Lance opened the window, slowly, and made sure not to make any excessive noise.
Getting out through the window, he cautiously got down on the fire escape ladder, and then started descending slowly and quietly. Ramie and Lance followed suit.
The sound of the howling wind as it blew through the lifeless streets below induced feelings of fear and unease in their hearts.
The streets below felt desolate… alienating…
The entire city felt a world apart different from the bustling, sleepless city that Ramie was familiar with…
It was as if no life other than the three of them were there…
But Ramie knew better than to think as such!
The reverberating creature's cries that he heard yesterday told a very different story.
This place was no longer populated by humans… but by something else. And he really didn't want to meet the creatures that were capable of issuing such horrifying sounds.
He knew that these things were in the hide, probably lurking in the dark.
Ramie hoped that the sun had a harmful effect on these creatures or something, So that they wouldn't come across any of them. As even though Lance was with them, it wasn't as if he was invincible. After all, the snake-headed creature from yesterday had almost claimed his life, even despite him using his life energy.
There was also Neil's Fire Burst, which after using up four magic energy points to cast it twice yesterday, he was left with only one point, which wasn't sufficient to cast this spell again. Luckily, the magic energy units had recovered back to five points after Neil got some sleep.
This was very good news, as it told Ramie that these points can recover after being used, meaning one less major problem to worry about!
However, there was still an issue with this fire burst spell; and that was it could only be casted twice, before Neil runs out of magic energy.
This restriction meant that if they came across multiple creatures, then the two fire projectiles won't be enough to salvage the situation.
There was also the issue with the two massive creatures that fought each other not far away from here…! It was needlessly to say that stumbling across such creatures means the end of the road for them.
There was a lot to worry about…
But merely worrying wouldn't change the situation… as such, Ramie kept these thoughts in the background of his mind as he followed Lance and descended to the street with high alerted mind.
…
After getting down to the street, the three moved very cautiously, so as not attract any unwanted attention.
They moved from one building to another.
First, they scan around, and when making sure that the view is clear, with nothing in sight, they'd run to the next building, and hide behind the corner, then repeat the process again.
In such manner, they kept moving, slowly, but steadily.
The goal was to leave this residential area, as most of the creatures cries originated from here yesterday, which was probably because this area provided a lot of places to hide.
Luckily, the building they stayed at was close to the perimeter of the residential area. So, to completely leave this area, they'd have to only move a bit over 200 meter.
Fortunately, they made it!
As the three finally ran beyond the last building block in the residential area, they heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
Ramie casted a final look behind… he was feeling sorry for the three that were probably still hiding in the building…
Although the trio tried to close the building door on him and the two policemen, they were acting so not out of personal vendetta, but only to save themselves, by preventing any creature from getting into the building.
Ironically, that was exactly what happened, even though the door was close shut. And now, they were alone there with the creatures…
Although Ramie did not like that action of theirs, but they were still humans… and he didn't like the idea that they were going to turn into a feast for the creatures, not after seeing the anguished faces of the people as the flying creatures torn them apart two days ago.
But what could he do….?
Letting out a heavy sigh, he silently continued on, alongside the two policemen.
…
In one of the silent, desolate streets of the city, there was a bakery store.
Although there were other stores in this particular street, this store however was the only one that had its front glass covered with newspapers to block the view inside, leaving only small openings that were not enough to get a glimpse inside the store.
Through one of these small openings, a pair of vigilant eyes was actively scanning the street, alertly.
Suddenly, the pair of eyes glinted, as they picked up the sight of three figures moving carefully upfront, from one building to the other, while scanning their surroundings carefully.
At once, a muffled voice of a male sounded in the silent bakery store:"quickly! Alert the boss! Three men had just entered this street! I think one of them might have a bracelet on his wrist, but they are still far, so am not too certain."
In response to him, another man who was sitting across the room while leaning on the wall, got up and ran to the back of the store with a hasty light steps, to convey this information.
The man who spoke, didn't move his eyes from the three figures even as he issued the instruction.
He scanned two of the three figures with his scrutinizing gaze, before settling his sight on the third, specifically, on his wrist. He was trying to make out whether that figure had one of these special bracelets or not.
…
As he moved carefully from one building to another, Ramie suddenly felt as though something had locked its sight on him, for a moment, before disappearing.
Instantly, the thought that they were noticed by some creature crossed his mind, which spiked his alarm… as beside Lance and Neil, nothing else was in his field of vision…
If it was before, he would have brushed it off as paranoia, but now, and after the two confrontation with beasts, he knew better than to ignore his senses. As such, he slowed down a bit, and started scanning around, carefully.
Noticing his behavior, Lance and Neil grew wary, wanting to see if Ramie's keen senses had picked up on something...
However, after scanning his surroundings, Ramie saw nothing strange. And he didn't want to waste precious seconds, as every extra moment they spent outside, the chances of them being spotted and attacked would increase. Thus, having no other choice, he waved them to progress on their way.
…
Inside the bakery store; a hurried, light footsteps sounded faintly, as a middle aged man walked to the store's glassy front and looked outside, through the small openings between the newspapers.
Apparently, he was the one that was called the 'boss!'
He appeared to be in his mid 40s, with medium build, bold head, and intimidating look on his face.
