Survival at Stake

The next daybreak, Zephyr strolled into the slum, his casual gait a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere he'd left behind. Everyone else, however, flinched, the memory of yesterday's violence still fresh.

Only Eugene and Uncle Chow, who appeared to be recovering, greeted him with warmth.

"So?" Zephyr inquired, his gaze settling on the young girl.

Eugene spoke hesitantly after seeking Uncle Chow's approval with a quick glance, "I want to live in the house you gave me, Uncle Quinn. But... Can I bring others with me?"

A smile, genuine or otherwise, spread across Zephyr's face. "Of course, it's your house, even though it's a gift from me. The decision is yours. Though, remember, there's a limit to how many people the house can accommodate."

Eugene's enthusiastic "Um!" was echoed by a grateful smile and bow from Uncle Chow in the background.

"Before we find you a house," Zephyr stopped Eugene, "there's something you can do to help. Translating Korean into English about a new disease will ensure everyone here understands the gravity of it."

He explained the disease: a weakening condition marked by uncontrollable coughing and red, itchy spots. Left untreated, it becomes nearly impossible to recover after four months.

The key to protection was an AR vaccine, which Zephyr had already provided to Eugene and Uncle Chow. However, carrying out charity work for everyone in the slum area was neither in his planned nor unexpected plan.

"Learning the Apexian language opens doors," he continued. "The Legion Union offers quests even commoners can complete. While the rewards may not match a Legion's, they're enough for a comfortable life, even a one-story house."

Furthermore, he mentioned the Legion as an option for young adults, hoping to spark a sense of purpose and responsibility for their home, the Fortress of the Divine Light.

After the explanation, Zephyr led Eugene and Uncle Chow toward District 2. He offered 120 Shard Coins as compensation for Eugene's help, which Uncle Chow initially refused, but Zephyr insisted.

However, a crucial detail emerged: access cards couldn't be linked to specific owners. The house belonged solely to the cardholder, leaving Eugene and Uncle Chow vulnerable if it fell into the wrong hands.

That was why Jae-Ya and Young-Jae previously left without supervision - their Ex-communicators, devices exclusive to Legions, granted them access. While owning an Ex-communicator eliminated the need for access cards, acquiring one required Legion membership, which in turn mandated the AP-X Serum injection.

Unable to solve the ownership issue immediately, Zephyr suggested a house closer to him in District 2. This way, he could keep an eye on the situation, aware of Eugene's chosen residence.

Injecting Eugene, a mere nine-year-old, with the AP-X Serum was unthinkable. The potential pain and risk were far too great for a child. Briefly, Zephyr entertained the thought of waiting until she was older, then quickly dismissed it.

He handed Eugene the learning materials for the Apexian language and bid them farewell. Stepping into the Legion Union, he was surprised by the long line at the quest distribution counter.

Da-Mi, noticing his arrival, approached him. "New, high-value quests have appeared," she informed him.

"Details?" Zephyr inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"One involves bringing survivors to the Fortress of the Divine Light," Da-Mi explained. "The quota ranges from one hundred to one thousand, with tiered rewards, the highest among all quests. Notably, it's a Grade-B quest with no restrictions - anyone can participate."

Da-Mi's surprise was evident. "This Grade-B quest for survivor retrieval is unlike anything I've seen before, except perhaps for the beast extermination quests. It's completely new, even for Apex Online."

Zephyr, despite his different perspective, shared her sentiment. Such quests were unheard of in the past, as confirmed by his Legion comrades.

While others might see this as an unusual quest, Zephyr, with his knowledge of his past life, recognized the potential significance. Every change, he believed, merited attention. This, he concluded, might be linked to the Main Quest.

"Any time limit on this quest?" he inquired thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

Da-Mi's shock was apparent. "You already know? That's correct - one month. It's unusual for a Grade-B quest to have a time constraint. Typically, they're open-ended, like Subjugation Quests."

Zephyr drew closer to the crowd to get a direct look. After staring intently for a moment, he felt that the Pre-quest happened before as a sign that the Main Quest was about to begin. Faster than he imagined.

