Bab 45: Setting Out
Ben woke up the next day early. He left the mansion before anybody woke up. The city was still asleep with only a few people on the streets. Ben walked to Ulfric's shop and knocked on the door. When he heard a yell he entered, finding Ulfric waiting for him.
"Finally here are you? 'Bout time." Ulfric grumbled holding a blanket.
He placed the blanket on the counter and opened it, showing off Ben's two swords. The two swords looks the same from before but Ben could feel the difference in them. They felt… sharper, like they could cut through anything.
Katana Sword (Rare)
+10 STR
+5 DEX
+7 AGI
Extreme Sharpness
Upgradable
Ninjato Sword (Rare)
+8 STR
+8 DEX
+7 AGI
Extreme Sharpness
Upgradable
'Extreme Sharpness?' Ben wondered.
"These are the first weapons I have upgraded that gained a specialty. Extreme Sharpness… you better be careful. They really are sharp." Ulfric showed both of his hands, long cuts were on both of his palms. "Cut through my smithing gloves and all."
Ben gently placed his finger on the edge of his Katana, hardly touching it.
"Ouch!" Ben flinched, looking at his finger as a thin line of blood appeared.
"Told ya." Ulfric grumbled.
"Thanks Ulfric. How much is this going to cost me?" Ben asked, wanting to pay the man.
"You get me some of those blue ores you found and we will call it even." Ulfric said, waiting for Ben's response.
"No problem. Go to the Iron Mountain compound and tell Hal I sent you." Ben thought nothing of it. Ulfric was the city's best human blacksmith and the dwarves could teach his lots.
Ulfric's eye lit up at the possibility of going to the dwarves compound. He had heard about the ores found in the cave from the soldiers fought the monsters.
"I will go today." Ulfric said with excitement.
Ben nodded as he sheathed both of swords and placed them into his storage.
Leaving the shop, Ben headed to the north gate to meet up with James.
Arriving at the north gate, Ben was met with James, Cloey and Cathy.
Surprised Ben asked, "What are you two doing here?"
"You didn't really think you could leave without saying goodbye now could you?" Cathy looked at him with a withering look.
Ben shied away at her piercing gaze, a guilty look across his face.
Cloey was also tapping her foot in anger with her arms crossed, glaring at Ben. He found these women's gazes scarier than monsters he had faced.
James pitied this City Lord, he could tell how much power these women held over his life and their anger was not something to be trifled with.
"Well I didn't want some mushy goodbye, I won't be gone that long you know." Ben said scratching the back of his head.
"We are your family, you say bye when you leave the house, let alone a dangerous journey north." Cathy scolded.
"Okay I am sorry mom won't happen again." Ben apologized wanting this conversation to end.
"Just to your mom?" Cloey spat out.
'Jesus it is never ending.' Ben cursed.
Ben took a step towards Cloey, about to give her a hug but was stop by a cold breeze.
"Don't you try and talk your way out of this one!" Cloey threatened, pointing a finger at him.
'What the…' Ben was confused. Had she figured him out already?
Ben soon found his answer as he saw his mother with a smug smile on her face.
"So much for family first, eh mom?" Ben said, shooting a glare at his mother.
"She is family and I can't let you bully her so easy now can I? Charmed words and gentle hugs won't get you out of this one Benny." Cathy said, gloating at her sons predicament.
Ben shot another glare at his mother before putting on a gentle look for Cloey. "I'm sorry Cloey, I just didn't want you to worry while I was away." he told her softly.
"I am coming with you." she said resolutely.
"Like hell you are." Ben's gentle demeanor had vanished and what replaced it was a serious expression. "This isn't like before Cloey, we aren't avoiding cities and towns, we are going straight for them. Beasts and monsters might be problems now but we both know the zombies are our greatest threat."
"So why can't I go!?" Cloey yelled at the stubborn Ben.
"Because I won't be at my best if I am worried about you. It isn't just us now Cloey. It is my family, this city and its people I have to take care of now. The threat from the north is real and I won't be able to do my job properly if I am in constant worry for you." Ben's voice was slowly rising.
