Chapter 8 - A Systemless Apocalypse
Chapter 8 - A Systemless Apocalypse
Back when planning for alternative mobility Levi had once wanted to add retractable roller blades, but upon testing found them too bulky and that it hampered the bend rate of the shoes he was using making it inconvenient to use in dangerous grounds.
They were also heavy, noisy, and less maneuverable without extra physical exertion which was counterproductive considering he was looking for both energy conservation and mobility.
In the end he opted for a modified skateboard, bumping up it's durability to military levels, sacrificing that bit of control that you normally get when using roller blades, switching to an electric skateboard that can easily assist him with extended levels of turning, terrain adaptivity and well, a lot of things.
By upgrading the flexibility of the board, adding slightly durable and larger wheels, including a more effective spring system to help him cushion the fall, Levi was able to expand the use case of the board to cater more off-road and aerial tricks and maneuvers, allowing Levi to operate in a more three dimensional manner.
Once he added the ability to retract the wheels of the board, for possible surfing on sand and water, Levi deemed it enough, and started to focus on portability.
In the end, due to the modifications, the board almost looked like a mountainboard if not for the intentionally smaller and lighter body. But Levi deemed it stable enough though he felt that he also needed an alternative for tighter situations…
For situations that required him to actually jump and roll, something that would allow him mobility without much of a switch in his running stance...
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Levi once considered adding high-rebound shoes to help with energy conservation, after doing some testings however, he found it to be unstable. While it helped him jump higher and run faster, the problem was the constant micro adjustments needed when crouching, sliding or anything that doesn't have to do with bouncing was enough to cancel benefits, not to mention the possible rewire of muscle coordination upon long term use.
And while he could create mechanical toggle to enable and disable the spring, the constant reconfiguring he will have to do to maintain optimal springing will be a nightmare, sure he could automate the recalibration but adding the necessary parts that to do so, would increase the weight too much and would likely tip off his balance.
Through searching Levi found an old technology, or rather toy accessory for kids.
Heelys.
Heelys used to be a gimmicky blend of sneakers and roller skates, meant for kids to coast through malls and sidewalks, and Levi found that it was just what he needed.
It wasn't really made for dodging death in an apocalyptic wasteland but it will allow him to glide fast and silent on the ground whenever he had momentum, allowing him to energy whale still having the ability to effortlessly switch back to free running without much of a change in stance.
With enough design optimization and durability modification, Levi found the training in order to effectively use the new tool worth the hours he spent.
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Overall, the two additions helped fulfill the dynamic mobility and energy conservation Levi was looking for. The only thing unexpected was that he would be using the set on what seemed like an actual apocalypse.
Something he confirmed as soon as he stepped saw the situation in the next city.
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Switching from skating, to sliding with his heelys, to gliding, then to free running then back and forth, Levi easily passed through the outskirts of the next city. The people being in a similar, yet different situation from the city where he came from…
Echoes of desperate screams and gunshots once again echoed in Levi's ears.
Somehow there are a lot more survivors in this city, ranging from children to elderly, all of them carrying bags as they swarmed outside the city. The people just wanting to get as far as possible from the city, probably going towards another city or the capital if they're thinking along the same lines as him.
Unlike the previous city where people were either dead or alive, the majority of the survivors looked bloodied and gruesome. Some sporting injuries, cuts and even decapitated limbs. A stark difference when compared to the damage done by the [Wraith]s.
His questions immediately answered as a horde of…
'Goblins? No… These are orcs.'
Levi mumbled as he saw an old woman slam a hand bag repeatedly at one of the orcs.
The fight between the people escaping and what looked to be at least thirty orcs sprinting towards the survivors. The survivors although had sported a lot of injuries, easily managed the orcs. Majority of them already carrying the weapons the orcs were holding, though given how squishy the orcs were, many opted to use larger blunt weapons that served both defense as offense. Or for this case a 2000 Peso hand bag…
'Fragile ones at that…'
Levi felt odd watching the orcs, despite their menacing appearance the orcs were below average when it came to their speed. Their strength and agility, easily out matched by the survivors trying to escape…
Making Levi contemplate if he should go in or not.
