For a minute—maybe five—no one moved. Isaac stayed where he was, quietly watching the reunited family that now, unmistakably, lacked one very important person. He could only try to imagine what his friend felt, but even that felt hollow.

The truth was, Isaac didn't have anything to compare this to. As much as he loved Elaine's grandfather for taking him in, believing in him when no one else did, the old man's death had been expected. He had more than enough time to accept it.

This though? This was nothing like that.

Just like Tyler, James' mother was ripped away by forces that should have never existed. By Overlords who decided to make Earth and sixty-three other planets into their playground.

And yet… Isaac thought, his eyes closing. And yet I still wouldn't want things to go back to how they used to be.

Weakness. Living from day to day, from hour to hour. Almost numb to everything happening around him… No. That wasn't a life he wanted for himself anymore. When the Breakout hit, he had left the version of himself behind, once and for all. There was no going back for him.

And so, the same old question returned again. What did that make him? An evil and heartless bastard? A guy who didn't care about the suffering of others?

No, Isaac didn't think so.

He was just a man. A man who wanted to live. That it took an apocalypse to wake him up wasn't his fault.

A sigh left his lips. Apparently, witnessing sad and highly emotional moments made him reflective. He didn't like that. Never had. Just like his old life, those kinds of thoughts belonged in the past. Besides, it was not like the apocalypse was his fault. He shouldn't try to make himself feel bad because he enjoyed it to some degree.

And that's that, he thought, opening his eyes again. Just in time, too.

Despite the terrible news James had just received, he finally broke out of his shock and crouched to whisper something to his sisters. Then he stood up, quickly said something to the older man—his uncle, most likely—and gestured to Isaac.

It didn't take a genius to understand what was happening.

Sure enough, James and the girls headed inside while the older man walked over.

"Sorry you had to see all that," the man said. "Isaac, right?"

Isaac nodded, getting a smile and an extended hand in return. He shook it without hesitation.

"Pleasure to meet ya. I'm Jason, uncle to those three. James told me he wouldn't be here without you. Come, you gotta be starving."

Just like that, without leaving any room for protest, the man turned and marched back toward his house. Isaac, meanwhile, blinked, unsure of what the hell had just happened. Then, his brain caught up with his body, and he followed. He wasn't planning to remain on the street, standing there like an idiot, after all.

Guess face isn't the only thing those two share…

While James and his sisters disappeared to god knew where, Jason led Isaac into a kitchen connected to a living room that, once again, was larger than his entire old apartment. He still couldn't think of a reason why anybody would need a room the size of a ballroom inside their house.

Has to be a rich people thing, he mused, scanning the interior with his night vision.

Despite the left wing of the house being gone, most of the stuff here seemed to be untouched. Sure, a few books, smaller trinkets, and a massive TV lay broken on the floor, but compared to other buildings Isaac had visited, this place was almost pristine. Hell, the kitchen looked almost brand-new. Not that half of the stuff in it would work without electricity, but still.

Probably spent quite some time cleaning up. Why though? What's the point? What if another earthquake hits?

Before Isaac could get lost in thought, though, Jason's voice forced him to return to reality.

"So.... Anything you would like to eat?" the man asked, setting a portable freezer and a camping stove on the counter. "I got eggs, chicken, some beef, bacon… and if you're after something less meaty, I can probably scrounge up a few things too."

Once again, Isaac got blindsided. When Jason had mentioned food, he had expected something closer to the canned rations or half-burnt scraps he had grown used to on the road, not whatever this was. And besides, there was one other thing.

"Is any of it… fresh?" he asked, frowning.

"Ah, he speaks!" Jason exclaimed. "And to answer your question. Of course it's fresh, or well, as fresh as frozen food can be. Look!"

With that, the man popped the lid of the portable freezer open.

Ice.

It was all Isaac could see. Ice upon ice stacked on top of each other, preserving what he now realized were sealed bags of meat and other supplies. How was that possible? He had no idea, but something must have shown on his face because it didn't take long for Jason to speak again.

"Amazing, eh? Stuff lasts about twelve hours before it starts to melt. No idea how it works. I don't think even little Sarah fully gets it, and it's her creation."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Isaac hummed. Of course it had to be the result of an Origin. He shouldn't have been surprised. Still, that put into question just when James' sisters had unlocked their powers. They looked old enough—probably around twelve or thirteen—to have access to the Interface, but they still had to kill some Wretched to awaken their Origin.

For a second, he considered voicing his question, but then thought better of it. As curious as he was, it wasn't his business. Besides, if he really needed this information, he could always ask James in the future. No need to interrogate a man he had just met.

He focused on something else instead. Like the freezer on the counter, and another five he could see standing on the other side of the kitchen.

"That's a lot of food for three people," he commented.

Jason shrugged. "You can never have enough. Besides, how else am I supposed to train my Origin?"

"Origin?" Isaac echoed.

"Of Cooking!" Jason grinned widely. "So what will it be?

Origin of Cooking… Huh. Now it all makes sense. And actually...

Instead of answering with words, Isaac reached into his Storage Brand, summoning a single item that had been gathering dust for quite some time now. He might not get a better chance to use it, after all.

