The Mart (2)
* * *
The snow crunched underfoot as our group made their way toward the mart. The red barrier I conjured surrounded us like a protective dome, providing a thin respite from the biting cold. The world outside was a blur of white, the relentless snowfall obscuring our view of anything beyond a few feet.
Mercy sidled up to me, practically glued to my side.
"This skill of yours is impressive," she remarked, glancing up at the shimmering barrier. Her eyes lingered on it, filled with curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place.
"Stay focused," I replied, keeping my eyes straight ahead. The barrier needed my full attention to maintain, especially in these conditions.
"You're always so serious," she said with a slight smile, nudging me playfully. Her tone was light, but I could sense the tension beneath it.
Despite the warmth of the barrier, the cold still seeped in, sending chills through me. The harsh winds howled outside, and visibility was almost nonexistent.
The stark whiteness of the snow seemed to swallow everything, and even with the barrier protecting us, the journey was daunting.
"We're almost there," I said, more to myself than anyone else, as the silhouette of the mart began to take shape in the distance. We had to keep moving. Every second counted.
We reached the mart's door, and I quickly laid out the plan for the group. "We need to split up," I said, keeping my voice low and steady. "Staying together makes us an easier target. We don't know how they'll react, so we need to be unpredictable."
Everyone nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Are you ready?" I asked, glancing at Jake and Mercy.
Jake nodded firmly, and Mercy gave a confident smile. "Let's do this."
I counted down, "Three... two... one... go." I swung open the door, and we all rushed inside. As soon as we entered, I dismissed the barrier, and everyone split up, disappearing into the aisles of the dark mart.
The darkness swallowed us, and I pulled out my gun, staying on high alert. It was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made my skin crawl. Suddenly, a flash of light pierced the darkness, followed by a deafening bang!
I whipped around, eyes wide, trying to locate the source. It was a gunshot, but not from my gun. Raising my weapon, I fired back toward the sound, each shot lighting up the aisle for a split second. "Everyone, take cover!" I shouted, ducking behind an aisle to avoid return fire.
My mind raced. There was someone here with a gun, and they were definitely not on our side. Then, with a sudden hum, the lights flickered on, illuminating the store. I was caught off guard.
'Electricity? In this new world... that could only mean...!'
Before I could finish the thought, a man charged at me from the other side of the aisle, an axe raised high.
But I was faster. In a blur of motion, I vanished and reappeared behind him, pulling the trigger and dropping him with a single shot. My agility stats, bolstered from my previous fight with Jack, were over 70—more than enough to outmaneuver him.
More figures poured into the aisle, at least a dozen. "Damn it!" I thought. There were more people here than I could have imagined.
"Erebus!" someone shouted. It was Jake. "There are too many people here!"
I clenched my jaw, trying to figure out how there were so many. How had they all gathered at this mart?
The realization hit me like a bolt. The people who had been on the streets—of course, they could have entered this mart. It should have been obvious.
The streets were a territory, and their natural target at the start of the fifth round would be the mart. I had been so stupid.
My jaw clenched, and my red eyes glowed with anger.
"I'll fucking kill you all," I muttered through gritted teeth.
I sprang into action, moving with lethal precision through the aisles. I ducked behind a shelf and shot at a man who was wielding a knife.
He stumbled back, but another one came at me from the side, slashing with a makeshift blade. I twisted, narrowly avoiding a serious injury, but felt the blade slice into my arm. Ignoring the pain, I spun around, bringing my gun up and firing point-blank.
Breathing heavily, I rushed out of the aisle, pushing towards the center of the mart. There, I could get a better view of the chaos. Jake had regrouped with members of the combat team, and they were fighting as a unit, surrounded by dozens of enemies.
I scanned the scene, searching for Mercy, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Fuck!" I shouted, frustration and worry gripping me.
Suddenly, I sensed a presence behind me. I spun around just as a bolt of lightning shot toward me. Instinctively, I threw up the barrier, the crackling energy splashing harmlessly against it.
"You." I barked at the figure who'd attacked. "You're the one who turned the lights back on."
In the novel, all previously existing electricity had disappeared when the world changed, but there was a way to get it back: using people with electric skills to power the batteries. And the girl in front of me had that power.
The girl stood there with a smug look, her yellow hair bright against the dark aisles, her blue eyes glowing with electric energy.
"That's correct," she said calmly. "I'm the King of the Road. And after killing the king here... I'm apparently the king of this mart as well."
I sized her up, noting her confident stance. This was going to be a challenge.
I locked eyes with the girl, my mind racing as I assessed the situation. She smirked, clearly confident in her abilities. I had to be careful—her control over electricity made her a formidable opponent, and I needed to take her down quickly to help Jake and the others.
I darted to the side, my speed allowing me to move like a blur. She put her arm up, and a gun formed him her hand. She was the one who started firing before.
She fired a shot at me, but I had already moved, closing the distance between us. As I approached, she unleashed another bolt of lightning. I raised my barrier just in time, the electric energy splashing against it, crackling menacingly.
"You think that shield will protect you forever?" she taunted, her voice carrying over the sounds of the ongoing battle.
"Long enough to take you down," I retorted, firing a quick volley from my gun.
She dodged with agility, her movements fluid as she sent another wave of electricity my way. My barrier absorbed the hit, but I could feel it weakening. I couldn't let this fight drag on.
I moved again, zigzagging to avoid her attacks while closing in. Each shot I fired forced her to stay on the defensive, and I could see her irritation growing. She shot back, but I was too fast, my speed a blur to her eyes.
