Chapter 116: Family
It was an odd feeling to walk the highway into the city. It was almost completely empty apart from a few odd cars, a bit different from how it looked in apocalypse movies. Zac guessed that most people drove home if they found themselves on the highway when the world turned crazy. He didnt know how the restructuring actually looked since he was passed out while it happened. Perhaps some people didnt even notice and just kept driving until the road abruptly ended in a forest.
Soon he found himself in the town proper, and it was completely surreal. It wasnt just the run-down nature of the town that was jarring, there were multiple small details that were subtly adjusted. For example it looked like the topography was actually different in the city from how he remembered it. Where once was a hill it was now flat, making the houses look a bit odd.
There was no large wall that surrounded the town like the one that was erected around New Washington, and it seemed the population was a lot smaller compared to before since he still only had seen a few people scurrying about. Certainly, it was clear that this was only a part of the original town, but it was still there was barely a soul on the streets.
And those he saw looked like scavengers, going from house to house looking for anything useful or valuable. Most of the buildings at the edge of the town looked completely deserted, and Zac could also see marks from fights and beasts marring the pavement and walls.
It wasnt until he got closer to the center of the town that he saw a wall being erected. It actually looked like they possessed at least one earth mage in the town, as the wall was a bit similar to his own, albeit far more rudimentary. Zac couldnt see any gates or entrances and was in no mood to look around. Instead, he simply scaled the four-meter wall like it wasnt there, and found himself in the inner city.
Greenworth looked a lot better inside the walls, with quite a few people walking the streets. Zac had been worried from the missive he bought, but it at least looked food wasnt an issue in the town as most people were fed.
The aura of the villagers itself was a bit different from New Washington, as far more people wore different types of leathers and armors instead of old-world clothing here. If the government headquarters held on to the past then the villagers of this town rather embraced the new.
As he kept pushing forward he could finally confirm that his old neighborhood was included in this section of Greenworth, and wasnt teleported somewhere else. His footsteps sped up along with his heartbeat as he moved through familiar streets, both anticipation and fear filling him.
Soon he was just a blur for any onlooker as he sped toward the house where his father and sister lived. He moved out almost a decade ago but Kenzie still lived at home since she was ten years younger than him, and he hoped hed find both of them there. Finally he found himself on their street and it felt like his heart would jump out of his chest at any time.
He stopped outside a nondescript one-story house with a decent sized yard. A dogwood tree stood proudly on the front lawn, and Zac saw it had grown noticeably bigger since the integration. However, as he looked upon the house he felt some trepidation. There was no movement within, and it was quite clear that no one had lived inside for some time.
The door stood ajar and a few windows were destroyed. No smoke came out of the chimney either. With a sinking feeling, Zac found his courage after a bit and walked inside.
Dad? Kenzie? he tentatively asked, but only silence greeted him.
The ground was covered in dust and mud. Someone had walked through his home haphazardly dragging dirt everywhere. Clearly, the house was looted in the same way hed seen before, and he couldnt stop a flame of rage blazing up in his heart.
He quickly scanned the whole house and found no trace of either Kenzie or his father. Some things such as clothes and computers were missing, and the gun safe in his fathers bedroom was cracked open as well. However, most things were as he remembered.
As a last resort he went down to the basement and lifted a floorboard under a mat. It was his fathers secret compartment where he put important documents. To his surprise he found a box inside he didnt recognize. He opened it up and found a small notebook and a necklace.
To Zac and Kenzie was written on the front, and Zacs eyes immediately started reddening. With unsteady hands he opened it up and found it was a small diary apart from the first page.
If you found this I might not be around anymore. I pray that you are safe and sound in this crazy new world, and that you take care of each other. You were my light and my dream. Love, Robert.
Ps. The necklace is a memento from your mother. It might help you find her if you wish to do so.
Zac had to close his eyes and take a few steadying breaths before he opened his eyes again. This wasnt a good sign, but he wouldnt give up hope just yet. The notepad might have been left here long ago.
However, as he read on that hope was dashed as the diary detailed what happened after the integration. Everything had turned black after a voice said Welcome to the Multiverse in his fathers mind. When he woke up he found that Kenzie was gone.
In just a few days he found out that a lot of people, especially youth, simply disappeared when the world got integrated. He kept searching all over Greenworth after Kenzie, also hoping Zac would return from his trip.