And so, as the Lava Wyvern's egg landed in his hand, he could only chuckle as Jason's eyes widened.

Holy shit, that's good, Isaac thought as he swallowed another bite of the scrambled eggs—egg really—that Jason had prepared. For a dish so simple, it had no right to taste this good. Was it because of the Wyvern Egg or the skills of the chef?

Doesn't matter, he decided, digging back in. After over a week of consuming dry food, this not-so-little portion of scrambled egg felt like a feast from a Michelin-star kitchen. Like heaven and earth.

"That good, hmm?" Jason chuckled. "Gotta admit, that egg you gave me? Wish I had more. Gave me a whole level."

Somehow, Isaac wasn't surprised to hear that. Based on what he had learned from the smiths in Sacramento, using better materials—or ingredients in this case—sounded like a simple way to speed up the growth of a crafting-oriented Origin. It was just a shame he didn't have anything else to give the older man. He told him as much.

Jason waved him off. "No worries. I was just saying, that's all." He pulled out a chair and sat across from Isaac. "Seems like the smell hasn't been enough to drag the others downstairs, so we might be here a while. You mind humoring an old man with a story or two?"

Isaac tilted his head. "Not if you answer some questions in return."

The older man grinned. "You have a deal."

Elsewhere…

This again…

Flowers, a field of colorful flowers surrounded her from every direction. To most, it would be a beautiful and unforgettable sight. To Elaine? It was just a reminder that every night, every time she closed her eyes, some all-powerful being out there could invade her mind and force her to listen to their bullshit without any consequences.

Prosperity.

"You have done well," a voice, or rather a chorus of voices, echoed around her.

She turned, facing her Sire, a creature who at first sight looked almost human. Two legs, two arms, and a tall frame shrouded by a dress made out of deep violet vines. The Overlord had style, that much Elaine could reluctantly admit.

Yet, none of that mattered when her gaze went higher, to Prosperity's face, or rather, faces. Two of them, both expressionless, both frozen like stone statues. They didn't move, didn't twitch, and their closed eyes made the image even creepier. The fact that the Overlord was completely bald also didn't help.

Elaine averted her gaze.

"Why am I here?" she demanded.

"You have done well," Prosperity repeated herself, only this time, she didn't stop. "Your task remains incomplete… but you have earned yourself a reward. One that shall make protecting your herd far easier."

Elaine scowled. Herd. The same word the Overlord used in her mission. Also, the way she spoke, as if she didn't care. As if it all meant nothing to her. Elaine hated her even more for that. Unlike last time, though, she didn't try to attack. She had learned her lesson.

She just bit her tongue and voiced another question. "Why are you doing this? Why help me? You know what I plan to do down the road."

For the first time today, Prosperity's twin faces shifted. Both sets of lips tugged into thin smiles as a chorus of laughter filled this… dreamscape? Mindscape?

"Oh, child. You truly think I fear an ant still learning to crawl? How… amusing," Prosperity said, her laughter still loud.

Elaine clenched her fists. After their last meeting, the Overlord had clearly abandoned her tactic of being sympathetic and understanding. She must have realized it wouldn't work on her. Good.

"Then why?" she asked again.

A sound like a sigh rolled across the endless field of flowers.

"Because you, just like thousands of others, have potential," the chorus of voices explained. "You may hate me now. May think me nothing more than another tyrant who brings pain and suffering… but you're wrong. And one day you shall learn why. Until then, I will be here, watching and helping where I can."

Elaine rolled her eyes. Yeah, sure.

As if she believed any of that. It was the scheming of the Overlords that took away her aunt and cousin. It was their games that cost Tyler his life. And it was their fault she now had to protect ten survivors from a town of thousands.

There was nothing, absolutely nothing, in her mind that could justify any of what they did, and she hadn't even mentioned the millions or billions that would die in the coming Virus Wars.

"I see," Prosperity's voice echoed around her once more. "Another day then. Farewell, Miss Blake."

Elaine gasped as suddenly her eyes snapped open to the sight of a wooden ceiling. She quickly scrambled off her makeshift cot and took a few deep breaths. Light also spilled over her fingers, reminding her she was no longer helpless, no longer a weak girl who was always left behind, always alone.

"Overlords," she spat, the word like poison on her lips.

Her anger, however, wasn't allowed to boil for long. A moment later, a searing heat washed over her left wrist. She flinched, glancing down to see a new Storage Brand etching itself into her skin.

Right, my reward…

A quick Analyze told her that her new Storage Brand worked just like the one she had received back in Sacramento and would last three days. A welcome surprise, but not one that could make her despise the Overlords any less.

That's not all, though, she thought, her gaze falling to the single image on the Brand. She summoned the item into her hand. What?

It was a cylindrical object, about two feet long. At first glance, it didn't seem like anything special. Just a pure white tube with a long spike at one end. Then, Elaine activated Analyze.

[Basic Nexus Beacon | Grade: Unique] A special beacon that summons a private Support Nexus to a chosen area. The one to activate the beacon shall become the owner of the Nexus.

Elaine stared at the text.

Well shit.

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