36 Decompress Part 1 (2/2)

”Uh, I guess. Who's gonna ask first?” Luna decided to go along with it after seeing how eager everyone was. Besides, this was also a good opportunity to get to know everybody on a much deeper level.

Maxene seemed curious as well, so she listened in while laying her head on World Destroyer. Spot snuggled beside her, while Emergency Food was staring at the roasted Mutant Boar as if he was foreshadowing his own demise before Sura beckoned him to come over as she pet his head to relax him a bit. Emergency Food gave her a look of gratitude as he nuzzled her hand. Angry Bakunawa was off to the side, taunting the Tilapias, right below him, there were empty bottles of booze.

”If I may.” Hana raised her hand before continuing. ”Luna-sama, how were you prior to the apocalypse? How did it influence you in being the one to achieve all these firsts during the new world? I remember when everything started, we were so scared to even peek outside at first, but you actually went outside to start grinding mobs, it's hard to believe and yet, what the <Sovereign Nation> has achieved today is definitely a result of that.”

Luna took a moment to collect his thought before responding.

”Having Sura definitely made it easier. As a matter of fact, Boni and I might have died that same night when we had what would be considered an extremely rare encounter at that time with a regular evolved zombie that same night.” Luna shot an appreciative look towards Sura who was still petting Emergency Food's head.

”I highly doubt that. You were calm regardless.”

Luna smiled before he continued. ”Maybe it was the fact that the spawned zombies dispersed after death, which made it easier to accept for me. What lead me to go out and hunt that night, was my experience with MMORPGs, to be honest I wasn't sure if I was just dreaming, but I went with it. In any new MMORPG launch, hardcore guilds would usually reserve a week or a month to play the game. The most hardcore of people would play the first 24 hours straight, to get way ahead. But one person alone can only do so much, which is why prior to a game starting, they would recruit like-minded people. As long as they stay ahead and monopolize important resources, in our case being the first territory conquering rewards, there won't be that many that are able to take us on, unless we're severely outnumbered. I rushed to become strong, because unlike Hana, Maria, Clara, Sura, I have no extensive battle experience. I dabbled with the Guandao the most, dabbled a bit with dual wielding a Katana and a Wakizashi and some Kali, but that's about it, I had to make up for that gap somehow. Mastering a weapon takes time, but it can be done slowly while leveling fast by killing zombies. Once I found out about the <Nation> system and when everybody was on board with it, I made it my goal to become the strongest <Nation>, so neither Man, Beast, nor Zombie could ever stand against us. Having our comrades die the previous week only reinforced that goal even more.”

Luna took a sip of Life Tree water before continuing.

”As to why I could adapt so fast, is because I've been adapting all my life to sudden situations. Adapting when my parents died in an accident when I was young, adapting when my relatives who were once so friendly towards my family suddenly turned on me, adapting when they schemed to take my inheritance from me, even adapting by taking even more precautions when they tried to have me killed.”

”Yet you trusted us?” Elise asked as a follow up question.

”You have that man beside you to thank.” Luna smiled.

”This fatty?” Elise asked as she pointed towards Boni.

”Hey hey hey, I'm skibby. Or was, anyway.” Boni defended himself.

”Skibby?” Hana asked, confused.

”Yeah, the middle ground between skinny and chubby. Although I am light-years more fit than before, want me to take my armor off?”

”We should let Luna finish his story.” Elise said as she kneaded her temples as if suffering from a headache.

”Yes, I'd like to preserve my virgin eyes.” Apple said, as Mabini beside her couldn't help but guffaw.

Luna laughed along with them before continuing. ”Well, as one might guess, the deception didn't end with my relatives. When people know you have money, they pretend to be your friend to take advantage of you. One day, while I was hanging out with said fake friends, I pretended to confess that I was going to lose everything even asked for money to rent an apartment to make it convincing. At first they were all concerned, telling me that they'll always be there for me, but gradually, pretending to be friends without anything to gain from mebecame too much for them to keep up, so they chose to gradually ignore me. Even the women who showed interest in and almost started to fall for ignored me. Except for the Bonmeister, of course, he called them out on being hypocrites in front of the whole College. Hahahaha! It was a glorious day.”

”Ah... yes, that was one of my most embarrassing moments. They were furious too, being called out as fakes like that. People who know they're fake convince themselves that they aren't, so when you call them out on it, they become even more defensive and offended. But hey! Now you have Sura! Speaking of which, are you two... official?” Boni recounted his experience with a red face. Elise held on to his arm even tighter, appreciating this straightforward man even more.

”One question at a time, cheater. At least now I have all of you, life and death brothers and sisters as well.” Luna vaguely answered Boni's question and ended his answer on that note.

”Thank you for answering honestly and thoroughly, Luna-sama.” Hana smiled in a way that captivated all the other soldiers who were listening in.

Luna then spun the bottle as it landed on Hana.

One of soldiers in Boni's regiment couldn't help it as he stood up, bowed, and said ”Hana-chan! Are you single? Please answer thoroughly!”

Boni suddenly appeared beside him and smacked him back down. ”CHAN my glorious rear end! Don't get too familiar! It's Luna bro's turn to ask!”

”Sorry!” The poor soldier was embarrassed while his squad mates couldn't help but laugh.

Luna thought for a second and couldn't think of a good question, so he asked something more open-ended. ”I'd like to know everything you're willing to tell us. Your life before the new world your goals, hopes, and dreams.”

Hana was quite surprised at the question, as she thought deeply. Truth be told, not even Yu-jin and the rest knew all that much about her, but with how honest Luna had been with her question, she knew she had to do the same.