"So... which Class did you pick?" Ryo stayed still and waited for his answer, with her head tilted to the side.
And in that moment, Shoji zoned out as he got a flashback from the News before the incident. He recalled how the Anomalies were found not having a system in them - Shit... Does that mean I am one? What even is my power...?
"Hello~ Are you there, Sho?" She grumbled, feeling ignored. Her palms were then placed against both of his cheeks as she started to squeeze them.
"Y-yeah... I'll think about that later. By the way, what do you know about the Anomalies?" He grabbed her hands gently and placed it down.
"Huh? Well, they usually possess skills like Tentacles or Returning the dead... Just some wicked shits y'know? Why do you even ask?"
"Nothing... Are they strong then?"
"Oh yeah! It took 5 A-Ranks to even put one down. I was a part of those squads y'know?" She put up a proud smile.
"Wait, what do they actually do...?" Shoji asked in confusion, but with a hint of excitement.
"Is it story time? Okay so... One time, there was this guy pretending to be a Hunter and formed a group with me and some other members. The raid was going alright until he started to target us instead... Our team was strong though, so no need to worry~"
"Jeez. Glad you didn't die so early. I need someone to pay the rent with me."
"Just shut up already! Oh talking about rents... I've found us a new place~"
She then grabbed her purse and took out a house key. But just when she was about to hand it to him, her phone started ringing.
"Oh gosh... " She looked down at her phone, then quickly placed the key on his palm and got off the bed swiftly. "Shoji, I have to go now... My boss is calling. I was supposed to be at the Guild for a meeting but I just had to come see you..."
"Hey~ It's fine y'know. You better hurry now." Shoji gave her an endearing smile.
"Oh right... This too." She handed him the bag full of cupcakes and gently fled away after shouting one last time "Take care, Sho!"
Jeez... I might have to marry her one day.
Then, Shoji laid down as he put the bag aside, completely lost in thoughts. He let out a long groan, eyes fixed at the white ceiling one more time.
From what she said, these so-called Anomalies seem to be smart enough to do something as devious as pretending to be Hunters...
But weren't they just normal people being chosen like me? Why would they do that?
What are the reasons for us to be chosen?
Why isn't there a system?
What even is a system?
Shoji then sat back up and shook his head profusely - For Fuck's sake... This is too much for me. He then proceeded to take a deep breath and finally got off the patient's bed.
As he strolled along the hallway, he realized something. His body not only felt light, but refreshed. He didn't want to question the abnormal pain he just experienced anymore, especially with so much in his head. But just when he needed a distraction the most, what he saw through the window at that moment was an explosion, a big one.
Instinctively, he slid the window open and jumped down with the hospital gown on. And the moment his feet made contact with the ground, the pain caught up to him in an instant - Fuck... I should've just used the stairs. But just after a few seconds, he felt an almost ticklish sensation down his feet... and just like that, the pain was gone like nothing even happened.
Huh... Not sure what that was... Super durability maybe?
Wait no, it has to be something wicked...
Fuck it!
He shook his head again, then continued his way to the explosion. After a few minutes of straight running, he was met with a group of Hunters fighting off some... giant Mantis? Shoji stood there as he caught his breath gradually, thinking to himself - I guess I should just let them take care of it?
The battle before his eyes was full of sounds of metal scraping, mixed with the smell of blood. From left to right are commands from leaders of different Guilds - a scene you would expect from a Dungeon Break defense.
Just as Shoji was about to rest, he noticed a little girl laying unconscious on the ground from afar. Trying to stay hidden, he sneaked into the battlefield without making as much noise as possible. It didn't work. Out of nowhere, a Mantis ran towards him after ripping a Hunter's head off. Its gaze was full of bloodthirst, and its screech continuously added more to the overwhelming feeling that Shoji was going through before the terrifying scene.
I'm fucked...
Out of terror, Shoji desperately looked for something that could increase his survival chance. But it was too late. The Mantis was already inches away from him, with its knife-like front leg out, it pierced towards him at an unpredictable speed.
Cortisol level spiked up, he performed the cross guard with his arms instinctively. And what Shoji saw next was both of his forearms getting thrusted through, with blood splashed all over his face. His teeth clenched intensively as he tried to stay calm at the fact that the tip of its leg was just an inch away from his face. Despite the unbearable pain, Shoji refused to collapse and decided to tense up his muscles, trapping the Mantis in the same position. But when he looked up, the Mantis had already raised its other front leg up, preparing to aim for his head.
Boom.
Before Shoji even noticed, the Mantis' head had already exploded, causing its purple blood to splash everywhere. Then, he noticed a shout from behind.
"Hey kid, why haven't you evacuated yet!?" A Hunter ran by him, with a bow in his hands. Joining the battlefield, the Marksman just continued with his mission, not looking back at Shoji at all.
Shoji's eyes remained tense and wide open, as he looked at the corpse of the Mantis slowly disintegrating away. Slowly, his gaze turned back to his arms, with two holes dripping blood to the ground. Just then, he started to shake uncontrollably, combining with the unremitting breathing, as if the fear had been delayed...
I'm alive... I'm alive...
He collapsed on his knees, not fully grasping the situation just yet. But there was one thing that he just figured out.
The wounds... are getting smaller...?