<Author's note: The things (racism, sexism, political views, etc.) depicted or mentioned in this story do not reflect the real world and are purely coincidences. If they do, please keep in mind that they are simply for world-building and are only works of fiction. Thank you for your understanding.>
Vincent was standing in front of the door of Tyler's room in silence.
Although he was silent, a million thoughts were running inside his head.
As for his injuries, he had some military-issued Healing Potions with him and he used them so he already recovered.
Ka-cha!
The door opened and Nathan and Aena stepped out.
Seeing them, he couldn't help but notice something a few things.
In the case of Nathan, although his skin looked perfectly normal, he was now completely bald.
He didn't even have eyebrows which made him look creepy. And combined with his enormous height, it made him look even creepier.
He also looked like he just poured his whole body with water before changing into a new set of clothes.
As for Aena, there were no changes from her other than the fact she was now wearing an oversize black jacket, a pair of white jogging pants with its bottom hem folded and her hair tied into a ponytail.
And as for their body language…
Nathan looked perfectly calm as if he just went out for a stroll.
Aena, on the other hand, had her head down and was hugging herself.
"Aena, are you okay?" asked Vincent.
Aena didn't respond and just looked away.
Her face was a bag full of heavy emotions.
He then looked at Nathan.
"You're a Prophet, aren't you?"
Based on the clues that he noticed about Nathan, he was sure he was one.
His height, his abnormally high strength and speed, his power to summon items, and his questions about the Prophets, he concluded that there was an 80% chance he was one.
As for Aena, when she heard Vincent's question, she immediately turned her head to Nathan.
She, of course, heard about the Prophets.
And according to what she has heard, they get +1 stat to all attributes every time they level up. In addition to that, they only have one skill or power but it was overpowered.
However, she has never met or known one.
And plus, she wasn't really interested about them because she was busy dealing with her own problems.
Nathan smiled and said, "So, did you report me?"
"You're really one, aren't you? Look, if you go to the military or the government and introduce yourself as a Prophet, you can get away from this crime."
"Did you report me or not?"
"No."
Nathan's smile disappeared and his eyes turned to slits.
And after almost half a minute, he just walked away.
Aena followed from behind.
As far as Nathan was concerned, whatever happens to Vincent because of what he did to Tyler and his group tonight, it wasn't his problem.
In his defense, he told him numerous times to leave him alone. He even broke his wrist and cut his face to drive him away. But he just kept following him like a lost puppy.
Best case scenario, Vincent would just be demoted.
Worst case scenario, he's to be stripped of his rank and go to prison.
And even before the zombie apocalypse, prisons in developing or third-world countries were already notorious for being one of the worst hellholes in the world.
And now that they were in a zombie apocalypse?
May God be with him.
And as for working for the military or government, Nathan will admit he was tempted but he was going to pass.
Although he wasn't a politician or part of the military himself, he was born and raised here in Muwin, he was 24 years old, his father was a policeman, and his ex-girlfriend not only works for the government but her parents as well so he more or less knew how dirty those environments are. And the fact that these two groups are in a power struggle right now even though there's a zombie apocalypse, just proves how short-sighted and incompetent the people in charge are.
And plus, he was a Chosen One. There was no way he was going to bow down to such people.
In front of real power, the zombies and especially the Armored Angels, what good will those political and military titles do?
As a matter of fact, if he wanted, he could go search for the political and military leaders of this camp right now and kill them.
The only people who could pose a threat to him outside the Divine Tower are the Chosen Ones.
And that is if they can even detect him when he uses [Coward's Way].
Nathan glanced at his watch as they were climbing the down the stairs.
9:01 pm.
'It's been 2 hours already since I left Zita…'
'Sigh… I want to buy some street food at the Central with the Ration Tickets I got from Tyler but I can't risk it…'
'That backstabber has a history of backstabbing people after all…'
They finally exited the building.
"Aena, what was your Level again?"
"22."
"And the place where it's easy to leave this camp?"
"It's a Block D, near the warehouse where the government keeps all the wood and other building materials in that area. However, you have to pay the people in charge there."
Here in Fort Yano, people aren't allowed to enter and leave the camp between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. The only way is to have a special pass which is quite hard to get because you will need a high-ranking official in order to get one or you're one yourself.
However, this was Muwin, a developing or third-world country. There's always an illegal way.
In fact, in countries like Muwin, it's much actually smarter or more efficient to do the illegal way than do the legal way -- costly, but smarter and more efficient. Only the poor, the idiots and people with so much free time would choose to do the legal way because it costs more time.
Want to apply for a driver's license? Be prepared to waste at least a week your life. Or just do it the illegal way and have it within 5-10 hours and you won't even have to bother taking the written examination and driving test.
Want to apply for a passport? Be prepared to waste a couple of months of your life. Or just do the illegal way and have it in less than a month.
It was a really broken system, a complete and utter joke.
"How much was it again?"
"2,500 Ration Tickets per head or System items worth that amount. And that's just for leaving. If you return, you have to pay another 2,500."
Nathan stopped.
"Did you say 2,500 per head?"
"Yeah."
"Oh…"
Unfortunately, he only had around 3,600 Ration Tickets with him which was sponsored by Tyler's group. Also, there was no way he was going to give up the System items in his possession.
'What if I just storm my way there…?'
'Nah…'
'What a stupid idea…'
'And plus, I made a commotion there a while ago when I beat up those drug addicts…'
He then thought about the street food at the Central.
'Dammit…'
'I'm really now tempted to buy street food…'
He looked at Aena.
'I should've robbed people first and then went shopping before finding this woman…'
He closed his eyes and massaged his forehead.
'Ugh…'
'Stupid, stupid, stupid…'
'I wasted a golden opportunity…'
'I also should've robbed that couple that I encountered at the meat market…'
'Nathan, why are you so stupid…?'
