[ Chapter XI (11): "03/20/2025— ISAAC & PUP VS. THE WORLD, CREDIT FARMERS" ]
[ COUGH ] Isaac has been running for what felt like an eternity, as the afternoon sunrays hit him like a shock from above. His barefoot being toasted by the hot road, as even though he feels tired— the boy couldn't stop running no matter what.
That or be killed by the occasional Goblins that appears from out of nowhere, wielding spears, wielding knives, wielding bows ready to tackle and eat any unsuspecting animals or even humans that they could get their hands on. [ "Kekeeekeee!" ]
Hearing that noise, he paused. Panting as he then glanced at the direction where that came from, in seeing a party of Goblins pass by the street, then did he hid under a car as to not get spotted by them.
Holding his chest as he watches carefully the party of Goblins pass by, in tow with them are animals in small wooden cages behind their backs. Or even corpses both human and monsters alike that they drag on the street causing Isaac to be sick.
A knot in his stomach seems to form as he tries his best to be silent, to not curse them out or throw rocks at them. Thankfully after what felt like hours, the party of Goblins finally disappeared... [ "Not yet." ] He waited for half a minute before then finally coming out of his hiding spot, feeling relief.
For what felt like hours, under the bright sun, he has been doing this to the point that he feels tired. The same act and dance, to run to some place he doesn't know and is unfamiliar with, then hide in seeing threatening monsters.
He doesn't know why he is doing this, but he hope inwardly to himself that in the end of the road, he would be able to find a group of Survivors that is willing to take him in. About to run and continue his journey, he paused, as he noticed something on the corner of the street; [ "What's... this?" ]
He noticed a cardboard box, pretty well hidden inside a tricycle— an abandoned one, so he looked closely and could spot a small thing inside... Contrary to his expectation it wasn't an oversized rat or bug, but is instead a small cowering puppy.
[ "Oh... no, w-what are you doing there...?" ] White and yellow in fur, he couldn't help but scoop up the said pupp for himself. One that is heavily malnourished similar to him, dye to the weakened state of it, the said pup wasn't able to protest or fight back— only being able to whimper as Isaac holds him close to his chest... [ "Shhh..." ]
After finally being able to calm down the pup, to not make noise and attract any unwanted attention to themselves. From the bats, from the Goblins, from the overszied pest that roams on the ground, on the houses, on the sky. Isaac finally felt relieved, so too the pup as it slept.
[ "Poor thing..." ] Seeing that the pup is in the same situation as him, Isaac worried for the youngster's fate. Perhaps even leave it back on the box knowing that through that the pup has survived even before he found him... But in seeing the weakened state of it, he gave up on that idea.
Sure it would be able to protect the said dog for some time, but he wouldn't be able to eat a thing. Thus causing hunger and thirst to ultimately kill him on the long run, with this pup's soul on Isaac's conscience.
So with no better option at the moment, he took the puppy along for the ride, no matter how risky it is for the both of them... Glancing around, he then took off his tattered shirt, as he used it to both hide and hold onto the sleeping pup, [ "Everything's gonna be alright, I promise you." ]
Continuing his run, Isaac hid in-between the vehicles he could find, as he ran barefoot as stealthily as he could on the street. Using the buildings as cover and shade, about to enter and raid one of the seemingly untouched house he could find; he paused in his tracks, as he noticed an anomaly.
[ "Huh...?" ] A building on his peripheral could be seen having some kind of red lights in a cube-like manner sticking out of the topmost floor even reaching the clouds. Curious by this, he was about to go and check out what the sight was...
Perhaps a light show to attract the attention of any and all Survivors nearby. He has after all heard from his friends and fellow Survivors before escaping, that there are groups of interest which does this to find other people in need. [ "Do... we?" ]
He contemplates if he should run there and ask for help, or perhaps the place has already been rundown by hostile monsters... He doesn't know, but in hearing the soft painful whimpers of the pup in his hands, he ultimately relented albeit begrudgingly; [ "I guess... let's go pup." ]
[ "I do hope they have dog food..." ]
...
[ "Why are we even doing this...?!" ] At the moment, Arthur who's pushing a wooden wardrobe nearby could be seen regretting his decision. As soon as he woke up, he was then dragged by Elias to clean the other rooms; what he meant by that is stealing the heavy furnitures there.
To the point that he even felt guilty in doing so, isn't this illegal in some way shape or form? If not illegal through the law, then perhaps illegal through moral laws. As at the moment, he could be seen reluctantly dragging a wardrobe near the window.
[ "I told you, Arthur. Don't worry about it, this is the only way." ] Elias after having about hours of sleep, give or take 5-6 hours, was rejuvenated to the point that he is ready to kill about a hundred monsters through his old but proven strategy.
At the moment he could be seen sitting on the window of his neighbour's apartment room. This room a sharp contrast to Elias' barren room, as this one has Hello Kitty wallpapers, decor and many-many furniture to use as bullets for his strategy. [ "Still, I-I'm having second thoughts about this..." ]
He tries to ignore the voice of his friend and Citizen, who's reluctantly doing what he wants as repayment for help... Glancing behind him, he could see much more fully the personalized room that they are in— and it is one belonging to that of a woman... Perhaps even one still in college, or just a great fan of Hello Kitty memorabilia that is.
