Reborn- Apocalypse 2

by L. M. Kerr

  "Let's go!" He gave her a thumbs up, grinning behind his mask as he shook his head.

  .. .. .. .. .. ..

  The duo set off, leaving their skyscraper for a designated meeting point. The place they were headed to was located just outside of the territory of the Godfather Organization, though not the same skyscraper that the battle with the Black Flag Pirates had taken place at.

  As they rushed from skyscraper to skyscraper, crossing bridge after bridge, Micheal's mind flashed back, going over the recent past.

  Several weeks had flown by in an instant after the battle with the Black Flag Pirates ended.

  In that time, many things had taken place.

  Micheal had gained a better understanding of how his 1 Star Physique affected his body and his cultivation. The lines of energy that ran in his body became more durable and stronger, raw power enhancing his strength.

  He went from just barely entering the Middle Stage of Ki Cultivation to reaching well into the Late Stage of Ki Cultivation, closing in on the final Peak Stage.

  Cultivation of this speed was unheard of for most humans. Even Sophia, who now had the same 1 Star Physique, was still only halfway through the Middle Stage. She would achieve the Late Stage by the time the month ended, roughly half the time it would take most people.

  Micheal's previous experience in cultivating his Ki was incredibly helpful, making everything clear. He had no questions about how to cultivate or how each part should feel, having personally felt everything once before.

  Apart from the increase in Ki Cultivation, Micheal had spent a large number of Points, as well as gained quite a few, from hunting Morenkai. The Godfather Organization had joined in on hunting Golden Morenkai, lessening the gains he and Sophia made.

  It wasn't a major issue, since he had already achieved most of what he wanted, apart from a few extremely expensive Artifacts. They would gain a ton of points once they reached the Main Cluster, resolving that issue.

  He hadn't spent any of the Points he'd stocked up on Abilities, however.

  As it stood now, even if he achieved 100,000 Points, there was nothing in the Shop that he desired within this Points range. Using Points to upgrade one's Ki Cultivation was generally considered a waste for talented people, giving worse returns than training it naturally. Despite having multiple open slots, there simply wasn't anything left to fill them with that he saw as worth it.

  Certain Abilities, like his Impact Release Ability, could be removed later on, through various means. Most Abilities, however, could not.

  None of the Abilities that could be removed and cost below 100,000 Points entered Micheal's eyes at all. His goals stood far higher, on Abilities that cost more. He would have to pick them up in the later Layers.

  With that said, it wasn't as if he could buy nothing.

  Instead, he invested his Points into Artifacts.

  Apart from buying the Ashari Blade, which greatly increased his attack power, and a few minor Healing Artifacts or other supplies, Micheal had purchased one other expensive Artifact.

  A set of what was known as Cloud Stepping Shoes for 25,800 Points.

  Micheal grunted out loud as he jumped into the air, flipping over a Morenkai that was blocking his path. They had just encountered the shambling creature randomly when they were crossing one of the large, sturdy wooden bridges.

  The Morenkai lunged upward, a large fist smashing towards Micheal's leg.

  In the instant before it hit, Micheal did the impossible.

  He jumped again, while in mid-air.

  In a smooth motion, his body jerked to the side as his right arm blurred.

  A second later, the body of the Morenkai split into two, acidic black blood splattering out as he and Sophia moved quickly past it. He ignored the Points notification that popped up, glancing down at his shoes with a smile.

  A pair of black dress shoes were visible, gleaming faintly. The shoes fit snugly around his feet, looking like a pair of regular black dress shoes, not expensive Artifacts. The magical shoes would morph to whatever image of a shoe he wished, giving him rather free options.

  His Cloud Stepping Shoes had a very unique function.

  They allowed him to step on thin air.

  The Artifact, just like his Spatial Ring, was linked to his soul. He could innately feel a connection with the shoe, one that was magical in nature.

  With a single thought, the Cloud Stepping Shoe would cause an invisible platform to form for a fraction of a second. This platform could sustain a weight of several thousand pounds, more than enough for him to step on.

