Jakob rested his back on a tree while the rain pours down. His helmet has cracks, and the plate on his armor fractured. A meter away from him was the 10m belua he hunted, and alongside the belua was the spawns of belua that tried to rush him.
His six-shooter laid inches away. Cutter sword shattered like shards of glasses on the grassy floor. His grappler stake is attached to the 10m belua's neck. He turned his device on and saw that his canisters and battery pack were empty.
He encountered a 10m belua and a horde. He couldn't avoid the stake that almost took his chest. The plating around his chest saved him, but it caused a concussion.
"What the hell," Jakob could tell his injuries were regenerating.
He couldn't believe that this was happening to him. Fate should have sent someone other than him who was despondent. Standing up, he saw a trekker flying past the forest.
"Are the Recon Corps back?"
He saw more of these zipped past him. The rain didn't let out. It kept on running on the side, wetting grass, concrete, and dripping on the ruins.
"I should start collecting," Jakob said.
He first collected the 10m belua's head. Then he took the rest of the head and stuffed them inside a rucksack. He tied the 10m belua head on his back and limped his way back to the sanctum. Along the way, he encountered belua's that smelled the heads he collected.
He took a belua out using the same method he used when he runs out of bullets or shatter his cutter sword.
He used his grappler stake like a whip, and knock the enemy down. Tacking the belua, he wrapped his lightweight exosuit supported arms around the belua's neck.
After crushing the belua's neck, he continued trekking the wetlands until he reached the lines. He held on to his spoils as the line carried him back to the sanctum.
When he took a step, eyes gathered around him. How could he not when he was limping while carrying a 10m belua's head on his back and a rucksack filled with 2-5m belua's? Add up that his appearance looked pitiful. He was leaking blood slowly, and although his regeneration mended him, it wasn't working well if he does not take a rest or didn't move.
"Um," Misha eyed him. "You okay?"
Jakob looked up. "I am. Is the transaction done?"
"In a minute," she said slowly. "You've been hunting hordes, Jakob."
"Hmm," Jakob nodded, leaning on the counter. "Would it possible if I patched myself up?"
"I didn't mean to stop you," Misha said. "The credits will be sent to your account."
Jakob didn't say anything and went to the clinic. Inside, he found the wizened doctor name Rod who was performing a suture. After the stitching, he turned his eyes to the limping Jakob.
"Here again, Jakob?"
"Doc," Jakob sat on a stool."
"Bad limp," he inspected his wounds. "You've been doing this for two straight days. Why not rest?"
"I'll rest when I am dead, Doc."
"Then don't expect treatment from me," Doctor Rod said. "Bah, come here, what are the specifics of your regeneration ability?"
"Rest, and it should work well."
"Passive type, and not the active type," Doctor Rod produced a serum. "Your body's a strong, no body fat, and your bones, hmm, must have been a tough belua."
"10m belua."
"Your insane, and the number?"
"A two-horde."
"And you are alive."
Jakob nodded. He let the Doctor fixed his leg and allowed him to inject the serum. The serum shot in him made him tensed up. The sensation felt like his inner flesh being stretch and burned repeatedly.
He spat out blood on the basin provided by the Doctor. Jakob felt unfortunate to have the regeneration ability. For someone with a death wish, it only means a way for him to survive.
"You look pained in the heart," Doctor Rod said. "Dona, she might not be the prettiest, but she's a good girl."
"Did you do her, Doc?"
Doctor Rod narrowed his eyes. "No."
"Then, why say something like that?"
"Just noticed how she rarely comes for medicine now. She's even eating perfectly fine now."
Jakob didn't say anything. He let the Doctor cure him and then sat silently on the side of the clinic without any noise. He watched the glass window fogged from the water and wind.
It was then that he took notice of the alert that came from his device.
"Recon Corps has gathered," Doctor Rod said, tapping on the device he had as well. "Looks like the outskirt missions have been well."
Jakob's expression didn't change. He waited for his wounds to heal, and it took five hours for the serious ones to recuperate. He looked pathetic, and even the patients coming in looked at him warily.
With his light exosuit's plating broken, and weapons useless. He had to go to the mechanics again for some repairs and items. He earned a lot, and yet for a person who had a death wish. He's planning to get protection.
Leaving the clinic, he sauntered on the metal halls when he saw the commotion in the sanctum. Filled with the Recon Corps and the Outriders that had attached themselves to the Corps, Jakob thought back to the last days again.
Shaking his head, he eyed the woman standing alongside her teammates. Miss Mei Ya was acquainted and was with her teammates now, and he wasn't surprised by this. Fate will happen, and although he didn't know what was going to happen to him, he knew that someone like him wouldn't be able to change.
He had grown old watching the world burn before him. How could an old dog force back into a young body still be taught? Throughout the years, Jakob had realized his limits already. He knows where he stands in the cruel world already.
Jakob frowned, even in this world, he didn't dare to climb near that mountain flower. Prancing away, he went to the mechanics to have his equipment repaired, not knowing of the eyes that took a glance at him.