Seeing the message appear, I felt a lump form in my throat. World Phase 1 was crazy, and now we were in Phase 2 during a critical point in our journey. Calling Midna out, I asked what dead would I be facing during this Phase in addition to the mutants I already fought.
"Well first of all, you the new undead will be based off of Doom and Back 4 Blood.", she told me, "Umbrella is going to start implementing cybernetic enhancements thanks to your fights."
"Thanks for making me feel good about that.", I sighed.
"You are welcome.", she giggled, "In addition to them, the land animals will also start mutating and you will see Witches much more often now. They really want to kill you."
Sighing again, I looked towards the door to see Astrid coming in with refreshments. Taking a seat next to me, I took her hand in mine and gave her a smile. Apologizing for the issues with Kensei, she said that she could tolerate him as long as this room stayed off limits to him.
"I know he isn't like my former employer in everyway, but...it feels disgusting when he looks at me with those perverted eyes.", she stated.
"I give you similar looks on occasion.", I reminded her.
"Yes, but I honestly don't mind if it's you. You know a lot about me, all the hurt and pain I carry.", she said leaning her head against me.
"I know.", I replied rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb.
Enjoying a few minutes of peace, Rei and Saya came in snickering like fools. Turning to them, I asked what was so funny. Telling me that Takashi was getting put through the ringer, they said that he was being put to work by his girlfriend. She apparently felt he needed to learn how to fight better so she was training him herself.
"Really?", I asked moving to look out the window.
Seeing him down on the deck attempting to do pushups with her on his back, I was pleasantly surprised. If she gave him something to focus on, other than drama, it would be good for him. Glancing over to Kenichi, he was busy getting worked too the bone by his master's while they sat back with big grins on their faces.
Seeing Renka coming up to the wheelhouse, she gave me a grin as soon as I saw her. Motioning for me to come out, I stepped out to ask her what she wanted.
"I would like you to show me your martial arts. Learning a different school of martial arts would help me grow a lot.", she told me.
"Uh huh...", I stated, "Is this something to do with your father and Kenichi?"
"How did you know!?", she gasped.
"I assumed based on your reactions to your father that you wanted to beat him into submission for your mother. In addition, I have noticed you and Mui have a competition for Kenichi.", I said with a grin, "It's pretty easy to tell that you both have spats around him, and he is oblivious to it."
"You have a keen eye.", Maya said dropping down from the roof of the wheelhouse.
"Thank you...I assume you are interested in my martial arts as well?", I questioned.
"I am, and I wanted to spar with you.", she admitted, "It's rare to meet someone of your caliber at our age."
"Sure, it should be fine.", I told them.
"Count us in too.", Rei and Saya said jumping into the fray.
I knew they had no real interest in martial arts that I used, this was all about them keeping these two away. These two, excluding Astrid, were the most jealous women in my harem so it wasn't surprising to see them put themselves into the mix. Telling the four of them that I was more than happy to teach them, we went to an open area on the deck to start.
"Alright, the most important part of both styles is flexibility and conserving energy. The Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist style is a defensive style that works on redirecting energy. As the name suggests it's about circulating your inner power like water. You four have seen how it looks from a far, but this is how it looks up close.", I told them.
Giving them a display of Water Stream Encampment, the four of them watched in amazement as the afterimages I was leaving behind were smooth like a running stream. Watching the technique, Renka mentioned that it took after Tai Chi which admitted too. The difference was that this style relied on conserving energy till the split second before impact. Skeptical of that claim, Renka decided to test me with her Kenpo training. Throwing a kick at me, I simply knocked her center of gravity askew and took her to the ground. Swerving away from a head strike, I struck one of the I-beams leaving an imprint of my fist there.
"...damn...", she muttered realizing that blow would have killed her.
"It doesn't look strong, but it's a balance of defense and offense.", I told her as I helped her up, "The second style is about raw power and destruction."
Giving them a similar display of that as well, I told them that this style was difficult to learn as it put a lot of emphasis on offense and little on defense. Having shown them the styles, the four of them were happy to learn them so we started with making sure they were flexible enough. Making a smart comment about me just wanting to see them in compromising positions, I dropped down into the splits to show her I wasn't joking.
