I am not too sure what I would get in return for keeping her alive and well, however. Whatever Natalie can give me in return for my protection, I can definitely make use of it, one way or another. Of course, to prevent me coming off as easy, I will work her a little.
"Can I come with as well… um. I don't think you have ever said your name," Eric asks, believing that it is much safer with me. Well, I have just killed a lot of monster with little difficult after all.
"You can call me Zander," I response after a moment of thought about giving away my name. It should not really matter if they know my actual name or not, and I rather not keep track of all the fakes name if I choose the other route. "Whoever wants to follow me then come. I will not wait for anyone."
With that, I head off, and I become amazed that Natalie and Eric can keep up with me, as I jump from one building to another like a fucking monkey, but then again, I am just a teenager right now. A normal teenager with a normal mortal body that will need adequate rest.
Since I have not slept at all last night, it is starting to affect my performance, so I decide to stop to take a breather. When Natalie and Eric reach me, they both drop onto the floor completely exhausted from the amount of sweats on their faces.
Working in an office all day every day sure kills their stamina.
Only Natalie and Eric decide to follow me. Jack and Sheldon have headed off on their own, having their own goals and agendas. As for Clark. Well, I doubt I will be seeing the hero wannabe again in the near future.
Good ridden. No. I should think of it that way. He is only doing what he think is right.
I remove my backpack and take out a water bottle (not from the backpack, but from my inventory) to have a drink. Once I take my fill, I toss the bottle to Natalie and Eric, who immediately accept it without a word. Eric drinks before Natalie – how nice of him. Natalie barely has any liquid in the end.
And despite that, I am not about to give her another bottle even though I have plenty. There is a lesson to be learned here, at least for her. Also, I want her to give up. I want Eric to give up as well.
It is simply too much of a hassle looking after others right now.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to find somewhere safe with lots of foods. Like an underground bunker for example?" I question and examine the surroundings. I notice a lot of movements all over the place, and some of that are people, calling for help in any way they can.
Help will not come until the Life Zone has collapsed, and it would not be for many more days or maybe several weeks. It depends on how quickly I can clear the Black Tower.
"Do you know of a place?" Eric asks while Natalie still trying to recover her breath. Is it just me or the sweats make her more attractive as a female?
I nod in response before putting back on my backpack and strapping it to myself. "I will take you there once I finish rescuing someone very important to me."
"W-wait… please… please let me… let me… have a bit more rest…" Natalie begs. If I continue onwards without care, she would collapse along the way, and I rather not have that, not because it is wrong.
"You should stay here until I return," I tell Natalie and pass her my backpack full of supplies.