Chapter 62 - Portal Activation
Four days went by and everything seemed to return to normal as it was already enough time for them to move on from their loss. They knew that it's been only a few days but they understood that they needed to continue living. Also, working on the base has given them the distraction that they need to slowly accept that fact.
For the past four days, the headquarters of the base along with the eight buildings that surround it were finally completed after Zach told everyone to focus on completing them first. And right now, everyone was told to stop working after Zach announced that it was now the time to activate the Sanctuary Portals that each shelter owner had.
Everyone was curious about what would happen so they followed them and it was only then they learned the purpose of those buildings surrounding the headquarters after seeing Ethan, Mike, Carl, Isabelle, Viktor, Patricia, Kevin, and Allen could be found in each of one of the eight buildings while Zach himself was at the headquarters.
The headquarters consists of three floors with each floor having its purpose. The third floor would be solely used as the meeting room for the Shelter Owners. The second floor is where the offices of Rangers and Lifestyle Group. On the other hand, the first floor would consist of the headquarters' inventory and lobby from which Zach's Sanctuary Portal Totem would be placed.
On the other hand, the eight buildings that surround the headquarters were very simple as they looked more like an open canteen in which everyone could see what was inside where their purpose would be the spot from which Ethan and the other shelter owners' portals would be placed.
On the 1st floor of the headquarters, Zach could be found holding the Sanctuary Portal Totem in his hand. Knowing how to use it, he then pressed the button of the item and saw it immediately escape his hand and float in the air before dropping to the ground.
Zach saw how the Sanctuary Portal Totem got bigger as it was now looking the same as the totems back in the shelter. Continuing observing, he then saw how it was cut in two before it immediately spread apart. Following that, the space between suddenly lightens up and creates something that looks like some kind of black hole that looks very dangerous.
"That's it?" Zach asked himself as he never thought that it would be that simple. However, since nothing happened afterward, he then just left the headquarters to see the situation of the other portals knowing that everyone was also doing the same.
With that, every survivor of the base saw the activation of the portal leading to Pluto Sanctuary, however, as Zach ordered that they would be staying on Earth for a month, they could only stop their curiosity and finally continue working as they wanted to complete the work as soon as possible so they could finish ahead of time.
On the other hand, Zach immediately called on the shelter owners to the third floor of the headquarters seeing them now sitting around a table while facing each other. As the portal had been activated, it was also now time for them to prepare their shelter and how to divide the Rangers between shelters.
"As you all know, there are 186 survivors who joined the Rangers Group. If we divide them according to the number of shelters we have, we can have at least 20 Rangers stationed in every shelter. However, we can't leave the base to be unattended without any experienced Rangers since we don't know if it will be attacked." Zach said.
"By the way, do any of the Rangers have chosen to have the Soldier Class?" Zach asked immediately.
"None." Ethan replied with certainty.
"Hmmm. You can take 22 Rangers with you while I will only take 10. Also, start asking some survivors of the Lifestyle group if they wanted to become soldiers to work as lookouts of the base." Zach then said since he couldn't have any of the experienced Rangers left behind here.
"Zach, are you really sure that you only need 10 Rangers with you?" Isabelle suddenly asked since she thought that it would be truly unfair if he only had that number.
"Don't worry. I did something back in my shelter that will let me recruit more residents if could be done so having 10 will suffice." Zach replied after remembering the order he gave to Patrick and the rest of the trusted residents of his shelter.
"Now, for the main part. Is your shelter still bronze-class?" Zach then asked a question that he already guessed the answer but he still wanted to hear it since who knows if one of them were that capable of killing a hundred bronze-class monsters during the tutorial.
"What do you mean?" Carl asked this time after hearing Zach's question.
"Haven't you studied your shelter that if you provide it with 100 Bronze Cores then it would be capable of evolving into a Silver Shelter. It does not only make the protective shield capable of blocking level 50 and below monsters, but it will also open up a new function all the while changing the huts that you have to wooden houses." Zach said
"There's such a thing?" Viktor exclaimed after hearing the functions of the evolved shelter.
"D-Does that mean that your shelter was already Silver Shelter? You've really killed a hundred bronze-class monsters? That's amazing." Ethan said with surprise upon carefully understanding what Zach just said.
Hearing Ethan, almost everyone's eyes widened in surprise as they all looked at Zach as if he were a monster. They admit that they can kill bronze-class monsters, but they are not sure if they can kill that many given the current level they have. They then just thought that it's no wonder he had so many Job Class Scrolls with him as Zach must have gotten them all from the monster he had killed.
