CHAPTER 120: Goodbye

Adam pushed upwards. His hands moved both the Scyrric’s claws and clashing sword away from his body. The memory version of [Power Through] fed into him.

When Adam activated [Body and Soul Shaping], it was like a faucet that could adjust the volume of power that entered him while also insulating him from the damage that power could do. He could either allow a trickle just to give him a little power, or he could open the amount to a degree that would destroy his body.

[Power Through] was different. He didn’t have control of it and was sure his version wasn’t as inclusive as the one from the memory. Right now, that didn’t matter. He could feel the strength of it. Instead of increasing the amount of power that flowed into him, it was increasing the velocity of it. Pressurizing the flow, taking it from a slow running faucet that he could direct to the force of a fireman’s hose, spraying everywhere.

Adam briefly wondered if he was being considered a Tier 1, level 0 by the skill. If so, then his Tier 3, level 32 opponent would be 87 levels higher than him, increasing the pressure by that difference according to the skill description he had seen within the other man’s memory.

The overseer started gasping and sputtering with his reptilian lips.

“What? But, how? You used your skill earlier! How do you have more strength now without using another skill?” hissed out the Scyrric in a panic.

Adam continued smiling at him.

“I’m an aberration, right? The rules don’t apply to me!”

Then Adam threw his arms to the side while still grasping the invader’s wrist and locking swords. The overseer had continued to push, and without Adam resisting him all the force flung his body downwards. Adam drove his own head right into the lizard snout. The impact bounced the overseer backwards, momentarily stunning him and causing blood to spray out of his nostrils and mouth.

The overseer stumbled to his feet, coughing and choking in an inhuman way. As soon as the tail’s grip on Adam’s ankle lessened, Adam rolled backwards to his own feet.

Once steady, Adam used [Gladiator’s Approach] to appear in front of the overseer. His sword stabbed into the overseer’s left forearm, causing the hand to become limp. Within a moment’s pause, Adam then pulled the Scyrric combat knife out of his own body and armor and sliced the right hand clean off.

The overseer’s eyes became large, and the reptilian pupils dilated. The lizard man cried out and lunged towards Adamm leading with his mouth, like a snapping alligator. Adam caught the teeth on either side, closing in on his torso.

The jaw muscles are the strongest in the human body, and Adam had to imagine that was true for the Scyrric too. The strength exerted by those jaws was great, but Adam’s new pseudo-skill had given him what he needed.

Separating the upper and lower jaws, pulling them apart until there was a loud snap of bone, Adam let loose a bestial roar like an animal. Not one that carried his [Incapacitating Shout]. This was a bestial shout of victory that contained all the power pumping through him, the fury of the river, the anger towards all invaders, and the sound of his heartbeat pounding through his head, shaking the air with its sound. It was a shout of a monster ready to attack everything the world could bring against him.

Scyrric “Base Overseer [32]” slain. 32,265 XP gained.

The remaining Scyrric all looked at him, and the three living riot enforcers charged.

Adam punched the first to arrive in the chest, crushing the armor and the ribs inside. That Scyrric fell gurgling. The second had his legs kicked out from under him and Adam stomped on his neck when it hit the ground. The third, Adam grabbed the chest piece where it ended at the upper chest and while the riot enforcer tried to claw at Adam’s arms, Adam crushed his throat and then ripped it’s head off, once more releasing a bestial roar.

Then, to the disgust of everyone but the General’s Guard, Adam began pouring the Scyrric’s blood into his own mouth, where it dissolved with a sharp taste like turmeric and triggered his regeneration. Once healed, Adam threw the body to the floor and looked around while breathing heavily. His bloodshot eyes glared at everyone nearby, challenging them to face him. Thoughts slipped through his mind with each beat of his heart.

Cries of victory were rising from the Sentinel Army’s soldiers. Some were looking for Scyrric bodies to mimic Adam by drinking their blood, which resulted in a few needing heals while others just vomited. More were on one knee in a half bow, half salute. The Leputi were mostly trembling while bowing prostrate on the ground.

The captive humans were trying to hide, as scared of Adam as they were of the Scyrric. They covered their eyes and trembled. A few were pleading with Lamar to take them away from him.

With no enemies nearby, Adam felt the effects of [Power Through] rapidly fade. His body calmed down while his mind was freed to think clearly.

Embarrassment grew in him as he realized that under the new pseudo-skill he had been acting like a mindless beast, reveling in a won game of “king of the mountain.” The power and ferocity he had radiated hadn’t been targeted at just his enemies. It had been released for all to feel.

“Right,” Adam muttered to himself. “The memory said [Power Through] lowers intelligence and wisdom. Damn. It also increased the damage my body took. I wonder how the other guy survived it. Better save this for emergencies.”

