The last week had gone according to Nikolas' plans. Every morning, he and his brother trained at the dojo, pushing their limits under Master Yuemura's stern but expert guidance. Surprisingly, Erick displayed an innate aptitude for martial arts, picking up techniques with astonishing speed.
Despite the harshness of the training—or perhaps because of it—Nikolas had managed to lose around ten kilos (twenty pounds), and some muscles were starting to define his previously flabby arms. It was a significant change, noticeable to his parents, but Nikolas knew it was just a small step towards his larger goals.
Their progress had not gone unnoticed. Satisfied with their dedication and improvement. After teaching them the basics, he quickly moved them into sparring sessions. Nikolas had anticipated this development, but he hadn't expected Erick to excel so quickly. While Nikolas had to conceal the extent of his experience, he found that he could afford to show a bit more skill now that Erick was proving to be a martial arts prodigy.
Currently, the once Dragon King was sparring with the youngest disciple, Okino Noboru, or Nobo as his friends called him. Nobo, with his small eyes, blond hair, and large nose—a clear testament to his half-Japanese, half-German heritage—was an experienced fighter. His movements were sharp and calculated, displaying years of training.
Unfortunately for the boy, he was up against someone who had not only mastered the sword but also faced life-and-death situations where the sword was his only ally.
As they exchanged blows, Nobo began to lose his composure. His frustration grew with each failed attempt to strike Nikolas, whose seemingly clumsy and lucky dodges left Nobo increasingly exasperated. Nikolas's movements, though appearing uncoordinated, were anything but. He made it seem as if he was tripping or stumbling every time Nobo's sword came close, but it was all part of his plan to hide his true abilities.
Nobo, desperate to land a hit, started putting more strength behind his attacks, abandoning the precision that martial arts demanded. In one such attempt, he swung his sword horizontally with all his might. Nikolas, appearing to trip on his own feet, ducked just in time to avoid the strike. As he "stumbled" forward to regain his balance, his outstretched arms inadvertently—and heavily—hit Nobo's belly with the wooden sword.
"Ouch!" Nobo yelped, falling backward onto the mat.
"Oops, I'm sorry… It was unintentional!" Nikolas apologized, trying to suppress a smirk.
[I'll not let any of you hurt Master this time!] he vowed silently. He was determined to protect Yuemura and ensure that the betrayal he suspected would never come to pass.
Though he still didn't know which disciple might betray Yuemura—or even if his belief was entirely accurate—Nikolas wasn't taking any chances. He was going to be vigilant and prepared, ensuring that nothing would harm his master under his watch.
************
In his free afternoons, Nikolas helped his father build the wall around their house. Within a week, they had increased its height to a full two meters and doubled its thickness with pure concrete at the base. It was a significant upgrade, one that would provide better protection in the days to come.
In addition to the wall project, Nikolas took on another task: cleaning their left neighbor's house. The property had been abandoned after its owner died in a car accident years ago. Though it was a modest one-story house, what interested Nikolas most was the land—a large yard in front that could be used for planting crops. With his father's approval, he jumped over the small fence and started clearing the ground during his free time.
[At least my dad believed me when I said that dealing with the ground could help me develop my attitude and that sensei had suggested it.]
His mother, Emilia, also supported the idea. She saw it as an act of charity, appreciating that her son was taking care of the neglected land. By the end of the week, Nikolas had managed to clear almost 300 square meters of space. It was hard work, but he found it rewarding.
On the seventh day, just as he was wrapping up his work for the evening, Nikolas received a huge surprise: his MMORPG account had been sold for $20,000!
[Oh, this is more than I expected… Yet, probably less than it's worth.] He thought, scratching his head. It couldn't be helped, he needed that money fast. It would be barely enough for his plans.
Nikolas sighed, a mix of relief and frustration flooding his mind. The money in his hand felt like both a lifeline and a weight. He had managed to gather the funds quicker than anticipated, but the amount was still meager compared to the vast needs of his impending mission.
[This will have to do for now,] he mused, pocketing the cash. His mind raced with calculations and contingencies, already planning the next steps. Every coin and bill would have to be stretched to its limit, ensuring that not a single resource was wasted.
Stil, the unexpected windfall filled him with excitement. It had been a long time since he had money to spend freely.
