We Made It

The bike continued hurtling down the hill, pieces of metal ripping off every time it bounced against the rocky terrain. If not for Gray's enhanced strength, both he and Joshua would've been flung off the bike by now.

By the time the bike, or what was left of it at least, reached the bottom of the hill, there were streams of smoke hissing out of its engine. Gray and Joshua were covered in cuts and dirt, and their hair had become a nest of thorns, leaves, and tiny rocks.

The red container, along with all the plastics they had stored inside it, had been torn off the bike at some point, and the front portion was now just a mangled hunk of metal.

"We made it," Joshua sighed, lying on the ground beside the bike. He was laughing between gasps, his body unmoving apart from his mouth.

They had landed on the grass outside the stadium. The parking lot was just a few meters ahead. It was packed with hundreds of cars filling every space available.

"We have to get up, they'll close the stadium soon," Gray said; out of breath. He was on the ground as well, gasping for air.

After taking a deep breath, he tried standing up. Everything hurt; he felt like a worn-out punching bag. "I'm never letting you drive again," he whispered, once he got to his feet.

He took a moment to study the stadium. It was the largest in the state, a goliath of a structure, that towered over every other. It seemed even more imposing with the pillar of green light around it, its outline streaked with golden wisps.

~Well, whatever it is, hopefully it keeps the monsters out,~ he thought to himself before turning back to Joshua.

"Get up. Stop being a baby," he said, nudging the other boy with a weak kick.

"How are you up? I can barely breathe without feeling like shit," Joshua replied.

There was shouting coming from the entrance of the stadium, a few meters away. Gray could just make out the small crowd that was waiting at the doors, probably the last few people who had arrived.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "Give me your arm," he sighed, staring down at Joshua.

Joshua made a pathetic attempt; lifting his arm slightly before letting it fall back to the ground. He tried several more times, each time his face scrunched and he let out a soft grunt.

"Fine, I'll just drag you there," Gray muttered, grabbing Joshua's arm and pulling him up to his feet. Gray threw the other boy's arm over his shoulder and began hauling him forward, his feet dragging on the ground as they moved.

"Fuck, this hurts man. What's the point of being with someone who has super strength if they can't even pick me up when I'm injured?" Joshua whispered, as Gray struggled his way through the parking lot at a stumbling pace.

"The fact that we both went through the same fall and I'm the only one standing is super enough. Besides, I don't have super strength," Gray replied, in between grunts.

Each step felt like hell, but his body was obedient. It seemed that one of his stats had given him superhuman endurance; allowing him to fight past pain he never thought imaginable. The funny thing was, he felt like he could survive the fall again. However, that was probably an overestimation.

He stopped right at the threshold of the green barrier, taking a moment to study it. The crowd at the doors seemed alive enough, so there were probably no mal-effects. However now that he was closer he noticed that their shouts were slightly muffled.

"What're you doing, they're going to lock us out," Joshua said from behind him.

He took a deep breath, before stepping through. Something like a warm cloak passed over him, the sensation only temporary.

Everything seemed peaceful here, like it had been unaffected by what was happening outside. The sky wasn't red, the spaceship was no longer visible, and for some reason the atmosphere was a lot calmer; even the shouting from the crowd ahead felt out of place here.

『Safe point reached!』

『Quest 'Guarding Duty' complete!』

『Open Quest Report tab for more details.』

Gray only glanced at the notifications for a moment as he ran towards the doors. The last few people had gotten in, and a man dressed in military uniform was closing the gates.

"Wait! Wait!" he shouted, now half sprinting half fast-walking.

The soldier stopped and was about to complain before he got a proper look at him. "Jesus, are you okay?" he asked.

"No," Gray replied blankly, dragging Joshua past the doors before collapsing. The doors closed behind them, followed by the clanking of metal bolts.

The soldier looked at him for a moment, before stepping over them and walking away.

Gray had a lot of questions, but he was too tired to ask them right now. Besides, from all the shouting and arguing that was going on inside the stadium, he likely wasn't the only one.

"Everyone calm down," a voice shouted over the stadium's speakers. This did nothing to silence the shouting, in fact, it only seemed to get louder.

Gray rolled over, to get a glimpse of what was happening. They were currently in a passageway with a narrow view of the field. Several soldiers stood guard at the end of the passageway, directing civilians towards the seats on the higher levels.

The soldier who had been at the door reported to one of them, before heading onto the field.

"You two. Get to one of the higher levels. An announcement is about to be made," one of the soldiers shouted.

"You hear that? The military guy thinks we're one of the other NPCs. Show him your chosen one badge," Joshua joked, before hissing in pain.

"We're injured. Can't move," Gray shouted back. He didn't care to go to the higher levels, besides, he had a good view from here. He wouldn't have to see the other thousand and something people that were stuck in here with him.

And lord knows that he was tired of seeing people shouting and screaming today.