When Adam’s body and mind had calmed down, he fixed his gaze on Lamar and Nick. Nick was conscious and supported by Lamar. With big strides, Adam ran over to them. Tears formed in his eyes as he wrapped each of them in an arm, hugging them with near bone crushing force.

“I’m so glad you guys are alive! I’m so glad…” he blubbered.

They both dangled in the air, surprised by Adam’s uncharacteristic show of affection, also thankful that the feral behemoth armor provided some protection again blunt force damage. The captive people from Thompson’s Station had already backed away.

Once he had calmed down again, Adam placed them back on the ground. Nick was pale and kept his eyes downward. Lamar put a hand on Adam’s arm and patted it in greeting.

“New power?” Lamar asked.

“New power,” nodded Adam.

“When?”

“While fighting the base boss,” said Adam.

“Of course,” sighed Lamar, wishing it was that easy for him. “Anyway, thanks for coming for us. A few more minutes and Nick wouldn’t have made it.”

Adam looked at Nick and all the gore covering him and his gear. His face screwed up in a grimace. “Sorry I wasn’t sooner. And sorry I left you back at the water plant. I couldn’t fight my way to you without abandoning the rest of the army. I just…well, I just had to make a tough decision and hated both outcomes. Then I thought you were dead. I’m sorry.”

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“I understand, Adam. We’ve all had to make tough decisions, and this won’t be the last of them.”

“I wanted to come when I found out you were alive, but the others convinced be to send those guys,” Adam tilted his head to indicate the General’s Guard. “We had other business going on as well. I didn’t know they would throw themselves, and you, into a hopeless situation. I rushed out with reinforcements as soon as I heard.”

“You made shockingly good time, even for you,” admitted Lamar.

“About that,” Adam got really close to him and whispered, “we found out how to teleport between the bases. Don’t tell others yet. I don’t want the invaders to know we know.”

“Wow. That’ll really help,” agreed Lamar. “I take it the ‘other business’ was the space rabbits?”

“Whoa! Don’t let Tom hear you call them rabbits. Their race is Leputi. He’s insisting they’re called bunnies,” warned Adam.

“Of course he is. But why?”

“Who knows. It’s a Tom thing.”

“Of course it is. Another Tom thing,” sighed Lamar. “Anyway, I personally can’t wait to get back to base and shower. Any chance of using that…fast travel?”

“I think it’ll be safer to use the transports the others are bringing.” Adam’s words caused Lamar to sigh again. “Anyway, I think my little display and the bunny former-invaders-turned-employees are freaking out the other humans. I’ll talk to the other Sentinels and get some of the less bloody ones to try and talk them through everything. Just know that it’s really great to have you guys back.”

“Adam,” Nick muttered as Adam turned to leave, head still down.

“Yeah, Nick?”

“We aren’t enough, are we?”

Adam squared up and looked at Nick. He wasn’t great at reading body language, but he saw the despair in his long-time friend. The slouch and posture weren’t just from losing a fight. There was more going on. Adam considered what to say before he spoke.

“No, Nick. Even I’m struggling now.”

“Even as a group we couldn’t do anything until you came. It’s all you. We’re just your cheerleaders and pity cases,” spat Nick.

“Nick, that’s not fair,” started Lamar, but Adam held up a hand to stop him.

“I tried to bring you guys up so we could stand together, or so you could leave me behind since I can’t level. I don’t want to be this important,” stated Adam seriously, almost resentfully. “Everything has been to keep my people safe.”

“But you can’t do that, Adam! We can’t become what you are! You can’t keep us all safe and we can’t keep ourselves safe.”

“Then what are you saying, Nick?”

Nick raised his head and looked Adam in the eyes. The body language screamed depression, submission, and surrender. However, the eye showed intensity. They met Adam’s eyes with a fury that surprised Adam and released some of his worry.

“I can’t come back with you. You already thought I was dead, just continue thinking that. I don’t have to be the go-to guy, but I need to matter in the lineup.”

“Nick, no!” pleaded Lamar.

“Sorry, buddy. This is how it must be,” said Nick with determination.

“I, I can’t come with you,” said Lamar. “I miss home and my family.”

“I didn’t expect you to come. I was never much for solo sports, but this time I have to be on my own. I need to figure out if it’s possible for someone other than Adam to survive. If it isn’t possible, then one way or another I won’t be coming back.”

Adam reached to Nick and gripped his shoulder with a tight squeeze. “Keep the appointment title so you can always find your way back home. I’ll tell your parents but make sure you stay alive.”

Nick nodded to Adam, and once Adam let go, he began walking to the base entrance.

“Goodbye, Adam.”

“Goodbye, Nick,” was all Adam could say as his best friend departed. He watched Nick for a few minutes and then put his friend out of his mind. There were things to get done and a base to claim.

