Two days later the bandages were taken out and everyone is amazed at the fully recovered wounds that left no scars or missing flesh. As promised they each paid me five mana cores.
Even though I told them it was only worth two they insisted. So I accepted graciously. Lu Pei made me greet his grandmother. The old woman still looks the same as in the last life.
"I hear you sold miracle medication to the boys outside?" Even at this age her eyes are very sharp. Perhaps it was in something my eyes she softened her eyes as she continued.
"Thank you. I would have been worried if you had given treatment for free but your willingness to accept payment shows you had really just helped out of kindness." This logic, others would assume the one to give for free is kind but this old lady is old enough to know the world.
I smiled and it is clear I don't want to be here but I came because I am forced. Lu Pei's expression turned sour. The Mikel of the past had always wanted to meet his family yet here I am acting like I am wronged.
"What is going on between you two?" She asked with amusement in her wise eyes.
"Nothing." I quickly say at the same time Lu Pei said "It's complicated."
The old lady laughed and nodded. "Well alright. If you young people are done figuring out your own hearts tell me if there's a wedding." She dismissed me seeing my growling irritation.
"Well that one can't stand you. I wonder what you did to make him so averse to you." She patted a spot next to her so he can sit.
"I didn't treat him right. To tell the truth that is an understatement but I never hurt him I just couldn't return the intense feelings he had for me." He said making the old lady show an understanding look.
"Then what made him stop?"
"I don't know, his grandfather died and he stopped any contact with me. It's as if he is a completely different person."
"And you somehow like this new person he has turned into." She said with a knowing look.
"Perhaps his grandfather warned him against you. If he loved and respected the man, there may really not be any future for the two of you. A shame really, such a capable boy." She sighed.
Meanwhile I am done with everything all that is missing is to leave. However I am being held back by the people wanting to buy my potion. I decided to sell it to them for blood crystals and make a small fortune before going back.
I had instructed them to spread the news about antibiotics helping to prevent infection from spreading. All that I have are potions for healing flesh, mending bones and scar removal. I still need that one flower that can accelerate bone re growth. It can allow someone to make a potion that can regrow limbs.
I am also eager to study the several books and items I had dug up at that time. These two days I have been trying to condense more mana essence. I haven't finished yet because I chose the earth element after my space upgraded again.
The upgrade didn't only come with extra space of about 5 football fields but the change I relish is the time difference between in the space and the outside world and lastly the thickness of mana in the air making it easy for me to cultivate and form essence drops.
The tens of high level mana stones I had buried disappeared but I am not disappointed. The mana spring had reached a very high level, this water can be used to improve people's abilities, purify the body of impure foreign bodies and lastly it can rejuvenate the body making old and frail people feel and look young.
In the last life Lu Aang had used this to eventually gain favor with the elders of the vampire clan, the Lu family's elders and many other powerful figures in the world. This involvement in the war treaty made him rub shoulders and build connections with all factions. For the first time the vampire clan was no longer regarded as just vicious creatures of the night.
Back to the space, I am going to gather all the resources I need to build an amazing toy city. I will use the extra time to either meditate or build models of the city structures. The first one is the few normal buildings that can house as many people as possible.
The next is the toy like structures that will set my city apart from other places. I have several models like a Disney themed orphanage I plan to build. It is a joint two mansions with the boys in a micky mouse house and girls in a Barbie mansion then there is a generous play ground out back.
It is both in bright colors even the ground will be turned into concrete and then artificial grass and playful trees are inserted. The difficult part is the furniture.
For now I am only putting in the fitted carboards in the bedrooms and kitchens. The place is not simple at all inside and outside. I plan to make it full of comfort.
The mana grass increased and there is even those of black color which I assume is the shadow mana ability type. The quality improved by a lot while it is a lot in quantity and variety. There is all known abilities I can even see a space mana grass.
I found some seeds from the supermarket, then I decided to plant and grow vegetables, fruits and keep animals in my space. But even flower seeds were there. I planted them all,so the lilies, daisies roses of varying colors are going to bloom in my garden.
I can not have plants unsupervised because they mutate. They may suddenly start killing people. This is why they will be in the glass houses only. The one hour outside is four hours in the space.
I have already used the armored toy vehicles to replace windows of a 10th floors building model. I want my buildings to have bulletproof floor to ceiling windows.
