and if they didn’t they probably would leave a note. Hm. Things to talk about on the road.
I write down on a sticky note where we are going, and place it on my door. I make it vague enough that my sister should be the only one that would know what it means.
Officer Jameson took only 15 minutes to decide on what he wanted to bring. It wasn’t much, a backpack filled with personal belongings, and a small suitcase.
“I don’t need much, this is my bare minimum,” he told us, “My suitcase has a few changes of clothes. My backpack has my essentials for hygiene.”
“Ok. So you’re both ready to go?” Asked Alexi.
We both nodded, and we set off. We decided to try to drive fairly slowly, we can’t really afford anything going wrong. Me and Alexi watched out the windows while Jameson drove. We talked about our future course of action.
“What do we want to do after we find them?” I asked.
“I don’t have any ideas, what about you Alexi?” Jameson replied, his eyes fixed on the road.
“I have a place, but it’s a very temporary one. Do you have a place Jason? You are the one that asked.”
“Well in fact, I do have an idea. Unless they decide to leave it should be a great place to set up. I worked at a Walmart in the past and my boss picked up when I called. I personally think that it would be an excellent place to go. Defendable, shelter, lots of supplies. We could even grow food there. Unless they stopped selling since I’ve been there, they should have enough fence to fence off a sizable area.”
They both nod, thinking.
“That is a good final destination. Where is it?” Jameson asked me.
“That’s the only problem,” I cringe inside, “I moved here, it’s out of state. Should be about 120 miles from here, give or take between one and ten.”
“South?” He asked me. His eyes left the road for a moment, and I saw a fairly serious look in his eyes.
“Yes, south. Why? Is there something wrong with that?”
“Yes and no. I have a few family members to the south. I didn’t call anyone while this was happening. I want to find them. They live near that Walmart, I remember it. The problem is different. There is a river between us and the south.”
“And?” I asked.
He rolled his eyes like it was obvious, then replied, “If everything is like here, how many bridges will still be standing?”
My eyes widened a little in realization. “There are a lot of rivers between us and them. We may have to ditch the van, and the food.”
“Well, yes that, and also, do you think we will be able to cross?”
“I’ve made the trip more times than I can count. I remember a lot of bridges. Even if some collapsed, we should be able to make it across, bridge or not. What do you think Alexi?”
I wait a few seconds before saying again, “Alexi?”
He slowly looks away from the surrounding area, then says, “I don’t know what they are, but a group of beings is following us. They are keeping pace. They may intend to ambush us.”
“Ok. I have an idea. We trigger the ambush, but not in the way you might think.”
He motions for me to go on, and I explain my plan. They are both smiling deviously.
“That just might work,” Alexi says.
“It’s crazy, but hey, all this,” he motions the surrounding area, “is also crazy.”
After five minutes we turn off our course and make our way into an underground parking garage. Before they can follow us in, we leave the van and make our way to hide behind other cars, and prepare to shoot the creatures. Fluffy lets out a small fearful meow. She can tell something is off. Her meow is like a beacon and a group of seven panther-like creatures enter the garage. They have 6 legs, and are moving strangely. For an instant they are stunned by the car lights before we open fire.
Immediately one of them falls to Jameson, and two others fall to a piercing shot from Alexi. I use two sidearms to rip into another one, wounding it to the point where it can no longer stand. With more than half of them down, one retreats. That leaves two for us to end. I pull out my sword and let out a battle cry.
Ding You have entered combat. All statistics have doubled.
Even with my increase in power, I barely have time to react. One of them rushes me, and the other rushes Alexi. I hear another gunshot, presumably from Alexi, and my sword bashes into the creature. I stopped it, barely. Our strength seems to not be equal, as it forces me to my knees. It stands over me, roaring. Its provado is short-lived as its head explodes. Jameson blasted its head into tomorrow, and it fell limp on me. I rolled it off of me, and I could instantly tell my sword is very damaged. It is very dented from the creature’s strikes. Not quite unusable, but surely I could still bash something with it.
Ding You are no longer in combat. All statistics have returned to normal. You have leveled up twice! 4 points to spend.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“I leveled twice from that. What about you guys?”
“I leveled once.”
“Yeah, I only leveled once as well.”
“Maybe leveling has to do with risk taken, rather than contribution?” I suggested.
“Makes sense to me,” Jameson said, “Let's get moving.”
I didn’t ask them what they would do with their points. For now, I’ll just keep mine for later. We got back in the van, and I went to the back to comfort Fluffy.
After a few minutes of driving we made it to the gas station. There are signs of conflict, but there aren't any dead people or creatures. There are arrows in the surrounding area. We stay in the van, and Alexi uses his Detect Presence Skill.
“There are creatures in the surrounding woods, but they aren’t currently nefarious. Whatever we want to do, we should do it now. I’ll keep my Skill active and I’ll tell you if they do anything. It takes my concentration, so you guys will have to do the work. Jason, there are three people in the building. I want you to talk to them. Jameson, I want you to get gas in the van.”
“I like your plan, but I’ll go with Jason for now, then get the gas. It’s an electric pump, and we would need the help of the people inside to help with it.”
“Point taken. Do it.”
We make our way to the main building, but the door is locked.
“Stay out!”