Gasping, Renka and Maya were surprised that I could do it so easily, and hold it with little effort. Believing now that I wasn't trying something, they showed me how flexible they were...and really only Rei was suited at the moment. Saya aside, Maya and Renka were built for normal martial arts. The style I was using was anything but normal, I was doubtful even my training would be enough to make them proficient. It would take a while to increase their stats in order to use it well, and that was assuming I could get them out to kill zombies.
"So, what do you think?", Renka asked me.
"You have potential, but you are to stiff and tense. Both of you have to learn to relax and let the tension go. If you try to use either style with the tension you have, you will severely injure yourselves...I am talking ripping muscles apart or even crippling part of your body.", I replied.
"And how do you relax?", Maya asked with a smirk.
"Well...", I said returning the look, "First of all I start with the way I shower. I usually start with cold water and then finish with hot water. In Scandinavian countries they use the freezing water then hop into the sauna. This helps your body loosen up easier. Secondly, I have found things I enjoy to help relax like drinking tea, playing video games, using martial arts, and reading. Lastly...well I will spare you the details on that one. I am sure you catch my drift."
Blushing the two nodded their heads thanking me for not saying it aloud. Even though they were martial artists, they were still inexperienced women who had yet to experience the effects sex had. Quite honestly...I completely understood why Baki's father got as strong as he did. It had done wonders for me, and frankly...the women enjoyed it too so it was a win win in my book.
"So outside the last one, you recommending showering like that and finding thing we enjoy?", Maya said.
"For women I suppose a massage and chiropractic adjustments would be good too.", I stated, "Just be careful whom you let do it...I wouldn't ask Kensei."
"I heard that brat!!", he shouted a few yards from us.
"Duly noted.", they snickered, "He wasn't on the list of people anyways. Who do you recommend?"
"Yuko is a surgeon and has some experience with chiropractic procedures. As for massages, it's really up to your preference.", I told them.
Nodding their heads, we started out training with stretching. Helping the women out with a little push, I assisted in helping them stretch more than they usually did. Once they were stretched, we went over breathing techniques and started with the very basic movements. Watching us from the sideline, Shigure Kōsaka was interested in the two styles being taught but was unsure if she could ask to be taught. She could clearly see that Rei and Saya were being very competitive with Maya and Renka so adding a third person would probably make things worse. Deciding to speak to Victor at another time, she was satisfied just watching and learning.
---Okinawa, A Few Days Later---
As the island came into view, the scope of our trial to get into the base became clear. The areas around the base we were aiming were razed to the ground, and the city nearby was in shambles. Scanning the area for signs of life, all I saw were two Ogres coming out of the ground along with a horde of several thousand as they came close to shore.
"What the hell is that!?", Takashi shouted looking at the Ogre.
"Damn that those are big dead mutants...", Kohta said.
"We are going to need a lot of ammo.", Sayo muttered.
Keeping us out of range for their thrown balls of flesh, all I could do was stare at this ridiculous obstacle. Getting us close would be damn near impossible with the Ferry, and the current firepower we have would barely be enough to take care them.
"Midna, are there any other bases with docks we can go too?", I questioned.
"No, all of the other bases were breached early on.", she said, "That base in front of us is the only base left standing...and barely at that."
"Well fuck.", I sighed, "I will have to think of a plan then."
Just as I was about to step down with wheelhouse, I noticed someone waving something at us from the base. Pulling up my binoculars, I could see it was a young woman waving a flag with a radio frequency on it. Tuning our radio to it, I called out to see if anyone would answer.
"Hello!!", a woman sobbed, "There are still survivors!! We thought everyone was dead!! None of us have seen a soul for over a week now, and no one is answering our calls!!"
"That's because the entire country is under a black out, and Tokyo was blown off the map by a nuclear strike.", I told them.
"WHAT!?", I heard several people shout.
"I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that's the truth.", I apologized, "How many of you are there?"
"About thirty people...mostly women and children. A group of men went to one of the other bases to see if other people were alive, but they never returned.", she informed me.
"I assume you see the horde outside the base?", I questioned.
"Yes, they come at us if we peek our heads over the walls for too long.", she said, "I hate to be a burden, but we are starving. The base is locked down tight, and we can't get into the supply rooms. We haven't eaten in almost a week, please help us."
"Understood, is the dock clear?", I asked.
"Yes, there are only a few ships. The ferry should fit just fine.", she told me.
"Good, get your people ready.", I advised, "It may get a bit hairy those brutes, I will do my best to keep them off you."