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Their numbers are concerning, yet a closer look easily told that they weren't much of a threat to the majority of the populace. The majority of orcs having been killed by either blunt or sharp objects similar to the small brawl he saw earlier. Some of the orc corpses even looked like they were punched to death but the number of dead people littered on the group told a different tale…
These orcs, although weak, carried medieval weapons and humans although not as fragile as these orclings, are also susceptible to cuts. Not to mention an arrow in the head.
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His suit could protect him from a certain level of pierce and slice, but the hundreds of dead humans and even more orc corpses that littered the ground just from this area alone is almost enough to make Levi reconsider… Not to mention that there are likely stronger orcs further down the city.
Levi's concern however is the number of days he'll be consuming just to get around this metro. With how things are going, it would be best for him to join the main force of the military at the capital as soon as possible which leaves him no other choice.
Taking a deep breath he took off his hood, blending into the crowd before branching off his way towards deeper in the city.
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Levi threaded carefully as soon as he entered the city, using [EVA] to properly map a path less noticeable. He passed by individual survivors, as well as groups. Majority of them bloodied and wounded. Their eyes lighting up as they saw the open road that marked the exit of the city from which Levi came from.
Moving deeper into the city, he encountered several militia-formed rescue groups. Some were even kind enough to offer Levi a hand, but he always declined... These people were noble, but he'd rather be alone than anywhere near a civilian that had a gun.
The same with the people that holed themselves up. Granted that the orcish terraformation simply changed the structure of buildings, rather than turning buildings into pitch black trees, it was easy to tell that something was excruciatingly wrong with you if you still hadn't packed up and after seeing and hearing the commotion outside.
There were some who became unhinged and started raping and killing, letting themselves go, seemingly driven crazy due to fear…
He have had to put a bullet through several of those types as he went even deeper.
The less desperate situation bringing in both positive and negative factors… But ultimately, it made Levi hate the the apocalypse even more.
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Along the way, he also spotted a few military personnels doing escort missions, though he simply ignored them after he had identified that the unit was working for a non-presidential/military division of the government.
After killing some weak orcs, the mayor of this city must have thought that he was a chosen or something. Or…
'Wait, did does he really want to retake the city? In this stage?'
Levi scoffed. He simply didn't have the time to entertain privileged brats at the moment…
He have had to kill a couple of of orcs, but they're the same as the fragile ones he met at the gate. A bit stronger but still, had squishy skulls…
Branching out from the young mayor, Levi deliberately slowed down. Observing the streets rather than going on an the idiotic monster killing spree. Now that he looked at it, the terraformation was altering not just the buildings, but the whole layout of the city itself…
He hadn't had the chance to explore the changes in his city given that he was living near the outskirts as well as the sheer lethality of the [Wraith]s invading the place, but seeing how 'thematic' the monsters in this city are, as well as well is as the terraforming large buildings, specifically the towering one in the middle… It was obvious what was about to come…
Dungeons.
Levi thought as he wracked his brain at what's happening. He himself had grown up reading fictions about dungeons and the integration to a greater universe. And while basing his reasoning on fiction is just wild, he just couldn't simply ignore the signs in front of him.
Yet at the same time, it didn't make sense.
Given how manageable the monsters are, the defence of the city should have been possible had we been granted a system… Then comes more challenges… forcing humanity to either adapt or survive.
Challenging the people to grow, in order to protect their loved ones. Or atleast save themselves…
But without the System's presence…
It was hopeless. This wasn't a novel. And it was stupid for him to even think there is a System in the first place… But he couldn't shake his mind on the idea. It had only been the second day, and Levi already saw two cities fall. If not for a dungeon, then what is causing all of this?
The Terraformation.
The [Wraith]s
The Orcs?
They needed at least something. Yet they had none.
An icy sensation once again creeped at the back of Levi's skull, his cold and calculating side surfacing once again. Helping Levi face the reality of it all.
GIven what he had witnessed, it was even more vital for Levi to reach the capital. Only with the help of the military will they be able to at least save the capital. Only then can they start thinking about reclaiming the rest of the country…
That or atleast sway help the survivors cross to a stronger one…
Taking a deep breath, he was about to turn to another street, when he felt something ominous… Notified in advance by EVA, Levi easily dodged the huge Axe flying towards him.
Turning around he squinted.
These do not look like the children of the tribe.
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To be continued.