Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 82: What’s With The Urgency.

Chapter 82: What’s With The Urgency.

{Victor, however, cannot sense your powers, even though he is SS-ranked. This is because he lacks the intrinsic abilities of a true half-monster. His strengths lie in his elemental powers and his ability to acquire resources through his system. Kato, on the other hand, can sense you and has already recognized you as the Queen of Monsters.}

Scarlett sighed heavily as she mulled over her situation.

Chosen members. The males who were bitten by monsters inevitably turn evil, their humanity slipping away. Retaining one’s humanity after such an event was extraordinarily rare.They would eventually come after her because of her SSS-ranked abilities. Yet, Scarlett clung to the knowledge that Ethan and Larry were exceptions. They were not bitten by monsters, and their goals remained steadfastly aligned with hers to save humanity.

Scarlett rubbed her temples and thought, Ethan and Larry... they’re still the only ones I can fully trust. As well as Garvin and Maya.

’What other information were you able to get, though?’ she asked mentally, addressing the system within her mind.

Ding!

{Nothing else except the mention of the word "package." A voice told him to come see some new package. I don’t know what that means, but for Kato to leave so abruptly, it must be something important.}

{Just like Victor’s base, Kato’s base is impossible to track. Yes, he also has a base. Now I can confirm there are two chosen members hungry for power, Victor and Kato. And who knows? There may be more. It’s only a matter of time before we find out.}

"Hey, Scarlett? What are you thinking about?" Ethan’s concerned voice broke through Scarlett mental whirlpool. "You look lost."

Scarlett blinked and turned to him, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "It’s nothing," she replied softly. "Just thinking about some things, but I’m fine."

Ethan’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t press further. Instead, Scarlett stood and stretched, prompting Ethan to rise as well.

"Let’s go back to the others," she said with an air of determination.

Ethan nodded, and together, they made their way back to the camp with the two buckets of fish.

When they arrived, Scarlett immediately noticed Kato was missing. The others were gathered together, but his absence was glaring.

"Hey you’re finally back." Maya said excitedly the moment her gaze landed on Scarlett and Ethan.

"Where is he? Is he using his powers again?" Ethan asked as he set down two buckets of fish and lowered himself onto the ground.

"He left as soon as you and Scarlett stepped away, and he hasn’t come back since," Maya replied with a heavy sigh, moving closer to inspect the bucket of fish. She raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Why so many fish? How are we supposed to finish all these?"

Ethan shrugged and replied, "Just roast everything. It’s easier that way."

But Scarlett shook her head firmly. "We’re leaving now. Forget about the fish. We’ll transfer them back to the stream. Whether Kato meets up with us later or not, it doesn’t matter. We’re moving out." Her tone was resolute, leaving no room for argument.

The others exchanged puzzled glances.

"What are you talking about now?" Maya asked, sounding exasperated. She had already started cleaning and preparing some of the fish, with Larry assisting her. "We’ve barely started our journey. Why leave him behind so quickly?" She added, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We’re not planning to get rid of him so soon, are we?" Louise mouthed the words silently, her lips forming each syllable without sound. Even if Kato was nearby, he wouldn’t be able to hear her. His expression was tense as he continued, Why the change of plan?"

Scarlett remained silent as well as the others whose gaze were still fixed on her, patiently waiting for an answer.

"Is everything okay, Scarlett?" Garvin asked, his voice breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the group. The only sounds were the distant growls of monsters, the howling of the wind, and the occasional chirping of birds. His sharp gaze rested on Scarlett. "What’s with the urgency? We’re going to get rid of him eventually, but if we leave now, without him under our watch, he’ll keep killing other humans. Only we can stop that bastard." He finished his statement with a scowl, mouthing the last part to ensure secrecy.

Scarlett’s mind churned with conflicting thoughts. System? she called out mentally. If I manage to get far enough away, will he still be able to sense my presence? The possibility of distance providing her with safety gnawed at her.

Ding!

{As long as you’re far enough, host, his ability to sense you will diminish. The fact that you can’t sense him now suggests he’s already at a considerable distance.}

Scarlett frowned, her thoughts racing. But what’s the point of leaving when he can just locate me again? He already knows what I look like.