"Well. Anyways, as your leader, I also want to help your shelter to advance but I don't have that many Bronze Cores to give to you however, I have more than enough Evolution Coins to help upgrade your house. Over time, we will slowly upgrade your shelter to Silver since only then you would really feel the benefit of owning a shelter." Zach said before raising his hand on his left side and taking out Evolution Coins.
Everyone thought that Zach might only give them a little, however, after seeing endless Evolution Coins continue to fill the place, their surprise was already off the charts. They have been witnessing something incredible since they knew that only by killing a monster or a beast can one acquire Evolution Coin. It was only then that they understood that it really was a good choice to stay and continue working for Zach.
"Go and head to your shelters and settle some things as I also need to go to mine. Meeting adjourned." Zach said before leaving the room since he could no longer wait to see the person he had left in Undead Enclave Shelter thinking that she must have already felt bored on living by herself.
Arriving on the first floor, Zach looked at the portal seriously before bravely walking towards it, and not before long, he saw that he was already in a different place and that he could feel someone running from a particular location.
"Zach. You're finally here!!" Eun Ae jumped on the stairs and pounced on Zach after finally seeing that he had come back. She was actually at the Shelter's Core when suddenly another dot appeared in the shelter specifically in the house which she immediately knew that it was Zach.
"Yes. I'm sorry I took some time to get back." Zach said with a smile however, he was completely overwhelmed by Eun Ae seeing her already kissing him while locking her legs on his body. Knowing what she wanted, he then just carried her back to his room and that was the start of their reunion.
Night came and that was the time Zach and Eun Ae stopped after satisfying one another seeing them now embracing each other on the bed. All this time, Zach has also told Eun Ae about everything that happened so far, ranging from telling her about his mother and two lovers dying after not surviving the tutorial up to the base that became divided.
"I-I'm sorry for your loss, Zach." Eun Ae said sadly after hearing everything from him. She knew the feeling of losing someone as all her family also died even before the tutorial happened so she knew how hard it would be for Zach.
"Why don't you go back with me? I'll introduce you to my sister and my baby daughter." Zach then just said. He has already told Zoey about Eun Ae so their meeting would probably not cause some conflict. As for Sophia and Shiela who were also living with them, he can just lie about it since he doesn't want them to think badly of Eun Ae.
"Really? Is it really a good time to see your sister now?" Eun Ae felt a little happy but also quite worried knowing that they were still in the midst of grieving and her sudden intrusion might be too out of place.
"Don't worry. My sister already knew about you and was eager to see you for some reason." Zach replied with a smile before kissing Eun Ae.
As if a fire was ignited once again, Zach and Eun Ae started another round for which they only stopped after an hour. Right after that, they immediately fixed themselves before entering the portal outside to travel back to Earth.
Appearing on the first floor of the headquarters, Zach then guided Eun Ae out of the building as they headed straight to his house. On the way, the survivors saw a glimpse of her which made them curious as to who she was and where she came from since she wasn't familiar to them.
Arriving inside the house, Zach and Eun Ae were greeted by Zoey followed by Sophia who was taking care of Angel, and Shiela who was cooking in the kitchen. Unlike Zoey who was happy to see Eun Ae, Sophia and Shiela were quite curious about who she was as their eyes kept on looking at her since she also wasn't familiar to them.
Following that, dinner then was served and Eun Ae joined them at the table. After seeing how Sophia and Shiela kept on looking at Eun Ae, Zach then just decided to tell them the truth now thinking that it wouldn't matter anymore since it was not like he had a relationship with the both of them.
After dinner, Zach took Angel out of the house so the women could talk with each other after he thought that it would be better for them to get familiar with each other since they would be meeting each other every now and then.
Meanwhile, Zach could be found outside of his house carrying Angel while allowing Adam and Eve to sniff at her which makes him happy seeing Angel giggling at them. After having the skill 'Beast Affinity', Zach felt like he really could understand Adam and Eve just by looking at their eyes. It's not to the point that he could hear them saying something but just a feeling that he can understand them.
Zach, however, thought that it might be only applicable to them knowing that they already had a bond even before the tutorial happened. As he still hasn't met another beast like them, then he could really not gauge the full effect of the skill. He then just promised to look more into it when he had the time to explore outside the base or in the Pluto Sanctuary again.
Zach then also took the time to stroll around wanting to see the other survivors. He just never thought that they would be welcomed openly by everyone seeing them greeting Angel in his arms. The survivors couldn't help but take a glance at her since she has been regarded as a miracle to have been born in this era.
With that, Zach then returned to his house when the surroundings started to get cold and so had Sophia take care of Angel as she was the only one who could calm her down. And when he thought that it would be a good time to rest, he didn't expect to see Zoey and Eun Ae eyeing him on the bed which he could only answer their demands before finally resting with great satisfaction on their faces.