That was why quests like that appeared. If the Fortress of the Divine Light only had a population of ten thousand when the Main Quest occurred, then it would definitely experience a crisis.

Zephyr gritted his teeth. Forcing people over the age of 60 to join the Legion was not a good thing. Even though AP-X Serum could improve their physique, its potential was not as great as that of people aged 15 to 40 years.

Yet, desperate times might call for desperate measures.

Zephyr emerged from the crowd, approaching Da-Mi. "This quest should be prioritized for Legions. To increase success, acquiring Exo-skeletons is crucial."

Da-Mi just frowned and narrowed her eyes, not understanding Zephyr's insistence.

"Recall the Pre-quest a few days back," Zephyr pressed, his voice tense. "It signified the Sentinels' presence in the Apex World."

Da-Mi's brow furrowed. "What's your point?"

"Everyone faces the threat of annihilation by the Sentinels," Zephyr declared.

Da-Mi, misunderstanding his intent, chirped, "So, we need to save them because of the Sentinels? Makes sense."

Yamato, however, intercepted before Zephyr could respond. "No, that's not the issue," he corrected, his voice firm. "It's about manpower. The current Legion count, barely a hundred, is insufficient to survive the beast onslaught and invasion in the Main Quest, even with the support of those NPC Legions. This quest, therefore, is crucial for our survival and must be prioritized by our Legions."

Zephyr exhaled as Da-Mi and the others grasped his point. "This quest is our immediate priority. If my calculations are accurate, the first Main Quest will commence within a month."

The gravity of his words settled upon the group, their faces reflecting a mixture of apprehension and resolve. Da-Mi, her expression grim, inquired, "Do you propose a group effort?"

"I'll handle it solo," Zephyr declared. "My experience with Exo-skeletons makes them a necessary advantage. Remember, this is a Grade-B quest. The Sentinels pose a significant threat without them." He emphasized the quest's importance and opted for maximizing efficiency by taking the highest quota of one thousand, going solo.

"Understood," Da-Mi replied with a twisted smile, while others in the group expressed disapproval through subtle gestures. Zephyr's authoritative demeanor, fueled by his knowledge and perceived control, didn't sit well with them.

However, Da-Mi, Jae-Jung, Yamato, Wei Zexian, and Meng Fen held Zephyr in high regard. They understood his burden as the frontier's protector, carrying the weight of their survival on his shoulders.

Despite the group's doubts about the immediate need for the quest, Da-Mi remained resolute. Their financial constraints were the primary concern, evident in her thoughtful smile.

Meanwhile, Zephyr, having just converted Credits to Shards, found himself back in Hall Square with a hefty sum at his disposal with 54,300 Shards. This newfound wealth granted him the freedom to acquire the necessary equipment for the upcoming adventure.

His shopping spree began at Ironclad Bastion, where he purchased Strato and Paladin Exo-suits, significantly reducing his funds by 7,200 Shards. He then proceeded to Firearms Dealer 2, where he further depleted his resources by acquiring two Emberhearts and two Starshrouds, each equipped with ten magazines of ammunition, which amounted to 29,400 Shards spent.

With only 17,700 Shards remaining, Zephyr's shopping spree wasn't over. He ventured towards the largest and most spacious shop in Hall Square, where he was greeted by NPCs named Karl and Benz.

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[ AutoPex Warehouse ]

1. Swiftwind. Cost: 10,000 Shards. (A sleek, two-seater hover car designed for speed and agility for 2 Exosuits.)

2. Sky Hauler. Cost: 30,000 Shards. (A rugged, four-seater hover car built for functionality and resilience for 4 Exosuits.)

3. Colossus. Cost: 50,000 Shards. (a massive, eight-seater hover car resembling a flying fortress with hangar bays and a command deck for 8 Exosuits.)

- Aether Fuel 13k Energy. Cost: 1000 Shards/Box.

- Aether Fuel 34k Energy. Cost: 4000 Shards/Box.

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