Determined to maximize his day, Zephyr stretched and warmed up. His short-term mission was to ensure he had everything needed to increase his wealth and expedite Young-Jae and Jae-Ya's integration into the Legion. He estimated they'd mastered Apexian within three days, allowing him to buy another serum for Jae-Ya and help them register simultaneously. Independence was crucial since Zephyr couldn't support them forever.
Arriving at the Legion Union, he acquired the quest before heading to Hall Square. A quick stop at the cash exchange turned 241 Shards into a hefty wad of blue coins wrapped in cloth. He also didn't forget to buy two packs of Basic Aether Bullets for the gun in his Inventory System.
He sought Eugene and Uncle Chow, hoping to deliver the language guide and coins, but fate had other plans. Undeterred, Zephyr bumped into Jin-Uk and Ja-Sung, their exchanged glances sparking a new interaction.
Zephyr met Jin-Uk's glare head-on. The man's anger crackled like static, barely contained. Ja-Sung, ever the enigma, kept his face a blank mask, offering no clues to his thoughts.
"As it happens," Zephyr said, unwrapping the cloth. He peeled off a few coins, then paused. A flicker of doubt crossed his face. Closing the bundle, he tossed it to them. "241 Shards. You two, as players, should know the weight of that here. Buys a fancy house, covers your daily grind." He stalked closer, his voice dropping to a sharp, heavy tone. "Consider my debt paid in full. Don't show your faces again if you don't want trouble." He turned, heading for the Main Gate.
Jin-Uk exploded. "Ignorant fool! Do you think this pittance covers what we did? We saved your life! Is this your gratitude?!"
Zephyr's steps faltered, his gaze dropping like a stone. "Saved my life?" His voice, though calm, held the weight of a thousand unspoken rage. "That's right. Then, please tell me what you have done exactly to be able to make such a claim?"
"You two only came when the lions had fallen. My condition is indeed critical, but if left alone, I won't die immediately. Besides, the one who tended to my wounds was Young-Jae. Not you two. So?" He took a measured step closer to Jin-Uk, his gaze unwavering. "Who, pray tell, is the shameless one here?"
Jin-Uk trembled because the echo of their previous clash still felt raw in his gut. He stole a glance at Ja-Sung, finding only a grim mask staring back.
"I-If we don't come, the other animals will kill you." He tried to argue while stammering.
"Heh!" Zephyr scoffed, a sharp bark of annoyance. "You think rampaging and mutated animals will be interested in fallen and helpless prey like that? Please."
Ha ha ha!
Zephyr laughed out loud as if insulting those words. He replied. "Those weren't true Apex beasts, driven by the natural cycle of death. They were just twisted pawns of the world's madness, their instincts warped. Don't flatter yourself with delusions of heroism."
Zephyr's gaze flicked to Ja-Sung, finally cracking his enigmatic facade. "Lazy bastards, who think they know Apex World? Yet can't even grasp its language!" he spat, venom dripping from his Apexian words.
Ja-Sung, fluent in insults though not Apexian, remained impassive. But his previous annoyance vanished, replaced by a chillingly calm smile. "Ah, apologies. Didn't understand a word." His heart, however, seethed with the unspoken truth: What f*cking nonsense was that bastard saying?
He bent to take the cloth bag, a silent witness to the unspoken tension. "Thank you, nonetheless," he said, shaking the package meaningfully. He signaled code with his head to Jin-Uk, and then he turned, leaving Zephyr with a silent goodbye.
Zephyr, unfazed by the enigmatic exchange, simply shook his head and strode towards the Main Gate, the echoes of their simple clash hanging heavy in the air.
Meanwhile, Jin-Uk complained again to Ja-Sung, annoyed with Zephyr's attitude and wanting to fight as if he had forgotten his fearful act earlier.
"Shut up, idiot. Don't bother too much about trivial things like that. Now, we're rich." Ja-Sung said as he lifted the cloth bundle and shook the Shard coins.
Jin-Uk's annoyance melted into a goofy grin, his face flush with anticipation. "Buy beer and wine. No more tasteless leftovers! It's been ages since I enjoyed a proper drink! Eating and drinking what the survivors and wanderers brought is painful. It tastes bland and bitter!"
"Sure. But, house first. A base. Then we choose who feasts, who obeys since violence doesn't seem quite effective in the long term." Ja-Sung's smile turned sly, imagining what awaited him later.
Jin-Uk frowned. "But we don't speak Apex or whatever it is. How are we supposed to use the money?"