[ "Don't worry. This is... think of it as for the greater good of mankind, or something." ] Yawning to himself Elias tries to ignore the monsters in front of the building, under his feet as he dangles it to them. To be more precise, a band of Goblins trying their best to hit him to no avail; he could swear hearing them curse in their language.
Not that he cares through, they'll die pretty much soon in his eyes. So in wanting for them to stay there and not go inside the building, he flipped them off using the both of his hands, which seems to do the work as it aggreviated them even more.
[ "Is the uhh- wardrobe ready? ]
[ "Yeah, like you asked." ]
[ "Okay-okay that's great, bring it here." ]
Still flipping them off, Elias slowly enters back the room as he then assist in throwing out the wooden wardrobe that is behind him... The cursing Goblins below gets confused, about to storm in the building they stop in their tracks as something heavy from above overshadows them.
[ "Kekeeekee?" ] Looking up, the greenskins that is wearing helmets couldn't help but curse... As slowly, bit-by-bit, a wardrobe that gains speed the more as time passes. And even before some of them could dodge, it was already the end for them— killing about 1/3rd of the group.
[ GOBLIN LVL. 4 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ GOBLIN LVL. 3 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ GOBLIN LVL. 3 KILLED BY PLAYER! ]
[ ... ]
[ "Woah hoh!" ] The influx of new Credits inside Elias' wallet made him happy to the point that he threw out a pink lamp... It not having killed any monsters, but instead made them even more aggreviated, which is something he wants.
Seeing this, Arthur who is also looking out the window couldn't help but scratch the back of his head. Staring down at the pissed-off group of Goblins, he then ask sonewhat worrying for his future, [ "Was that all... really necessary?" ]
[ "Huh... neccesa- oh yeah, definitely. Obviously. I-I mean you do remember my powers, right?" ] Elias in first talking to Arthur had lied mostly about his powers, he talked how his powers function by equivalent exchange here and there.
[ "For the barriers to uhh- remain and grown in size, we first need to sacrifice monster blood— primarily Goblins, not just because I hate them." ] He said, for him to manifest something into existence, like food, or for his permanent protective barriers to be maintained. There is of course a price to be payed...
He meant Credits, but he twisted it just a tinge bit to also mean killing monsters which he isn't completely wrong; as to gain Credits he needs to kill monsters first... This lie actually sounded believable more-so than the imaginary currency he does use.
[ "You ready?" ] Opening the shop, then purchasing for his friend a Baseball Bat. He then threw the newly materialized weapon to his friend, which he in response catched with a little bit of hesitation... [ "I... guess." ]
Seeing the reluctance in Arthur's movements, and hearing it in his voice. Elias figures that he needs to lead by example, as he then grabbed his somewhat heavily damaged Baseball Bat nearby, before then going out the hallway preparing for a fight.
[ "Don't worry, you'll... you'll actually get used to this, it's stress reliever to some degree." ] He could testify, as someone who had been hiding from the Goblins for a week. Then suddenly having the chance to kill them without care is actually kind of fun... Even more fun is when the monsters themselves couldn't fight back.
[ "Whop, they here...!" ] Peeking his head out his Domain for a second to listen for their footsteps, he was able to properly hear it. Even though Goblins are known for their stealth... Elias guess that they might have thrown that aspect out the window, to get to where he is hiding much faster.
Hearing this, Arthur kept having second thoughts as even though he is the more muscular of the two... He is still somewhat not fully believing on the powers of the indestructible shields; [ "A-are you sure they wouldn't break the barrier...?!" ]
[ "Pretty much, yeah." ] Elias merely smiled in response to the worries of his friend, as he then backs inside the barrier, preparing himself he and the worried Arthur waited and waited, and waited... And then they appeared from the stairway.
Green hands, green bodies, green torso and heads. Bumpy nose, slit devilish red eyes that is cruel to any forms of life even their own could be seen appearing. Holding either a knife, a bow, or even a spear, some taller than their midget height. As these said Goblins is eager to kill something.
Arthur in seeing this scene because terrified, but ever the-so brave one and optimist, he tries to push down that fear as he clutches the bat he is holding. Elias on the other hand, he was ready for another round of adrenaline killing on the species that he most hate on the world... On Goblins. [ "Let's go!" ]
He swong his bat hard on the first Goblin he could see approaching the border of his shields. As it then made a nasty crunch in impact, causing the thing to be knocked to the side and for the weapon of Elias to finally retire, as it sends wooden shrapnel flying hitting even his face.
Seeing this act, Arthur who has more meat on his bones compared to the skinny Elias couldn't help but have his mouth open wide in amazement. The Goblins on the other hand became even more furious as they tried to pounce onto the assailant of theirs to no avail. [ "Round 2." ]
As he— Elias in response merely just purchase another Baseball Bat, seeing his wallet diminish in quantity. But for the sake of murdering a group of Goblins, that money is not wasted in his eyes. As he then eyes the group of monsters, ready for the beat down; hopeful that they don't run away quickly as compared to others.
[ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ] [ ——— ]
[ 06/19/2025 ]
[ 06/20/2025 ]