5-Unwanted Memory

In the Recorded Year of 2035, Before Arthur Ironhearth's Reboot Life. The Life within the Apocalypse World got harder and harder. Many people were dying left and right while some people were happily eating their food. Justice and Society within the World have perished, but hierarchy still exists within the Apocalypse World. The World was separated into Two. The Awakened Humans were the Pillars of the Apocalypse World, and the Average Humans were the Grain of Sand around the Gigantic PIllars.

Such times were what Arthur called, A Time of Denial.

Within one of the Strongholds in the Southern Part of the Continent. A Normal man was walking through the streets full of people. Some people were impoverished, while some people had luxurious clothes. The Man was a simple Survivor who sold Crystalized Cores for Money. He had to face the dangers of the Apocalypse World to earn something valuable. It was normal, but the death rate was quite high.

"Only Five Stage 1 Cores in the nearest City. I'm gonna die soon." The Normal Man said while walking down the streets. Hunting for Undead was getting harder in this new World. The Area around the Strongholds was already wiped clean by the Awakened Humans, but people like him take out the remaining crumbs. It was a Bad Job, but it was the only thing he could do as he had no other job than this.

Humans barely got out from the Destruction the Apocalypse brought. Most of the Old World got destroyed, and the Strongholds or the Walled Human Cities were built to protect Humanity from the Horrors of the Apocalypse World. Communication between the Strongholds was possible, but some parts of the Continents turned Dark. Some tried to explore, but they never came back. Such parts of the Continent were called Undead Regions.

The Man's name was Arthur Ironhearth, A Normal Survivor within the Apocalypse World. He walked through the streets and found the building where he was supposed to go. The name of the building was the Core Exchange Station. It was a place where Crystalized Core was exchanged for Credits. The economy was created for Strongholds to manage the Humans within them.

Arthur entered through the Building and found the Receptionist in charge of the exchange. He looked around and noticed that there weren't any people within the building. He was curious about what happened. Arthur walked towards the receptionist and gave the Five Stage 1 Core. The Receptionist took a look at it and began preparing the credits for the exchange.

"Is there something wrong? Why aren't any people in this Building?" Arthur asked as he was curious about what happened. The Receptionist looked at him and answered. "Many Hunters disappeared, and an Investigation was supposed to be in process at this day." Hearing the answer, Arthur was a little bit surprised. Hunters were Survivors that hunted Zombies. So for implications, Arthur was a Hunter.

"Isn't that bad news?" Arthur asked as even though the Hunters weren't that good in the Stronghold. They are still one of the main gatherers of cores for the Awakened Humans. The Receptionist placed the credits on the desk and spoke. "Yes, many Awakened Humans are complaining, which is why an investigation is currently in process." Arthur nodded after understanding the situation and took the credits.

He walked to the Door of the Building and left the Core Exchange Station. He had credits that were enough for him to survive for a few days. But he needed more as he would have to travel into a new Stronghold for a new hunting territory. He sighed at seeing his pitiful money and shook his head. He was lucky to have money, unlike the people around him that were impoverished.

"Well, Let's not give up." Arthur tried to make himself confident. He didn't want to give up on life and kill himself. With the thoughts within his mind, He slowly got back his confidence. Then a tragedy happened, For some unknown reason. The State Alarm began ringing. It echoed all over the Stronghold, and a Tragedy was about to happen within the Stronghold.

*BOOM!!!*

An Explosion happened at the Main Gate of the Stronghold. Arthur, who was in shock, finally realized what happened. 'An Undead Invasion? This far south? What happened to the other Strongholds?' Arthur had scary thoughts within his mind after hearing the Explosion. He calmed himself and noticed that the people around him were panicking. They still haven't accepted the Apocalypse World. That was the thought that passed through Arthur's mind after seeing them.

Some were screaming while some were crying for help. Arthur just stood there steadily as he watched the Chaos unfold upon his Eyes. The Face of Fear, The Face of Anger, and Many Disgusting Faces appeared. He knew scums were the only ones that exist in this New Reality. But while he was thinking about this, He could see a Little Girl crying in the middle of the streets.

He walked towards the Little Girl and looked into her eyes. "Are you Afraid?" Arthur asked. The Little Girl nodded as Arthur smiled and hugged the Little Girl. Although the Scums managed to survive in this New World. There were still people that can be the future of this Fuck-up Reality. Arthur then said with a calm voice. "Don't worry... I'll protect you."

*BRrrrrrtttttt!!!*

The Sound of Bullets spraying over the Undead echoed within the Streets. Arthur could already see the Undead from afar. He held carried the Little Girl's hand and ran away from the Area. The Machine Guns were giving him more time to evacuate the area. While running away from the Area, Arthur spoke words for the Little Girl. "Close your Eyes..." The Little Girl closed her eyes as the two of them continued to run away from the Area.

While running away from the Undead, A Stage 2 Undead appeared out of nowhere. Arthur furrowed his eyebrows upon seeing the Undead. The Stage 2 Undead quickly noticed them and ran towards them at a great speed. Cars got thrown at the side of the streets as the Undead ran towards the two. Dealing with a Stage 2 Undead was suicide. Arthur then wanted to push the Little Girl away from him until the Stage 2 Undead stopped moving.