"You fool! We don't need to be fluent in Apexian. Just go to the NPCs in the shops, and they will show us the menu screen. We just have to choose based on the number. Pick by cost, not words. Got it??!" Ja-Sung explained. He might not understand, but spending Shard coins wasn't complex.
One only needed the knack of it. Then, a solution appeared before one's eyes.
Jin-Uk, momentarily enlightened, nodded eagerly. The thirst for indulgence outweighed his apprehension.
"What if the Shard coins dry up?" Jin-Uk blurted, anxiety gnawing at his newfound pleasure.
Ja-Sung shot him a withering glance. "Extortion, genius."
"Extort who?" Jin-Uk frowned.
"Him, of course," Ja-Sung scoffed, gesturing towards the distant Main Gate. "Legion scum like him are swimming in Shard coins from quests, buying fancy Exo-skeletons while we scrape by."
"How?" Jin-Uk pressed, skepticism lingering.
"Patience, you oaf," Ja-Sung snapped. "Remember the kid who dragged us here? Pushover material. We squeeze him, make him milk that Legion stiff for more coins. He owes us, doesn't he? Savior complex and all that."
A cruel smile twisted Jin-Uk's lips. Revenge against Zephyr, served cold through Young-Jae, was a tempting prospect. He savored the thought of turning the tables on that arrogant Legion brute.
With triumphant grins, they strutted towards the Whispering Slums. Shacks cobbled from warped wood and faded tapestries clung precariously to the uneven ground.
After a while, 12 hours have passed.
Darkness draped the Valleys of Torak, swallowing everything in its inky embrace. Yet, the Fortress of the Divine Light stood defiant. Its luminescence was a beacon piercing the suffocating gloom. Like a relentless ember refusing to be extinguished, it offered a spark of hope that flickered stubbornly in the encroaching night.
Towering against the desolate landscape of the Apex World, the colossal city pulses with a dull ache. Its cavernous halls, designed to house multitudes, resonate with the hollow echoes within. Despite a week has passed since its doors opened, the promised throngs of humanity remain a distant dream.
A trickle of hopeful figures stream towards the Fortress of the Divine Light each day - survivors and wanderers desperate for refuge. Yet, despite their constant arrival, the colossal shelter remained eerily empty. A mere six thousand souls huddled within its vast, echoing halls, a chillingly small fraction of its intended capacity.
Zephyr's chest tightened every time he exhaled. The anxiety gnawing at him about the fate of the Fortress of the Divine Light was growing, becoming monstrous and impossible to ignore. The initial appearance of the Sentinel, a specter from his past, has thrown everything into disarray. Events could shift, accelerate, and rewrite history in the blink of an eye.
The tide of beasts would be severe to suppress if the Legion number was less than a thousand.
Even with the Apexian language spreading like wildfire, Zephyr estimated the recruits wouldn't push them past a hundred with its current population.
Perhaps the solution lies not in waiting. But in venturing out into the very jaws of danger to bring others back to the fragile safety of their haven. And among them, some have the potential to become the best Legion.
A sigh escaped Zephyr's lips as he shook his head and continued his trek to the Legion Union. With brisk steps, he strode towards the left desk. Reporting it took mere seconds, a satisfying notification announcing a 200 Shard gain. On top of that, a silent transaction occurred on his Ex-communicator. He transferred 5 System Credits and translated them into a hefty 2500 Shards. A glance at his Ex-communicator's screen showed an impressive total of 4400 Shards.
Despite the windfall, Zephyr remained stoic, his expression betraying no sign of elation. Instead, he pivoted towards the right desk, his steps firm with purpose. The serum he sought awaited. Finally, he reached the central desk, where the ever-polite NPC Sebastian stood ready.
"Welcome, Mr. Quinn. How may I assist you today?" Sebastian inquired with a practiced smile.
"Activate forum access on my Ex-communicator," Zephyr commanded, raising his left wrist to his chest in a familiar gesture. The request hung in the air, a challenge in his steady gaze.
Sebastian paused, his facade momentarily cracking. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his features before he recovered, a wider smile lighting up his face.
"Certainly, Mr. Quinn. However, expedited access incurs a 100 Shard fee." His voice remained pleasant, though a hint of steel edged his words.
Without missing a beat, Zephyr pressed a sequence on his Ex-communicator screen. "Done."
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[ Zephyr Quinn ]
Inboxes: 3
Balance: 3300 Shards
Apex Forum: Open (New!)
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