As I closed in, she tried a new tactic. Lightning arced from her hands, dancing along the floor toward me. I leaped to avoid it, feeling the heat of the electricity below. My barrier flickered as I landed, the sustained damage taking its toll.
"This ends now," I said, pushing forward.
She grinned, seemingly unfazed. "Let's see you try!"
* * *
Jake gripped his weapon tightly, his knuckles turning white as he faced the oncoming horde. The enemy soldiers were relentless, brandishing knives and axes, their numbers overwhelming. The combat team formed a tight circle, backs to one another, struggling to hold their ground.
Jake's heart pounded in his chest as he swung his axe, clashing with an opponent's blade. Sparks flew as metal met metal. He barely had time to recover before another attacker lunged at him. He parried the blow, feeling the vibration reverberate up his arm.
"Keep it together!" he shouted to his team, trying to mask the desperation in his voice. "We're not going down here!"
But doubt gnawed at him. They were cornered, outnumbered, and the enemy was pressing hard. Every strike took more energy, and Jake could feel exhaustion creeping in. Sweat dripped down his face, freezing in the cold air.
"We're not gonna make it," a voice from the team muttered, echoing Jake's own fears. He shook his head, pushing the thought away. He couldn't afford to let despair take over. Not now.
An enemy soldier charged, swinging an axe with brutal force. Jake ducked just in time, feeling the whoosh of air as the blade passed inches above his head. He retaliated with a quick jab, catching the soldier off guard and sending him sprawling.
Despite his efforts, the circle was closing in. More enemy soldiers surged forward, relentless and bloodthirsty. Jake's muscles screamed in protest, fatigue weighing him down. Every move felt slower, every attack less precise.
Just as he felt the walls closing in, a flash of purple light cut through the chaos.
Jake blinked, momentarily stunned. A sharp, glimmering crystal streaked through the air with unerring precision, piercing through an enemy soldier's chest. Blood sprayed as the soldier crumpled, life snuffed out in an instant.
"What the—" Jake breathed, eyes wide as the crystal didn't stop. It danced through the air, weaving between attackers, penetrating chest after chest with deadly accuracy. Each soldier it touched fell, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake.
Jake turned, trying to find the source of the miraculous intervention. Through the haze of battle, he spotted two glowing purple eyes approaching. They belonged to a figure clad in a dark general's uniform, striding confidently toward the fray.
"Mercy," Jake whispered, disbelief and relief flooding through him.
Mercy's grin was wide, almost feral, as she surveyed the battlefield. The crystal had claimed its last victim and now hovered beside her, shimmering before it vanished into thin air.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Mercy asked, her voice cutting through the stunned silence.
Jake couldn't help but chuckle, the tension easing from his shoulders. "You've got some tricks up your sleeve."
Mercy winked, her expression playful yet fierce. The tide had turned, and with her unexpected intervention, they had a fighting chance. Jake breathed deeply, rallying his team as they regrouped, ready to face whatever came next.
* * *
I sprinted forward, pushing my speed to the limit. The girl fired her gun, but I anticipated her moves, dodging and weaving, my body moving with inhuman quickness. I fired back, the shots forcing her to focus on her own defense.
Suddenly, she raised both hands, and a surge of electricity shot toward me. I braced myself, knowing my barrier couldn't take much more. The energy hit my shield, and I felt it shatter, the force knocking me back a few feet.
The girl grinned, lightning crackling around her hands as she charged another bolt. I dodged to the side, my speed a blur. Her aim was off, and the bolt struck a nearby display, shattering glass and sending products flying.
She fired her gun at me, but I moved faster than she could track. I returned fire, forcing her to dodge and buy myself a moment to think. Her ability to produce electricity made her incredibly valuable, and I realized I couldn't afford to kill her.
As I rushed her, she braced herself, eyes locked on me. I could tell she was ready to unleash a massive surge, her confidence unwavering. I wouldn't give her the chance.
I pushed my speed to the limit, a blur of motion. Just as she released another bolt, I veered to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. I could feel the heat of the electricity as it passed, sizzling the air.
Before she could react, I closed in, my gun aimed low. I fired twice, the shots echoing in the dimly lit mart. She cried out as her legs gave way, the bullets striking them and dropping her to the floor.
I stood over her, gun trained on her in case she tried anything else. Her face twisted with pain and frustration, but she was still conscious, electricity flickering weakly around her fingertips.
"You're not dead because I want you alive," I said, my voice steady. "Your ability to generate electricity is useful, and I won't waste that potential."
She glared at me, trying to mask her pain with defiance. "You think you can just use me?"
"Yes," I replied, offering no room for negotiation. "And unless you want another bullet, you'll cooperate."
I looked around, confirming that the remaining combatants had surrendered or fled. Jake and the others were regrouping, securing the area.
"Surrender." I said.
The girl on the floor groaned, her strength waning. "I surrender.", the girl reluctantly said.
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[System Notification]
You have dominated Road 23-b and Server 05-a4
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I leaned closer, maintaining a firm grip on my weapon. "What's your name?"
"Elena," she spat, anger still simmering in her eyes.
"Elena, you're coming with us," I said. "And you'll help us keep the lights on."
Her silence was her only answer, but I knew she understood. We'd gained a powerful ally—or at least a reluctant one—and more control over our resources. As we prepared to secure the mart, I kept my gun trained on her, ensuring she knew her position.