Several hours had passed since everything had happened. Chump was sneaking around the city in a particular way. His back was pressed against the wall, both hands clutching bags, as he impatiently scanned the skies. A figure with wings flew at a moderate distance, illuminated by streetlights. Each time he spotted the flying creature, he sought cover.

"Fucking hell, I need a place to hide... I'm really tired," he muttered.

On the bright side, his heartbeat remained slow. Fatigue had an oddly calming effect on him, considering the circumstances.

The slum area was far more complex than a labyrinth, as it sprawled through the old parts of the ancient city, outside the walls. By chance, he stumbled upon a street where stores were nestled side by side.

Since the apocalypse had begun at dusk, most stores were left open. However, where he was, most of the establishments dealt with second-hand items and repair services.

He heard footsteps, thuds, and people conversing from the next block. Without hesitation, he darted inside the first place he found – a metalworking shop – and concealed himself behind the counter.

After a few seconds, the footsteps of the passing group faded. They were a trio of survivors, a trio of stranded humans. They had been moving around, their hearts gripped by fear, startled by every sound, no matter how faint, yet they hadn't glanced at the sky. It seemed to elude their attention. Once they were gone, silence returned.

No signs of activity were present. Chump cautiously emerged from behind the counter, gathered his belongings, and inspected his hiding place. As he did, he consumed canned food using one of the plastic spoons he had brought with him.

"Should I discard some items? Perhaps clothing... I should join a group. Even if slower, we stand a better chance of survival... Right, I need to retrieve the phone charger, but they're in the city. Ugh... whatever, I don't have the time. If they're in the city, they'll scour every corner. But what if I encounter problems with those people..."

He "acquired"... or accumulated, depending on the perspective, multiple utility knives, plenty of copper cable, various joints, rechargeable batteries, and assorted small metal components. He placed them in a tiny red container and added them to the plastic bag containing clothes.

While assembling his new collection, Chump heard a loud explosion. The ground quivered, accompanied by a woman's scream. On instinct, he concealed himself behind the counter, feigning being lifeless. A minute later, someone ran past, stumbling in front of the shop's window.

Gunnhildr appeared with a formidable intensity, seizing the individual's leg and forcefully colliding his body against her powerful form, rendering him unconscious.

Gleefully, she hoisted her captive onto her shoulder and moved away, paying no attention to the rest.

"Kyahahahaha! Three for one! Well done, you made me work up a sweat. Thank the goddess for our watchful eyes on the sky! Anyway, I believe this will suffice for the day~"

Chump sweated profusely during her presence, offering prayers to any deity he knew. She didn't notice him and departed, carrying the unconscious trio. He remained still for five minutes before contemplating his next move.

No sounds reached his ears. He breathed a sigh of relief, then peeked out the door.

No living souls were in sight, just more bodies strewn about. He gazed at the sky. There was no movement. He sprinted eastward.

"I need to keep moving. The fewer eyes, the better!"

A shadow emerged from behind him, observing the direction he hastened and following him at a leisurely pace.

Chump ran toward the south, pausing briefly twice. He checked his surroundings again. No signs of movement in the sky or on the periphery. Pushing himself onward, he reached a subway station. Cautiously, he descended, tossing his bags onto the platform first to check for any reactions.

He noted that there was a train on the tracks, surrounded by more lifeless bodies or ones crushed by the closing doors, which continued to operate ceaselessly.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Alright, I'm getting tired of seeing corpses everywhere. I'll head north from here. There should be an IKEA (a giant furniture store) about... ten kilometers away.

He yawned.

“…I'm exhausted after the entire day….Sister…" He thought to himself.

Chump boarded the train, making his way to the driver's cabin. He cleaned the area before studying the controls. A multitude of buttons, levers, instructions, and commands confronted him.

His expression soured. Exiting the cabin, he moved the bodies out of the vehicle. It took some time.

Following that, he pressed the button with the closing door symbol. He settled into a three-row seat near the driver's cabin and laid out his copper cables, metal bars, and utility knife.

He began working on a project, intricately intertwining the cables, and applying paste and metal bars to create a specific arrangement. As he toiled, tears streamed down his face.

"Damn it, why did I... why did I…I should have... I should have stayed with her. I... no... Sister..."

After a while, exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted into sleep, his crafting materials in hand. The shadowy figure approached the train. Its steps were as weighty as an elephant's but as silent as a feather. It extended an arm towards Chump but halted its approach, observing what he held in his hand.

Then it lowered its arm, nodded, and retreated to the far end of the train compartment, entering the other end.

Chump was plagued by a nightmare. His sister was being taken away as effortlessly as stealing candy from a child. He relived all the scoldings he had received from his family and friends, the arguments, and the needless conflicts that had originated from his stubbornness. He awoke hours later, drenched in a cold sweat, and rubbed his face wearily.

All of this with his eyes shut.

"Fuuuuck, I shouldn't have left her... why did I... I need to find her...I..."

"I wouldn't recommend dwelling on your emotions too much. The situation is well beyond your control."

Chump jolted suddenly as he noticed the figure before him. Panic surged within him, and he hastily grabbed the nearest object – his handbag – and struck the figure on the head. But it was to no avail; the figure didn't even flinch.

Chump shouted, "What the hell!!!"

"Please do remain calm. I mean you no harm," the figure responded calmly.

The voice sounded composed, understanding, and... autotuned, as if produced by machinery.

Wait, autotuned?! (This transition again? Yes, this transition again, don't worry, I'll stop.)

The figure standing before Chump was a sight to behold.

Standing at two meters tall, it bore a humanoid shape constructed primarily from intricate ferrate metal structures interwoven with delicate copper filaments.

Yet, this being was far from a haphazard assembly of rocks and metal. It emitted an aura of meticulous craftsmanship, as if a skilled sculptor had laboriously chiseled every precise contour and refined each copper embellishment.

Its arms presented a stark contrast, fashioned from darkened wood that bore the subtle marks of time and wear. An unusual mold had taken root on their surfaces.

In contrast, its legs showcased industrial artistry. Comprising entirely of metal, their artificial structure exhibited a weathered patina of rust and dust.

The head, resembling a brought-to-life mannequin, commanded attention with its ethereal glow. Adorning its surface were aluminum fibers aglow with a soft luminescence, creating a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow.

The figure extended one of its wooden arms toward Chump, casting a soft blue light upon him. But nothing occurred.

“What did you do!” Chump reacted.

The golem commented. "How peculiar... your current mental state remains unchanged."

"Okay, you're really freaking me out right now... Who are you? What do you want? I'll fight for my life to avoid being captured if that's what you're after!"

The figure shook its head slightly, devoid of emotion, an expression that might not even be capable of expressing emotions like an organic being.

The figure continued, "I apologize; I didn't account for your reaction. Nevertheless, this was the fastest way for us to meet, no chase or need for aggression."Almost no violent acts."

The figure executed a slow and deliberate bow, its movements deliberate and separate even if performed in quick succession. It raised both arms, extended them fully, and then looked downward briefly before returning to its original position.

It was the slowest bow ever executed.

"I am Clem. I am a servant created by Meisho. It's truly an honor to meet such an extraordinary species."

"Sassy, or at least straightforward, haha." Chump thought to himself. "To me, you're the extraordinary one right now. What even are you?"

He set the handbag down on a nearby seat. Observing the figure's eyes, he continued, "And why aren't you... Well, acting like the others?"

"My general instructions involve assisting in the capture of your species using my capabilities. However, a secret, higher-priority command was instilled by my creator. I'm also driven by a certain curiosity, and I'm pleased to fulfill this secret mission."

"And what is that...?" Chump imitated its voice.

"Please refrain from mocking my deliberate movements. I'm afraid they're beyond my control. It takes time to process the best way to communicate as pleasantly as possible."

"Not sorry for being an asshole." My family, my friends, everyone I know is dead because of your boss's fault. Your world's truly cruel for allowing... well, causing everyone to experience such atrocities."

"That's precisely the point I'm trying to reach in due time."

The figure slowly manipulated its metallic face, fashioning a minute smile as its eyes glowed.

"They aren't fully dead. They will be reincarnated in due course."