"Any Luck?"
"No, Ichika's switched off and Yotsuba's dialing, but she isn't picking up. I-I h-hope t-they are safe."
"They are strong and smart too, Nino, they will be safe. Let's make sure we keep each other safe till we meet them."
"Umm… I called Miku and Itsuki, and they both were quite terrified. I also asked them to check on your Mom and stay with her."
"Thanks… That helps a lot."
Nino smiled lightly and kept running alongside me, guessing that making her run with me every morning was a good call after all. Well, I mostly did that because I needed someone to keep me motivated to wake up early each morning, and seeing her every morning was more than enough for that.
We boarded the JR Yamanote Line at Ueno Station, which was a direct line to Shibuya, and were just about to reach Shimbashi Station, when the train stopped abruptly. So we should be close to Shimbashi and see all those Eldritch horrors looming over everyone's head. Tokyo and Akihabara must be in a state of panic, especially Tokyo Station, which was on route to Ueno.
Turning to glance at the large countdown that hung in the sky with the count below 2 minutes, I tried to think of a way to reach Ueno faster, as on foot it would take an hour… though if we did get a bike, that would be ideal.
"Ren… will we die?"
"What are you saying, Nino. No way, I am letting something like that happen. Until I am alive… You won't have fear of death. I pro– "
Suddenly, images flashed through my mind. A laughing and playful girl who can lighten anyone's life. Images flashed until one single choked my breath. A girl lying on the floor with broken limbs, tears dried on her cheeks, a smile that could lighten others, now only showed despair, and those hollow eyes stared right at me.
"en…Ren…REN!"
"Huh… What!?"
"Ren, are you ok? You suddenly went silent, nearly giving me a fright."
"Ohh, sorry, sorry"
"Are you sure you are fine?"
"Yeah… Anyway, here is my phone. Can you call everyone in the group 'Class 2-A' and get their situation?"
"Okay"
Fucking Trauma…
Less than a minute is left, we'd better move to a safe place before planning what to do next.
"Nino, get on my back. I should be able to carry you for a while. I will search for a safe spot. You can keep contacting others."
"You sure. Won't you get tired out?"
"I should be able to carry for a minute or two. That's enough for you to contact others."
"Okay"
"Get on then."
Nino climbed on my back, her one arm resting on my shoulder while the other fiddled with my phone. My arms grabbed her plumped thighs, and her chest pressed on my back. Both were quite soft and addictive to grab.
What. The. Fuck. I'm thinking right now. Get a hold of yourself, Ren. This isn't the time for appreciating the softness of her thighs and boobs. Search for a safe spot, Damm it.
"Pervert…" Nino's muffled voice reached my ear, and even though she was near my ear, it still didn't quite reach my ears because of all the self-hypnosis I was doing in my mind to stay focused.
"You said something, Nino."
"Nothing"
"Okay"
Focusing ahead, I started going through all the stuff I remembered of those apocalypse manhwas and fictions. What were the initial shelters in those? In zombie ones, the survivors mostly just hide in houses or are always on the move, but we are dealing with eldritch horror, and zombies pale in comparison to those. What else was there… Think… Think…
In ORV… underground subway stations…
"Underground… Yeah, that's it… Nino, quick call Mom, and ask if Miku and Itsuki are still there yet, and if they are, tell them to back some rations and move to the underground parking lot."
"Underground? But what if the building falls? Wouldn't that be worse?"
"Japan's buildings are made to withstand earthquakes. Even if the upper floors take damage, they're designed not to pancake straight down, and… Underground is the safest place I can think of… at least it's better than being in the open with all those monsters around."
"Okay"
"And the same message in the group… Marin and Yukino in the same building, and Hikigaya lives nearby, so he should be moving there by now with Komachi-chan, after all, he is smart enough to think what I just thought. Masachika… should also be safe, after all, he had the Suou family, even if he left, and he should have already contacted Alya. Masha senpai should be with Alya, so she is safe too for now… But, just in case, Nino calls Masha senpai after texting."
"Hmph…"
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing…"
What's up with this girl…
Shaking my head, I started moving toward Tokyo Station… after all, the subways move underground, the subway station of Tokyo must be underground…
<<<>>>
[00:58 Till Beasts Arrival]
"Hello…"
"Ren-kun, are you ok? Where are you? You aren't hurt, right?"
"Umm… Kujou senpai, it's me, Nino. Ren and I are running towards Tokyo Station."
"Ohh, Nino-chan… Is Ren there with you?"
"Yes…"
"Can I talk to him?"
"Umm… Ok…"
Nino shifted her grip lightly to support herself against me and pressed the ongoing call to my ear.
"Hello, Masha senpai, are you fine?"
"Ren-kun, thank god you are fine… Umu, yes, Alya-chan and I are moving to the underground parking lot. Kuze-kun called Alya-chan earlier and asked her to move underground."
"Hmm… Thought so… Masha senpai, stay safe… I will try to reach you, Ok."
"Umu… you also, Ren-kun. Be safe and don't hurt."
"Okay"
The call hung up, and we also reached Tokyo station… which was in worse condition than expected. Everywhere, people were running. Some shrank to the corner in fear, some were calling; it was a living hell, truly.
"Did you talk to Mom?"
"Yeah… Miku and Itsuki were already there, and they should be moving by now."
"Great"
Sighing in relief, we started descending to the subway station, which was just as packed. Nino hopped off my back and walked beside me as she kept calling Yotsuba and Ichika.
"Any Luck?"
"None"
Sighing and rolling my arms, I scanned the station and spotted a notice board. Tapping Nino's shoulder in a gesture to follow me, I walked toward the board. It has a Subway route map… and that was going to help a lot.
"Nino, take a picture of this."
"Hmm… Okay"
I turned to the countdown and it showed only 10 seconds left… Let's hope my luck didn't dive too deep.
[8… 7…6…5…]
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the countdown, hoping that it was some kind of cosmic prank. The whole station was in a state of absolute silence; only the breathing of people could be heard.
[4…3…2…1…0]
[Day 1 Trial Begins]
For the first minute, there was silence, some even snickered thinking everything was just a joke, but that didn't last long as terrified shouts started to penetrate the air from above… and with those came the roar of those monsters… Roars that made even the bones vibrate in fear… Primal fear was what each of us was experiencing…
I grabbed Nino's hand to calm her down from her trembling and also in the hope of calming my own tremors.
[Initiating Awakening…]
Suddenly, among all the roars, pleas, screams, and trembles… a mechanical voice reverberated all around us. Many don't understand what just happened, but they felt hope in this doom from that emotionless voice. Some who were familiar with all those webnovels, manhwa, and fanfic were stunned, and even traces of excitement started to seep in amongst all fear and terror.
I was one of them too… Well, which transmigrator won't be pleased when they hear a mechanical voice in their head for the first time… Later, it could be a disaster or blessing for later, but for the first time, it will surely be an exciting feeling.
[Awakening Completed… Innate Talent and Innate Skill Acquired… ]
A translucent screen appeared in front of me and others also, but I was purely focused on mine, though unknown to me, a star in my pendant had lost all its luster at the time of awakening…
一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一
NAME – Ren Amagiri
RACE – Human
INNATE TALENT – [Failed Guardian] [Blessed]
INNATE SKILL – [Instinct (A)] [Observe (E)]
PATH – None
PATH SKILL – None
MANA ARTS – None
MARTIAL ARTS – None
FLOOR — 0
一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一一
That was… basic, shouldn't there be more stuff like shop, map, fusion, or something, and where are the stats and stat point… what the hell kind of scam is this…
Ugh… Let's check Talent and Skills first…
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Thanks~
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