The hard work is the building support then putting in toy versions of floor and air conditioners, making and gluing fitted furniture myself. It's easier if I put it right now so that when I bring the building to life It will have all the necessary parts. I put toilets, showers and bathing tubs along with ceiling boards, floor and wall tiles.
The smallest details I take care of them in this stage so that when It is outside I only need to put water in the boiler, the water purifiers and tanks. If I have the mood for it I put the electric wires as well.
Electricity put and transformed into real thing can be charged using crystals andmana cores. With this loophole I can allow people to have electricity even if the normal power stations are out of commission.
I will have to visit the power station myself to infuse my power but this is a very good thing. The alternative is infusing some crystals with my power and sell it to the residents as an alternative to the power station.
This plan is more practical my entire city will thus have a unique feature that others couldn't imitate. Energy is a powerful resource and many will find living in my city more appealing when it is war and the city power is limited.
This journey will help me acquire the materials I will need. Unlike the life I lived before, this time I wish to live like a king. My dreams are possible because I am the toy maker.
"Are you ready?" Lu Pei asked me his eyes complicated. It seems he may have second thoughts about going on this trip.
"You don't have to go with me there are plenty capable people in your team who could come instead." I am trying to discourage him from following me.
I know it is just about benefits to him but this trip may prove to be hard for me who loved him deeply.
I was once willing to do anything if he would just give me even the leftover crumbs from after he is done loving Lu Aang.
All I ever got was scorn and ridicule from him. The urge to fall back into the trap is enticing and I am not stronger than a dacade long obsession.
"It has to be me." He entered the back seat and I immediately drove us away.
A few hours and there is no conversation in the car. Honestly I am glad. What would I even have to say to him.
"Let me drive." I don't offer any response but park the car and lay down at the back while he drives.
I take out a pillow and beat it a little trying to find the right position before drifting to sleep. When I woke up we are parking in a remote area with nothing but a single house.
"Let the car scan how many enemies are hiding in the dark." I suggested.
"14 ghouls, 34 infected and 2 vampires." The car said but Lu Pei and I looked at the car screen in worry.
"Vampires can control the infected. We should find another place." I offered. Hearing this, Lu Pei didn't doubt it. For some reason he feels like Mikel knows a lot more than him and slowly he, Lu Pei is starting to get used to this feeling.
"The vampires are in deep sleep." The car said in response to our obvious panic.
"We can take 14 ghouls." I say already thinking about the mana cores.
"Fine." He knows that Mikel is greedy for mana crystals that no one has found use for. His eyes light up whenever those things are involved.
We got out of the car, the infected jumped at us with abandon reckless. We are not used to working together so as soon as we came out of the car we tried to stay out of each other's way.
My body is very strong but it is not fast enough. I still need to consume wind mana grass and form essence from this particular element to be able to move that fast. At the moment I am like a piece of log. Strong but slow.
My sword cut the ghoul from the chest and I moved on to the next and the next soon it is the infected attacking us but the two of us are strong enough to kill them all with minimal effort.
Lu Pei has orange flames that are mixed together with crackling thunder. He doesn't use it too often but prefers using a long knife because with every attack he will become weaker if he used his power.
There is just the two of us left standing. "I wonder where the vampires are sleeping?"
"Probably somewhere underground." Lu Pei answered me as we walk towards the house. After lighting the place we each take a bath with the water I provide. Then I take the first watch but I am meditating. Four hours later Lu Pei came to take my shift.
I fell asleep inside the space and then use the free time to continue my work. I water the crops and the flowers in the garden, then I pick up my work on the toy buildings.
Our journey is like this for three weeks before we reached the wholesaler of construction supplies. After working together for a while there is a certain understanding between us now.
After we finished cleaning up the vampires and ghouls hiding the the warehouse there came three vicious looking dogs.
Mutated and looking particularly vicious. I flinched remembering Lu Pei setting a pair just like these ones on me in my last moments. Seeing me become pale with fear, Lu Pei quickly killed the dogs but didn't say anything to me.
The supplies ranged from tiles, cement, metal pipes for building high rise buildings, even sand, gravel and many other materials. It took me two days to completely empty the place. There were several warehouses including the outdoor merchandise.
