Chapter 1268 (1/2)

Derek stiffened while the crowd applauded the new president of the NFL Player’s Association. His Survival Instincts warned him that this was suddenly a very bad place to be. A glance around confirmed that there weren’t any large movements amongst the crowd behind them. In addition, the guards from the Order Valorem were in place.

But my instincts haven’t let me down before, Derek thought grimly. Surreptitiously, he looked over at his son who was obviously bored with the speeches about the future of the sport. “Hey Tim, you need to go to the bathroom? This is a good chance-”

But Derek fell immediately silent as one of the men behind him put his hand on his shoulder. Then the man leaned forward with a serious face and whispered. “Running now won’t help. They’ve sealed off the exits to the stadium. It’s best for you and your son to wait and see how they make their move.” Then the man twisted in his seat and Derek could still hear him talking in a low voice to his companions. “Kiersty and Tykes, stay here. I’ll go find Nathan.”

“Good,” The man named Tykes said with obvious relish. “I was worried that the Red Revival would chicken out. Time to see if Decklan really flipped sides or not.”

Quietly, the man who had spoken to Derek slipped away. He took a step away from his seat and it was like his presence faded into a note so feeble it could be easily missed in the packed stadium. The crowd chattered excitedly around them about what had been just announced for the football season, but Derek’s blood was ice cold.

Muscle by muscle, he began flexing his body to prepare for the worst. The edge of anxiety that was present because of Tim being here with him remained present in his mind, but those years of fighting in the dark places around Zone 1 quickly stabilized his emotions. If worrying to save someone, it would be the kind who ruled the Earth, not the strong.

With a casual flick of the wrist, Derek produced three Mana Bombs from his interspatial watch and began to steadily allow his volatile Mana to flow into the tools. They wouldn’t be all that powerful if there was only the bare minimum amount of Mana, but if Derek had some time they would become a real threat to anyone who didn’t have a powerful Fate. The familiar sensation of the cool metal of the bombs rolled across his palm in an even motion.

Gradually, the crowd’s excitement calmed down as there was a strange lull in the halftime show. Yet just as soon as the crowd seemed to notice the absence, the emcee of the halftime show walked back to the podium with long strides and wide smile. Although it seemed strange, the crowd probably thought nothing about the pause after the representatives from the Player’s Association had left. But Derek did miss how the emcee’s eyes were dyed completely red as he grinned out toward the waiting people.

Derek turned to look at Tim with a strange twist at the corner of his mouth. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. The man behind him had been right; if they controlled the emcee, it was too late to run away. “Hey buddy, you have the Hide Skill right? How high is your Skill Level?”

Tim rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “Dad, hide and seek is a game they make kids play. These days, I-”

“Buddy,” Derek said gently. Faster and faster, his fingers rotated the three fully charged Mana Bombs across the palm of his right hand. The skin tingled as though it was charged with electricity. His Mana continued to flow into a tight coil at the center of the three bombs in preparation for their use.

It seemed like he had revealed some of the seriousness of the situation in his voice because Tim looked up at him with sudden confusion and worry in his eyes. Derek did his best to keep his voice calm. People began to mutter as the emcee just stared silently out at the crowd without saying anything. Movement could be seen in the backstage area. “Somethings going to happen today. Here. Our world… it’s not an easy place any longer. People might die. So when things start, I need you to hide, alright?”

The emcee finally reached forward and gripped the podium with gusto, “Sorry to keep you waiting. To finish off our time here today, we have a special surprise guest to finish off the halftime presentation during this, the inaugural game of American football. Please join me in welcoming… the leaders of the Red Revival, Straud and Decklan Hyde!”

Even as the emcee continued to clap enthusiastically, the rest of the stadium froze. A few people who were completely not paying attention clapped along with the emcee, but soon solemn-faced neighbors silenced them. Everyone’s gazes turned to the backstage area.

Two men strode confidently forward to the stage, their crimson cloaks billowing around them. Behind them followed an eclectic group of bloodbeasts and strange monsters that Derek recognized from a description he had read. A woman twirled a hammer in her hands and was followed by a flaming undead bear the size of a bus. A large serpent floated forward with a few light flaps from its undersized wings. A man with golden teeth sauntered forward while chatting quietly with a man whose body was covered in flowing liquid obsidian. Finally, a corpse releasing grey ash with every step sedately brought up the rear of the process.

Nemesai, Derek gritted his teeth but continued to speak softly to Tim. As soon as the representatives from the Red Revival appeared, Derek’s Survival Instincts informed him that the danger around them abruptly grew to the point where he might die. The other side was beginning to move and they didn’t have much more time. “No matter what, run when someone comes for you. I’ll try to protect you, but-”

“Dad-” Tim’s eyes shouted that he didn’t understand what was going on. He had been too young during the early days of the System. During those brutal few months before Villages were founded and humanity ran from monsters to stay alive. He hadn’t known fear then like he saw in his dad’s face now.

Behind them, the teenage girl and the remaining man were talking as well. “Tykes, how many can you handle?”

“Heh, all of them!”

“...now is really not the time to joke. How many?”