*Amelia's P.O.V.*
After making our way down to the bottom floor, we all gawked, except for Everette, at what seemed to be the corpse of a dog.
I gazed at Everette with admiration, 'He was able to take on that beast all on his own?'
Everette approached the corpse before turning back at us with a giant grin and his arms spread out.
"The corpse you see before you is a Level 11 Mutated Dog. Defeated by yours truly."
He then took a bow like some showmen. Everyone began to crowd around him to ask how he killed the beast.
"H-he's truly amazing..." My small mutter attracted Jack's attention as he still stood beside me.
Jack vigorously nodded, "He really is; although I don't know his level, I can assume he was at a level lower than it."
His fist then tightly formed a fist. "Strong... That is all I can say. To be able to continue fighting when you just lost your arm is nothing short of spectacular."
I looked down towards my hands and fiddled with my knives.
"He's very admirable, too; he could've led that thing straight to us and run away to save himself. And yet, he took that thing head-on and even managed to kill it."
"Pfft... Truly a display of valour."
I giggled a bit at my little joke.
'I wonder if I can ever be like that—'
"Alright, everyone—!"
Breaking out of my little stupor, I looked towards Everette and began paying attention to his speech.
"We all will be making a sprint towards the Chapel."
Silence filled the floor before suddenly erupting in complaints.
"What!? You want us to die out there?!"
"Have you seen the sort of things out there!?"
"I'm not going! Can't we stay here?!"
The people were completely against the idea of making a run for it to the Chapel, and I was a bit hesitant about it, too.
Everette sighed and extended his hand towards the crowd.
A mysterious blue cloud then exited his hand before taking the shape of a short sword about 75 cm long. The sword was decorated in thinly etched lines that all seemed to connect to a green sphere, with what appeared inside it to be...
"What the? Is that Imprint the system told us about?"
"Yeah, I think it is! But what's with that green ball?"
"W-Wait! Is that the dog?!"
I stared inside at the sphere acting as a sword guard and couldn't help but feel my heart beat a bit more.
'It actually looks a bit cute.'
"Meet Mourn, everyone! And yes, he is my Imprint. If you wish to have something similar to him in the future, stop being cowards."
He then looked towards Jack and I:
"Are you two in on my plans?"
"I'll join if Amelia does."
Hearing Jack's answer, Everette then looked towards me.
"Well?"
I considered it: 'If I join him, then I will have a chance to get stronger and become someone actually worthy of Jack.'
I stared at Everette with a determined glint in my eyes.
"Y-Yes!"
"Heh! Excellent!"
After saying that, he walked up to the door before pushing against it to find it locked.
"I always forgot they lock it after school for some reason..."
He then looked back towards the crowd.
"Last chance, who's with me or not?"
I can probably guess that by looking at everyone's faces that their thoughts are probably along the lines of: 'We're screwed if our biggest hitter is gone.'
"Agh! Screw it! Count me in!"
"Same here!"
"We'll get through this no matter what!"
Of course, while some people were now open to the idea, others didn't want to for fear of dying to the monsters outside.
Everette smirked and cut in between the doors to unlock it.
***
'Phew! I'm glad Jack and Amelia agreed even though Jack only did it because Amelia did.'
Everette internally wiped an imaginary sweat.
"Now then... let's see what creepy crawlies are out here!"
Busting through the door, he scanned the area to find it desolate. He rubbed his eyes and checked again.
'Nothing? No bodies and just blood stains.'
Everette then made his way out, followed by everyone else.
'T-This might be easier than we thought!'
And it was! Occasionally, there were a few infected humans and bees here and there, but nothing too major.
They began closing in on the large gothic building before feeling a sort of energy wash over them.
"What the?"
Everyone was confused and even scared over this newfound feeling until being soothed by Eden.
[Safezone]
'S-safe zone!? Are we the first to discover this or...?'
While pondering about the safe zone, someone from the group ran up to the door and tried to push it open. Feeling that it wouldn't open, he began knocking on it continuously.
"Hello!? Please let us in!"
After saying that, they began hearing clicks from behind the door, signalling it was being unlocked.
The door peered open to reveal... Ada!?
"Oh? More humans? We still have some room, so come on in!"
She held quite a benevolent smile before perking up a bit. She then looked towards Everette and narrowed her eyes.
"You look familiar... Have we met before?"
***
"WHAT!? Y-YOU'RE EVERETTE?!"
After everyone was let in, Everette went with Ada to a separate area away from the others.
Everette began to laugh at her hilarious reaction to his newfound looks.
"The one and only!"
Ada still looked at him sceptically.
"Okay.... Tell me something the real Everrete would—"
"I saw you steal my pants once."
"Shhhh! I believe you, I believe you."
Ada then looked around, hoping no one had heard what he had said. She then looked towards him with a pout.
"Why do you still remember that...?
Everette shrugged, "Why not? It was pretty funny when I caught you stealing it. You should've seen your face."
"Ugh... Why you..."
"Wait... If you're really Everette..."
Ada stared at Everette intently before her gaze slowly moved down his body.
*Drip Drip*
"Hehehehe..."
Everette became concerned about this strange behaviour of hers.
"Why is your nose bleeding...?"
"H-huh?" Discovering that she was actually having a nosebleed, she quickly wiped it away before making a random excuse.
Everette looked at her sceptically before sighing.
"I wanted to ask, on the way here, there weren't many of those Infected. What's up with that."
Ada shrugged, "We don't know too, but we do know there was a lot, and I mean a lot of buzzing."
Everette tilted his head, "Buzzing...? How interesting..." He then tucked his finger under his chin before looking back up.
"Anyway... I didn't know you were that heroic."
Everette gazed around the Chapel and saw the people there, now numbering close to 400.
Ada sighed and nodded before resting her face on her palm.
"Long story..."