The following day, he made a detailed plan for how to spend the money. He focused on essential supplies and tools that would ensure his family's survival. High on his list were non-perishable food items, medical supplies, and weapons. He also considered purchasing solar panels and batteries to ensure a steady supply of electricity once the grid went down - but that would cost more than what he had.
To avoid drawing attention, he spread his purchases across several stores and online vendors. The goal was to stockpile resources without arousing suspicion or creating unnecessary panic among the neighbors.
In addition to survival gear, Nikolas invested in seeds and gardening tools for the newly cleared yard. He bought a variety of vegetable seeds, ensuring they had a sustainable food source. He also planned to build a rainwater collection system to ensure they had access to clean water.
The physical training under Master Yuemura, the strategic preparations at home, and the financial windfall all combined to give Nikolas a renewed sense of purpose. He was no longer the aimless, overweight teenager. Instead, he was becoming a disciplined warrior and a resourceful planner, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
The Dragon King was going to be born again.
***********
It was late at night, and he was browsing through online stores, deciding if he should use his limited money to acquire a power generator when his cell phone rang. Seeing the name of the caller, his hands shook, and memories flooded his mind.
[H… How could I forget about him!?] Nikolas sighed at his own ignorance and answered the call.
"Hello…"
Before he could finish, a shrill voice came through the phone.
"I saw on the MMORPG news that you sold your account, dude! Are you insane!?"
"Calm down, Marcus! Wait… It went on the news!?"
Marcus was his one true friend, a friendship that grew after hours and hours of playing online games. Though they had never met in person, their camaraderie was genuine and profound, built through shared victories and defeats in the digital realm.
[Unfortunately, I never found out what happened to him after the apocalypse. He probably died in the first few days…]
The memory stung. The first year of the apocalypse had been a nightmare for Nikolas. Weak and overwhelmed, his existence had been a desperate scramble for survival, compounded by the crushing loss of his family. In the relentless struggle, thoughts of Marcus had faded, buried beneath layers of fear and grief. But now, with the knowledge of the future, he had a chance to rewrite that tragic history.
[Perhaps, I can change his fate this time!] he resolved, feeling a surge of determination. This time, he wouldn't just survive—he would fight for those he cared about.
"Yeah man, you've been offline the whole week! I thought you were sick, but now I know that you've become an idiot!!"
"Chill down, man! This week was so full that I forgot to tell you!!"
After a minute or so, his friend calmed down a bit and asked.
"So, what happened? I was really worried. Are you in need of money? I can lend you some if you want… Is your family okay?"
"I'm good, jeez... that's not the case. Actually, I can't tell you much, pal… you know I have contacts on the Deep Web, right?"
At this moment, Nikolas started to introduce some ideas to Marcus' mind.
"Hmm… sure, why?"
"Well, there was a leak about a super experiment going on. It seems that more than one government and huge enterprises are involved…"
"Shit! Just like the last virus experiment?"
[Ha! He took the bait] Nikolas smiled devilishly.
"I think it'll be worse!"
"S***, don't scare me, brother!"
"Man, something big is going to happen, so listen to me: sell your account too and buy as much food as you can, water, and some weapons will come in handy too!"
"Ah, and do some diet too!" Nikolas hurriedly added. Even though he never saw him in person, judging by himself, Marcus should be fat too, right?
"What the fuck, man!? I've spent years on that account! Can't you say more?"
"For once in your life, I need you to blindly believe in me. For all the raids we've made! For all the times I saved you by tanking the bosses so you could cast your spells!" Nikolas spoke over-dramatically about their time together.
"Alright, alright! You better be real, because if nothing happens, I'll kill you!"
"I wish it weren't real, my friend. Also, you have three weeks to come to my house if you want… If you can't do that, just stay hidden and I'll try to get to you later…."
Without waiting for the answer, Nikolas added.
"And before I forget, Marcus, buy an amateur radio and use the frequency 6xxxx to get in contact with me, okay?"
"Yep! I'll try to convince my family to pay you a visit…"
"Yes, yes! But remember: You only have three weeks!!"
"Okay, sergeant! Turning off now!"
Nikolas sighed.
If his best friend hadn't called, he wouldn't even remember him! Those ten years of living life on the line and now worrying too much about the future made Nikolas ignore certain things about the present. Unfortunately, time was short even to complain.
The decision to call Marcus could potentially change the course of his friend's life. Now, Nikolas felt another small weight being added on his shoulders. Would he really be able to save all these people?