Don't give me false hope!

6 PM, December 20, 2035.

It was a quiet and cold night. There was nothing but the moon to light the city.

Inside a dark and messy room, a young man was lying on the bed while scanning through his phone.

"In the past, days before Christmas day was lively. People gather together to celebrate. There are feasts, drinking... and even karaoke!"

He wore a depressed look while scanning through the pictures with his family, which was happily celebrating the Holidays. Suddenly, He stopped scrolling upon seeing their 'complete' family picture. This included his Mom, Dad, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Grandma, and his Younger Sister.

"Sigh. If Only... I had this strength from the start... I would have been able to save everyone."

He scrolled down to the next picture. It was a 'selfie' picture of him, his dad, his mother, and his younger sister.

"Ma, Pa, You don't need to worry! I and Clarissa are safe. I am strong enough to protect the two of us."

The young man pressed a button and the phone turned off. He placed it beside him. Then, He closed his eyes and sleep.

"Wooosh~" The curtains swayed as winds blew into the dark condominium room.

The windows were left open. It was weird for a condominium on a building to leave its window wide open. But looking around the lightless city, one can assume that it might be because of some blackout?

Since there was no electricity, One can only open the windows as a type of ventilation. It may also cool the room and give comfort to the person. This was a normal occasion in some parts of the world where, although it was cold at night outside, inside the house or in a room, it was hot.

"Bag!" The door shut open and destroyed the relaxing silence and the cool breeze of air. A middle-aged guy rushed in without second thoughts.

"Ehh!" The middle-aged man frowned while instinctively using his hand to cover his nose.

The young man opened his eyes like a lion. He didn't immediately stand up and checked the door area. Instead, he scanned through the room with his enhanced senses whilst continuing the breathing rhythm he had while asleep.

If one would look at the young man, One would notice that he is sleeping. The blanket was covering his head, hence the middle-aged man didn't even notice that the young man was already awake. If his friends were to make fun of him, he would be called a heavy sleeper.

'Samilo Falan? The Sentry?! Why did he rush in?'

The young man frowned as thoughts run into his mind. He long held his phone, in case something would happen.

"Bi~Big boss! Those bastards~" Samilo Falan was interrupted as the young man shoot up like a rocket. The frown in his face intensified each moment while his eyes were full of killing intent.

"What happened?"

"The~They took your sister!" Samilo Falan was scared to the bones. He was shaking uncontrollably while staring at the demonic aura that the young man released.

"So... They choose to die?!" The young man stood and took his t-shirt placed on a nearby table. He walked out of the room. Samilo Falan stood near the door with his head looking down, avoiding to gaze upon the young man.

"Bi~Big Boss! We're sorry! They were able to pass through our guard!" Two other middle-aged men were groveling on the floor, full of fear. Samilo Falan rushed as he followed the other two to grovel.

"We'll settle this when I return. But prepare yourselves, you can't escape punishment! I entrusted the safety of the base to you, but you failed to do your job. If something bad happens to Clarissa, I won't let you off lightly!" The young man glared at them once again before he left.

"Asandro Atay! You dare take my sister. I'll let you taste the power of a King-rank!" The young man grasped his hands. He moved around the city as fast as the speed of the sound.

Minutes later, the young man arrived in an area near the Manila Bay. In front of him was a ten-story high wall, surrounding the whole area.

Engraved on the cement wall was the words 'Asan Base'. The young man grinned as he exerted a frightening amount of killing intent that was even able to scare the zombies that were around.

Inside that base, there were three men and a woman inside the room. One man was sitting while drinking a canned beer. While the other two men were holding the women who were struggling.

"Asandro, you bastard! Brother~ will~ kill you!"

"Heh! Kill me? He's just a King-rank! He won't be even able to touch a strand of my hair while I am inside the Asan Base!"

"You~ You!"

"Struggle all you want my dear. If your brother comes, I'll ask Master Liyaan to give him a painless death! Since... He would become my brother-in-law! Hahaha~"

Before Asandro could even finish his laugh, the wooden door burst into pieces.

"You mean this guy?" The young man smirked as he threw a head that rolled down towards Asandro. The blood on the young man's hands drips down the floor.

Shock and Fear enveloped Asandro and his two men. They glanced at the head on the ground and recognized it.

"Impossible! Impossible! Master Liyaan~ was~was at the p~peak of King-rank! How~"

Asandro shook from fear as he pointed towards the young man. But before he could say more words, blood splattered on his face.

"Eh?" Confused due to the speed of events, Asandro scanned towards his body. Unfortunately, He was unable to bend down because his body was split into two.

His men remained speechless. But before, they can react, their heads were separated from their bodies. Blood burst out and It showered over Clarissa.

"A King-rank~ was really unfathomable! Still... You'll die... Jose!" Asandro died with a smile after barely being able to say his last words.

Jose, the young man, didn't dare to lay around and watch Asandro die. He immediately went and checked how was Clarissa.

"Clarissa~ Are you ok? Does it hurt anywhere?" Jose held Clarissa in his hands.

"Can't you see that I am fine, brother! More importantly, brother, are you hurt? You fought with another King-rank Liberator." Clarissa answered like someone who was sick. Jose noticed that her skin started to form a green pattern that looked like the veins.

'This!' Jose frowned as he frantically scanned through Clarissa's skin.

"Where is it? Where is it? It should be... Here!" Jose found a reddish part on Clarissa's skin. Upon closer inspection, he saw a small hole in the middle.

"Injected?" Jose's face became darker. He glanced to his side and saw a syringe held by one of Asandro's men. Beside his body was a small container without a label.

"This... A mutant shot!"

Jose's eyes erupted from anger. Although he killed the one responsible for everything that is happening, he can't help but get angry.

A mutant shot was a forbidden injectable drug. The drug's name was self-explanatory. It was a drug that can turn anyone into a mutant zombie. Unfortunately, there was no injectable developed to counter or cure it.

"A mutant shot? Cough! Cough!" Clarissa became weaker. Jose started to feel hopeless and can only look towards her face.

"Don't worry, Ok! Elder brother will look for a way to solve this!" Jose forced out a smile.

"Brother, don't give me false hope! I know what a mutant shot is!"

"Still~"

"It's fine, brother! You worry too much about me. Maybe, it is a way of God, telling you to think about yourself. So... Promise me, Brother! That you'd give time for yourself, despite helping others!"

"I promise! I promise!" Tears started to drop from Jose's eyes.

"Then, I am assured. When I meet mom and dad, I could tell them how strong you become. And~ tell them not to worry... Because you are happy." Clarissa wore an innocent smile on her face.