Although they always argue and seemed like in total opposite, they act in harmony.

“I don’t think so... though?”

Aileen tilted her head in confusion. Looking at the two’s movements, Aileen couldn't imagine them being anything but lovers.

While the two threw bitter comments at one another, they showed a casual kind of consideration. And the two were in perfect sync. They didn't look like normal friends at all.

Or maybe they were part of some secret team of agents? Was that the reason they had such good teamwork?

Huh, this is not a movie at all. Considering Allen’s age and attitude, it was obvious that he never participated in any military training at all, despite his proficiency in using guns.

A veteran soldier who undergoes intense training would always emit some kind of aura, or maybe atmosphere around him that would make anyone feel he is different. It would be seen in his every action and movements.

Aileen was certain about this because she had already seen countless military men ever since she was little.

But, aside from Mia, Allen didn’t give her that kind of feeling. Although he had this different aura around him, especially when he fights, that would make anyone feel that he was a veteran of life and death battles other than that, nothing else.

He seemed to have some experience fighting with his life on the line many times but it was still different from those people who were specially trained.

She looked curiously at the young man who was shooting his gun on his right hand while brandishing his knife on his left hand. He appeared to be really experienced.

Those moves…it’s not something you can master in a single day…

He must be a professional… an assassin or a hitman…maybe?

While he was moving back and forth, Mia was also there assisting whenever he needed it.

So, there are no other possibilities but that is, they were lovers with great synchronicity!

But still…

Why does it bother me so much...?

And as she stared at his back, she was overcome with an urge to embrace it, to the point where if she let her guard down she might really do it.

Damn! This is really strange...

Although father told me to that he will only accept a strong and intelligent man as a spouse but I have never thought of falling in love in a first sight to a man… such a cliché!

Just before, Allen had said that Mia wasn't his girlfriend. Then, it might not be too bad if she became his girlfriend instead. While Aileen thought like that, her heart throbbed as she imagined herself standing side by side with Allen, fighting monsters.

--- ---

Failure!

Failure!

Success!

[ Beetle Buzz

E-class skill.

The user can generate a damaging sound wave that sounds like the vibrations caused by a pair of insect wings. All creatures inside the radius of 5 meters will be damaged by the sound. Effect: Stun the enemy for utmost 3 seconds. Caution: the stronger the enemy, the lesser the effect of the skill. ]

While fighting, Allen made sure he could touch the beetles he killed and grabbed them one by one while shooting another.

It was a very taxing job but he has no choice but to persevere. He wanted to cry from failure after failure but he still gritted his teeth and held it in.

And now, seemed like the God’s have taken pity on him and after the 11th beetle, he finally managed to acquire a new skill.

Allen’s heart trembled slightly. He nodded his head and huffed out a laugh and said, “Great~ Heavens do have eyes!!”

Allen looked around and saw over ten corpses of beetle littered on the floor. He could also see Mia and Aileen who was leaning on the wall while panting in exhaustion.

“Allen were going to run out of bullets like this!” Mia shouted.

Allen was also the same, the small pouch on his where he put the extra magazines Lieri gave him was already running out. There are only two magazines left.

In front of them were still over at least 15 monster insect.

“Retreat?” Aileen asked.

Allen looked at his newly acquired skill then he took in a deep breath and looked at them.

“Mia, Aileen cover your ears.”

Aileen was skeptical but Mia seemed to have understood something. Although she doesn’t know what he will do, she never doubted him. She immediately nodded her head and covered her two ears with her both hands.

Aileen did the same, although doubtful, but upon seeing Mia’s action she also did the same.

At this moment, Allen looked at the incoming two blue colored mantis-like monster called [ Sword Mantis ] a level 1 monster and 3 giant caterpillars.

He extended his right hand and connects his thumb and middle finger.

Snap!

…he snapped his finger.

The place was very noisy due to gunshots and noises coming from the insect but for some reason, Allen’s snap resounded in the whole place.

Boom!

A ripple on the air suddenly appeared as if it was a wave in the calm sea.

A huge current of air along with an explosive sound had already approached the incoming monsters, along with breaking of the glass windows; it sweeps away the incoming monsters.

“Kyaaah!” Aileen couldn’t help but scream because of the sudden noise that seemed like something exploded. Even Mia frowned in pain as she tried to endure it by biting her lips.

