Tick.
Tock.
The closer the doomsday approached, the faster the clock seemed to turn. Not just for Nikolas and his family, but mainly for those rushing to prepare in the short amount of time left.
The pressure was palpable, and in some places, the situation was starting to unravel. Chaos erupted as people grew unruly, with reports of looting and violence spreading, especially in the larger cities. Some countries had already declared martial law to control the panicked civilians. Fortunately, Brazil had not yet reached that point.
The news channels repeated the same message: the apocalypse warning was dismissed as fake news. Authorities claimed that the investigation into the hacker responsible was progressing well. According to them, Interpol, the CIA, and other intelligence agencies had identified the culprits as two separate groups. But to Nikolas, this was as good as admitting they had no real leads.
Nikolas smirked as he watched the news. He knew that the investigation would remain confidential, with only limited information disclosed to the public. Still, he also knew that it was impossible to hide the movements of agents from the media. Everything was proceeding according to his plan. The authorities wouldn't crack this case in the four days they had left.
In the major cities around the world, the panic was intensifying. Civilians were looting stores, buying or stealing whatever they could. Governments had to resort to drastic measures. In poorer or less democratic countries, the military was deployed in force to control the population.
Meanwhile, those who dismissed the warning, which included at least half of the world's population, were either relaxing at home or preparing for their holidays. They mocked the "paranoid" precautions of others.
After all, how many times had the world been falsely predicted to end?
[People are really stupid to act like that because of a mysterious warning on the TV…] That was the typical thought that crossed the minds of those who decided not to act. [The government must heavily punish every single one of them!]
While this chaotic atmosphere spread worldwide, the instigator of it all was relaxing on a sofa.
Nikolas stretched out his legs, sinking comfortably into the couch. Unlike the skeptics who ignored his warning, Nikolas was at ease. His family's preparations to survive until a Heaven Bud appeared were nearly complete.
Only one task remained. But it was not the time yet.
During the week, Nikolas had a few conversations with his father about his family's safety and one point had been brought up: Reginald father had suggested that they could leave the city for a remote farm or a secluded area, far from the hordes of zombies that would soon overrun the urban centers.
However, Nikolas refused for one simple reason: Experience points!
Even though the people living in bigger cities had a worse 'starting point', those who survived emerged far stronger than the rest. The reason was simple: killing the spawned monsters granted experience points, much like leveling up in a deadly game. But in this game, a single mistake could cost you your life.
Over time, those who fled to the mountains or were too fearful to fight the zombies paid dearly for their inaction. Society quickly became ruthless, leaving the weak behind.
Nikolas sighed as he rose from the couch. It was almost time for his morning workout. Master Yuemura had moved into the house next door earlier that day, a comforting presence in these uncertain times. Yet, Nikolas couldn't shake the wish that old Balfur was there as well. Despite their efforts, Balfur had refused to join them, even after the brothers asked twice. Now, Nikolas could only hope that Balfur would survive long enough for them to reunite.
[With him here, I would have one more great ally besides my master…] Nikolas mused, his thoughts drifting. [I wonder if there's another great figure living nearby?]
He often found himself trying to recall the important figures from the first year of the calamity, those who had risen above the chaos. Unfortunately, that year had been the worst for him: constantly on the run, hiding from place to place, afraid even of his own shadow. He survived by eating whatever scraps he could find, all while mourning the loss of his family and feeling utterly helpless—until he finally met his master, Yuemura, his personal 'heaven' in a world of despair.
Speaking of Heavens, when Nikolas first entered one under Yuemura's tutelage, he never had the chance to meet those so-called 'mighty' figures. Back then, he only knew them by their titles, as many chose to hide their true names for safety. How could he possibly track down where they lived now? It was by sheer luck that he had found Balfur.
Years later, when he had grown stronger, Yuemura was gone, and Nikolas found himself alone once again. No friends, no family, no Heaven. He had nothing to care for, and no one cared for him. Why waste time investigating the past, looking into Heavens that had already fallen and people who were likely dead? It wouldn't help his survival—his only goal was to become stronger.
He shrugged, in the end he would have to rely on luck to find those people.
*******
Tick.
Tock.
Three days before the storm: A sense of anxiety gripped the world. It felt as if dark clouds had descended upon people's hearts, their breaths growing heavier with each passing hour—especially for those frantically trying to prepare. Three days might seem like enough, but not when the event they were bracing for remained shrouded in mystery. In many places, chaos escalated, making it increasingly difficult for the police and military to maintain order.
Countless people were arrested, stores shuttered their doors, and workers stayed home.
Luckily for Nikolas, the rest of his packages arrived today, everything he hadn't been able to carry: more food, water, the two generators, and truck he bought by maxing out his dad's credit card. A few hours later, everything was in place and the generators had been installed.
There was only one more thing to do, but it wasn't time yet.
In the news, it was said that the police discovered that one hacking group came from South America and the other from the Middle East! However, the specific countries involved remained unknown.
The group used every moment to improve: While Nikolas was already a master of his own, the feeling that there was still room for improvement was growing stronger within him.
This growing sense of urgency only fueled his desire to train his brother and father, both of whom were showing remarkable progress. Erick's learning speed was astonishing—he could now detect Nikolas' presence in the dark, a feat that was both impressive and a little unsettling. Yet, despite his promise to take it easy, Nikolas couldn't help but increase the difficulty of their training.
Reginald, on the other hand, spent his days meticulously polishing his armor and sword. Though he wasn't a natural warrior, he was gradually embracing the role, getting more comfortable with the weight of the weapon in his hands. At the same time, Master Yuemura's intensity in their sparring sessions had reached new heights. There was a fiery passion in his eyes that Nikolas had never seen before.
[What had changed in his mind?] Nikolas wondered, intrigued by the shift in his master's demeanor
Meanwhile, Emilia's cooking skills were improving as fast as her family's appetites. Despite the hearty meals she prepared, Nikolas found himself losing weight, his constitution growing stronger with each passing day.
[Will she have the Cooking skill?] Nikolas mused as he savored the stewed chicken his mother had prepared. [Wouldn't it be something if she were already a master chef?]