Chapter 37: Encounter

Central Russia

As the sun has set in the horizon and the night arrives, Philip and company decided to rest for a few hours... Not!

They have unlimited energy as superhumans as well as the power from Omega, except for John. John was fine by himself and he can go anytime wherever Philip will go.

He decided to follow Philip because he had a gut feeling that his life will further change when he is near him.

"Alright two down! And how many more?"

[Scanning...]

[Scanned!]

「 There are a total of 8 Runestones in Earthrune. 」

"Earthrune?"

「 Yes, Earthrune, it was named like that after the Runestones dropped on Earth. 」

"I see. Whoever named the Earth that way, props to him! It had a nice tone on it."

Philip then woke up Erica that was sleeping with her head on his lap. The 「 Shard of Love 」 was hovering about Erica's head this whole time while she was sleeping.

"Mmm..."

Erica slowly woke up and slowly opened her eyes. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a spinning shard hovering above her forehead. She then focused her eyes and she saw Philip who was looking down on her.

It took Erica a few seconds to realize the situation that she was in. She fumed and blushed while she mindlessly stared at Philip.

Philip on the other hand, was mesmerized while looking down at Erica. Plump cheeks, firm nose, and he was attracted at the shortness of her hair that greatly amplifies her face. But the most thing that made Philip extremely mesmerized was the ruby red eyes of Erica. He can't help but stare at her eyes for a few seconds.

Erica didn't miss this and somehow locked eyes with Philip. He could see the collored eyes of Philip, golden on the right eye and greenish on the left. She can't take her eyes off of his.

Later on, their world turned pink and blossoming lines and lens flare engulfed their world. Before Emily could snap them out of the Love Realm, the 「 Shard of Love 」 spun and hovered in front of Philip and Erica's eyes. That made them distracted and they snap out and returned back to reality.

The shard then slowly flew back in Philip's left hand and disappeared.

Having snapped out of their own world, Erica immediately sat up right while holding her face that was dyed extremely red. Seeing this, Philip could only scratch his head and giggle gently. Philip then stood up and looked around him for the closest giant Runestone.

"I spot one!"

Philip spotted a giant Runestone towards west southwest.

"Alright you two, please get prepared now and we will depart to the next Runestone over there."

John could only nod while Erica shyly nodded, she still hasn't move on earlier.

「 Philip, wait. I am detecting an energy signature that is heading towards here from the south. 」

Before they could depart, Emily has notified Philip at an incoming individual from the south.

"Is it a foe or a friend?"

「 You can wait and see for yourself. 」

"I see, a friend then."

Philip has deduced that way because he knew that if it was an enemy, Emily would be warn him before it was too late. But judging from that sentence, Philip knew that it wasn't an enemy but a friend instead. He then looked towards the south to see the person while he is arriving and meet him.

John and Erica didn't miss this gesture of Philip as he suddenly looked towards the south when he was looking towards southwest. Erica went ahead and asked Philip.

"Uhm, Philip, is something wrong?"

Philip smirked as he already saw the figure that was a few kilometers in the distance.

"You'll know when he arrives here."

"He?"

"Yes. Look."

Philip gestured his chin and pointed towards the arriving figure and Erica looked towards the black dot in the distance.

Once the figure was getting closer, Erica could make out who it was. She held his hands in her mouth and gasped, from the way she acted, it was clear that she was happy and excited.

A few moments later, the figure had landed a few meters in front of Philip. He smiled and the figure smiled also, as well as Erica. John could only watch in the back.

"Smith."

"Philip."

"Smith."

"Erica."

"P-Philip."

"Erica?"

「 Emily! 」

"John."

The four of them looked at each other with confused faces and suddenly laughed merrily. They did a cliché scenario where they called each other's names repeatedly with Erica stuttering when she called Philip and he called Erica in a questioning way. Only John and Emily called their own names to not be left out and added a comedic effect. Although, the other three didn't heard Emily.

"Well, this is awkward."

"It certainly is!"

"Long time no see, Smith."

"Yes, it has been a while."

"So, what brings you here?? Where are the others."

This time, Smith frowned upon hearing Philip's question. He was prepared at what to answer Philip and he didn't left any information untold. From the capturing, to the formation of UOMS, to Charles' condition, the state of the moon, the Breaker Collars, the Runestones, and Area 323.

After Smith has told everything to Philip, Philip frowned.

[9 Gates of Wrath: 2nd gate opened]

"This is troublesome."

"It is!"

"What happens when I go there and desteoy everything to save everyone?"

"What? You can't! They would only control them by the Breaker Collars and attack you! They might even make them harm themselves if they are desperate enough!"

[9 Gates of Wrath: 3rd gate opened]

Energy bursted forth from Philip, but this energy was controlled and wind only brushed from Smith's body as well as Erica's and John's.

Philip then immediately calmed down as his objective has updated.

"Alright, I have decided."

"Do you have a plan, Philip?"

Erica asked Philip.

"Yes, we'll go around the world and destroy all Runestones to disable the Breaker Essence around the world, including the Breaker Collars, then we save the others."

Originally, Philip's mission was to destroy the Runestones to get rid of it from the world. Since the state of his friends and comrades coincide with his mission, he became more eager to destroy the Runestones and collect the dragons within them as pet companions.

"Then, I will follow you."

"Me too."

"I don't know what's going on, but I have decided to follow you too, Philip."

Smith and Erica decided to follow Philip in destroying the Runestones to also save their comrade, John in the other hand had also decided to follow Philip no matter what a while ago.

"Then, I'll rely in you guys."

"Ah, before we go Philip, let me give you this."

Smith extended his hand towards Philip that was holding a sheathed katana. The sheath was adorned with figures and symbols that resembles authentic Japanese katana.

Philip's blood boiled when he saw the katana, he really wanted to grab this sword immediately and use it right now. He would be unstoppable if he had a sword. But he calmed himself down before he was aboutto grab the sword.

"How about you? What would be your weapon? I know that you needed a weapon to fight."

"Don't mind me, I know that you would use the full potential of a sword than me."

"Fufu..."

Philip giggled as he sensed Smith's true feelings with his 「 Empathy 」 ability. Smith really wanted to atone for not saving his comrades when they needed him the most, so he sacrificed his most treasured weapon and lent it to Philip.

"It's fine, you keep it!"

"But-"

"No buts! Besides, I know you can change that weapon to whatever weapon you want and do amazing stuff with it, Weapon Saint."

Philip winked at Smith and turned his back on him. Smith was surprised when Philip said that he was a Weapon Saint, no one should have know that except for Kurt.

"H-how did you-"

Philip slightly turned his head to the left and held his left index finger to his nose, indicating to Smith that he should be quiet.

Erica on the other hand, was listening to the whole conversation and she was confused about the term Weapon Saint and looked at Smith with a confused look.

Smith noticed Erica's confused gaze and he could only shrug his shoulders attempting to fein ignorance.

When Philip had recognized Smith earlier when he was arriving at him, Emily showed the basic information about Smith to Philip. His name, alias, race, and power. That was how Philip knew he was a Weapon Saint.

"Alright guys! Let's not wait anymore and prolong our friends' suffering! Let's go to the next Runestone!"

"""Yeah!"""

Philip then flew to the sky towards west southwest. The others also followed suit with Erica in front, followed by John and Smith.

~~~

Luna

A few hours later, the moon has completely stopped as the blazing blue fire on the west side of the moon disappeared. Later on, the moon drifted on the sky and emerged from west of the night sky.