Squinting his eyes at a particular figure among the three, his lips crooked to form a cold smile, as a glint of anticipation streaked through his eyes.
"He does indeed have one of those artifacts…!" he said with a husky voice, as a calculative thoughts span in his mind.
"Boss, I think you should let these three men in…" the man who had located the three men in the first place spoke, meaningfully…
"Yes boss! I think you should do that. After all, how much of good can you do with that artifact in your hands…!" another man added with a cunning look on his face.
"I agree with them too boss! If that bracelet was as good as that youth's bracelet back in the hotel, then just think of how powerful you can become!! You could probably even get us out of this hellish city safely!" yet another one spoke, persuasively.
"Boss, I too thing that…"
Right now, other than the middle-aged man that was called the boss, six others stood behind him. They were talking to him in persuasive and praising words.
The boss was gloating on the fact that a nobody like him was being addressed in such flattering words, and in such respectful manner… he however didn't let such empty words get to him.
He knew that these low lives were only acting so subserviently because of the sudden energy he had, granting him an abnormal strength! Without that, they wouldn't probably even cast him a second glance.
However, he couldn't deny it; it felt really good being treated in such respect. It made him feel like he was somebody. As before, this was the way he usually treated others, from a lower standing, but now that he was on the other hand of such treatment, he felt extremely elated.
In any case, he didn't let such thing blind him from the obvious. He realized it… he was only treated as such because of his strength.
Back on the hotel, when he first felt this warm energy invades his body… he thought that he had caught some strange disease or something, and that he might die…
This thought of his however couldn't have been any further from the truth…
It wasn't a disease! But in fact a bliss! Because afterward, as a dozen of rat-like creatures attacked the people inside the hotel, where he was hiding, he came to learn the real effects of this energy…
It had enabled him to stand up to the creatures and even kill all of them!
At first, he couldn't believe it, but as all the people around started looking at him in a different light, a certain reality finally sank in…
The voice… was right!
From that moment onward… he realized that things would change… the world would change…!
The very same people that wouldn't normally even bother to glance his way a second time, acting as if he was invisible; were now looking at him the same way he was used to look at them!
He saw it in their eyes… respect… high regard… it wasn't the normal impassive looks anymore…
And this wasn't due to him, but because of his strength!
Before this catastrophe, he belonged to the lowest tier of society, destined to be nothing for the entirety of his life.
He was strong, with a muscular frame, and vigorous body. If he was born in another era, he would have become something… someone that everyone wants to form a connection with.
But unfortunately, the era he was born in, didn't belong to the strong… it belonged to the rich!
So, he accepted the fate that he would never amount to anything… that he would spend his entire life struggling on the margins of society to just barely live his days by, till death comes…
The world did not belong to the likes of him, but to those with fancy, expensive clothes.
However, at the hotel, he realized it for the first time… he realized that this deeply rooted way of society was turning upside down, and that maybe… this new era might be dominated by the strong!
It had hit them back then… there was no police… no law… no boundaries… nothing to restrict him anymore.
At that time, his imagination started going wild with the endless prospect that was opened for him due to this catastrophe!
Money was no longer the deciding factor, but strength… And strength he had!
At that day, creatures assaulted the hotel again. But they weren't as weak as the ones that had attacked before; they were stronger!
That was his first real struggle against of life and death after the catastrophe.
It was then that he saw it…
A youth that couldn't be older than 20 years old stepped up. He started discharging strange lightening-like projectiles from his hand and easily eliminated the threat that he was certain that he himself couldn't triumph against!
After that, he came to learn about this 'amazing artifact' from the youth. And it was at that time that he got this idea…
How much would his survival chances be boosted if he got his hand on a similar weapon.
Afterward, and acting upon this thought of his; he assembled few other individuals with a similar mindset and background to himself. He gathered them for the one purpose of getting his hands on that youth's artifact and then lead them to the camp safely.
Unfortunately, that plan of his didn't come to pass… As later that day, they were attacked by a strong creature that caused the people in the hotel to run away, dispersing in all directions.
This was the reason why he and this group of his ended up in this bakery store in the first place, which made him regret not taking action earlier and missing the chance of getting that artifact.
Now however, the chance was here, presenting itself to him on a silver plate.
How could he pass on that?
With his eyes glued at that bracelet, he issued his instructions: "When they get in here, the moment the door is closed, we'll jump at them, and apprehend them! Remember, the priority is the bracelet, so don't kill the man who has it, at least not before he tells me of how to use it first! Also, keep in mind, there might be creatures outside close by, so remember to not let them make any sound."
He then turned his head to scan the six of them, saying:"Who surrenders right away, there is no need to kill him, but if any of the other two resists, then don't hesitate."
"Remember, the most important thing is to do it as silently as possible. If any of them tries to make a sound, then kill him on the spot, as our lives depends on it." scanning the six with his gaze again, he warned.
Upon seeing the somewhat fearful looks on their faces as they engraved his words in their minds, he felt satisfied.
Turning to look outside through the window, he thought: 'Strength is indeed everything in these kinds of times…'
'Just wait, the moment I get that artifact… I will never be a nobody again…'
Fixating his gaze on the last figure among the three, a sinister smile crept to his face as a glint of determination flashed past his eyes.
…