"Fireball?" Lucius asked, surprised. "We really learned that? Aren't those weird screens some illusions?"
"I just killed a wolf that is as big as a tiger," Bruce furrowed his eyebrows. "Was that an illusion too? Now that I think about it don't use Fireball. I don't want to reveal our position to other monsters. Instead of that, I can show you how everything you saw so far is as real as you and me."
While walking, Bruce taught Lucius and his patients how to create a party and then opened their eyes widely in shock when the bucklers and several chainmail appeared right in front of them.
"Maintaining equipped will prove to be difficult for all of you," Bruce said. "However, that will increase your survivability."
Lucius is a man of the science, so he couldn't believe or explain what just happened. However, the feeling that he felt while holding those pieces of equipment was real. So, he thought that perhaps it was time to stop being so negationist.
"Did you obtain this strength in the last few hours?" Lucius asked. "How?"
"By facing the dangers ahead of me instead of running away from them," Bruce replied. "I was also a bit lucky, but I would like to think that might bravery helped me achieve this Level… even though I know that isn't the case. Anyway, you are a doctor, and you will be more useful in helping others outside battles, not while fighting monsters. Just try to offer some fire support, and it should be fine, but remember, not now."
Lucius wondered if that was Bruce trying to be considerate or if he was just being logical and considering his strengths. He decided to bet on the latest; Lucius saw many of his colleagues die, and with the world in such a state, the loss of every single medic, even the young ones like himself, would be a big loss.
Just like before, Bruce and the survivors didn't get attacked by anything aside from those big ass wolves. Although they trembled in fear whenever they heard a howl, the thought of running away didn't cross their minds again. They saw Bruce defeating one monster without suffering many injuries, so they trusted him that he would keep doing so. Regardless, since the patients were sick and injured, they had to stop to rest several times. Although Bruce felt that he was wasting time, in the end, he decided to help them and thought that he was just doing voluntary work for the future of human society. Besides, that time in silence gave Bruce enough time to think about several things. Mainly about his next goal.
"I guess I should focus on completing those quests and leveling up. Apparently, dungeons exist now in this world, so it will be the best place to hunt monsters. That being said, looking for one in the dark will be too difficult. I feel like resting now and looking for the dungeon tomorrow morning will be the best course of action, but it seems a waste to ignore all those wolves that keep attacking and giving me those sweety, sweety experience points, and spiritual coins."
Around 02:00 AM, Bruce, Lucius, and the patients finally arrived at the hotel where he left Diane and Chris or at the place where they left him; it was probably the latest option. Either way, Bruce decided to keep hunting the wolves the whole night since he didn't know if he would be able to find them during them or if he would fight them one at a time. Bruce had decided to take them to the floor where the survivors were, but right at the entrance, he found Diane and Chris hidden in the darkness and ready to strike.
"It is me," Bruce said. "Show yourselves."
"Bruce?" Chris asked, surprised. "I didn't think you would return so soon."
Diane found a flashlight somewhere, and when she turned it on, they understood why Bruce had returned. Chris tried to welcome them with a friendly smile, but they could barely do the same since the patients were so tired.
"You guys can thank me later for making your group bigger," Bruce said. "If you want to learn something more about this system, you can ask them. They know the same thing that I know. Well, then. Smell ya later."
"Wait, aren't you a member of this group of survivors?" Lucius asked, surprised, when he realized that Bruce was about to return to the darkness outside.
"Where are you going exactly, Bruce?" Chris asked. "Aren't your parents among this group?"
"No, and that is none of your business," Bruce replied. "Anyway, I'm sure all of you will be able to get along. Just stick together with each other, and things will work out, I'm sure."
It looked like Lucius had something to say; he probably wanted to ask a favor since Bruce was the only one who had the power and was crazy enough to cross the streets of the city at such a time. However, in the end, he gave up on the idea. The first reason was the fact that Bruce didn't give his name to him, so it was clear that Bruce didn't want to get involved with others more than necessary. The other reason, it was that Lucius checked his cell phone many times and called the number of his home, even at that moment, but the call was never completed.
Bruce sighed when he left the hotel again. He felt as if he was being a bit too antisocial. Still, given that he had already experimented that people felt his behavior odd, Bruce decided that it was better to do his own things alone.
You completed a quest!
You received a new quest!
Obtain ten enemies!
Reward: Taunt Skill Book.
Congratulations! You learned the spell: Dash!
Dash: Increases your movement speed by ten percent
Cost: 0.1 SP per second
Lv 01 0/100
Next Level: increased range, damage, and the capacity to shoot the spell with a single hand.
"Mmm?" Bruce frowned, surprised. "Come to think of it, I had a quest where I had to make some allies… I totally forgot about it. I guess Lucius and his patients now consider me their ally."
Although that was weird since they were doing that at their own convenience, it wasn't a bad feeling. Bruce couldn't remember many times when he felt that others were relying on him after all. That being said, Bruce couldn't make his 'allies' grow too used of him. For the sake of the human race, he had no other choice but to help as many humans as possible, but he won't make that his ultimate goal.