{Correct, host. He will likely track you down regardless.}

She let out a quiet, frustrated sigh. I just want to leave this place with the others. You said Kato and I are both SS-ranked, but judging by how much damage he caused me earlier, I’m clearly not a match for him. Not unless I use my monster form and even then, I don’t have full control over it. If I transform, I might hurt innocent people, too. Her thoughts wavered for a moment before solidifying. I’m scared and I can’t help but think that others will be in danger.

Scarlett glanced at her companions. They were still watching her, their expressions puzzled and questioning. Her resolve strengthened, but doubt lingered at the edges of her mind.

Ding!

{However, host, the reality remains: he knows who you are and will track you down, whether you like it or not.}

An idea suddenly struck Scarlett. Her eyes widened in realization. Or... she thought, a slow, cunning smile forming on her lips, I could keep pretending I don’t know he’s aware of who I am. Let him think he’s fooling me. I want to see how far he’ll go to lure me into his plans. Besides, why should I fear for the group? They’re not weaklings. They’re monster slayers. If Kato, Victor, or any other chosen member chooses to let their monster traits dominate their humanity, they’ll be slain like the beasts they’ve become.

_____________

Meanwhile, at a desolate railway station...

Kato stepped out of the shadows, his cloaking ability dissolving around him like mist. His boots crunched against the gravel of the railway path as he continued forward with deliberate steps. The track eventually led to a rocky terrain devoid of monsters or perhaps they had already been slain.

He stopped in front of a massive boulder. Without hesitation, he placed his hand against its cold surface. The rock emitted a soft, blue glow before splitting apart, revealing a towering, twenty-story building that loomed majestically in the distance.

Kato’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction. This was the moment he had been waiting for. The message he had received was the confirmation he needed.

As he approached the building, heavily armed guards snapped to attention. They greeted him with respect, nodding silently.

"Welcome, boss," one of them said, stepping forward to assist him in removing his coat. "We’ve been expecting you. The package has arrived."

Kato’s lips curled into a grin as he strode confidently into the building, flanked by two burly guards.

The interior was a hive of activity. Scientists in pristine white coats moved efficiently between workstations, their focus divided between concocting drugs and assembling complex devices. Glass walls surrounded the facility, revealing an army of armed guards stationed at strategic points.

Kato’s senses, heightened as ever, picked up faint sounds no one else could hear the agonized screams of distant humans and the guttural growls of monsters. Though they were far away, locked in hidden compartments deep within the facility, he could sense every detail as if he were there.

He passed through the glass corridors until he reached a private room. As he entered, his gaze fell on a young boy restrained by two guards. A woman stood beside them, her posture straight and respectful.

"Welcome back, boss!" the guards and the woman said in unison.

Kato nodded in acknowledgment and made his way to the large chair that awaited him at the center of the room. "You’ve been busy in my absence," he said smoothly, his voice tinged with amusement. "This is the boy?"

"Yes," the woman replied with a slight bow. "We found him admist monsters we managed to save him from them."

Kato’s gaze shifted to the boy, Jaden, and the glowing collar strapped around his neck. The timer on the device ticked ominously. "The collar is still intact," Kato observed, smirking. "It’s counting down. Three days, is it?"

"Yes, boss," the woman confirmed. "We’ve destroyed the suit he was wearing and disabled any possible tracking devices. The scientists are working on dismantling the collar, but progress has been slow."

Jaden glared at Kato, tears streaking his face. "Let me go!" he shouted, struggling against the guards who held him.

Kato ignored the boy’s outburst and leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. "Victor, Victor, Victor," he murmured, almost to himself. "First, you let that girl die to gauge Scarlett’s reaction. Now, you send this boy out too. I guess you’re doing all that to prepare your showing up."

"What are your orders, boss?" the woman asked.

Kato’s eyes glinted with malice. "Keep working on the collar. If the scientists can’t disable it in two days, let me know. I have... alternative methods. But make no mistake, the boy must stay alive. He’s the key to bringing my queen to me."