Cody released a sigh.
He and his group had been traveling for over an hour when they stumbled onto a mountain. It had seemed alright at the time. However, when they entered...
Warning. Entering Towering Peak Faction Territory.
"Towering... Peak?" Their tank and warrior, Jake, raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm," Chris, the strongest in their group, said nothing.
When the apocalypse arrived, Cody was designated as the leader by his colleagues, Jake, Chris, Maria, Eva, Max, and Damian.
There were more but they... They died.
Chris, however, was a wildcard. Cody remembered that once a group had ambushed them, Chris killed them all and laughed right after.
It was a terrifying memory.
Cody shook his head. He had to be a leader.
He brandished his bow, the one he had used since the System arrived.
"Alright," Cody said, turning back to his group. He watched their faces. Jake, skeptical. Chris, poker. Maria, a silent smirk, as if she was planning something. Eva, worried. Max, a loyal expression on his face. And Damian? Annoyed.
"Let's play our cards right. We'll meet with whoever is the faction... Leader and ask if we can stay with them for a while." Cody saw some movement from the corner of his eye.
He reached into his makeshift quiver on his hip and shot it with unnatural speed. The object was revealed to be a goblin, which was now dead.
"Let's go," Cody said, continuing the walk.
Eventually, walking down the trail, they reached what appeared to be a large gate. On either side of the gate, two beautiful women stood guard.
"Where the hell did they get such fancy armor and weapons from?" Damian whispered.
"This must be a major Faction." Maria's eyes narrowed dangerously.
The women pointed their spears toward Cody and his group. Cody stopped and scanned them. They did the same.
Name: Jasmine Paul
(Towering Peak Faction of #2Y-B379)
Race: Human
Origin: Earth (#2Y-B379)
Level: 9 (F-Grade)
Name: Emma Stevens
(Towering Peak Faction of #2Y-B379)
Race: Human
Origin: Earth (#2Y-B379)
Level: 8 (F-Grade)
Cody's eyes widened. They were pretty strong. He could take them if needed, as he was Level 15, but this had to be a high-leveled place.
"Excuse me," Cody said politely, taking the reins once more. The women didn't seem dissuaded at his power. He had to give it to them. "We're just travelers looking for a place to stay."
The women said nothing. After staring at them for a few moments, Cody gave his best smile.
The stronger one, Jasmine, sighed. "Okay. Follow me."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Wait- are you sure? We just got here, do you really know what you're doing?"
"Don't worry," Jasmine said. She turned, motioning for them to follow her.
"If anything goes wrong, we have plenty of strong people who'll help," Jasmine said.
Cody was intrigued. People stronger than them? That means that they would have to be World Rankers.
Couldn't be, though.
As Cody entered, he wasn't expecting to see the picturesque scene before him.
"Woah..." Jake said.
"This must be a safe haven...!" Eva said, stunned.
"So this is what the big Factions look like..." Chris said. He seemed impressed.
They walked through the streets. Onlookers watched them as they passed by. They saw a strange creature as well at a stall.
Name: Tah'Mahkul
(Multiversal Merchants Faction of #1D-C190)
Race: Nyanthelope
Origin: Planet Bultrophos (#2Y-B385)
Level: 89 (E-Grade)
"W-What the hell?" Max said.
"Ay, I charge for starin'." The creature said.
Cody's eyes widened, too. An actual alien. He had saw one in his Class Vision, though he hadn't comprehended a Dao yet... But seeing one in real life?
"That's just one of our merchants. Pay him no mind." Emma said.
They passed a few more stalls, where things like food and whatnot were being sold, but nothing of importance.
They passed an open field, where a gargantuan man seemed to be conversing with a few more warrior women.
Name: Zane Carter
(Towering Peak Faction of #2Y-B379)
Race: Human
Origin: Earth (#2Y-B380)
Level: 20 (F-Grade)
The man radiated a thunderous aura. Muscles rippled across his body, which was clothed by a plain white shirt. He was even bigger than Jake.
"Is that the Faction Leader?" Cody asked.
"No," Emma said. "That is one of his acquaintances, however."
"What do they call you guys?" Damian asked. "Amazons?"
"No," Emma said once more. "We are Valkyries."
"Ah," Damian said.
Finally, they reached an impressive house.
"This is the house of the supervisor," Emma said. "Until we have a better system, this is how we deal with you."
Emma knocked on the door.
A woman opened it. She was beautiful, but the kind of beautiful that was stern. She looked like the person who always got good grades and would be everyone's crush at the same time.
Name: Olivia Gaos
(Towering Peak Faction of #2Y-B379)
Race: Human
Origin: Earth (#2Y-B379)
Level: 17 (F-Grade)
Olivia took one look at them. She radiated an aura, but not one of a fighter.
"What...?" Olivia blinked.
"These people call themselves travelers. They are looking for a place to stay." Emma gestured toward the group.
Olivia took in a deep breath. She watched them all closely.
"This one, this one, and this one," Olivia pointed to Jake, Max, and Cody. "Take them to that empty house.
"This one and this one," Olivia pointed to Chris and Maria. She had already assessed the situation. "Put them in a separate house, manned by security and near either Zane's house, Zora's house, or Bastian's."
"These two?" She pointed to Eva and Damian. "Find a place."
Emma nodded.
Impressive, Cody thought. She immediately assessed Maria and Chris as threats neutralizing them in the best way possible.
Cody was walked away. After a while, he was brought to a nice-looking house that seemed rather drab compared to the rest of the village.
Emma opened the door, kicked him, Jake, and Max inside, then left to take the others to their places.
"Hmm," Jake looked around.
Max was already getting himself comfortable, he sat on a couch.
Cody wondered where the leader was. Perhaps that was where Maria and Chris would be stationed? He didn't know.
He placed his bow down, yawning.
He would go to sleep. Then? Explore this place.