577 The First Question, Formation of Hordes and Territories (1/2)
Day 131 - 11:49 PM - Glassgow Quarry, King of Prussia, Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Christia declared Heron's defeat without bitter expression. Still, while she looked pleased, she felt a bit disappointed inside.
Mark could tell clearly. Disappointment, it was a negative emotion, after all.
However...
”What are you saying, Christia? I'm not defeated yet.”
Heron said with confidence. If not for his current appearance, anyone would feel that he was speaking the truth.
Or maybe... Heron was speaking the truth.
As Heron finished his sentence, his body started to heat up. It was too hot that even the rubble under him began to turn red. Then, parts of Heron's body also turned red, specifically, his dented chest and twisted limbs.
And there, like time being rewound, the twisted limbs moved back to its correct positions, and his dented chest returned back to normal.
Heron's gigantic body stood up. He was as good as new.
”Nitinol?” Mark murmured. ”No, probably just something similar.”
Nitinol or Nickel Titanium. A kind of metal alloy that could be bent and dented but would return back to its original shape as long as it was given enough heat.
Mark was reminded of that when he saw how Heron's body turned back to normal.
And with this, the battle could be continued. That was what Heron wanted.
Unfortunately for the silver giant...
”No, my King. You already lost.”
His desire was shot down by his Queen.
”What are you-”
”The moment you went down there laughing, he could have killed you several times already. Even that attack that incapacitated you also could be he only decided to disable you. It's your loss.”
”No, that's-”
There, Heron could only stop as Christia gave him a death glare.
”So, it's already my win. That's final, right?”
Mark asked.
”Yes. Absolutely. I'm afraid that if you two continued, you two would end up killing each other.”
Christia smiled.
That was right. The intensity of the battle already destroyed the whole quarry. If they continued, they would probably end up turning the entirety of the township into rubble. And worse, Mark and Heron might accidentally destroy each other.
”Then, I don't care about your lover's quarrel. Just get ready to answer my questions.”
Mark said in an irritated tone. He could not see through Christia at all. She had consciousness and human memories, but the amount of emotional energy she was releasing was too thin for Mark to read.
”Of course, I will answer.” Christia agreed. ”But not in this place. Your battle with my King already caused quite a commotion. The lower classes will gather here soon, and we won't have a good chat when that happens.”
Thus, he could only nod.
As Heron turned back to his human form, Christia asked Mark to lead them somewhere else.
Sure enough, Christia was a clever one. Making Mark lead the way swept away any suspicions of her and Heron setting up a trap.
There, Mark flapped his wings, leading the two further north.
His intention was to lead these two away from the golf course even more just in case they plan to do something.
As Mark took flight once more, Heron also brought out his metal wings under Christia's request. The Silver Infected King then carried Christia as they followed behind Mark.
Mark found an abandoned office building of a furniture company. After securing that the two really followed, he landed.
A five-story building. The rooftop was not exactly empty, though. There were makeshift shelters made of wooden furniture on the roof. However, it was already devoid of any life or movement. The only thing left of the survivors that might have stayed here were the markings of washed-up blood that was splattered everywhere.
”This place is fine, right?”
Mark asked as Heron let Christia down.
”Quite an ugly place but its better than a place brimming with the lower class infected.”
Christia replied.