  Each shoe could form a single invisible platform every couple of seconds. After it formed one, it needed a few seconds to recharge and could not be used continuously.

  Each usage would put a small amount of strain on his soul, unnoticeable unless he used it more than 100 times in quick succession.

  'The versatility I get from having these will serve wonders.' He smiled. With these, he wouldn't need to depend on his Life Orbs for advanced mobility. There were also no limits on how far or high he could be when he used them, and by wearing these, he could use his Life Orbs for more offensive purposes instead.

  In the later Layers, gravity would increase, the worlds becoming harder and harder to move freely in. The Second Layer’s gravity was a whole 30% heavier than the First Layer’s. Especially on the Seventh and final Layer, the air itself had felt unnaturally thick, Micheal's movements like they were weighed down by chains.

  'Still, here on the First, it should work quite well.' Very few opponents would have experience in fighting someone on a 3D plane, whether it be Morenkai or other humans.

  He'd spent one last chunk of his Points on preparations for the Main Cluster, experimenting and creating several types of Pills that he had tucked away for now, as well as a few unique things, including a carved, hand-sized emblem showing a set of angelic looking wings and a halo that he spent more than a week making.

  Several minutes passed as the duo made their way across the Cluster. In the early morning, few teams were out and about. They only encountered a few more regular Morenkai, avoiding any dangerous encounters.

  In no time at all, they made it to the meeting skyscraper.

  There were already a few people on the rooftop, men wearing all black and armed with machine guns. As Micheal and Sophia arrived, the guards looked at them and then nodded, letting them pass through.

  Micheal moved forward, Sophia following in tow, as they headed into the bowels of the skyscraper, moving towards a specific room.

  As they walked, Micheal's thoughts centered around the big decision that was being made today.

  The decision to form the Stardust Coalition. A group that was going on an expedition to the Main Cluster.

  Apart from the Godfather Organization, none of the major powers in the Stardust Cluster had any sizable contingent of forces in the Main Cluster. The Saru Group, Tobagin Party, as well as the now defunct Black Flag Pirates, all had scouts that kept tabs on any big events, but for the most part, stayed in the Stardust Cluster.

  In the original timeline, a couple of months from now, the Black Flag Pirates would have weathered multiple large battles only to suffer a crushing defeat. The chaos in the Main Cluster had settled down and the Godfather Organization eventually avenged the Stardust Cluster's fallen branch.

  After this, eventually, the other major powers recovered. Micheal had still been in the Cluster at the time, training with all his might.

  At some point after, the local powers eventually decided on sending a tentative expedition into the Main Cluster. The major battle in the Cluster brought all the various groups together, with the Saru Group and Tobagin Party in particular eager to expand.

  No one wanted to be left behind while others grew strong. The Godfather Organization's showing of might convinced both forces that the Main Cluster was where Points could truly be found.

  Not only were there plenty of Morenkai, but there were also a variety of uniq
ue aspects.

  Morenkai Nests existed, where large numbers of Morenkai could be found, with a decent chance of Golden Morenkai appearing. The Main Cluster was known to have many Golden Morenkai, largely due to its sheer size. Everyone knew it was the place to go if you wanted to get Points fast.

  Micheal took advantage of the fact that these major groups would eventually want to expand, and sped things along, pulling on every string he had attached.

  In particular, he made use of his identity as 'Heron.'

  Heron and Crane, in the eyes of the various powers, were members of the Angels Arcadia, something that would come in handy in the future. Boss Shigun confirmed this to the public, helping them form a convincing cover. They were powerful, elite warriors from one of the Main Cluster's Big 3.

  Micheal and Sophia were known to be minor, low-level characters in the battle against the Black Flag Pirates, rumors spread by the Godfather Organization at Micheal's request. The duo were known to have joined the Godfather Organization as basic recruits and were off training, but over the past few weeks, had shown nothing special. Their presence gradually faded from the eyes of the public, transforming into mostly normal figures.

