"Are you ready kid?"
"Y-yes!"
In the front of Opal City's DM branch, Edward was storing many things that could be used on the way to another city, Quartz City. It was about 1,000 Km from Opal City, which would mean it would take roughly 4 days by vehicles Albert gotten. Edward took a step back to study.
The vehicles was four wheeler jeep. It looks military-like.
There are also extra cabin like behind, neither big nor small.
While Edward was entranced by the aesthetic of the vehicles creator, A strong had pat his shoulder. He turned around to see weathered face chuckling.
"Kid, you like this?"
"Ah, yes! It looks kinda old."
"Of course, this is one of old relic before world war after all. But with a bit of custom, to adapt to current time."
Edward knitted his brow, Albert saw it chuckle.
"The oil could barely used and it was harder to get since many monster lived there."
Edward was surprised,
"Wait, how many monster there?!"
"By the latest info... Around 10 thousands of different species."
"That's a lot!"
Edward muttered, which Albert didn't reply as he was lighting up his daily dos of cigarette.
"Yes, it was judged as EX Rank area. Deadly."
Edward nodded his head, Albert had told him few weeks ago that there is rank from lowest which is F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, SSS, And last EX. EX ranks could be considered as a the highest peak but no one had reach, the highest in history was SS which is the Swordsman Kejiro, Succubus Eve, and Professor Albert... Wait,
Edward scrutinised the old man in front of him, it couldn't be him, right?
Edward shook his head as he felt his mind getting ridiculous from his assumption, he just otaku. Doesn't mean that he could become main character. There could be dime a dozen of man like him, so he ignored that feeling since Albert doesn't look like a professor at all to be honest.
While Edward was chatting with Albert, Two middle age man and
a middl- a fair lady went to them.
Edward turned to see them, each of them was not ill equipped as he thought, although it looks simple, Edward could see that one of the man seemed wearing a skin-like armor in side his t-shirt covered with DM Sigil jacket. He looked the youngest between three of them.
Another one had a glasses, with scholarly vibe around him holding a side bag with cross red on it, patched. Of course, he had a long-sleeved and slack pants. He also wear long sleeved DM jacket. and loose tie around him.
Another had a jeans and sleeveless blue with DM jacket covering only her shoulder and a chains connected to another giving a big boss lady vibe.
"Good mornin', P....Old man!"
Edward frowned when heard it.
'P?'
"So what's our quest will be?"
Albert looked at the man with armor Edward stared at before replying,
"Well, joint with Rex Skull Company."
The fair lady interjected.
"Albert! Are you joking!? That's dangerous!"
another middle aged man nodded in agreement,
"That's true, Albert. This hyenas' is ruthless when given even one chance."
Albert closed his eyes.
"Henry."
He called young one, which the young one went closer to him.
"I want to teach this kid the world. He will die tragically if he didn't face this early on."
Albert whispered before nodded.
"Alright old man, be careful. These hyenas-"
"Yo, old Fu*ker! Ready to move?"
A man with apocalypse-like equipment, plus painted skull on his face raised his hand calling Albert. He had a swaggering grin. Edward who saw it, ignored it since this man had some bad vibe around him.
There were also few people with same setup as the man.
"Oh, Rex, we are ready to move right now. Edward get inside. We are moving."
Edward nodded before going inside. Albert, Henry and others went inside the jeep as the ominous man went inside their own vehicles. Motorcycles with side seat and another side for putting baggage.
They soon moved out from the city.
Edward was staring at the windows as he could see building getting sparse by minutes.
'This is my first time going out of the city. It is larger than I expected. he could see some wretched wooden hut with few beggar on side sitting there.
few prostitute there chatting while smoking happily.
Edward closed his eyes before laid his head to back seat. The bespectacled man noticed the youngling by his side already closed his eyes.
"Already regret?"
"Maybe. But there is no cons in learning new things."
"Quite wise for your age."
The conversation soon ended as they journeyed outside the city.
==========
Jeep engine could be heard while Edward would glance at outside few times,
'such abandoned place, I wonder, if the city there used to be like us.'
He then heard thumped and raising hordes of monster chasing them.
"Old Man! horde at 8 o'clock!"
Henry pulled opened a windows on roof watching hordes moving toward them. Rex Company could sped easily since they were more lighter than Albert and co.
"Those Son of the B***! Dan, machine gun!"
The bespectacled man pulled open the door to Edward side scaring the young man before moving to platform in front of trailer behind jeep before open up rear bonnet before pulling out machine gun and passed it to Henry as he opened fire.
The lady noticed dazed Edward shouted at him.
"Close the door!"
This awake Edward as he closed up the door.
Henry rained on the horde with bullets with accuracy.
Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!
Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!
Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!
Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!Ta!
Rounds after rounds cartridges' fell to ground while Albert push accelerator moving faster.
Of course, the monster wasn't to be slayed without difficulty.
Some of the monster spit green goo at them. some of them miss the jeep some of them hit the trailer. Not long it landed on trailer, a little monster like face hugger born before jumped on Dan. But it was nothing to someone like Dan.
Dan grasped it easily before pulling out a knife before puncture it before throwing away. But that was just beginning.
Wyvern spit out fireballs at them. Albert easily dodged the projectile. Some of the monster monster moved faster and catching up to them, The lady moved out before pulling out pistol and shoot on the head stopping the runner's approach.
This went on for an hour before the horde subside and retreat from them.
Edward noticed this but he was shaking a little from the confrontation. Their ride was soon return to calm like before. Albert glanced at his back to see little shivering Edward.
"Edward. This is our daily life from now on."
Edward didn't reply as he was struggling to stop his shock.
The monster wasn't joke like he heard at college!
It was scary!