576 Rumbles in the Distance, The Red Shooting Star (1/2)
Day 131 - 11:34 PM - Gulph Mills Golf Club Service Compound, Gulph Mills, Upper Merrion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
BOOM! BOOM!
At the service compound, sounds similar to explosions woke everyone up.
”What the hell is going on now?”
Roan suddenly stood up together with Mariella. It was already their shift as lookouts while the previous two had gone to sleep.
Unfortunately for Arnold and Ernst, it was not long since they closed their eyes, and they had to wake up once more.
”Roan, what was going on?”
Felicia and the others went to the lobby, clearly disturbed from their sleep.
”Why are you asking me? It's not like I will know that. We can only hear the sounds, but it seems to be far away.”
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sounds echoed once more. It was loud but was definitely coming from somewhere else.
”It's not dangerous, isn't it?”
Abraham voiced out. The situation felt threatening, and he was worried about his whole family.
”We better ask Boss...”
Arnold said.
”Where is Sir Mark anyway?”
Filicia asked after looking around. Everyone was here, except Mark, Mei, Snow, and unexpectedly, Elise.
”Maybe in their room?”
Sandie spoke.
”Alright, let's go ask Boss.”
Roan suggested. However, he was stopped.
”We'll go. Men are not allowed there.”
Felicia said, grabbing Mariella's hand. She then pulled the latter with her before anyone could say anything.
Mark and Mei's room was at the end of the building, making it detached from the others. It was not like it was on purpose. It was just that the other rooms were not suitable to stay with all the mess left by the apocalypse.
Felicia and Mariella knocked on the doors. No one replied by the clicking of the knob was heard as the door opened slightly.
Unexpectedly, the person that opened the door was Elise.
”Elise? What are you doing here? No wonder you are missing.”
Felicia questioned Elise, whose face was half-covered by the door as if she was hiding. As the older sister, Felicia was quite surprised to see her younger sister in other people's rooms.
”I-I can't sleep.” Elise hesitated to reply. ”I went so see Elder Brother and Elder Sister...”
”Ah, right! Where's Sir Mark?”
Felicia asked, realizing that it was not the time to question her sister.
”Not here...”
That reply from Elise surprised Felicia and Mariella.
”What do you mean? Where did Sir Mark go?”
Of course, Felicia would question that. But then...
”Wait, don't tell me...”
An absurd but plausible thing entered Felicia's mind.
”Can we enter?”
Mariella asked, making Elise turn her head inside the room as if asking someone.
”Come in.”
When the two entered and only saw Elise holding on the transparent colored Slime Creature that they had seen with Mei before. On the other hand, Mei was standing by the window, looking blankly at the direction where the loud sounds were coming from. Sitting on her shoulder was another Slime Creature, but black in color.
There was also Snow that looked restless for some reason. Snoe was sitting on the bed near Mei while holding the latter's hand tightly.
The expression Snow had, made Felicia and Mariella remember her reaction this afternoon before the [Empress Spider] detached from her head.
Lastly, there was also the caged [Empress Spider] on the floor, obviously panicked and was trying to leave its cage in fear.
”So, Boss really is...”
Felicia was sure now. With Mei's current reaction, she knew that Mark was the one currently fighting. However, none of them knew what was going on.
It felt frustrating for some reason.
***
Day 131 - 11:43 PM - Glassgow Quarry, King of Prussia, Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
BOOOM!
The ground rumbled as Mark and Heron charged at each other. The rocky walls and ground started to collapse, burying the infected trapped below the deepest parts or the quarry.
The four-meter tall silver giant and a barely two-meter tall demon, fighting each other. The disparity in size could make one say that it was like the battle of David and Goliath.
Heron's claws swiped towards Mark from above. On the other hand, Mark clenched his armored right fist, intending to clash with the Heron.
CLANG!
The sound of metal clashing echoed loudly.
And then...
CRASH!
Mark's feet sunk unto the ground, but both attacks stopped each other.
Still, the disparity in size and weight gave Heron quite an advantage.
”Tch.” Mark clicked his tongue. ”My strength is still not enough.”
Mark already transformed into his demon form. Nevertheless, his strength was still lacking for a straight clash with Heron.
Furthermore, in terms of speed, despite the difference in their sizes, it was the same.
BAM!
Mark suddenly kicked the ground and dodge. The moment he disappeared, Heron's other set of claws smashed to the ground.
As Mark appeared, however, Heron already caught up to him, leaving destruction in his every step. Furthermore, both sets of claws that Heron had was already approaching Mark with the speed that was as fast as a bullet.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The quarry was already destroyed. Its pathways and dug pits were already gone.
Nevertheless, the destruction was getting worse with every attack that Heron made.