  Their identities were secured thanks to Boss Shigun's genuine efforts to help them. Micheal had saved his life and essentially his branch of the Godfather Organization. As a result, the man was only too pleased to find a way to help repay that. If nothing else, Boss Shigun was a man of honor.

  Soon, they navigated all the way down to their final destination. A lounge on the 25th floor.

  As he walked up to the final door, a dark green one made of some type of faded wood, he paused briefly. Just barely, he could hear multiple voices talking and arguing. Behind this door were the heads of multiple organizations, debating their final decisions.

  Micheal took a deep breath beneath his mask, a small smile appearing on his face,

  'Showtime.'

  .

  Chapter 3

  "It's possible we'll run into Monster Class Morenkai or a dangerous Nest on the Great Bridge! We can't just decide to go without being prepared!" The 1st Ranked Flesh Wizard of the Flesh Wizards Tower, Wizard Gabriel, spoke out loud in the conference room. He was tall and slightly reedy, wearing a set of black robes. His thin face had an annoyed expression on it as he looked around the table.

  "I agree with Gabriel, but I'm not sure our preparation is lacking." General Raymen of the Saru Group folded his thick arms together, his blue eyes glimmering.

  "The Tobagin Party is sending 2 B Rankers and 10 C Rankers to join the expedition. If we all contribute warriors, I don't see why there is a problem here, gentlemen." The President of the Tobagin Party, President Hudlo, broke in. He was a bookish man, with the appearance of a scholar. He wore a set of thin glasses and a loose brown suit, his aged white hair cut short.

  "The information we have on the Great Bridge isn't much, it's true." Boss Shigun entered the conversation, chewing on a cigar as he spoke. His voice was authoritative, catching everyone's attention.

  "But several expeditions have crossed before, and only a few spotted any strong Morenkai, let alone Monster Class ones. As for Nests, well, they're quite avoidable and shouldn't prove to be a big danger." He crossed his arms as he finished, looking around.

  Just as Wizard Gabriel was about to respond, the door to the room opened up and two masked figures strode in.

  A hushed silence stole over everyone for a brief moment as they all stared at the newcomers.

  "The Tobagin Party sees the Angels Arcadia Emissaries." President Huldo broke the silence by bowing his head slightly, speaking aloud.

  "As does the Flesh Wizards Tower." Wizard Gabriel quickly added.

  "As does the Blue Wing Society." The various other leaders of groups sitting around the table followed their example.

  "As does the Iron Knights Alliance."

  "As does…"

  A round of respectful greetings rang out from all 9 of the leaders that were sitting around the lounge table. Everyone there, from President Huldo to General Raymen, spoke with respect, and a hint of fear.

  No one wanted to become enemies with the Angels Arcadia or show the slightest sign of disrespect.

  While information didn't spread as fast as it used to on Earth, the Angels Arcadia had built up a bloody and powerful reputation over the past 3 years, one that anyone aware of would not ignore.

  "Be at ease." Micheal smiled behind his mask, maintaining a calm and cool facade as he and Sophia entered the room.

  "We of the Angels Arcadia, as Boss Shigun will have told you all, are here to offer our expertise in crossing the Great Bridge." Micheal didn't mince words, immediately jumping to the point.

  These past few weeks, apart from hunting Golden Morenkai and getting gear and supplies he would need in the future, Micheal had focused on putting together this expedition force, the Stardust Coalition.

  He pulled every string he had.

  His Micheal identity made contact with the Saru Group, allegedly at Boss Shigun's request, informing them of this idea. The respect they gave him as a strong, new Irregular, as well as the Godfather Organization, played a big part in their agreeing to come to the previous meetings, hoping to form positive ties with a potential powerhouse.

  While Micheal hadn't become a famous warrior and had gradually faded from the limelight, the Saru Group had already become involved and interested in the proceedings.

  His Heron identity made contact with the Flesh Wizards Tower. Their previous trades had already convinced the Flesh Wizards of his power. With the Godfather Organization as well as the Saru Group throwing in their support, it became an easy decision for them.

