Waking up, Gray felt refreshed for the first time in a long while. His smile was high, his head was bobbing to a beat he made up all on his own, and he was twirling in bliss, not minding the neighbor couple below stomping on his floors and door telling him to keep it down.Today, he didn't even care that he was beaten to death.Nothing could stop his shine! (^_^)"Boots... Check!" "Gloves... Check!""Wind scarf?... Check!""Trusty Black goggles... double check!" Grabbing a slightly moldy donut as hard as a stone, Gray dunked it in water before heating it over a pot, allowing the heat to recook it up. It wasn't the best meal option, but as someone with dry pockets, how can he complain knowing how broke he was? "Ah-- It's hot." Biting a chunk of the doughnut to keep it stationary on his lips, Gray reached for the black goggles dangling on his neckline. Great! Now, he was ready to set off. Well, at least the crippled version of him was. Aiyo~"My leg... my poor leg." Bring in t
In silence, Gray followed Emelia with his hands in his pockets, though his eyes kept staring sideways within the faint fog. You never know who could be watching or listening. This was a commercial place, and the fog here was 80% less than in the poor communities. A single stronghold is a combination of several cities or towns before the apocalyptic era was ushered in.Humanity fought and built walls around these captured territories.Thus, the stronghold is extremely large with each major clan controlling 1 territory the size of a standard city.The good places with less fog and worries were kept for the wealthy, middle class, those starting to rise, and commercial purposes. As for the poor and those labeled Stronghold workers, they lived in the dumps, the worst places within the stronghold.Bam!A vehicle missing 2 doors slammed into another wagon-styled one without mercy. "Prick! This is what you get for trying to sideways one on the road!""Bastard! You Arelis bastards are gett
Staring at the scene before him, Gray just had one word in mind...F***! He couldn't believe his eyes. Where did this massive underground site come from? This was his first time seeing an ancient abandoned Train Station.It was incredibly huge, almost 6 floors underground, with a big broken clock hanging from the wall, and several signs showing directions to the many train platforms. There were stairways going up and stairways going down.There were enough seats for waiting and indoor store sites that looked very worn out to the ancient humans, but in his current apocalyptic world, it was seen as Luxury even in its current state.The ceilings were so high he felt they could touch the sky when one was looking up from where he was standing.It was amazing that although the place was broken down, it was completely clean and devoid of dust compared to the surface where the beggar association crowded. Still, there were old and dried-up stains of blood everywhere one looked, with some s
The rumble of the shaky train echoed throughout the silent tunnels as its sharp headlights sliced through the darkness ahead. Gray found the ride a bit bumpy, but not something he couldn't handle. Surprisingly, this was his first time entering a train in his life, and it surprised him greatly. Inside the dimly lit compartment, Emelia sat across him with one leg crossed over the other and her hands folded against her chest. Raising her cat-like eyes, she strayed at the Gray expressionlessly. "So you want to know more about Sigmore Forest? There's nothing much to say since I'm sure you've gotten the general gist of how dangerous typical Level-1 restricted zones are.""You know that's not what I'm talking about," Gray added, staring at Emelia intensely."Gray Ravenleaf! It's best you not mistake my laxity for weakness. This is my Bardolian clan's matter, one you are unworthy to know."Although Emelia felt a little strange, not wanting to hurt Gray's feelings with her arrogance, she s
[Nightmare Cafe.]The name was as intimidating as its surroundings. It was neat and clean compared to most places Gray had been to, yet it gave off a chilling vibe that crawled up his spine.The place was full of all sorts of people from various walks of life.They looked casual, but seeing their side-eye glances at him made him aware that one wrong move and Gray was sure he would be dead faster than his brain could react. "Over here!" Someone at a corner waved, and Gray was instantly met with several pairs of scrutinizing eyes from the nose at the table. The one who waved seemed welcoming, but looking at the identical person beside him, Gray knew these were the twins. One had pale purple hair and another had very dark purplish hair. If not for their hair color, it would be near-impossible to tell them apart. One was a poison master and the other an alchemist, who occasionally healed people too. Heh. Bogo and RogoOffend one and you are asking for death. To their left was Zil
Sunken buildings buried deep onto the grounds, slopes formed over other buildings, collapsed roads... all sorts of chaotic images flooded Gray's eyes the longer they traveled.Soon, they left the space filled with buried abandoned buildings, now driving along open plains of roads, sand, and ground. Seeing everyone in the vehicle reach for their support, Gray who was seated by the windows also did the same. But just then he spotted the grounds beside his door break apart at an alarming rate.A giant mutated Caterpillar, the size of a human shot out wiggling its hideous body for all to see.It was amazing that these caterpillars which were once benign and minuscule, had now grown to monstrous proportions with insatiable hunger that led them to devour any and everything in their paths.Its body was blue and almost transparent-like, with a wide ring-shaped mouth and sharp razor-like teeth.Graaaaahhhh~Gray was taken aback, instantly staying sharp, knowing this was a Z-grade 1 Blue Cate
For 30 minutes, they traveled like so until certain they weren't followed. Tapping his feet against the trees Gray soon met Emelia high up, staring at the vast lands surrounding them.They now stood at the tallest tree in their surroundings.The tree overlooked a deadly cliff with its bottom filled with thick fog.Of course, the entire place is misty, but at least very see-through and airy, unlike the thick fog below. Just one stare and Gray knew this fog masked deadlier creatures roaming within it."Well, thank you," Gray said softly. "I'm guessing this is where we split up, right?" Pushing her hair behind her left ear, Emelia tilted her head and showed Gray a true smile.Beautiful.Emelia chuckled, seeing him lost in her beauty again, though she again felt it odd that she wasn't offended."A deal is a deal. As promised, I got you into the forest. Just know that once we cross this fog, we will no longer be in the forest's outskirts. Once in, the true dangers within the forest wil
There were ants of all kinds here.Some slender and some muscular as though pumping iron and working out for years. But was Gray phased by this? No chance! Raising his fists, he swirled his hands like flowing water at the hoard of ants rushing his way. "Palm Water Fists!"Splack! His fist collided with several ants, pushing them back, as their beheads exploded terribly. Instantly, Gray knew these were the weaker front-line ants, who were sent first to test his strength.But so what? In this battle, there can only be one victor... him! With reddish black blood bonging to the ants flowing Down his face, Gray looked like a killer emerging from an ancient horror movie. No matter how many times he was hit, his smile never faded, not even for a second. Left, right up, down, back, front, ants began haggling him, climbing over him and fiercely staining their blades antennas his way. Both the weak and strong joined in without mercy. [+ 90 points!][+ 100 points][+ 20 points][+ 50