Nathan had been driving for quite a while and hadn't seen any enemies, which caused him to be suspicious.
Hmm...I expected to ditch this car as soon as I saw any soldiers, but I haven't seen any. I don't mind, but this is strange.
As Nathan approached a park, however, the reason why his path was void of soldiers was made clear to him. He exited his car to check.
What...the...hell.
It was a gruesome sight. Throughout the park, protruded numerous spikes, long enough to where they spanned the entire area. The spikes were made from the ground and surrounded by the park grass. Weak groans were audible as countless amounts of regular and super soldiers were impaled on the spikes.
Due to the sight and the scent of blood, a nauseous sensation overtook Nathan's senses. Feeling something rushing from the depths of his throat, Nathan fell to his knees. Suddenly, Nathan uncontrollably began to gag, before throwing up the contents of his stomach.
"Freaking...hell..." Nathan uttered as he materialized a towel to wipe his mouth.
"W...Wh-y." A super soldier muttered as he stared at Nathan. Quickly, Nathan averted his gaze.
Jesus. Who the hell...even did this? Now we've got...more things to worry about. This might be morbid though...but at least I'll get to Lilith easier. But first...
Covering his mouth and nose with the towel, Nathan proceeded to go around the park and store any weapons and equipment that the now-deceased soldiers had. The still-living ones could do nothing but watch in agony as they slowly die. Nathan had kept his head downwards, to not look at the horrid sight.
This is going to give me nightmares...but I'll need this equipment...
Thoroughly content with his looting of the area, Nathan quickly ran out, returned to his car, and drove off.
Just as Nathan had predicted, he did not encounter any enemies on his way to Lilith. The soldiers that should be around here were likely lured and killed, at least, that's what Nathan assumed.
As Nathan was nearing Lilith's home, he found himself beginning to get nervous. With his usual heightened breathing and heart rate, breaking out into a sweat and feeling uneasy, he immediately understood that meeting her would not be easy, especially with how their last meeting went.
Ha...come on, Nathan, this isn't the time for nervousness. You're gonna save Lilith, aren't you!?
Encouraging himself and calming down, Nathan arrived at Lilith's home. It was a normal-looking apartment complex.
* * *
Lilith had been oddly peeking out her window, seemingly expectant for something. When she saw Nathan's car pulling up, a sense of happiness came over her.
I-Is that Nathan?
* * *
Nathan left his car and made his way to the door. He wanted to knock but hesitated.
W-What if...she doesn't want to see me...That feeling of rejection keeps eating away at me. But, if the bastard developer told her my...situation, then I wonder if she would under--
As Nathan was deep in his thoughts, Lilith suddenly opened the door. Shocked at the sight of each other, their eyes locked with no words immediately exchanged.
No...now's not the time for this.
"L-Lilith...why haven't you left?" Nathan said, breaking the silence. "You know this is a danger zone, right?"
"W-What?" Lilith asked with surprise on her face.
"Why are you surprised? Didn't you hear about everyone else leaving?" Nathan asked. "Whatever, you have to come with me...you won't be safe he--"
"It's not that," Lilith interjected. "Y-You're still looking out for me, even after all that happened."
Huh?
"I-I always said I'd be there for you, yet still, I cursed you out and left you. All because...I let what's considered as wrong and right drive my thoughts."
Oh...that's what she meant.
"You have all right to abandon me...but as always, you've been looking out for me--"
"Come on, Lilith. Don't say that." Nathan said. "I never resented you and your choice. It was reasonable actually...considering I've done some...irredeemable things. I also thought that if you left me, you wouldn't be in danger--"
Before Nathan could finish, Lilith wrapped her arms around Nathan, hugging him tightly, which caused him to blush.
"I won't leave you again!" Lilith declared. Nathan couldn't help but smile at her declaration as he felt warm inside.
Honestly, you always know how to make me happy.
"D-Did you hear from a certain person why I'm in this mess?" Nathan asked.
"Y-Yeah, someone called the 'developer' messaged me. He told me everything, which is why I felt like such an idiot for abandoning you so coldly."
Sigh...freaking developer...when I find out who you are...
"But don't worry, I can complete the mission given to you by the developer. I know I ca--"
"Absolutely not, Lilith." Nathan quickly declined. "This is far too dangerous, and I won't let you do anything that you'll regret."
"But I won't regret it! I've accepted the developer's offer to become a 'character' or whatever they called it, to help you!"
DAMN IT! WHY THE HELL WOULD HE MAKE LILITH ONE OF HIS CHARACTERS!!!
Nathan was angry but internalized it as he knew Lilith was not at fault.
"Sigh, let's just get out of here," Nathan suggested. "It's risky to stay out in the open like this."
"Oh, yeah. You're right!" Lilith realized. "Let me just get something inside."
Huh?
Lilith didn't take long to retrieve what she wanted. When she returned, she was holding a katana in her hand, which surprised Nathan.
"What the!? What are you doing with that sword!?" Nathan asked.
"It's...a secret. For now, at least." Lilith responded.
I bet the developer somehow gave her that.
"Whatever, let's go," Nathan said, and they approached his vehicle. With their seatbelts fastened, Nathan drove off.
"So, where are we going to go?" Lilith asked.
"Well, I want to get you out of the danger zones hopefully," Nathan responded.
But there's that plan that Jack proposed which entailed getting the civilians out of the danger zones in the crossfire...
"But I said I could help you!" Lilith exclaimed. "You don't have to be the only one that does the protecting, Nathan!"
"Sigh, you're so persistent, Lilith..." Nathan commented. "But I won't let you--"
Nathan was cut off by the sudden sounds of bullets hitting the car, alarming them both.
