With a silencer on, Darius drilled a bullet right between Michael’s eyes, killing him instantly and leaving his corpse with a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Brother."
A flash of the smiling faces of all those he killed appeared in his mind as all of them called him brother.
Was that really all you could’ve done? Fuck…
His eyes turned red while his hands trembled, trying to take out a cigarette and light it up, smoking from it while trying his best to calm his shaking hands.
He hated them. For betraying him and his brothers, for playing the friendship game with everyone for such a long time, for going through thick and thin together, only to stab them in the back after they received an order... This was something Darius could never forgive them for, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but shed a tear for the brothers he drank with, laughed with, and fought with, only to end up hunting them down himself. It was like killing your dearest ones for a just cause. It was a type of pain he didn’t wish upon anyone, ever. And truthfully, he wouldn’t have done it if not for him being the main cause of the past’s demise of the world.
From an outsider's perspective, Darius was clearly a cold-blooded murderer who would kill his own family for a mistake that hadn’t even happened. And he felt like that as well, since this thought was the reason why he would question his actions over and over again if it was the right thing to do, at this point, his heart already going wild from pain and confusion.
It already happened... There’s nothing else I can do but go on… It was either them… or everyone else.
"Phew~…."
He breathed out the last puff of smoke, then got back up on his bike, driving away while letting the wind wash over his face and hair.
He made sure to drive away from both Sin City and the military base. By the time someone finds his corpse, vultures would already be chewing at his bones.
The next day in the morning, there was another report of a missing soldier. Nobody knew what happened. They only saw that multiple surveillance cameras had been destroyed, but other than that, there were no clues about what happened to Michael or how he left the camp.
"O-oy Darius. What the fuck do you think happened around here…? People are disappearing one after the other…!"
"…."
At the canteen, Jack sat down at his table beside Darius. Before everything happened, that table was filled with their brothers, but now only Jack, Darius, and another 2 remained, making for a depressing emptiness to overwhelm the men sitting down to eat.
They were unable to sit anywhere else but in their designated seats, so whenever it was time to eat, the empty seats beside them would forever make them remember that at any time they could die or disappear, just like their brothers.
Staring at Jack, Darius drank some water as he spoke calmly.
"People are leaving this hell hole. And it was about time… I’ll leave as well at the end of this week."
"W-what?!"
Jack whispered baffled, and turned around to see if anyone else heard them, then turned back to Darius.
"What do you mean you’re leaving? And go where?!"
"To the borders."
"?!?!"
Danger Zone. Humanity’s Borders. Last Frontier. And so on other nicknames were given to the four cities that surrounded the dark continent and stopped it from advancing. If that was the limit of how much that void was able to advance, or if those cities were the reason why it stopped advancing, nobody was sure. But either way, that didn’t mean the monsters were stopping as well.
Because of that, humanity has created four main bases inside those four cities, trying their best to stop the monsters from advancing outside the miasma by creating the three militaristic guilds: the Blue-Spark Army, the Black Fortress, and the Demon Researching Facilities (DRF).
All of them had authority in all four cities, and all of them had a martial force of their own. But each of them had their own roles: The Blue-Spark guild was focused on rescue missions inside the Dark Continent and blocking off the waves of advanced monsters. The Black Fortress was focused on engineering and informatics, using the A.I. technology for greater control over transport and communication between the four cities and the Human Coalition. While the Demon Research Facilities (DRF) are conducting bio-engineering experiments on the monsters to understand miasma and mana, and how these new and seemingly magical elements work. Thanks to the collaboration between Black Fortress and DRF, many weapons and machines have been created that could work on mana and be efficient against monsters. They even found ways to purify little bits of miasma from living organisms. Although in small amounts, it was still a great beginning to purifying the world.
"D-do you think... it would be better there than here?"
Because of the constant tension of being overwhelmed by waves of monsters at any moment, the military camps from there were known to be among the most stressful places on the whole earth. The tension was so high, some said you could literally feel it, as if the air was liquid and not gas anymore.
