Chapter 80
Chapter 80
As John had made his way stiffly to the outside, he met the old man on the way who walked with him, John asked if he had joined the fight only to be told he hadn't, rather he stayed behind to keep a handle on things and protect the girls, as it turned out a small separate group of 5 had snuck around and had waited for the fighters to leave before they planned to ransack and kidnap the them, he had stumbled onto them admittedly by chance as he went to try and find May who was still busy in the kitchens and before they could do anything had put an end to them but didn't go into details, just smiling and saying they where quickly returned to the earth getting a nod of gratitude from John, glad that someone was reliable but feeling more upset at the supposed fighters, why did it take so long? Why was it only after having sent Ash did they come? He softly asked, his anger growing as he went unaware the old man was able to hear him and told him how he didn't have an answer but is deeply disappointed as well, that they had felt a slight quake but was ignored when he asked about it, when the roars where heard and he said it should be investigated he was angered by being told to mind his own business and leave the fighters to handle things well they turned back to laughing and joking with one another about a hunt or something. Only Ray was willing to go and look but got convinced no doubt wanting to fit in with them and not be alienated or isolated that it was probably just beasts fighting again and relented. It was only after Ash showed up in a flash and bloodied telling them there's enemies did, they all rush to grab their gear and rush out to the field.
Hearing all this only caused John's fury to burn hotter, his entire body almost heating up as he tried to help a level of control. Thanking the old man they reached the exit and stood infront of everyone, most taking a few moments before they recognized him and stood straighter, smiles on their faces of the disabled destroyers and Ray fidgeting slightly with a blush next to them, the mage twins next to them and seemingly talking in hushed whispers but visibly annoyed by them, Z stood away on their own separated from them but seemingly appraising John and lastly Ash and Saya stood with Alice who at first glance seemed perfectly fine, but upon looking a bit closer visibly seemed off, it was difficult to point out exactly what it was but her smile seemed forced, her eyes slightly to open and not blinking, a faint gloss look to her skin and she also wasn't bouncing around or rushing right at him at the sight of him, all points of worry John would address with her once done with the rest of them.
His eyes turning cold, staring down at all of them as his chains rattled, Z and Ash along with the twins and Saya all seemed to feel the slight changes, either due to being more sensitive or for some other reason but they visibly stilled and looked at John, not making a single sounds now feeling the tension in the air.
The disabled destroyers though seemed oblivious to it, well standing at attention they were speaking with one another and making jokes, even Ray well sneaking glances at him didn't seem to feel the seriousness of the moment.
"Our fearless leader! Glad to see your up and about, got to say, love the new look! Far fitter and better than the tub of lard you used to be and seeing that mess we came to its clear you're a real badass!" The armoured berserker said with a grin, clearly trying to suck up to him but at the same time his tone carrying hints of condescendence.
John's eyes turned to him, his chains hitting the ground with a faint crack expressing his anger. "Funny you should mention that, where exactly where all of you? How is it, you all the fighters and warriors could miss a group of over 60 people this close to our base?" He calmly asks causing the berserker to sweat slightly.
"Uhm well you see Ray was on guard duty but when you went out to see the merchant, we figured you and the other 2 badass's could handle things, we didn't expect something like that to happen! Also don't over exaggerate, its clear there where only 20 something monsters!" He began nervously before snapping at the end well puffing up, clearly trying to make himself seem bigger.
With a laugh that sent shivers down the spine of Ash, Z, Saya and the twins. "Over exaggerate? Oh no, it seems you are really fucken stupid! Those monsters where created from the people he brought, and Ash and Alice had to fight! When they started to fall the bastard leading them started causing them to mutate and fuse and so on!" He snaps at the berserker.
"Well, uhm why weren't you fighting as well? Your supposed to be the leader but you left some women to fight for you at the start and clearly get badly injured! what kind of man are you!" The berserker says refusing to relent and trying to put the focus back on John, clearly not noticing the slight changes in the air as it slowly grew heavier, the others now starting to sweat slightly or look nervous having started to feel it.
"Your right, there injuries and what happened is all on me, I accept that and make no excuses, but let me ask where all of you were when the tremor happened? Where were all of you when there was screaming? When the beasts roared!" John practically yelled at them causing many to look down, Saya though and the twins seemed to raise their hands at that though drawing Johns focus.
"I was in the kitchen with May, when the tremor happened I was helping make sure none of the gas bottles where damaged or leaking, once that was done I make my way out and bumped into the twins, it seems they sneak away to the back of the camp to practice away from everyone to avoid hurting anyone accidently, they where heading over a bit slower and said they heard screams and roars but needed a moment to recover a bit form there practice, it being the reason they where heading slowly to investigate. They managed to takedown 1 of those mangled and fused creatures but that pretty much drained them from what I could see." Saya says in a quiet voice as she looked down, an invisible pressure seemingly pressing on her and a faint mist no doubt created by the beings she has contact with trying to protect her.
"And we took down the rest! Something you clearly couldn't do! So, you should give us some kind of reward or something for it, we did far better than anyone else!" The berserker quickly said, seeming to actually believe his own words and getting looks form almost everyone else.
"Oh? A reward? But my question is why didn't any of you react to the noises? Why wasn't there a lookout? You were quick to spot the merchant but why did no one see anything else? Why didn't anyone investigate!" John growled out causing him to deflate and sweat heavily as he tried to think of an excuse seeing no one else was speaking up.
"Ray was supposed to be on watch! But she came over to hang out with us." He stuttered out, getting a shocked and betrayed look from her.
"Only because you and the others had called her over, I believe it was to have a drink and bite to eat, the spoils you gained form your previous scavenging if I recall correctly." The old man says from Johns side making his presence known again and looking disappointedly at Ray who visibly seemed sad and guilty.
"We deserved it though, and what are you going to do with us? you can't lose us! were the fighting force of your little town here! Without us you will have nothing! And if you kick us out, I promise I will tell everyone I come across about this place and even the marauders about what you've done!" The berserker practically shouted at John to everyone's surprise.
"And who among you agree with him? Who stands with him? Come now, step forward and stand with him." John coldly asks, looking them all over and seeing a lot of hesitation before the others step forward and stand with him, only Ray who bit her lipped seemed indecisive before she, to stepped forward causing the old man to sigh and look at her sadly causing her to question if stepping forward was right and quickly trying to step back but finding she was unable to do so.
"You made your choice, you cant just take it back. Now your right, I cant just kick you all out, but I cant keep people like you either, firstly you didn't do your job of keeping the place safe, secondly you clearly have some kind of superiority complex forgetting how you got here, third you didn't even show remorse or even accept your faults instead tried to shift blame or justify it, forth you tried to threaten me, and finally I can already see given some more time you would try to take control of this place and have yourself be the leader." John says coldly, Ray starting to panic slightly seeing roots slowly envelope her feet without even feeling anything and slowly creep up her legs, her eyes going to the old man practically begging and pleading for help only for him to look at her sadly and shake his head.
"So what! A camp needs a strong leader! I've done more than you have and risk my life! How is it you're the one who should be allowed to benefit from our work!" The berserker yelled and tried to move forward only to frown and look down noticing the roots in shock, his gaze snapping back to John demanding an answer.
"Z, would this people be tradable? Or would they need to be dead and their souls somehow trapped in order to be tradeable?" John asks causing shivers down all their spines, surprised wide eyes from the rest and please from the group tied to the ground, trying to break free only to fail in doing so, the roots firmly keeping them bound to the ground now rushing up and wrapping around them to prevent them from trying to fight, panic setting in as they tried to beg and plead well cursing and threatening him, only Ray seemed to be filled with regret as she broke down crying.