They discovered the system and levels, and slowly started to power up. The weeks passed and people were starting to get attacked by crazed wildlife. They formed groupings, and Robert became a leader of a group who strove to keep the area safe for civilians. He tried to keep his town protected as he kept searching for his children, until one day people suddenly returned.
With a flash they stood there, people who simply disappeared earlier. Thousands of the missing ones. They looked different, wearing medieval weapons and armor, and they emitted a dangerous air. I couldnt find you among them. But I heard there is a leader called Thom Sullivan who might know more. I am heading to him tomorrow with a few other leaders who have protected Greenworth. Hopefully, well learn more then.
That was the last entry in the book. Zac felt completely empty inside, subconsciously knowing what it meant. He sat completely motionless for minutes, just staring at the last entry in the diary. Finally he refocused, refusing to give up until he had proper confirmation.
He placed everything in the compartment into his Cosmos Sack and immediately left the house. He would make a quick stop at his own apartment first just in case. It was on the third floor and much safer than living in a house with beasts lurking about, and he hoped his father had moved there.
The diary gave most of the information about what happened. It turned out that Kenzie was a cultivator, but his dad wasnt. The troubling thing was how the diary simply ended with dad visiting this Thom Sullivan. Months of accumulated anxiety was quickly turning into rage as Zac hurried toward his apartment. If that Thom guy had done anything to his family hed better pray for a quick death.
He quickly arrived at his apartment complex, and like a gust arrived in front of his door. He still carried his key in one of his pouches, so he took it out and opened the door up and walked inside.
He only took a few steps before his eyebrows furrowed and he sprinted forward. A gangly youth in his late teens was standing in his apartment, wearing his clothes, gaping in shock at Zac.
Who the fuck are you? Zac growled as he held the youngster up in the air by his scruff.
Please dont kill me! Im Ryan! I just squat here, take anything you want! the guy screamed in fear.
Zac calmed down a bit and used [Eye of Discernment] on him. His name truly was Ryan, and he was level 19. Zac let him down on the ground and he collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Why are you in my apartment? Zac simply asked
Your apartment? Wait Youre Zachary! I almost didnt recognize you at first! Ryan answered, quickly getting excited.
Do you know me? Zac asked skeptically, as hed never seen the youth before.
Well, yes and no Ive lived here for two months. I saw a window was open so I climbed up and got in. Then I found a spare key. Ive sort of gone through your things? he said, his voice getting a bit lower at the and as Zacs brows furrowed.
Wait wait, dont get angry, you know how it is. No internet, no electricity, no TV. The days get slow. So I started looking through everything. Like your mail and photo albums and stuff, Ryan said. I even visited your dad's house. Im sorry about him. He seemed like a good guy.
What do you mean? Zac spoke through grit teeth, the foreboding feeling in his chest just getting worse.
You dont know? Ah Well Im sorry, but he was Killed, the youth said with some hesitation.
It felt like an explosion went off in Zacs mind but he forced himself to refocus on Ryan.
After we returned from the Tutorial a few cultivators wanted to seize power over the Town. Theres a chance to become lord if you do that, and people want to be the ruler cause you apparently get all kinds of benefits. So Thom and the others killed the mortals who had started organizing people, not allowing any other factions to crop up. Those guys are crazy, and the government is only looking the other way, he explained with fear mixed with disgust.
Zacs breathing was getting heavier and heavier, but there was another question that needed to be answered before he turned to action.
I have a sister, Zac said as he took out a picture he had taken from his old house. Do you know where she is? Shes a cultivator.
Mackenzie? I think shes in one of the other cultivator groups. I never saw her in the Tutorial. We were quite a few people, but we were stuck together for a month. Im pretty sure Id have seen her if she was there, Ryan quickly answered, inching away from Zac, clearly still afraid.
Zac only glared at him for some time, and even took out [Veruns Bite].
I swear Im telling the truth! She really wasnt there. You should thank god for that, since young beautiful girls dont have a good time in this town, Ryan stuttered from Zacs oppressive sature.
Zac could at least breath a sigh of relief that Kenzie might still be alive. But relief soon returned to a burning rage that kept growing with every breath of his.
Where is Thom Sullivan now? he asked between grit teeth.
Thom? What are you planning? Ryan asked skeptically.
What Im planning? Youll soon see for yourself, Zac tersely answered as a monstrous aura filled with bloodlust flooded out from him, shaking the very foundations of the structure they stood in.
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