However, that was only inside the military camps. Inside the city itself, it was as lively as in any other city, with families of the rescued and refugees even living together in such places without a problem.
It depends on what you think as better. If, by better, you mean that I’ll be able to have a bigger income, have the freedom to do whatever I want outside of the working hours, and have my own room and bed, then definitely better. But if by better you mean to have lower chances of dying from missions or training, then that’s definitely not better, since whenever needed, you might need to give your life to protect the last hope of humanity."
"……"
Jack was unsure how to take what Darius just told him, and Darius didn’t try to convince him to leave with him either. He knew better than anyone else just how dangerous it would be from here on.
"I don’t want you to make any rushed decisions, Jack. I just want you to understand that once you’re sick and tired of this shithole, you will always have another place to go."
"…. And how would I find you?"
"After I leave, I will stay in the Southern City for 2 months. Then move to the eastern city and crash there for another 2 months. After that, I’ll move to the northern city for about half a year, then to the western city for a whole year. If by then you didn’t find me, then just ask around for Daniel."
"Daniel? Who the fuck is that?"
"It will be the name I’ll use from now on."
"Why change your name? Is not like you have anything to lose, right?"
"I have you all… I’m not sure what I’ll do out there, but I'm pretty sure it won’t be pretty. So because of that, I’d rather not put my brothers in danger. After all, you morons are the only family I still have."
"Dunno man. I don’t think I swing that way."
"You're especially one of those morrons."
He slammed Jack’s shoulder annoyed while he laughed amused. After calming down, he thought for a moment and in the end, reached a conclusion himself.
"I understand, Darius. I will be sure to follow you, but not now. Later. When I’ll be strong enough to at least kill a mid-ranked monster with my knife alone."
"I’m sure you can do it, so I guess it would be earlier than I first thought."
They both smiled and shook hands like brothers.
.
After continuing his daily routine of training for the remaining days of the week, Darius went to ask for his demission from his general.
"What did you say, fucker?"
"You heard me… sir. I decided to leave. I wanted to inform you of this beforehand so there won’t be any squads searching for me later."
Oops, I almost spoke informally.
The burly man that was seated at the office seemed to soon have a cerebral attack at how much the veins at his neck and forehead were bulging. On the other hand, Darius stood silent with a calm gaze in his eyes while wearing a simple gray sweater with military pants and boots.
With his veins like that, he resembles a dickhead in every way possible.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
He couldn’t help comparing his general with a man’s tool after seeing his red face and thickening neck, his bald head contributing to the image even further.
The general got up and walked right in front of Darius, his face seeming as if Darius just talked smack about his mother.
"Do you believe you can leave whenever you please, fool?"
"I do have this right, yes."
"Tools have no rights! Get your ass back in the barracks right now, you bastard! I’ll teach you to make such jokes with me next time!"
"Well, since I’ve already informed you of my leave, I wish you a good day, sir."
Darius wanted to turn to leave, but then the general swirled his fist right at Darius face, making him catch his fist just a few centimeters from his face.
"You fucker… You dare turn your back on me and catch my fist? In the cold shower with you!"
"Sir, while I’m still respectful, I request that you let me go my way. I already left all my clothes and weaponry in the barracks. All the clothes on me right now are bought by me with my own money."
"Huh, just look at this bastard; suddenly he's grown up, huh?"
The general was not shaken by Darius’ glare. After releasing his fist from Darius' grip, he went to his office and from inside a shelf, he grabbed an electric baton.
"Just try to leave, you fucking slave!"
He swung the baton at Darius, and just as he did so, a sudden wind to his face made him close his eyes. After he opened them again, he found himself on the floor, with the baton in Darius’ hands, while being only dizzy with no injury on his body. Unaware of what just happened, Darius flung him gently on the ground while disarming him, using only minimal movements.