Another distance away there is equipment that are needed when undergoing major construction projects like the cement mixers, TLB's and other construction heavy machinery.
Had it been just me I wouldn't have thought about it. The CEO is very meticulous.
"I can't believe you have that much space." Lu Pei suddenly said.
"That one has mining equipment." Lu Pei told me and I went to it collecting everything.
"I believe we have accomplished all that we came here for." I say looking back to the road we had used to come here.
Then we travelled back. When we came pass a bed wholesaler I didn't hesitate. There are a few thousands of single, queens and hundreds of king size beds.
Couches, carpets, bedside tables, draws with many shelves. It is safe to say I am good to go when it comes to the furniture for my toy city buildings.
At some point I seem to have lost my mind to Lu Pai who saw me ransack and entire library, then I went to a hospital. This may not be the biggest hospital but it is at a provincial level.
Before entering, I had come across the coast and collected gallons of sea water. The hospital is obviously a danger zone but I am prepared. In fact I had been preparing for this for an entire week.
By now I have sired 38 golems of military and police type. What is did is give them a wayer gun and a pistol. They are to shoot vampires with water guns containing sea water and the ghouls with guns.
Why?
It is one of the deeply hidden weaknesses of the vampires. While werewolves are slaves to the moon and may suffer from madness the stronger they become, vampires can not walk in the sunlight and would melt when sea water is poured on them.
They have studied the reasons for centuries but the only plausible conclusion was that sea water has been exposed to sunlight since the dawn of time.
I don't care why, all I care about is the possibility of achieving my gaols without too much effort. The golems do not have blood although they appear human. They are other materials. They can not be enticing for the vampires if I don't pump them with crystals for quality performance.
Because of this the infected vampires are not able to smell them but after I use crystals to make them stronger, faster and have supernatural shooting and fighting skills, they will become as enticing as humans to the vampires if not more.
Because of this, vampires are drawn to the golems making for an effective distraction. I use the opening to miniaturize the items in the hospital and take them all into my space.
The golems job is to clear any room of threats while I take away equipment and medicine. The days became longer until an entire week passed. There is a satisfied grin on my face as we finally drove away. I had forbidden Lu Pei from helping me.
I had told him it is because I probably won't be able to get much and I don't want to share what I do get with him. He knew this and didn't argue with me.
"Is there really no chance for us?" Lu Pei finally broached the subject as the familiar highway gets us closer to the central city.
"There is no chance at all." I say firmly without hesitation.
"Why? I get that I was a less than ideal.." He said hesitantly.
"Hehe...less than I deal? That's one way to sum it all up. You called me cheap and unworthy. You were balls deep in my ass but you kept calling Lu Aang's name. Many time." The crude language made him visibly flinch.
"I once asked you why you have never kissed me in the mouth, do you remember what you said?" He closed his eyes realizing just how far he went when we were sleeping together.
"I am sorry." He said but it didn't reach my heart at all. I sneered and took out a single lighting it up smoking, hoping my memories of that time would disappear like the smoke in the air.
"I know you might not realize it but I was just trying to bare with my own guilt." Lu Pei was sure that during this trip, the two of them would find their way to each other's arms again. But Mikel has been adamant about keeping his distance from him at all times.
"That means nothing to me." Mikel said puffing out smoke.
Lu Pei watched him for a while without saying anything. Mikel has buffed up lately he is almost nothing like he used to be. His body has gone fuller with visible muscles, his height has been increasing steadily.
The petite cute boy from before is now full on tuff guy with obvious bulging muscles but it didn't take away his beauty. Now he has an added charm that is entirely his own, separating him from Lu Aang's shadow. The resemblance is still uncanny but they can not be mistaken for the same person now.
"What if...I found your mother? Would you forgive me then?"
"Hehehe... if you ever do such a thing I will never speak to you again." I admit that one cut me. I really don't want to see that bitch.
"Why? There must be an explanation why you were separated." Lu Aang said. At this time no one should know about me an Aang being related unless Lu Pei had already investigated this before the outbreak.
"I know why we were separated. Lu Pei. Don't bring this subject up again." I close my eyes trying to get rid of the maddening pain in my chest.
"What if there's a sibling? A younger sister or a brother?"
