May 30, 2025; Clay's heart beat in his ears as he heard Jill and Tonya join Mary in screaming at the top of their lungs until Dillon waved his gun at them and said "Shut up!" Before he slammed the door closed and locked it. Clay could see him clip the keychain onto his belt loop as he turned to everyone else, including Clay. He was still brandishing the pistol and Clay could see it was a revolver.

"Now. You all work for me. Stop loading trucks right now. All nonperishables I want to be gathered up in bay C3. Does anyone have a problem with those orders?" He looked everyone in the eye including Clay and then continued, "Let's see what we got. We can trade this stuff when we need something so let's find out what we have exactly."

"You two." Dillon motioned to two stragglers that were still lingering around the area. "Guard this door. Don't go in, or let anyone in, and don't fucking let them out!" He snapped, handing the bigger man a knife he took out of his boot. He then walked off towards the break room.

Clay was already moving away from the scene. "That's not good." He said to himself. He made his way down to the actual loading docks in time to see Dillon waving his pistol at a truck driver a heated argument raging between them. The truck driver suddenly reached inside his truck and grabbed a short sawed-off 12 gauge but before he could turn Dillon shot him twice in the chest. Then reached down and grabbed the shotgun. "Fuck! Now he has a scattergun to shit." Clay cursed as he turned and made his way back inside the warehouse.

The sound of all the loading bay doors slamming closed one after another was defining and he decided to find a quiet spot. He soon found one on a pallet of what looked like boxes of thermal underwear. He sat down to think about what was going on and where to go from there. He hadn't expected for fucking Dillon's nuts to drop. The pudgy little bastard had always been a brown-nosing idiot more worried about doing the least amount of work. Clay thought that was why Dillon had stopped advancing in the company. The loading dock supervisor position was a job where you never really had to do anything yourself.

That's when he remembered. He had leveled up last night. He focused on the small golden dot and his status screen popped up.

Clay Benton, Human Male, Age 40

Level: 2

Class: Sovereign

Health Points: 220

Mystical Points: 24

Strength: 16

Dexterity: 12

Intelligence: 12

Wisdom: 12

Passive Abilities - Adaptable Conversion

Skills - Vicious Strike

Remaining ability points to be allocated: 4

"Alright, now where do I want to put those points?" He thought to himself. "Let's put all 4 in Strength." He focused and watched his strength score change to 20 and he felt a surge run through his body. He flexed and it almost felt like he needed a larger shirt. His arms barely fit in the sleeves and he had a feeling his muscle mass just increased everywhere. His stomach even felt harder.

"Well, I should have put some in Dexterity but I have a feeling I'm going to need the Strength." He thought as he stood up. "Ok now, how to go about getting you ladies out of that room?" He meandered around the warehouse trying to think of something and acting like he was bringing the nonperishable supplies to bay C3.

In reality, he had found a large duffel bag and packed it full of canned food, a couple of blankets and some clothes he thought might fit the woman if they needed them. He didn't know what condition they were in, he hadn't seen the women earlier.

He was unable to get near the door during the night. The guards switched out and Clay could only watch throughout the night. Thankfully none of the men went into the room it seemed like the women had barricaded themselves into the room somewhat. Clay was sure the men could force themselves in but it would take a little time.

By the next day, he had figured out that Dillon had been right. It had turned into utter fucking chaos outside, and it would be a miracle if martial law could be implemented. The steady rain had turned an odd blue-green color at some point around the world and didn't seem to be stopping. The rivers were beginning to flood in places and Clay knew things were going to get bad, really fast. He couldn't stay here much longer or he'd be fucking stuck in Chicago.

He did find a way out though. One of the side doors was only used for a fire escape as it led straight to a small alley between the warehouse he worked in and another warehouse next to them owned by a different company that specialized in industrial-grade chemicals. Nobody ever used it. You could only open it from the inside. Of course, he still couldn't figure out how to get the women out.

He only managed to catch a few hours of rest, he couldn't even call it sleep. Unrest was starting among the 9 workers still inside the warehouse and Clay made himself scarce as he heard a scuffle break out. A loud "Bang! Bang!" Told him Dillon had used the shotgun. He shook his head, he'd have to figure out how to deal with the revolver. He hadn't seen Dillon grab any shells out of the trucker's cab but he also didn't keep an eye on the man. He could have retrieved some by now he thought.

He was just finishing an oatmeal cream pie when he saw a figure look into the window of the fire door. He was mouthing something motioning to Clay to open the door. He hopped off the pallet and went to the door and stopped.

What if he was hostile? Clay looked around and next to the door was a fire axe with a spike on the opposite side of the axe head. He swung it easily. Its wooden handle felt good in his hands. It had been a long time since he'd held an axe. He stepped to the door and asked, "What do you want?"

"My wife. Mary." The man said. "Is she okay?"

Clay grimaced and replied, "Step back." He said as he opened the door. "She is as of right now."