"Y-you fucker, what did you just-"
"Now that’s everything clear, I’ll take my leave, sir. I’ll leave this by the door."
Darius nodded his head, then left while bringing with him a backpack filled with more tools and all his savings. The general stared baffled at him as he simply closed the door and left while leaving the batoon on the shelf near the door.
As an elite in the Main Army, his salary was anything but enough for him to do anything with the money. Thankfully, Darius, before recovering his memories, was someone who used to keep his savings, initially having the dream to buy a car.
Even if he were to live past his 60s by miracle, I doubt he would still have enough to buy anything more than junk on four wheels.
Darius smiled and after exiting the main building, he went towards the bus station to send him towards Sin City.
After he arrived, Darius looked in his wallet again and calculated to have about 15.000 rozoni. To truly be prepared against monsters, aside from the weapons that were very basic, one also needed spirit pills for physical enchantment and dopamine for sustenance.
A single half-spirit pill was about 4.500 to 5.000 rozoni; dopamine for humans was 400 rozoni; dopamine for mages was 1.200 rozoni; and dopamine for a Spirit Wielder was 4.000 rozoni. A normal rifle reached at most 500 rozoni together with a good amount of ammo. A box of explosives on par with 10 packs of C4 was about 1.000 rozoni. An hour with an average prostitute was about 100 rozoni, a pack of cigarettes was 20 rozoni, and some good alcohol varied from between 340 rozoni and 110 rozoni, only if you weren’t happy with beer that tasted like horsepiss, that’s 10 rozoni, something they would normally drink since they had no money. A good meal was also about 100 or even 150 rozoni, while just some food could be as cheap as 30 rozoni… only if you considered bread and some sausages as a meal. One night at a motel or inn was about 100 rozoni.
Adding the fact that a soldier's monthly salary was about 800, 1 day here could just erase about all of your money only on the basic pleasures.
He smiled as he remembered the disturbing feeling he had when he walked into this city for the first time in his past life. He was so disgusted by the amount of unhidden lasciviousness and blasphemy that he never stepped here again. However, this time he couldn’t help feeling like home for some reasons.
Perhaps because I was once contaminated with the miasma… That nasty energy is known to bring forth the most hidden desires and vices from inside a person’s heart and manifest them in the most violent way possible. After experiencing such nasty and gruesome feelings, this place seems like a holy sanctuary.
He shook his head to shake off these ridiculous thoughts, then continued on through the crowded streets.
First of all, I’ll need to put aside 500 rozoni for transport. So 14.680 to go. Then I’ll need to buy two quarter-spirit pills. I must find some promotion that would give me two for 4.500 rozoni. The dopamine for humans is too weak, so I’ll need two for mages; another 2.400 rozoni gone. Another 3.000 on weapons, ammos, and explosives…. Shit, my money.
At the end of it all, he remained with but 4.780 rozoni. Eating something decent for 80 rozoni, 4700.
"Damn. When broke, money really runs out quick."
Darius grimaced for a bit while eating his meal inside a tavern when a sudden sweet scent attracted his attention.
"Hello there~! Why are you eating here so alone? Should I keep you some company~?"
A young lady with blonde hair, green eyes, and a slender body sat right beside Darius, her bright smile but enchanting eyes beaming with a friendly yet flirtatious air. She was surprisingly pretty and cute for such a place as Sin City, but Darius couldn’t see it as anything but luck.
"… Sure."
.
After about two hours at an inn, another 230 rozoni went down the drain.
"Please visit again~! Next time, I’ll make you an even better discount~."
"Better remember that, pretty."
Darius waved back while feeling pleased, not regretting it as he counted his 4.560 rozoni.
It feels good to be alive, doesn’t it?
He walked down the streets, and after seeing nothing else, he went towards a deposit where all the things he brought were being stashed together inside a safe. It costs about 200 rozoni per month to keep all the goods safe in there, but it was pretty good as this depositing company had a great system through which one could transfer all the goods to another city just by sending a request first-hand.