"What the..." Arthur was surprised and noticed someone flying in the skies. It was a Lady that was wearing a Black Military Coat. She had Coal Black Hair and Red Crimson Eyes. Her Hair was Long and Beautiful, while her Skill was Pale White. She had a Thicc Body and can be considered one of the most beautiful ladies within the Apocalypse World. Her name was Lilith, The Leader of the Dark Steel. One of the Strongest Groups within the Apocalypse World.

The Stage 2 Undead then rose to the Air with many Undead from other areas with it. The Undeads slowly crumbled in the Heavens and turned into a Ball of Dead Flesh. The Dead Flesh then fell from the sky and splattered unto the ground. Arthur was surprised, but he quickly gained his calm as he discovered that Death was no unto him. He sighed in relief and looked at the Lady levitating in the Heavens.

"Thanks for saving the two of us." Arthur was thankful that someone saved them. He was surprised that it was one of the Best Awakened Humans within the Apocalypse World. It was unexpected for someone like that to appear in the Strongholds far out from the Frontlines. Lilith landed on the Streets and spoke with a carefree tone.

"You're Welcome..."

Arthur then brought down the Little Girl. The Little Girl hid behind Arthur and took a quick peek at Lilith. "Is she your daughter?" Arthur shook his head. "Is she your sister?" Arthur shook his head again. Lilith was surprised and confused at what the relationship between the two was. Arthur then spoke as he didn't want any misunderstanding to be born from this interaction.

"I found her in the Streets while the Alarm was ringing," Arthur said with an honest expression. Lilith was a bit suspicious, but there was no reason for her to continue interrogating the Man in front of her. It seemed that the man in front of her save the Little Girl out of kindness. His kind was already thought to be extinct in the Apocalypse World.

"You save her without any reason?" Lilith asked. "I do not need any reason to save anyone," Arthur answered. His words might sound arrogant, but Lilith didn't look at it from that perspective. She was a little bit interested in the man in front of her. She wanted to make the Man join her group, so she introduced herself to the man. "My name is Lilith Reid. Would you like to join Black Steel?"

"No." Arthur declined and shook his head. He then looked back and put the Little Girl in front of him. "This Girl should join the Black Steel. She has potential..." The Little Girl was shocked at hearing the Words of Arthur. Lilith was also shocked as it was unexpected for a Normal Man to decline an Invitation of the Black Steel. Lilith calmed herself and took a look at the Little Girl. "You're right, but I can still give you an Invitation."

"Well, I don't think I deserve to be in the Black Steel. I am no one special, and if you are looking at my strange personality. Don't bet on it... I am slowly losing this Strange Personality of mine, so it would be better to decline your invitation. Just take care of the Little Girl. She might grow into someone powerful in the future." Arthur then walked away from the two of them. The Little Girl reaches her hand on Arthur, but she couldn't reach him. He slowly got far away from the two of them and disappeared.

Arthur didn't decline for no reason. He had no ability to rival the Weakest Members of the Black Steel. He had no connections other than Lilith. And one of the main reasons was. Arthur felt like he was about to be thrown to a Lion's Den. He was a Cat, and being in a Lion's Den was a death sentence for him. His Strange Personality was also a bad reason to be invited. There would be no need as Arthur already accepted the Survivors Law within the Apocalypse World. His Heroic Side would slowly disappear, and he would be no more different than Normal Survivors trying to survive in the Apocalypse World.

In the Recorded Year of 2040, Five Years after the destined meeting with Lilith Reid. The Strongholds of Humanity fell one by one. Most Humans slowly lost hope in their Future. The Undead got stronger and numerous. Some even suspected that the Current Numbers of the Undead were beyond the World Population recorded in the Old Society.

During this time, Many Awakened Humans were dying. The Pillars of Humanity slowly got destroyed or disappeared within the Annals of Time in the Apocalypse World. In a Pub within a Stronghold behind the Frontlines of Humanity. Many people were having a drink. Some were laughing while some were depressed.

Within the numerous people within the Pub, two men were speaking about an Interesting Subject. "One of the Biggest Groups is currently in chaos. The Other Groups are munching them down without end." One of the Men said while laughing. There were laughing at the misfortune of other humans. It was a Cope of their Sad Pitiful Life.

"Oh... You mean that group?" The Man with one eye asked. The One who brought up the subject nodded as the two of them laugh. "The Black Steel Group. Never did I thought that they would be Idiots." "Yeah... Hahahaha!!!: The One who brought it up laughed without end. The Man with only one eye then said. "I heard that the Leader of the Black Steel and a Young Lady got killed in a Coup."

"That's correct. With the Leader dying, The Black Steel had no backing and are probably falling into destruction."

"She got betrayed? And the two of them died?" The Two men then looked right beside them and saw a Cold Man drinking Beer. His name was Arthur Ironhearth. Hearing the name of two nostalgic people and hearing that they died was quite a way to depression. But Arthur Ironhearth just stood up and exited the Pub.

"Should I kill everyone in the Black Steel?" He might be weak, but even the weak have their own skills that could kill the strong.