"Where is she?" The man asked, worry dripping from him. Clay could tell this man truly loved his wife.

He sighed and said, "Easy. She's safe." He proceeded to explain how Dillon had locked all three secretaries inside a closet and killed several men in the last couple of days. So far the men had refrained from doing anything. But Clay couldn't hope to overpower all of them and deal with a gun.

The man shook his head and stuck out his hand. "Harry Mathis, Mary's husband. I'll help you."

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Clay took his hand. "Clay Benton. I have an idea but it'll have to be pretty quick. It's almost dark and those assholes will be switching guards soon if they keep the same routine. Let's go. I'll explain my plan on the way. Here, put this on." Clay gave him a yellow safety vest to put over his shirt. "So you look like you belong at a glance. Do you have a weapon?"

Harry nodded as he did as Clay asked, he pulled out a large butcher knife and said, "Okay, lead the way."

Ten minutes later they watched from behind a pallet as what looked like the remaining men worked on forcing their way through the door. Dillon stood behind the six men brandishing the revolver as he yelled at them, "Hurry up you worthless sacks of shit. The first one in will get the Orc for themselves."

He nodded at Harry. They were about twenty feet away from Dillon and the group of men. They had gone over the plan. Clay had the axe which gave him some reach. However, he needed to be closer. Harry was going to rush the men at the door. Regardless, everything hinged on taking out the gun, or Dillon.

Clay burst out from one side of the pallet while Harry dashed towards the men at the door. Clay had already started to swing the axe at the arm holding the pistol when Dillon turned towards Harry and started to raise the gun. He heard a "Bang!" as his axe came down, biting deep into the fat man's shoulder. Luckily the shot missed Harry. The gun clattered onto the concrete as Clay jerked the axe out and swung again as Dillon tried to dodge sideways.

He was way too slow though, and his axe head slashed through the fat man's stomach, laying it open as he stumbled and hit the ground. Clay was on him in a moment. He brought the axe down hard into the man's arm as he tried to block the blow. But the force of the swing easily overpowered the fat arm and Clay watched Dillon's head explode like a melon as the axe head connected with a solid, wet "thwack". Blood sprayed him from the blow but he didn't have time to worry about it.

Harry had stabbed two of the men but looked to be having trouble with the third man who also had a knife, and the rest had started to move around the man leaving the door. Clay reached down and grabbed the revolver and without looking raised it in the air.

"CLICK!"

"What the fuck?" He looked at the revolver and realized it was fucking empty!

The damn gun was small and empty, so he shoved it into his jacket pocket and charged into the fray. He caught one man with the blade, only grazing his arm but it still cut it wide open as the man tried to dodge away, he managed to drive the other men back a little leaving Harry to deal with the man knife to knife. Clay quickly used the opportunity though to swing the axe around in a backhand that stuck the spike on the back of the axe deep into the knife wielder's back.

The man dropped like he had his body shut off and the man coughed blood all over Harry as the spike went into a lung. Clay ripped the axe free. His enhanced strength allowed him to easily retrieve it from the dying man's body. He caught another man lunging at him with a haymaker and realized he was going to get hit.

He braced himself and threw an uppercut. "Vicious Strike!" He felt the man's fist hit him in the cheek just as he got the words out. He saw a burst of light as his vision disappeared, and he felt himself step back. However, he maintained his footing.

His fist had hit the man in the chin. His head snapped up violently and his eyes rolled back in his head as he crashed to the ground like a sack of shit. Clay shook his head to clear the lights and barely dodged another swing from one of the remaining standing men.

"Mary! I'm coming, honey." Harry yelled as he lunged at another man who managed to grab his hand as they began wrestling.

Clay ducked another swing from the side. This man was the one he had wounded with a slash on his arm. He was too close for Clay to use the axe effectively so he did the only thing he could do. He held it out in front of him and dropped it. As the man's eyes instinctively followed it Clay used the distraction to step forward with a blow to the man's midriff with everything he had.

The man seemed to fold around his fist as the air was suddenly blown out of his lungs from the force of the blow. He stumbled backward and fell to one knee. Clay kicked him in the temple with his fucking steal-toe boot, sending him sprawling onto the concrete floor, moaning in agony.

The other man ran, leaving his buddies either wounded or dead on the floor as he fled. Clay picked up the axe and quickly dispatched the man wrestling with Harry, he had lost his knife at some point. The man gasped in air as he shakily got to his feet. The moans and groans of the wounded men on the ground were noticeable but the blood that covered the area made it look like the set of a slasher film. Clay also felt his adrenaline petering out as the altercation was over.

Harry retrieved his knife. "Come on. Let's get them out of there." He said.

The woman couldn't believe it was Harry and Clay that saved them. The sight outside the closet caused all three women to lose what little was in their stomachs. After they got the woman out though, Clay decided to put the men in the room and lock them in there. If they made it out, they made it out. After he finished he made his way to the others. The woman had been extremely thirsty and Clay had to tell them not to drink too much or it might hurt them.