Handing the helm to Saya and Kyoko, I went down to the storage room to put my Doomslayer on. I had a personal container that nobody went into into so it was easy enough to say that the armor was stored there. Putting one of the supposed cursed Katana's I had in storage on my hip, I then pulled out a machine gun and shotgun before turning to look at the mirror.
"You going to pose and take a snapshot?", Midna snickered.
"That isn't it.", I sighed, "You can be very cruel you know? Most guys would shit their pants to get this armor."
"Meh, I don't see the need for such dramatic armor.", she teased, "Looks like you are turning into a meat head."
"No, it's the fact that the Ridden are worm based infection right?", I questioned, "If I go out without some protection I won't hear the end of it."
"Whatever, you just want to go have some fun.", she stated, "You want to show off, and you know it."
"I plead the fifth.", I responded.
"All your lovers are faithful to you, I don't see the need to flex.", she sighed.
"It's nice to remind them why I am their best choice.", I laughed, "Besides...I want the BFG, every man needs a BFG."
"I swear...it's like I am talking to child.", she said with a smirk.
Hiding a smirk I walked back out to the deck. Getting ready for docking, Saeko and Sayo were busy making sure the machine guns were ready in case they were needed to suppress the dead. Hearing me approach, the two of turned to see me in the armor and a grin perked up on their faces.
"Hehe, you look really kick ass in that suit.", Sayo said looking me over like a slab of meat.
"Agreed, you look...really good.", Saeko stated.
"I am leaving the defense of the group in your hands. While you are docking I am going to keep their attention, and take a lot of them out doing so.", I told them.
"Leave it to us.", Yoko said smacking my ass, "That's a nice piece of kit."
Thanking her, I took a position that would give me a running start and then took off launching myself just before stepping off the ship. Feeling the whole ship slide from the jump, Sayo hid the goofy grin on her face as she thought about the future where she would join Victor in doing such feats.
Watching me come flying at them, the Ridden and other undead ran forward to assault me when I landed. Unfortunately for them, my momentum wasn't going to be stopped with just a few of them. Adjusting myself midair, I shoulder slammed into the group sending their bodies flying everywhere as I pulled the machine gun into my arms. Wanting to say something catchy I chuckled when a line came to my head.
"Say hello to my little friend!", I shouted before pulling the trigger.
Watching the horde of zombies vaporize as the bullets tore through them, I couldn't help but laugh. Shaking her head, Midna reiterated that I looked like a child with that stupid look before telling me kill all of them. Looking on from the boat, my group just stood there watching me tear apart the dead with fist, steel, and lead.
"He is certain more reckless than he lets on.", Maya stated.
"See, I am not that bad!", Souichiro laughed proudly.
"The difference is he can actually back up his insanity.", Masataka jabbed.
"Fuck you say to me!", Souichiro shouted.
"Do you need another ass kicking?", Masataka retorted.
"Why you!", Souichiro growled.
"Alright you two, break it up.", Bob sighed, "I swear..."
"Come on Souichiro, we need to get ready to fight.", Aya said pulling the love of her life away from Masataka.
Reluctantly agreeing to it, he follows her to make sure everything is ready to move quickly so they can take up a defensive position. For the time being the undead were solely focused on Victor so it was on everyone else to reinforce the base so he could fall back...assuming he didn't kill everything before then.
"Still harboring anger towards Souichiro?", Maya asked Masataka.
"Yes...he has her at his beck and call yet doesn't return that affection!", Masataka spat.
"He has made clear to her that he doesn't like her like that, and hasn't lead her to believe otherwise. I would say it is her decision to continue to chase him even if she knows he doesn't feel the same way.", Maya tried to reason with him.
"Agreed, now isn't the time to be in fighting with each other.", Mitsuomi stated, "You can clearly see that we all wanting peace, don't cause trouble."
Sighing, he agreed to let it go for now. He would continue to chase her till she either won Souichiro over, or he did. Walking away to help the others prepare, Maya and Mitsuomi looked on watching Victor overwhelm the horde. The area he was fighting in was covered in blood now, but he continued to crush them like they weren't even a threat. Watching him perform a quick draw that rendered one of the giant mutants to small pieces, they thought they were watching something that was only read about in fantasy books.
"He is incredibly powerful.", Mitsuomi said, "It is reassuring that he is on our side, if we were on the receiving end of that...I doubt we would even see our deaths coming."
Once Victor was out of sight, both of them got ready to move in a hurry so they could help unload quickly.