  The various other groups, including the last major power, the Tobagin Party, fell into line after that, no one wanting to miss out. Micheal made sure to ignore any groups that were lawless or operated on the darker side, not giving them any chance to expand.

  And now they had reached the culmination of that work, everything falling into line, the first general meeting that he attended with everyone present.

  "Well, with two Emissaries from Arcadia here, I suppose it should be a walk in the park." General Raymen rumbled out, nodding his head.

  "Of course, of course. The Emissaries of Arcadia are famed for their capabilities. With two of them here to guide us, I trust none of you will have any objections?" Boss Shigun's voice boomed out as he nodded at everyone around the table.

  The various leaders around the table talked for a bit but all eventually nodded in agreement. The reputation of the Angels Arcadia was more than enough to convince them.

  "So, then, we are in agreement!" Boss Shigun's voice echoed cheerfully as he chewed on his cigar, a huge smile on his face.

  "Now then! Down to business!"

  Micheal watched the leader of the local branch of the Godfather Organization with amusement. Shigun seemed to truly enjoy leading, something Micheal was still trying to get used to.

  "What are the exact Ranked forces each group is sending? The Godfather Organization is sending 1 B Ranker and 12 C Rankers." He looked around the table expectantly.

  A slew of replies came in return.

  "The Saru Group is sending 2 B Rankers and 4 C Rankers."

  "The Flesh Wizards Tower shall send 1 B Ranker and…"

  "The Iron Knights will send 14 C Rankers…"

  Micheal watched everything unfold in silence, playing the part of a secretive expert. Sophia followed his lead, letting Shigun control the meeting as the various organizations broke out into discussion about entering the Main Cluster.

  In no time at all, an expedition force of roughly 85 C Rankers and 12 B Rankers was decided on. The alliance was officially called the Stardust Coalition.

  Its main purpose was to focus on training its members to gather more Points and build allies in the Main Cluster, as well as establishing their presence. Its underlying goal was to build a network and base to use to eventually proceed towards the Second Layer.
<
br />   This world was not a paradise. Life here was almost hellish, the constant threat of shambling Morenkai almost always ever-present. Many people would, if given the option, move on to the Second Layer and leave this world.

  Micheal's words and actions, as both Micheal and as Heron, had inspired many of those present to start focusing on preparation. The brutal death and destruction of the Mayoral Alliance and the Black Flag Pirates had helped as well.

  Soon, the meeting fully finished. Micheal made small talk with some of the various leaders before beating a quick escape, followed by Sophia. They emerged from the skyscraper as afternoon was waning, the meeting taking several hours.

  He waited with Sophia for a few minutes, looking out across the world of skyscrapers. It was still an awe-inspiring sight, one that was forever burned in his mind.

  Eventually, a figure appeared on the roof next to them.

  "Heron." Boss Shigun's voice rumbled out.

  "Shigun." Micheal turned and nodded at the man. The roof still had a few guards on it, but almost everyone else had left, the various leaders of the participating groups returning to prepare for the expedition tomorrow.

  "I looked into what you asked." Shigun began, giving him a grave nod.

  "Oh?" Micheal slowly nodded back, his tone questioning.

  "The woman, Lana, was operating independently with a few of her friends, in the north side of the Cluster. I've had my men invite her and her allies into the Family, an invitation they did not refuse."

  Lana and her friends had helped Micheal find Sophia, back when he was just getting started. He had urged them to leave the Mayoral Alliance after that, but hearing they actually had left it and were fine soothed his worries. He would look after those that helped him.

  "They didn't refuse, or they couldn't refuse?" Micheal smiled beneath his mask, his tone carrying a hint of humor.

  "Bahahaha, let's say both." Shigun grinned and guffawed.

  "Arrrgh-cough, cough." The Godfather Boss seemed to forget he had a cigar on his mouth and accidentally swallowed half of it while he was laughing. He coughed and wheezed as he almost choked, spitting it out.