Jill was hesitant but took a nearby shirt hanging on the wall and started wiping the blood off his face. He gave her an exhausted smile and he heard Harry say. "We're going to the shelter. Chicago set up a large quarantined area. Everyone is supposed to report there. We'll be safe if we can make it." He was reassuring Mary but speaking loud enough to make sure everyone heard.

"I'll help you all get to this shelter," Clay said as he moved to retrieve the duffel bag he had prepared. "Then I'll be heading home."

"Wait, Clay, wouldn't it be safer to head to the shelter and stay with ...us?" Jill asked, worry etched on her face. He heard the "me" she had replaced with the us.

"No." He grabbed the shirt and wiped some more blood off him. It was starting to dry and she had missed some on his brow. "I'm going home. Everything's going to shit. This new system has to be a set up for much worse things to come. Look at Tonya." He pointed and she cringed. Obviously she didn't like the attention. "That can happen to any of us. How do you think people will react?" He nodded as they understood exactly what he meant.

"Now let's get you all to this shelter. Have any idea how far it is?" Clay asked.

Harry nodded. "We should be able to get there in a couple of hours."

Clay looked at the fading daylight and the steady rain outside the window and said, "Okay. Let's get going then. Jill, Tonya," he looked at both of them now in their coats and carrying umbrellas, "Stay right behind me." He ordered and saw both women nod as he hefted the duffel bag and the still bloody axe and started out the door. "You can lead the way, Harry."

They filed out of the alley shortly after that, heading north as they dodged roving bands of people. Some of them were violent and most were out actively robbing people and property. Harry informed them that there had just about been a complete, global crisis trying to deal with the mutations. That's why the government had set up the shelters around the country. They deployed the National Guard to facilitate the safety of the population as panic struck everyone.

They were just crossing the street well away from the last group of people who were in the process of smashing into a jewelry store. They hurried down an alleyway and Clay just noticed movement from behind a dumpster he had just passed when he heard Jill let out a cry of pain.

He turned to see a stray dog that looked like it had rottweiler somewhere in its genetics had darted out and bit Jill on the back of her leg, blood obvious through her stockings. It was growling and luckily malnourished enough it couldn't rip or tear, though it was trying. Clay immediately swung his axe catching it just behind the head, nearly severing it from the neck. The jaws let go instantly as it fell to the ground.

Jill fell into him, a look of pain and fear on her face. "I... I..." She fainted in his arms. He lowered his shoulder and easily raised her on it.

He looked at Harry and Mary who had stopped and said, "Keep going. I got her."

They only made it one more block before Clay had to stop. He wasn't tired or worn out, he had enough strength to keep going but Jill had started burning up and it was Tonya who brought it to his attention. They stopped at a bus stop using the shelter to shield them from the weird colored rain while he checked on her.

Harry and Mary wanted to push on but patiently waited for them.

Jill was burning up, her skin was red and she whimpered even while she was out cold. He checked the bite and exclaimed in surprise as it was healed. Completely. The blood was still there, and a scar. But the wound had healed. "Interesting, her wound healed." That's when she let out a scream that was probably heard several blocks away. However, now that they were paying attention other screams were echoing through the tall buildings. Then her fucking ears disappeared, a very thin coat of almost indistinguishable hair sprang out of her on certain visible areas of her body, and two dog-like ears grow out of her head slightly higher and farther back than a human's ears.

"Holy shit!" Clay exclaimed as Jill mutated right in front of him. Her heartbeat was so loud he could hear it. "Come on, stay with me, Jill." He didn't know what to do. Then it clicked. "The shelter! Come on we gotta get to the shelter." He handed the duffel bag to Tonya and picked Jill up in a princess carry and hurried after Harry who didn't waste any time. Thirty minutes later Jill's heart rate had decreased to closer to normal but he noticed she had clutched his shirt in a pale fist as she groaned, they finally made it to the checkpoint.

However, things didn't go so smoothly there. They were informed that only humans would be allowed in. No mutants. They looked to be ready to shoot Tonya and she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Why?" Was all Clay asked as Harry and Mary made their way inside. Harry was carrying her into the settlement as she was struggling and yelling for her two friends. Clay knew right then Harry had known about the humans-only rule but chose not to say anything to get his wife to the shelter. If she had known she probably would have refused to leave her friends out to dry, and Harry would have had to figure something else out.

"Orders." Was all the man said as he leveled the XM7 at Clay who stepped back still holding Jill. "Get the fuck outta here with them. If you were smart you'd ditch'em and get inside where it's safe."

Clay backed away maintaining a nonthreatening posture as he extracted himself from the checkpoint. Many people were trickling in and Clay witnessed a man and a woman being dragged through the street and thrown out. The pair stood and made their way towards the store awning Clay and Tonya had taken shelter under.