"Anzel! Watch get down!" A man shouted as he pointed his rifle at Anzel who had just killed an imp.
Anzel didn't know who it was or why that person said that, but he immediately went to his knees. He heard gunshots and bullets flying right above his head, but then he heard a screeching sound coming from his back. When he looked back, he saw an imp with holes in its body from the bullets.
"That was close... are you alright?" A bearded man in an army suit offered his hand to Anzel who was still on his knee and covering the top of his head with his hands.
"Sarge Harris, sorry. I wasn't paying attention," Anzel said as he grabbed the man's hand.
"A simple thank you should be enough," Anderson replied as he helped Anzel get up. "But I'm surprised when I heard that you have awakened. Congratulation. We will have another one-man army so I'm going to protect you at all costs," Anderson continued and patted Anzel's back.
"Thank you," Anzel said with his hands trembling because he was pushing his strength to the limit.
Anderson looked at his surroundings and it appeared that everyone had finished dealing with the roaming demons after the breakout happened last night. He then ordered everyone to rest and let the other teams deal with the demons since it was their turn to rest.
"You did outstandingly, let's go back and eat lunch together. Even though you're not tired, your mind needs to rest," Anderson wrapped his left hand around Anzel's neck and brought him back to the bunker.
They had lunch together with only a can of beans and a slice of bread for each person. They had been eating like that for months, and even though they were sick of eating that, that was the only food they had left especially with so many people that they had to feed.
"Eric, turn on the TV will you? It's so quiet here," Anderson said.
Eric turned on the TV and the first thing they saw was a live report. Anzel jolted from his seat and hurriedly walked to the TV to look at Mykel who was being interviewed by reporters.
"He's been a hot topic since last night. Do you know who that guy is?" Eric asked and put a mouthful of beans into his mouth.
"Not really, but I know him since he's an author and I read his novel before," Anzel answered. "In fact, I know some of those guys behind him," Anzel pointed at Jeanne, Rozan, Gunnar, Gerrard, Lillith, Nagy, Lyneth, and Lyneth.
"Really? You know that hottie?" Eric raised his eyebrows as he pointed at Lyneth.
"Yeah, her name is Lyneth Leonis," Anzel nodded his head.
"Lyneth Leonis, huh? Goddamn, she's fucking stacked..." Eric said as he looked at Lyneth's boobs, thighs, and ass.
Anzel just laughed it off and brushed it off since he knew those characters were nothing more than fictional characters in Mykel's novel. He had been bothered by it and couldn't sleep because of it.
"Everyone wants to watch as well, Anzel. Sit down," Anderson said. "Anyway, what's with you that you suddenly ran when you see that guy?" Anderson asked.
"Do you want to hear something crazy, Sarge?" Anzel asked as he sat down and kept his eyes on the screen. "These people, they're not real people. They're just characters from a novel that Mykel Alester wrote," Anzel pointed out.
Eric and Anderson looked at each other and then burst into laughter, but Anzel looked so serious about it.
"You don't believe me? Come, I'll show you guys that I'm not crazy..." Anzel said as he stood up and then walked away.
Since both Eric and Anderson felt bad for laughing at Anzel, they decided to follow him to his room. They were a bit surprised when they saw how messy his room was, but they ignored it and followed him to his desk.
"Where is it? I can't find the novel anymore. Did he delete the novel? That's suspicious..." Anzel furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to search for the novel. "Well, it doesn't matter because the discussion forum is still there," Anzel mumbled to himself as Eric and Anderson watched Anzel surf the internet.
"Here, look at this," Anzel grabbed his laptop and showed the forum.
"Asmond Redfeld, the main character, and spoiler alert, he's ended up with Jeanne Dvar. I'm so glad..." Eric said. "My favorite character is Rozan Aubern because he's the only one who single-handedly defeated a Demon King..." Eric continued reading the comments.
"I can understand why the author aka Mykel Alester like Gerrard Tal. He's such a nice guy and he's the only one who never had any dramas in the story. He's a hero behind the curtain and always made the right decision for the team," Anderson read the most liked comment. "These comments are from two years ago..." Anderson said as he looked at the date.
Eric and Anderson continued reading the comments and found all the names. They looked at each other in disbelief because even if it was a coincidence, the characters and the description of the characters' appearance were uncanny to the ones with Mykel.
"Do you believe me now? I have read the novel and when I saw those names on TV, I was shocked by it," Anzel said as he put down his laptop.
"Have you told anyone about this?" Anderson asked.
"No, I didn't have the time since I was busy dealing with demons ever since I awakened," Anzel answered and shook his head.
"Wait a second. If you know, then there should be other people who know about it as well right? But why did none of them say anything about it?" Eric asked.
"I don't know. This is a webnovel, so people can only read it online. The first chapter was four years ago, so it's not really a new book even though it was popular. It went downhill when it was about to finish because the story felt so random. What are the odds of the people who know the novel is still alive right now? I think I might be the only few people who know about it," Anzel answered and explained as he read through the forum.
Anzel turned on the TV and changed the channel where Mykel was being interviewed by the reporter.
"So, what are you going to do? Are you going to reveal this to the public?" Anderson asked.
"I think I'll..." Before Anzel could finish his sentence, a notification appeared in front of him.
[A being shrouded in mystery wishes you to keep it a secret for the greater good]
"You will what?" Eric asked with his eyebrows raised.
"Nothing," Anzel shook his head. "I think I will ask it personally to Mykel," Anzel said.
"Are you crazy? Do you know where we are and where he is right now? We are in New York and he's in Nebraska. It would take months to go there or worst case scenario would be that you won't be able to see him, ever," Eric pointed out as he looked at Anzel in disbelief.
"I don't know..." Anzel shrugged as he shook his head.
"Mister Mykel, what's your plan for the future? Are you going to join one of the guilds?" A reporter asked Mykel as he pointed the microphone at Mykel.
"No, we are not going to join their guilds. I don't think it's necessary for us to join since they're already strong enough on their own," Mykel answered.
"Then what are you going to do? With your team here, it's possible to push the demons back or even kill them all. What's your plan from here and out?" Another reporter asked.
"Right now we just want to rest and wait until President Richard gives us a new task. We have been surviving on our own for a whole year, so I think we just want to enjoy the moment right now," Mykel answered with a gentle smile. "Although, there's something I want to do," Mykel said.
"And what's that Mister Mykel?" The reporter asked.
"I would like to go back to my hometown, in New York," Mykel answered.
Anzel, Eric, and Anderson were shocked when they heard that Mykel planned on coming their way.
"I don't know if it's fate, but I think you'll be able to meet him, Anzel," Anderson said as he looked at Anzel.
"Yeah, and I think I will use the time to get myself stronger before I can meet him," Anzel nodded his head in agreement.