As for the monster, they were hit by Allen’s attack directly causing their bodies to shake massively. It then completely stopped their movements.

Allen fell on his knees with ragged breath and his heart tightened greatly. He felt his vitality drain.

Luckily he did not feel any pain, but the vibration that happened was stronger than that of a mobile phone and even his ears were still ringing.

I never expected this skill to be a double-edged sword! Damn, that was an oversight!

Allen gets up quickly with difficulty and then looked at his surroundings. He saw the monster that was charging towards them stopped in their tracks.

Allen knew that they weren’t still dead and so, without hesitation dashed towards them. His right hand holding his gun was raised and pointed on the left monster while his right hand was holding the military in reversed gripped. Behind him, Mia also dashed like him and was ready to join the fun.

Aileen was a little late and was left behind by them.

2 seconds.

Bang Bang Bang – three bullets flew a straight line towards the head of the monster mantis.

Swoosh – his knife danced in the air slashed on the nearest monster’s neck. His movements were precise, quick and breathtaking. He couldn’t have done it with his current physical body but because of the skill he acquired from the goblin, [ Dexterity ], he could now move better than before.

3 seconds.

The stun duration was now over and the monsters have regained their freedom.

Allein raised his gun one more time and aimed it right at the giant caterpillar’s head. Bang! Bang! Bang! He shot and hit the monster’s head, causing the caterpillar to spray a few drops of green colored liquid before dropping on the ground.

And with Mia and Aileen’s help, the five monsters met their maker quickly.

But there were still another several monsters coming to their way. Realizing that this is surely impossible, Allen instantly dragged the two girls towards the stair they used before and retreat.

“There are too many monsters, Allen,” Mia said.

I know, Allen nodded his head. He was really frustrated. He doesn’t have any clue as to why there were too many insect monsters on this floor when it was just the first day of Chaos.

Was it also like this in the ‘Past’? Well, Allen didn’t know that because he never came here.

The memories related to the school was not much and very vague but in this partial memory,

… they never said about there being this many monsters. If it was, then how could they acquire the silver crystals in this place?

Thinking about this, Allen felt like he had missed something.

What was it? What did he miss?

My nerves are irritated.

His gaze went to the stair leading towards the second floor. It wasn’t because of anything special. It was just a feeling. However, it was a feeling that absolutely couldn’t be ignored.

Just what is happening here? Did history change? That can’t be!

Allen looked at Mia who was standing by his side. She was looking at him with doubtful eyes, seemingly sharing the same thoughts.

That shouldn’t be the case! Allen concluded. Aside from preparing to survive, they haven’t done anything big that could change history yet.

Besides, the appearance of the monsters doesn’t have any relation to their movements.

Then what is happening?

Allen was at a lost. If he didn’t have any knowledge about the past, he wouldn’t find it strange. But he had and according to his memories, the people he asked about before never stated about such huge amount of monsters.

“Allen! The monsters are retreating!!” at this moment, Aileen’s voice pulled the youth out of his thoughts.

“What?”

“The insects are retreating! They are going somewhere, though I don’t know where.”

With that as a signal, Allen and Mia bolted rushed towards where Aileen was.

Just like what she said, the insect monsters were really going somewhere and didn’t have thrown them a glance.

What is happening? Where are they going?

Allen could only see a group of insect monster was crawling while lining in two lines.

“They seemed to be heading towards the third floor,” Aileen said while looking at the long lines of monster.

“Third floor?”

“Yeah. There should be a staircase towards the third floor in that end.”

Allen nodded his head, “I see…”

“Let’s go.”

Mia started walking when her arms were held by Allen. Looking at her, the youth shook his head.

“Let’s wait for a while, Mia.”

“But, Allen this is the…”

“Mia.” Allen’s tone was serious. And so Mia could only obey while shrugging her shoulder.

Although she was unruly and unreasonable to Allen, she wouldn’t disobey his decision. This might have been because; Allen to her was some kind of a leader even before then. And so, she had already grown accustomed to Allen deciding everything when he was present.

Allen was, in fact, thinking of retreating. He had some bad premonition about this place.

But it would be a waste if he couldn’t gather the silver crystals.

Just as Allen made his decision, he suddenly noticed that the insect monsters have already gone.

“…what are we going to do?”

With this, Allen’s decision was already set in stone. “Let’s go!”

--- ---