"Damn! We're being attacked--!"
Much to Nathan's surprise, the bullets pierced his armored car and flew past his face. If his body was a few centimeters to the left, that would have been the end for Nathan.
"Quick! Take off your seatbelt!" Nathan ordered. Understanding the urgency of the situation, Lilith obeyed. He proceeded to grab Lilith's arm, pulled her close (which made her blush), and hopped out of the car. Skillfully placing a mattress underneath, Nathan softened their fall.
Lilith was resting on Nathan's body, her cheeks completely red. Nathan, on the other hand, kept focused and materialized objects as cover against the unknown shooter.
* * *
Over to a nearby building was the shooter. It was of course a super soldier.
"Tsk, what the hell. I wanted to kill him with that...and I'm pretty sure that there was another person with him." The sniper said in shock. He was lying on the roof of the building and looking through a rifle mounted on a bipod. "Whatever, I'll just kill him them both." He said before getting up.
* * *
Nathan grabbed Lilith's hand and ran to an alleyway. He placed more objects to act as cover as they ran.
"Quickly, put this on!" Nathan said as he materialized a vest and riot helmet and frantically gave her. "It might not be much, but it's better than nothing!"
Obeying Nathan, she quickly put them on.
Wow, Nathan really does have an inventory ability...so cool.
"Alright, we need to get out of here, but I'm not sure where the sniper is--"
"I'm right here." The super soldier said.
Shit!
Nathan outstretched his hand to materialize objects, but the super soldier immediately appeared in his face and grabbed his arm, squeezing it. With his other arm, he grabbed Nathan's neck and slammed his head into the alleyway wall.
"NATHAN!" Lilith shouted desperately. The super soldier turned his attention towards her.
"Hmm, you aren't on the list of S-Class Criminals, nor do you look like any allies we heard about." The super soldier stated as he stared confusedly at her. In response, Lilith gripped her katana in sheer anger for what he had done to Nathan.
Imagine yourself...protecting Nathan with all you have...
"Whatever, I'll kill anyone I see with these criminals...without any remorse--"
Suddenly, Nathan jumped in between them. From his hands came grenades, which alarmed the super soldier. Simultaneously, Nathan materialized numerous objects and soft pads. The super soldier had no time to react, as the grenades exploded rather quickly, knocking him to the ground.
The force propelled Nathan and Lilith away, but they were protected by Nathan's quick thinking to place down objects as shields for the explosion. They rolled across the ground along with the destroyed objects.
"Ugh...Sorry about...acting so reckless..." Nathan said as he got up despite his injuries. Due to being slammed into the wall, his head was bleeding, and now he had bruises on his body from the propelling force of the explosion. "We have to go...now."
Lilith also got up. Surprisingly, she was unscathed. She quickly held Nathan stay upright as they escaped the alleyway.
"Why...why do you have to go through all this...?" Lilith said, her tone filled with sorrow. "Why is this world so unfair to you...?"
"I've...gotten used to it," Nathan responded. "But I will murder anyone that threatens you...I guess that's why I did something so risky."
Lilith gripped her katana in frustration for Nathan.
"Anyways, that guy probably won't be down from that," Nathan said. "I have an idea that will put that bastard down."
"Why don't you let me do it?" Lilith pleaded once again.
"No, Lilith. Just trust me...I've got this."
"But..."
"Well, if you really want to help..."
* * *
"GODDAMMIT! THAT PIECE OF SHIT!" The super soldier angrily cursed as he stood up from the ground. His body was burnt and he was bloody. Shrapnel was embedded in his chest and right arm. Nathan's reckless plan was effective. "I'LL KILL HIM!" He declared before deciding to chase him.
The super soldier could not move at his usual super-sonic speeds, but could still move faster than a regular human. He could not locate Nathan, which made him angrier.
Tsk! I'm sure they got affected by those grenades too! There's no way they could have gotten far!
His assumptions were correct, as he saw Lilith running away. She seemed to be speaking to someone on her phone.
"HEY! WAIT UP!" The super soldier ordered as he chased her down. She went through an underpass, and he chased her through it as well.
"Now, Nathan!" Lilith shouted on her phone as she exited the underpass.
Huh? What does she mean by no--
Just as the super soldier exited the underpass, he was involuntarily forced to the ground.
Nathan, who was waiting at the top of the underpass, dumped numerous cars from his inventory when Lilith gave the signal. She had passed safely, and the cars dropped on the super soldier, crushing him.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" The super soldier shouted as he coughed up blood. Nathan casually made his way down the underpass and stood beside Lilith. They were now standing face-to-face at a good distance from the super soldier.
"AAHHH!!! GET IT OFF ME!!!" The super soldier exclaimed as he was struggling to get the cars off.
"You see, I've learned a lot of things about my inventory ability," Nathan said to the super soldier. "When I store something, the inside of the inventory leaves it in suspended animation, so any food I store never expires. That also extends to things like explosives. I took the pins off some grenades and then stored them, in case you were wondering why they exploded so fast." He monologued.
Nathan materialized an RPG.
"Close your eyes, Lilith." Nathan softly said. Reluctantly, she obeyed.
"Now...you should have never threatened Lilith," Nathan said with a cold expression. "Perhaps I wouldn't have been so hard on you."
"DA-MN...YO-U!!!" The super soldier shouted with blood filling his mouth.
Without hesitation, Nathan fired a rocket at the middle of the car mound. Simultaneously, Lilith secretly opened her eyes. The missile, coupled with the engines of many cars, created a massive explosion, destroying the super soldier's body.
Wow...
I'll kill anyone that threatens Lilith...