“We just want to talk,” I start out, but Jameson interrupts me.
“No, let me. They are scared, and likely need someone in authority to get them to listen to reason,” He explains to me, then says, “Officer Jameson, we just need some gas. You can come with us if you would like, we know a place we think will be safe. We have to work together, otherwise our chances of survival are much lower.”
We see movement from inside of the building, before one of them says, “We’re coming out, slowly. There are these strange small green creatures that attacked us. We need to get out of here. We have several filled gas cans, and can help you fill up that van. Just bring us with you.”
“Ok, we should hurry. We have a friend with a detection Skill watching for them.”
Three people came out. A short balding man with a rifle, a teenage girl, and this tall skinny guy with a baggy jacket.
The girl is the first to talk, and she says, “Hi. My name is Luna, I worked here before. I’ll fuel it up.”
“Sergeant Major Harris. I’ll watch the surrounding area and provide support for now.”
The skinny guy just walks to the car, and pulls out a cigarette.
Despite him not doing anything, I don’t particularly like his demeanor, but I let it go for now. I wait, and after a tense couple of minutes the van is gassed up and we drive away in it. It’s crowded inside now, with all the food and fuel.
“So, Sergeant Harris and Luna. I didn’t get your name, skinny man.” I start off the conversation.
“I’m Kia. I like to paint and stuff.” he replies, then continues, “I have one Skill, and it’s pretty cool if you ask me. I have the Skill Painter of Illusions. It lets me create illusions by holding things I make with like art, and stuff man.”
Luna then says, “What are skills? I have a feature called skill less, but it basically says that I have a higher chance of gaining Skills.”
“Skills are powers that let you do things. I have two Skills kiddo,” the Sergeant says, “My skills are Overseer, and berserker. And to the rest of you, I’m retired, but please call me Sarge.”
We talked about our plan, and they nodded along. They seemed to like it, and they said they would come with us. The rest of the time we didn’t encounter any other people or creatures. It seems those–goblins I guess?– didn’t follow us. As we reached Hector’s joint, a gruesome sight awaited us. Everyone was dead, but there weren’t the right number of bodies. Hector said 15 people were here, there were only ten bodies of people. They are all strewn out across the ground, whatever they fought apparently didn’t die. They fought, but fell. I frowned.
“Alexi. Is there anything near us? Anything at all?”
“No… wait yes, there is one faint sign of life within the building. It’s fading fast.”
“We need to get to whoever it is.”
As the vehicle stopped, the doors locked.
“Jameson, open the door.” I said forcefully.
“No. You aren't thinking straight. It’s not safe, we have to come up with a plan.”
“There is someone dying in there, I need to help them. What if it’s Hector?”
“Fine. Go in, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
As I got out, something changed.
Ding You have entered the sight of a vicious battle. Leveling requirements slightly decreased.
I walked up to look closer at them. From closer I deduce the opponent’s strategy. The opponent used numbers to attack from all angles to take them by surprise. This is not good.
Ding From your analysis you have deduced the truth. You have leveled up once. You have an additional 2 points to spend. 6 statistic points total.
I should likely use some of those soon. I walk into the main building, but instantly feel a feeling of absolute fear and dread. It is almost enough to make me fall over. Is this presence? In the middle of the room a giant figure made of metal stands over someone. It is doing something to them. They scream out for help, but I can’t move. It senses me, and slowly turns around. It is leaking purple gas of sorts from holes across it. The person has almost stopped moving. I am paralyzed, but then I feel something else. Absolute rage. I take a step. Then another. I pull my sword from my back. I feel burning, but I don’t care.
Ding You have overcome great presence. You have gained the skill indomitable(uncommon). All statistics are also raised by one. You have leveled up. 2 additional points are at your disposal.
Ding Warning. You have entered one-on-one combat. All statistics have doubled.
I feel my rage increase. My will overpowers the fear. I put half the points into endurance, and half into strength. Triple the effect. My strength and endurance are in the mid twenties for this fight. It still may not be enough. I ram myself forward
“POWER STRIKE! INDOMITABLE!”
I feel my weapon covered with my fighting spirit, and it Strikes into the creature. It falters under my strike, not falling, but catching it. It tries to break the blade, but it bends only a tiny amount. I smile, and pull out a side arm, shooting the thing. The bullet lands, but doesn’t deal very much damage. I pull back, the sword coming with me. It holds on to the blade, but is dragged with me.
The others have begun to approach and notice what I’m fighting. I need to finish this, or my stats will decrease. I let go of the sword, catching the monster off guard. I start to pummel it into the ground with my strikes. My fists are bleeding, even with every strike using a power strike. It finally reacts to me by hitting me with my own sword. A massive gash I barely notice. I will continue to strike it over and over. The others have begun shooting it, but the shots are barely even denting it. I let out a fearsome roar. They aren’t considered in combat from using guns. I finally land a finishing blow, and I tear its head off. I then fall to the ground, gasping for air.
Ding You are no longer in combat. All statistics have returned to normal.
Ding You have single handedly defeated a Steel Watcher. You have 3 rewards waiting. You have leveled up 6 times.
Ding Achievement unlocked. Heavy hitter(strength +5)
I then black out from exhaustion and my injuries.
End of chapter