He let out a deep sigh.
'Fuck me sideways...!'
He opened his eyes.
'I guess there's no other choice then...'
He went to a secluded corner.
Aena cautiously followed him but didn't get too close. She maintained at least a few meters of distance.
Nathan changed his System equipment and went back to his Black set.
With that, his Status Chart shows…
***
Level 27:
Exp: %
Stats:
• STR – 70 (+5)
• VIT – 38 (+10)
• AGI – 35 (+26)
• INT – 35 (+7)
Equipment:
[Grade D] Black Helm (14/15): +3 Agi +1 Int
[Grade D] Black Heavy Leather Armor (14/15): +3 Vit, +1 Agi
[Grade D] Black Heavy Leather Gloves (8/15): +4 Agi
[Grade D] Black Heavy Leather Boots (9/15): +2 Vit, +1 Agi, +1 Int
[Grade C] Ring: +6 Agi
[Artifact] Gold Spatial Finger: +5 to all stats
[Grade C] Amulet: +6 Agi
Special Effect(s):
• 4% Chance to block any physical attack.
Skill(s):
• Level X [Coward's Way]
Description: Grants user complete invisibility. User loses invisibility status upon attack. No mana required and no cooldown.
• Chosen One
Description: You are unable to learn any other skill. But each level increase gives +1 point to all stats.
Transformation:
• 20%
***
Nathan stared at his gloved hand and made a fist.
'Didn't expect that I'd miss this...'
'It just feels safer..."
He turned and walked towards Aena.
When Aena saw Nathan wearing his Black set and walking towards her, she subconsciously took a step back and looked around.
Given that she was a normie, she was naturally ashamed to be seen with a cosplayer.
Nathan noticed her reaction and the expression on her face.
"Idiot. This isn't a costume. This is a System set equipment from Womania."
Aena didn't say anything.
Nathan then summoned 10 Healing Packets.
He handed over 5 pieces to Aena.
"Put these inside your mouth. If you get hurt, tear them inside your mouth with your teeth."
"What's this?"
When the liquid inside the [Small] Healing Potion is removed from its container or placed inside another container, the System is unable to identify it.
"It's Healing Potions. Come on, put it inside your mouth already," he said before putting the other 5 Healing Packets inside his mouth and distributing them on each side of his gums.
Aena followed what Nathan did.
Nathan then summoned two pairs of thermal vision goggles.
"Wear this," he said and gave one to her.
Aena took it.
Aena watched Nathan wear his thermal vision goggles.
Nathan noticed she wasn't wearing hers and stopped.
"Why? You don't know how to wear them?"
"Do we really have to leave now? It's already late. It's not like there's anything good out there. There's no electricity, no water, no proper shelter, no proper food, not to mention there's also zombies and people who --"
She stopped herself after remembering what Nathan did to her 'family'.
Anyhow, regarding the electricity, here in Fort Yano, there was a generator and the electricity is switched on at 5:30 pm and then turned off at 5:30 am.
But of course, for the military, government and other important facilities, they had electricity 24/7 with the use of either solar or a private generator, but mostly the former.
"Oh, you'd be surprised. There's still running water out there. There's even public pumps or wells, old-school style. But that's not the point. Someone is waiting for me."
"You have companions?"
"Yeah, a little girl."
Aena knitted her brows and looked at him suspiciously.
Ever since the zombie apocalypse began, the morals of the people diminished by a large margin.
"It's not what you think it is. Come on, enough talking and wear the goggles already. Come on, come on!"
"Okay, okay."
"Do you know how to use it? Be sure to use thermal imaging, not night vision."
"Wait, I'm still figuring it out."
Tch!
Nathan made a clicking sound with his tongue.
"Here, let me help you."
He took the thermal vision goggles from her hand and helped her.
A short time later.
Nathan was holding her fingers and guiding them.
"This button right here is to change modes. Let's just stick with the basic thermal vision..."
He moved to another button.
"This button right here is to adjust the zoom in and the zoom out..."
He moved to another button.
"This one is to turn it on and turn it off..."
He released her fingers and pulled his hand away.
"Do you understand me?"
"Yes," Aena replied.
"How's the battery? There should be a bar for the battery at the top right on your screen."
"It's still good."
"How many bars?"
"Three bars."
Nathan then went to her side and scooped her in his arms, carrying her like a princess.
"What are you doing?! Put me down!" she cried.
"Shh! Too noisy."
Sniff.
Sniff.
'Is that perfume or cologne? Too sweet…'
'Well, at least this woman isn't smelly or fat….'
'Thank God she isn't fat or else it would've been so awkward…"
'I would rather die than be seen carrying a fat person…'
He recalled the military compound he saw at the Western Road.
'And oh, I also have to get a helicopter…'
"Be sure to hold on tight. If you lose your head or fall or something, that's on you," he said grimly.
A worried expression flashed across her face.
"Why? What's going to happen?"
"You'll see."
Voooooom!
He suddenly burst out running.
"KYAAAHHH!" Aena shouted and grabbed onto Nathan tightly. She also almost swallowed the Healing Packets inside her mouth.
*********************************************
Hello, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading!
By the way, this former Grandmaster Immortal who failed twice has returned once again.
To view the Immortal Drafts at P-a-t-r-e-o-n, you can read them at…
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There, you will have access to this Lowly Shameless Immortal's Immortal Chapter Drafts for $5 a month.
Please note that the chapters posted there are only drafts. So when this Lowly Shameless Immortal will publish them here in the First Immortal Book, there will be some edits.
And at the moment, Immortal Chapter Drafts 164-168 are the latest chapters posted there.
Thank you once again and this Lowly Shameless Immortal will see you in the next chapter... *Kowtows 300 times*