"So I am a burden now!?" yelled Cloey, tears running down her face.
"No." Ben took a step and pulled her into his embrace. "You give me strength. More strength than I knew I had."
Ben held Cloey for a few minutes as she cried into his chest. After she finished crying she looked up at him and said, "Next time I will be strong so then you will have to take me."
"Deal." Ben grinned. "Besides this is a guys trip, my bachelor party if you will."
"What's a bachelor party?" Cloey asked confused.
"Hahaha asked mom." Ben laughed before giving her a deep kiss. He then gave his mother a hug and said his farewell. James followed him out of the city gates and into the forest.
"They will be fine." Cathy grabbed Cloey's hand, consoling her.
"I know." she smiled before turning to Cathy. "What's a bachelor party?"
…
Ben and James ran north and soon came across their first abandoned town. Ben had Duke, Ava and Takon summoned, so clearing it didn't take very long. Takon and Ava were sent to ahead to scout in the air while Ben, James and Duke covered the ground.
Walking through the town was eery, windows broken, houses empty. It just gave Ben a creepy feeling. Another zombie ran out from a building and lunged for James.
Calmly, James summoned two long curved daggers from his storage and removed the zombie's head. This was the first time seeing James bring out his weapons. The curved daggers were no longer than his forearms and looked lethal. They were silver with a black hilt that gave them a regal look.
What Ben found odd was the small layer of wind that covered the daggers.
"So wind? That's your element?" Ben said as James cleaned his daggers.
"Yes, wind." James said flatly.
"You seem to have excellent control of it. Have you broke into the core stage?" Ben asked curious of James strength.
James gave him a weird look, "Of course. All of us have."
"All of you!?" Ben exclaimed.
James nodded and said, "Shenelle was the first then me. The other two were basically at the same time. Why? Haven't you?"
Ben shook his head with a pitiful look on his face. "I have two elements and breaking into the core stage is a little bit special for me. I need somewhere where dark and lightning energy are plenty." Ben said with an annoyed look. Where the hell was he going to find a place like that?
James nodded his head in understanding but a scary thought crossed his mind. 'He is already this strong without being in the core stage!?'
Breaking into the core stage gave a person a huge increase in strength. You are no longer borrowing power from the element, your body generates the element. Giving you complete control and manipulation.
Ben and James continued to trek through the town not meeting any mutated zombies and only normal ones. They continued heading north, traveling along a highway. Empty cars were left on the side of the road, some had windows broken and tires flat while others looked like you could start them and drive.
Ben was about to enter the town when Ava contacted him, 'This town had 2 mutated zombies, Power and Speed by the looks of them.'
"How many zombies?" Ben asked.
'I can only spot 30 so far but the number keeps growing.' Ava said.
Ben stopped James and told him to prepare. Ben summoned his armour and put it on.
Ironhide Armour (Common)
Defense 40
James also put on his armour which was light brown leather armour that protected his chest and calves.
They both brought out their weapons and were readied themselves. James jumped on top of the nearby homes, staying hidden from sight. Ben was more direct and walked down main street with Duke.
"Okay you fuckers I don't have all day so get out here and die!" Ben yelled at the top of his lungs.
An immediate response rang through the town. Loud growls and roars came from the buildings all around him.
Ben covered his swords and arms with his lightning armour, preparing himself for a fight.
Zombies started to leave the buildings and surround Ben and Duke.
*Grrrr*
Duke growled, his raised shackles making him look bigger and more threatening.
'Takon want to lend us a hand?' Ben asked.
He was answered with a loud roar that shook the air.
The zombies all turned to the sky and saw a blue wyvern diving at them. White flames left his mouth and turned a large portion of the zombies to ash. Takon landed on the ground, crushing zombies underneath.
Ben used Takon's distraction and dove into the pile of zombies, slashing and stabbing his way through the group.
James watched all this from the rooftop of a nearby building .
'Shit, Ben's strength alone is frightening and now he has this beast?' James watched in awe as Takon ripped through the rows of zombies like paper.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone