"W-What'd you mean by that?" Mark asked, perplexed. He already bought the upgrade point and applied it, yet he didn't upgrade.
"Actually, I haven't tried using an upgrade point yet but I already felt it was a scam of some sort." Damian said frankly, then continued,
"It'll be too easy if we could just upgrade by using a point. Give me my phone."
"O-Ok." Mark stood up then walked to Damian and handed him his smartphone.
Damian immediately went to the user manual to check and maybe see the reason why. Ever since he never fully read everything in the user manual.
In the 'User Information' segment in the user manual that explained everything on that page, he specifically clicked 'Upgrade Points' so it could show a more in-depth explanation.
+
[User Manual]
- Upgrade Points : Upgrade points can be used to upgrade specific special powers. They are bought using rings. They DO NOT immediately upgrade the special power to the next level.
Each special power differs in the number of upgrade points the user needs to use to successfully upgrade their special power to a higher level.
NOTE: Usage of upgrade points from one level to another might be just as efficient as training hard and developing the special power little by little, but upgrade points do not make up for experience with the special power.
+
'Just what I thought.' Damian handed the phone back to Mark, "Read here." He said.
Mark read through it and his expression lightened up a bit.
"Although, it's just a small progress at least it wasn't all for waste." He handed the smartphone back to Damian and went back to where we sat before.
"I guess nothing beats hard work and training." He said in passing.
Damian sunk himself in his thoughts once again, 'No. It exists so some people can overcome such barriers but it'll only be through wrong means. That 'fellow' is too devious. One can't get rings if they're not strong and the strong have to trample on the weak to get more rings that then help in helping them grow stronger… an endless cycle with no way to even the playing field. Sigh, this is really hell.'
Mark got up and laid on the counter after dropping everything that was on it and said, "We better get some rest then."
* * *
In the early hours of the morning, in the underground sanctuary at Worth Street Subway Station.
"Mr. Dolan! They're gone! That killer and his friend are gone! They left while we were asleep!" A group of 5 men were standing in front of David Dolan's tent.
"Who were the men on duty last night?" David Dolan asked from the inside.
"Well… we slept off and forgot that we were on night duty…" One of the men said. They were the men that decided to teach Damian Cross a lesson for hurting two of their friends.
"I am aware that Damian Cross and Mark Jordan have left." David Dolan came out of his tent and stood up straight in an oppressive way due to his massive build.
"And I'm not happy that you people are slacking off. What would've become of us if those creatures attacked as we slept soundly?!"
"Uhhh, we-we would've…" They were at a loss for words.
"Those two that skipped their day would be the first set of people to head out to gather supplies." David Dolan stated the punishment and it made all their bodies shiver. He looked like he was about to squash their heads with his hands.
"Y-Yes sir." They quickly turned and walked away in shame.
Stephanie came by and greeted her father before laying her complaints, "But father, they just wanted to teach that Damian Cross a lesson. We shot two people for goodness sake!"
David Dolan sighed and just turned to enter back into his tent and said, "You don't understand. Damian Cross left a letter that he was leaving, and if he wants, he and Mark Jordan can erase every individual in this place…"
"But-But dad!"
"Of course I wouldn't let such happen. They aren't here so we shouldn't worry about them or what they would do when we can't even protect ourselves properly." He entered his tent and zipped it back up.
Stephanie stood there for a few seconds before sighing and saying, "...I understand."
…
'These people are very wary of Mr. Cross and Officer Jordan,' Rachael tucked her head back in from the entrance of the tent and zipped it back up, 'But they saved my and Michelle's life, found me a safe place to stay and didn't ask for anything in return.'
Rachael was conflicted with who she should trust and who she shouldn't.
Michelle reacted to the noise from before and woke up in a trance as she rubbed her eyes, "...Mommy is there a problem outside?"
"It was just a minor issue. It's fine now darling, go back to sleep." Rachael patted her daughter's head as she spoke softly.
Although it was already morning, there was still a bit more time before it would be time to get up and get ready for the day.
* * *
Damian got up early and used the third-rate facility in the store to wash up, then he woke Mark, who in turn followed suit.
After getting ready, Mark walked over to the door behind the counter and knocked thrice.
Cling… Frank opened the door a little then threw a key out.
"The car is parked at the back. Get outta here please." He closed the door immediately as he finished.
"Hey! The main store door is locked!" Mark shouted as he banged the door more than once.
Frank came out and opened the store's main door and looked at them as he held the handle with his left hand and gestured out with his right, "Out you go."
"Tch." Mark grumpily went through, then Damian.
They went over to the back and saw an off-road monster truck.
"What the hell is a car like this doing in New York City?!" Mark blurted out in annoyance.
This car was too big for them and would attract a lot of attention.
"I suggest we hijack one of the cars on the street." Mark said.
"Let's use it." Damian went over to the passenger's side.
Mark unlocked the truck and climbed into the driver's seat while murmuring his discomfort to himself.
Vrooomm… The start-up engine sound was deep and bold, then the sound that followed was just about half of half of how it was the first time.
'It's quiet enough I guess.' Mark calmly drove out of the area.
They started their journey to Washington Heights. They climbed cars when they needed to and turned or diverted when necessary.
About 3 minutes in, Mark felt the atmosphere was too silent and decided to break it.
"Why do you wear an overcoat when it's summer?"
Damian delayed his answer for a few seconds, "Because I don't feel hot and also cold. I tend to keep my body warm."
"Haha, is that some type of special power?"
Damian just looked at Mark with his usual apathetic expression and Mark shut up because he felt the atmosphere became even more awkward.
Krreeeeee!
Not long after, one of the mindless demons screaming around came down to the truck and used its body to slam the top of the car.
"What the hell?" Mark tried to focus on the road and also try to look up to the top of the car by moving forward and looking up through the windscreen, but he didn't see anything.
Bong! Bong! Bong!
It kept on repeating it in succession, until Damian pulled out his gun from his underarm holster and pointed up, then waited.
Bong-- Bang!
He got the skinny demon but he hardly believed it would die from just a bullet.
The banging stopped as they moved forward.
Not after a minute… Boom!
The same mindless demon slammed its body into the windscreen.