After taking out from the personal deposit a FAMAS rifle together with four magazines and a box of ammo, he made the request to send the rest to the Southern City. One of the four cities defending the border of the infected continent is also the place where the first heroes will appear.
But most of all, I have to meet those fuckers.
There was also the city with the most lax security when it came to people going inside the infected area. A few times in his past life, Darius saw children get past security and enter the danger-zones. Although the miasma won’t infest anyone if not in large amounts, the beasts inside the danger areas would still eat anything, even of their own. So even if the miasma wasn’t a factor of danger at the edge of the continent, the monsters were still there, and in many numbers.
Walking at the end of Sin City, there was a bus station and a little hut from where people could buy their bus tickets. Darius walked there and gave out 250 rozoni.
"Towards the Southern City."
"Alright, one ticket to the edge, eh? Going there to start some business?"
"Going there to hunt."
"…. What?"
The ticket seller looked baffled at Darius, and it was justified.
The cities were still fine and good to live in, and there were many rescued people from inside the void who settled down there. But it was the worst possible place for a normal soldier or mercenary to hunt down monsters. It was simply because of the hunting grounds themselves. There was miasma, so there were chances of getting intoxicated at any moment. Monsters were ruling the area, which meant you could be wandering inside a monster’s nest and not even be aware that you’re surrounded. It was even worse that the sky itself seemed to fall at any moment since the sky was covered by dark skies, making the whole area all-time dark while purple thunder flashed constantly, giving anyone with epilepsy a hard time just going near that place. Even the space itself was unstable, at random the space distorting and making for either more miasma and monsters to appear or for areas to disappear, at times appearing random circular holes into the ground or onto the buildings around, as if someone or something spooned it like ice cream. That was a threat that could end both humans and monsters alike if they weren’t careful. Luckily, such things happened where there was less activity, normally in deserted areas. Even so, it was still dangerous.
As a soldier, to go to a place that was flashing and rumbling constantly, where the air was toxic while nightmarish monsters could even appear behind your back in a second, It was the greatest punishment anyone could impose on themselves, especially if they were just unaffiliated mercenaries without any superhuman traits.
But the worst of them all were the Demonic Wielders, who would look like normal humans at first, only to suddenly attack everything in their path without a second thought, wielding superhuman and magical powers.
Demonic Wielders… Basically super humans like the Spirit Wielders, but maddened by the miasma and gone crazy.
It was a place filled with surprises that nobody would want to experience as a soldier, especially with how unstable the space was.
"Is there a problem?"
"N-no. None. Here is your ticket, then. Wish you luck…."
The man gave Darius his ticket, who then entered an armored bus right after while carrying his rifle on his back, a simple but sharpened knife on his waist, a gun, and a pack of cigarettes in his pocket.
Six hours later, he was finally at the frontier city, also the last station.
Seeing him finally get off, the driver took his head out of the window and said in a rough voice but in good will.
"Young soldier, I have no idea why you decided to come here, but if it’s just for a visit, then I can wait for a couple’ hours. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for the next day."
"Thanks, old man. But I’m fine. I came here for some business."
"Those businesses better not be costin’ yo’ life, kid. Take care."
"Thanks, you too."
"God bless."
Darius waved at the bus as it distanced itself, then he entered the unguarded fortified city.
Or rather, the fortified part of the city.
This area was a whole metropolitan area that spanned a few dozens of kilometers. However, better than half of the city was already taken over by the monsters, while the rest was surrounded by huge concrete walls with large automatic cannons on top of them. Everyone was able to enter it from behind, since a new helping hand was always welcomed, but Darius couldn’t help finding this to be the worst possible way of thinking since he was well aware of the cult’s presence. This could also be the reason why the Southern City was also the most corrupt of them all, and probably why this city was the first to fall in his memories.
Almost all the forces were focused in the front, the rest inside the city for keeping order, and nothing in the back as there proved to be no dangers.