"That means nothing to me." I look at him "So drop it." My tone is now cold.
"Okay. But can you tell me why? It took me a long time to get this information. I should at least know why I am being dismissed." Frustrated by my refusal, Lu Pei almost resembles a kitten whose tail was stepped on. I would have believed him if not for my suspicions about him holding this information all of my last life.
"I know you think this information will change something but you're wrong. It will just make things worse probably for me and when that happens.." My eyes lost focus for a while hazzy with my past life's memories.
"If that happens." Lu Pei protested.
"When that happens... I will blame you for disturbing my peace." I look at him with deep meaning in my eyes. It is entirely possible that he found this information before the end of the world but kept it to himself.
Otherwise how has he found out so suddenly during an outbreak. If he had this information this time then he had it in the last life. I could have been removed from downtown in the last life and then maybe I wouldn't have been kidnapped. The more I think about it the angrier I become.
While It was my turn driving, we came across a huddle. In the road ahead a group of people stood blocking the way.
I parked the car and got out. Although I am no long the petite beauty from before, I am still my mother's son after all. My pale brown eyes are very large and shaped like almonds, I have full red lips and a single deep dimple on the side of my cheek.
After drinking the protein and eating well I am gaining firm muscles even as my body is like that of a swimmers body. I am a very handsome young man a perfect blend of my mothers unnatural beauty and my father's otherworldly beauty.
"Oi, look what we have here. I say we don't get rough with this one boss, lets give him a chance to come with us willingly." One of the people blocking the road said leering at me.
"Hey are you willing to come and serve us brothers? You can eat spicy food everyday." The one who said this seems like a teenager at most.
"I really like your car." One random person said.
"Can you all move out of the way? There is a group of vampire infected a couple of miles this direction." I pointed at a direction taking out a single and started smoking.
"I think you're lying to us just because you want us to let you go." I puff a thick smoke and smile hearing this response.
"There is no sun today, that is when monsters come out to play. Or is it that you now believe yourselves to be tough after bullying a couple of weak people?" There is a lightness to my tone, the posture of smoking and making casual small talk creating an seductive aura. Even Lu Pei inside the car swallowed hard looking at this picture.
"Who do you think you're talking to? I was going to be magnanimous and keep you only for myself but since your mouth is so loose you should serve everyone of my brothers." The one in front took a step forward and the cars on the side of the road shook.
It seems he can control metal. I smile and watch him as if I am watching a clown. He took out several nails and made them fly my direction. I took out a large block of wood I had been using to carve my toys in the space and use it to block in front of me.
"Using wood, very clever." He said surprised to see a piece of wood appear out of thin air. I picked up three nails and sent them flying towards him, they embedded deep into his stomach.
"Aaah." "Aaah!" "Aaaah!"
He screamed in agony. "Sigh, they are here." I turned and entered the car closing off the outside. The infected jumped from the trees nearby and fell on the group several of which were quickly sucked dry of blood.
Bodies dropped one after another especially that boss who is already bleeding.
"Save me! I don't want to die."
"Aaaaaaaaaah! Monster! There's a monster!"
I had entered the car with the cigar to musk our smell. I watch the group being dragged to the ground one by one even those running away also didn't make it.
There is a factory producing dairy products nearby. I look at Lu Pei. "I don't have a lot of food. Can we go there? Who knows how long it will be since someone decides to open a chocolate factory? I want it! I want it." I say but the man doesn't seem moved.
"I will give you a good car and you can go on without me." I say finally. There is no way I am leaving behind such a place without checking it out.
"Fine, but we don't waist time." Lu Pei knows this guy will really separate from him.
After everyone is dead outside, the vampires went back to the woods and I drove away towards the factory.
There is only a few ghouls but Lu Pei didn't come out of the car and just closed his eyes. He is probably angry about that comment to leave him. It doesn't matter, if I can sweep a hospital I can definitely sweep a factory ware house.
The numbers of the items in the trucks outside and the ones in the warehouse is very large. I miniaturized everything and put it all away into my space. Seeing that I have already taken all else, I started taking out the machines and the computers.
There will be a way for me to take out the recipe information on how to produce the sweets products here. An entire day is gone by the time I finish and the entire facility has been hallowed out of everything useful.
There seems to be a small base here. Lets check out the place.
...