***

In the time before his group and the rest of the reinforcements arrived, there had been a lot to do. Adam had sent the Leputi back to the South Hampton Rift, since they made the already scared captives more nervous. The Sentinel Army troops accepted them after Adam proclaimed they had joined up, though plenty of people wanted to know more about the situation.

With the number of captives, it took a while to free them all. Adam assigned some of the soldiers who had been trained to work with rescued groups to manage their care. Other soldiers were sent out to raid Thompson Station of food, snacks, and drinks so the former captives had something worth eating.

Adam himself explored the base. He found stores of meat that seemed fine for humans. The General’s Guard did the testing and distributing, making sure it was served to the captives. There were other food-like piles and that green glop, but even Adam didn’t feel like eating them based on their looks and smells.

Several large armories were in the buildings within the base, including a smaller one off a private living area that had belonged to the base overseer. Adam made an unseen apology to Garrett, who made his weapons, as he replaced his two combat knives, broadsword, and great sword from similar weapons in the overseer’s armory. None of the armors were usable without reforging due to the difference in shape between humans and the Scyrric. The rest of the weapons and armor could be researched or reforged by Garrett to learn more about the higher quality metals they were made from.

Adam held off on taking official control of the base since he wanted to wait for the rest of the reinforcements so they could gain the stats from the capture title. Until he took control, he just stayed quiet and out of the way. He already knew that many of the base leaders that he had defeated had sent out video feeds of him, and he didn’t want to do or say anything that could give info away to his enemies.

Otherwise, Adam tried to stay out of the way of everyone else. It might have made him seem like a big shot watching his minions do the work, especially after he dragged an ornate chair out of the overseer’s room, but it seemed better to let those more qualified do the work. The chair was an awkward fit, too large and with a big portion of the back missing to fit a tail, so Adam had to sit sideways in it while slouching.

Beforehand, the captives had seemed scared of him. After seeing him in the chair, quite a few scowled at him. He’d rather not know what they were thinking towards him.

It had taken quite a few hours before two thousand from the Sentinel Army arrived, led by Lucas and some of his group. A massive swarm of vehicles had transported them. The people in it were both pleased and disappointed that no enemies were left. Regardless of the lack of a fight, there was a large series of cheers to celebrate the survival of more humans.

The base had been captured and the title had gone to as many people as were able to get it. Adam had a tough time explaining to his own group why everyone would need to drive back instead of teleporting. It felt important to Adam that they not let their enemies know they had figured out how to read the menus and teleport living people between bases.

There was one weird conversation though. A man over twice Adam’s age had been eyeing him throughout the day. Yet, only when there was a group around him being boisterous did the man approach. The man looked even older than he probably was due to the weeks of captivity.

“E-excuse me, sirs, madams,” the man piped up after approaching.

“Hello. Is something wrong? Did you need anything else?” asked Abbey.

“Oh, no. For the first time in weeks my belly is full and I’m not thirsty. It’s just that, I was wondering if you could spare some people to take me back to Thompson Station,” said the man hesitantly. He flickered glances at Adam while trying to avoid looking at him.

“What did you need back there? We’ve already said that personal possessions will need to wait until after you all get situation in Jackson,” said Brittney.

“Yes, ma’am. It isn’t that.” Adam almost laughed at the man bobbing his head towards the much smaller and younger girl as if she was a queen he couldn’t offend. “My daughter was never brought here by those monsters. I’m concerned for her. She was…well, we left her hidden to take care of children…”

“Oh!” said Adam, causing the man to flinch. “Are you Swan’s dad?”

“How do you know her name?” the man asked.

“Lamar and Nick, that archer and the rogue who left after saving you guys, found her in the church. They saved her from the Scyrric and had her and the kids evacuated to Jackson already. She now lives with Lamar,” explained Adam.

“Come again?!” shouted the man in surprise.

“What do you mean she’s living with me?” asked Lamar with confusion. Adam squinted back at him.

“You said you guys were dating so she moved into your condo,” said Andrea.

“I never said that,” said Lamar.

“The stories are already going around that you two fell in love while you fought waves of invaders to save her. People think it’s quite romantic,” added Alissa.

“What?! That’s not how it happened! Well, it kind of is, but it wasn’t romance. We were fighting and fleeing for our lives. You guys are misunderstanding!” defended Lamar.

“It really did sound romantic, though not as much as the things Adam has gone through for us,” said Abbey. The other girls nodded in agreement.

“C’mon, Adam. Tell them! You said you checked her memories,” demanded Lamar, in a bit of a panic.

Adam shrugged. “She thought you were handsome.”

“That doesn’t help at all, man!”

“Lamar, thank you for saving my daughter. I hope you understand I wish to know more about you before I accept you as a son-in-law.”

“That’s not…! It wasn’t…! I didn’t…! Argh!” Lamar shouted as he stormed off.

“I didn’t know he could get that expressive. The guy hardly ever talks,” said Randall to everyone else’s agreement.