The Bloodied Father and His Tiny Princess.
The city was dead.
Every building stood hollow. Windows were shattered. Burned-out cars littered the streets, and blood painted the cracked asphalt.
It wasn't like a post-apocalyptic world.
It was one.
The sky was filled with dark clouds.
Ground covered in blood and corpses. The stench of blood lingering in the air. Some people alive, still clinging to life, as they are cut down by with a blade by the hands of the man named Ray Raynold.
He moved swiftly, avoiding a gunshot and throwing a knife at the attacker as it stabs him in the head, killing him on the spot.
In one hand he holds a sword, not too fancy. While in the other, he holds a sleeping little girl as she hugs his chest while wearing clean, fancy clothes even in a place such as this.
Ray cuts down the remaining two persons swiftly.
His sword then turns into a blood-red slimy goo and retreats into his body.
He looks at the little girl, still sleeping soundly even after the battle that took place an caused many deaths.
"You sure sleep soundly, huh?" he said while smiling, covered in injuries. "Even when your father is in this state."
He sighed and started running in a random direction.
After running for a while, he stops in front of a convenience store.
He entered slowly, keeping his guard up. No one inside. Just some blood on the ground and broken shelves.
"Good," he said. "Seems like no one's been here yet."
Right then, the little girl woke up. Ray put her down and she stood there on her tiny feet, rubbing her eye.
She looked up and saw Ray standing, bloodied. "Papa. I'm hungry." she said innocently.
"Don't worry, Lina. We're in a convenience store. Get anything you want."
Her face lit up with excitement because it's not everyday she gets to eat candies from convenience stores. "Thank you, Papa! You're the best." she said as she ran off to get herself some tasty snacks.
Ray smiled as he saw her zooming around the store.
He walked towards the shelves an started putting stuff in a big bag. He took everything he could. Cup noodles, snacks, water, cold drinks, and some beer for himself.
After stuffing three bags with food and snacks, he called out to Lina. "Hey, kiddo. Let's go."
"Ehhh~ But I wanted to stay a little longer." She said with a disappointed look.
"Lina," he bent down to her level and patted her head gently. "Staying at one place isn't safe. Who knows when monsters might attack us. It's hard fighting monsters in a tight space."
"Even for you?"
"Kind of. Not really. But you'll be in danger. And Papa doesn't want that."
"Okay," she nodded and extended her arms as he picked her up.
He proceeded to wear the biggest bag and hold the other two in one hand while he held Lina in the other an started walking again. Before leaving, he looked at the store one last time.
"How good the world was back then." he thought and then started walking .
"Papa, Papa. Doesn't it feel itchy or anything while you're covered in your mana?" she asked curiously.
"I'm used to it." he replied while smiling.
The truth was, Lina did not know that he was covered in blood. Ray possesses a skill that lets him create anything using his own mana. Even the sword he use earlier was made using his own mana.
Coincidently, the color of his mana is blood-red so he's been telling Lina that he's always covered in his own mana. He did it so she doesn't worry about him.
Who knows where fate takes these father and daughter on their journey to survive in this cruel world.
Next time: The Crimson Null Order.