After a few moments, Oliver's heart began to calm down, the overwhelming sadness slowly retreating to a place deep within him. He knew he had to push the grief aside, at least for now.
There were still things he needed to do. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself and tried to hide the sorrow that threatened to overwhelm him.
With a heavy heart, Oliver controlled the sand, carefully transporting the bodies of the father and daughter to a secluded place.
'I couldn't save you two, but at least I will bury you in the city cemetery,' he thought solemnly, his eyes lingering on the tragic sight before him.
It was the least he could do for them, to give them some semblance of peace in death.
After ensuring their bodies were safely hidden, he stepped back, his mind shifting to his friend. He still needed to check on Justin, and the urgency of that thought spurred him into action once more.
He was only a few blocks away from Justin's home, so he broke into a run, his legs pounding against the broken pavement with all the strength he could muster.
As he neared Justin's house, a heart-wrenching cry reached his ears. It was a sound so full of despair that it made Oliver's heart skip a beat. He recognized the voice immediately, and fear gripped him tightly.
"Waaaaaah!"
"Waah... waaah..." The cries grew louder as he approached, each sob tearing at his heart.
When he finally reached the source, his breath caught in his throat. His best friend, Justin, was there, but the sight was more horrifying than anything Oliver had imagined.
Justin was crying loudly, his voice raw with pain. But what drained all the strength from Oliver's body was the sight of Justin's lower body, crushed and mangled beyond recognition.
The sheer brutality of it made Oliver feel faint. Yet, this wasn't the worst of it. Beside Justin were two lifeless bodies, torn apart by what could only be the razor-sharp teeth of a flying monster.
Oliver's heart stopped as he recognized the bodies. They were Justin's father and mother.
The shock of seeing them like this made Oliver's knees buckle. His own parents had died early, taken by monsters, but Justin's family had always been there for him.
Justin's mother had taken care of him since childhood, often inviting him over for dinner on weekends. They had shared food, laughter, and comfort. Now, they were gone, ripped away from this world in the most brutal way possible.
Tears welled up in Oliver's eyes, blurring his vision. The grief he had managed to suppress earlier came rushing back, stronger than before.
The loss of the father and daughter had already shattered something inside him, and now, seeing this, it was like a dam breaking. All the sadness, all the pain, poured out of him, and he couldn't hold it back any longer.
With tears streaming down his face, Oliver ran to Justin.
"Justin, Justin!" he called out, his voice trembling with emotion. But Justin was lost in his grief, unaware of anything around him.
'Damn it, it's all my fault, it's all my fault,'
Oliver thought, the weight of guilt pressing down on him like a physical force. He blamed himself for everything, for not being there sooner, for not being able to protect them.
He reached out and gently pushed Justin's shoulder, trying to get his attention.
"Justin," he called again, his voice softer this time, but full of urgency.
Justin, who had been crying uncontrollably, finally looked up at Oliver. The sight of his best friend seemed to break something inside him, and his tears flowed even more intensely.
"Oli... hick...hick... everything is...hick...," Justin stammered between sobs, his voice choked with grief.
"Everything is over... uhhh... uhhh..."
Seeing Justin in such a state made Oliver's guilt deepen. He felt completely helpless, unable to do anything to ease his friend's suffering. His eyes drifted to Justin's parents, their bodies torn apart by the monster. It was a sight he knew would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Justin's legs were crushed, likely by the collapsing building. The damage was severe, and Oliver didn't know what to do.
Since transmigrating to this world, he had kept to himself, only ever opening up to Justin and his parents. Now, Justin's parents were gone, leaving only Justin, who was also seriously injured.
As Oliver stood there, Justin's sobs began to turn into convulsions. His body shook violently, his grief and pain too much for him to bear. Then, as if his body could take no more, Justin fainted.
"Shit, shit! Justin, wake up, damn it!"
Oliver shouted, panic rising in his chest. He quickly checked Justin's heart, and what he found made his blood run cold. Justin's heartbeat was weak, too weak.
"Shit... shit, Justin! Wake up!" Oliver's voice was filled with desperation. He couldn't lose Justin too.
'Fuck,' he thought, his panic turning into a fierce determination.
Without wasting another second, Oliver threw off the emergency bag from his back and carefully lifted Justin into his arms. He had to get him to the hospital, and fast.
This was Base No. 23 of Epecella State, a base divided into four outer sections: East, West, North, and South, with an inner city reserved for the wealthy.
The hospital was quite far from where they were, but Oliver didn't have any other choice. He ran with all his might, every step filled with urgency.
As he ran towards the hospital, a voice called out to him, cutting through his focus.
"Hey, kid, stop! Wait!"
Oliver turned his head, irritation flaring at the interruption. He didn't have time for this. But when he saw who it was, his anger faded.
It was the public protection bureau officer who had fought the monster earlier. The officer's whose hand had turned into a sharp blade, and charged at the creature without hesitation. Now, the officer was in bad shape, bandages wrapped around his body, his movements slow and painful.
The officer caught up with Oliver, his breath labored.
"Keep the boy on your back to the floor; he's seriously injured," the officer said softly, his tone urgent but gentle.
"If you handle the injured boy like this, he will die even before reaching the hospital."
Oliver hesitated for a moment, then nodded. The officer was right. He needed to be more careful with Justin.
Then the officer pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke into it.
{Daniel speaking, area B4, serious situation, ambulance required. Over.}
His voice was steady, despite the pain he was clearly in. After securing the walkie-talkie back into his belt, the officer looked at Oliver.
"We'll get him to the hospital, kid. But first i must ensure he is alive till that time."