Liberators

Chapter 2 - Life in a dead world

'Kreek!'

The sound of gravel and sand being stepped on by the young man's feet caused a sound that was not so loud.

But it was loud enough to make him silent over the fear.

Because right next to the ruins of this building, there was a monster patrolling. Trying to find the rest of the humans and kill them.

"Sister...." Said the 18-year-old girl beside him while embracing the young man's left arm.

"Just relax, Chloe. I'll take care of you." The 21-year-old boy. He has short brownish hair with ragged clothes that are gray.

Calmly, the young man noticed the figure of the green-skinned monster that had a height of about 1.5 meters.

'His weapon was only a knife and a small shield.... Goody. I can.' The young man thought in his heart.

The young man immediately prepared himself. In his right hand, he saw several flashes of electricity. The same thing is seen on both feet.

After releasing the embrace of his sister, Chloe, the young man immediately darted quickly towards the monster that was guarding alone.

'Zraaatt!'

His speed is absolutely incredible. All thanks to his ability to control the lightning element to increase his speed.

As soon as his right hand touched the green-skinned monster's neck, a fairly strong electric shock began to flow from his right hand.

A flash of bluish light began to shine amidst the ruins of this city.

'Bbzzz! Zaaapp!!!'

Not long after, smoke began to be seen from the body of the green-skinned creature. And with no strength left, the monster lay. Falling to the ground in a helpless condition.

"Come, hurry." Said the young man while waving towards his sister in the distance.

He took a knife from the monster and kept it in his pocket. And now, the goal of the two of them, was to enter one of these ruined minimarkets.

This minimarket building still looks pretty good, even though some other buildings have fallen and hit it.

Both of them crawled and walked slowly, entering the minimarket through a gap in the window.

Inside, there was such a terrible mess.

The shelves containing the various products had been lying and messy. The refrigerator containing many of the drinks had broken and spilled all the liquid inside onto the floor.

Hundreds of rats appear to run around when they see these brothers entering this minimarket.

"Sister Axel...." Chloe said as she pulled her sister's shirt.

"What's wrong? Scared?"

Chloe just nodded lightly. His gaze was glued to the ground without daring to look at her brother's figure.

"Then, just wait here. I'll be right back." Reply to her brother while stroking his long brownish hair.

Passing through a lot of building debris, as well as iron shelves scattered, the young man named Axel continued to scavenge for various things that could be used.

Especially, canned foods that can last a long time.

"damaged. Broken. Broken."

Axel said as he continued to search for canned food behind a pile of various foods and other snacks that had rotted. Some have even been eaten by rats.

A few tens of minutes passed.

Her sister, Chloe, is still sitting on the outskirts of this minimarket building while waiting for her brother to return.

At last, something cold seemed to touch her.

"Eh?!" Shouted Chloe lightly.

"Haha. Surprised you?" Axel asked with a faint smile.

"Sister! Don't do anything like that here! I really thought just now was a monster you know?!" Shouts Chloe.

"Yes yes.... But look, what did I find?" Axel asked while showing off two red plastic baskets full enough of the stuff.

Chloe seemed to be silent for a while before realizing it fully.

"Wait.... That's.... Shampoo and soap? You serious?!" Chloe shouted back with such a happy expression.

"Haha. Youre right. It seems that from today we can shower quite cleanly. And also, I found enough canned food for the next 2 weeks. Now, let's go home." Axel said as he stroked his sister's pretty tangled hair.

Slowly, the two began to crawl out of the rubble of this minimarket building.

Trying to make the minimum possible noise, the two walked through a narrow, hard-to-reach route.

Every now and then, the two passed through several green-skinned monster figures guarding the group.

"It's bad. We'll find another way." Axel said as he pulled his sister around their route.

Thas right.

If those monsters find them, then life is the payoff.

"Ka...."

"Sstt."

Axel swiftly silenced his sister's mouth with his right hand while trying to hide behind the dark ruins of this building.

In front of them, was a scene that became a daily meal for the Streya group or vagabonds like the two of them.

"No! Please please! Forgive me! I'll work for you guys and...."

'Zraaasshhh!!!'

Without letting the red-clothed old lady speak further, a monster with green skin similar to the monster that Axel had previously killed, had swung its axe.

The axe slashed his neck easily. Strong enough to behead the old woman in just one slash.

'Bruuck! Bruukk....'

The head, which had now been detached from his body, rolled slowly on the crumbling concrete road.

No more voices can be heard.

There was no more plea for forgiveness from him.

What was left, was the loud laughter of those 4 green-skinned monsters. It was as if they were celebrating their victory after successfully killing a human.

"Bahaha!"

Holding their weapons up, they continuously laughed while shouting words that the brothers could not understand.

"We'll be safe. Just chill. Trust me." Axel said as he continued to silence Chloe's mouth and also covered her eyes.

Trying to keep his sister from seeing the cruelty of this world too much.

Both of them, walking in a circular route to avoid contact with the monsters. And just after sunset, the two arrived home.

Calling it home, it seems too much to make it sound so fancy.

What became their residence, was just an underground parking lot in one of the tall buildings in this place. The entrance is covered by the debris of existing buildings, and can only be passed by crawling slowly.

Axel intentionally left the debris un-cleaned on the outside. All of that was done so that no monster would realize that the place was inhabited by humans.

And this is his house.

A parking area that had collapsed, with lots of concrete and iron blocking various roads.

A small cloth tent appears to be erected on the side of this parking area, close to a wall. Where beside it, they were connected into a public toilet in this underground parking lot.

There's not much water left. But what can still be utilized, has been well collected by Axel into a large water bath and covered with wooden planks.

As Axel was clearing his loot today, Chloe seemed to be pulling Axel's arm in a fretful manner.

"What's wrong?" Axel asked curiously.

"Why didn't my sister help him? You have the power to do that, right? Why?" Chloe asked with teary eyes.

Thas right.

Axel was one of the humans who managed to evolve thanks to Flux energy and gained considerable strength.

Unlike his brother who is currently still an ordinary human who is unable to survive ten seconds in front of the monsters.

Then why didn't Axel help her?

In reality, the real answer was too painful to hear.

"Why? Because there are 4 green-skinned monsters there. That's why. Even if I could fight them, one would yell and call for help.

And if that happens, the other monsters will come. Worst chance, if the dragon rider arrived, then this entire city would be burnt down a second time. You want to jeopardize that?"

Chloe was stunned to hear the answer from her brother.

"Even if I can save him, do you want other residents who might still survive in this city to burn because of it?"

Slowly, Chloe began to notice. He shook his head as quickly as possible. He could not imagine the city burning a second time because of his own selfishness.

Yeah, that's the truth.

The reality of living in this dead world.

Where humans can only survive like a cockroach. Hiding behind dirt to stay alive while hoping....

So that no other cockroaches cause riots that provoke anger from those who control this place.