Not Burly Dude, Please

Sooyeon fought her tears, trying to keep the noise down. My eyes drifted around, hoping to avoid any ambushes. The wounds from the battle with the longclaw were regenerating much quicker than a normal human. New Qi itself was powerful and boosted the body, accelerating recovery. At the same time, it could also amplify harmful effects. During the Timeless First Day, with time screwed up, either you healed or died just as fast.

The poison from the minor scratch spread through my body in silence. When I pushed myself to the limits of this body, it somehow stopped hurting, but now it hurt like hell.

The Black Lab tried to cheer the girls up, moving around them and waving its tail, while the other dogs kept their distance. The wound on the red one worried me. I knew how painful the poison was, but there was nothing I could do for either of us. I should already be thankful the dog didn't die on the spot, and even walked with us.

"Thank you. You did a good job protecting them," I thanked the dogs. They fought a fucking longclaw.

The Black Lab playfully smiled.

"Your fists…" Jiwan sounded worried.

"They will be okay. This kind of wound will heal," I raised my fists to show they already stopped bleeding and started regenerating the outer layer of skin. 'The wound will be fine, but the poison…'

"That healing speed…" The Class rep looked thoughtful.

"It's because of the New Qi and the merging of worlds. But don't get sloppy. Wounds can fester and kill you at the same rate if there's something wrong."

She nodded.

"You're too reckless! But amazing, heh!" Jiwan said.

I smiled, but I knew it wasn't enough. In the battlefields, there would be no "what ifs". What if I didn't hesitate? What If I found them earlier? There was only one chance to do it right, without regrets, and then keep moving forward. Maybe that would sound silly coming from the guy with a second chance to do everything right again.

I walked to the sobbing pair of sisters, "Sooyeon, I'm sorry…"

She shook her head and wiped the tears, "No, you did your best to help us. Thank you…"

"We have to go…" Time was too short to beat around the bushes. It was too dangerous to stay.

"I can't leave my mom here like this, not like this… I need to bury her at least…"

"I'm sorry, we don't have time…" I never understood the needs for such rites, but I was never against other people's beliefs, and respected them. However, did she even understand what she asked for? Bury her? Where would we bury her while surrounded by killing demons?!

"I'm not leaving her like this!!" She was adamant. Stubborn, like her sister.

"It's too dangerous. We already stayed for too long. Those thin-" She interrupted me.

"I don't care! I will bury my mother, my poor mother… *sob**sob*" Sooyeon refused to look at me and still held her mother's hand.

"Stop being stubborn! I'm sorry for your loss, but are you going to die here?! Are you going to let your little sister die?!" I tried to make her understand and move forward.

"Zen…" Jiwan touched my shoulder. The burly dude stayed out of it.

"Her mother just died!" The Class rep added.

"And we need to stay alive!" I shouted, forgetting to keep my cool.

"Sister… he's scary…" the little girl whispered.

Sooyeon hugged her sister, glaring at me, "Then you can go alone!"

God dammit. Now it pissed me off. What could I do to make this girl understand? Did I receive a second chance, only to become a babysitter?

I glared at her in silence, while my mind hurled dozens of insults.

"W-what, are you going to hit me?!" Sooyeon said, shivering. She had a right to be scared after my fight with the longclaw. Deep down, they all were, even Jiwan.

"Maybe. I don't care if you hate me for it, I WILL bring both of you to Soojin, even if I have to tie you up and drag you myself," I was dead serious.

"Zen, what are you saying!" Jiwan frowned.

"Y-you…" Sooyeon was taken aback.

"Listen. You lost your mother. I don't think I can say anything to ease your pain. But you have your little sister, and Soojin is still out there, fighting for her life. Don't you want to see her again? Didn't you promise your mom you'd find her? Would she want you to risk yourself and bury her, or to keep your sister safe? look around. Look at the others. See if I'm wrong!"

Jiwan and the others lowered their heads and looked away, but it was easy for anyone to see they thought the same. Sooyeon knew she was being stupid. She had to survive.

The beautiful young woman laid her mother gently, crossing her hands, and prayed for her. Jiwan, the Class rep, the little girl and even the burly dude also prayed.

In my own way, I sent her off, lowering my head, 'Please, rest in peace. I will protect your daughters, so, please, find solace.'

"Okay… let's go…" Sooyeon gathered her strength, holding her sister by the hand.

"... Ugh!" The Class rep brought her hands to the chest, as if having a heart attack. Her breathing became even more ragged and heavy. "...I...c-can't breathe very well…"

"Class rep!" Jiwan hurried to her. The same pain hit him, "... My chest…"

"Sis… I don't feel so good…" The little girl also had trouble breathing, and even Sooyeon's chest hurt.

Only the burly dude and I looked much better, "Calm down. Focus on breathing, don't fight it. It will pass."

Or not. But if it doesn't… then you're dead, anyway. And it would be a terrible way to go. The New Qi in this world deepened once more, becoming stronger. They were looking better after a few minutes. A relief, but still not enough.

"Are you coming with us? What's your name? I can't keep calling you burly dude, right?"

"Haze Kyou. Haze or Kyou are fine. Not burly dude, please!" He said.

"I'm counting on you. Those guys won't be of much help until they awaken."

"Awaken?"

"Don't worry about it, you'll understand. We n-"

"WOOF, WOOOF!!!"

The Black Lab barked. I barely had time to dodge the claw coming at my face by turning my neck away. "SHIT!"

I would be dead if the dog hadn't barked. A moment of carelessness and everything was over. Although it caught me by surprise, it was only enough to rattle me for a second. I hit it with my elbow and dodged the claw coming back, twisting around to create space by kicking the longclaw in the chest.

It pushed its body back a few meters, not enough to cause any damage.

"I will take it!" Burly dude tried to help, but I stopped him in time.

"Wait! It's not alone!"

The longclaws leave from the shadows after their failed ambush. One, two, three, four. Things were not looking good.

Four enemies. Behind me, two unstable and grieving girls with chest pains, a college couple out of breath, and three dogs. I had no choice. It would be too hard to fight while watching their backs. I had to send them away and keep the longclaws here myself. I couldn't even count on burly dude to help since I needed someone to protect them.

"You guys. Run, now. Haze, keep them safe. Keep going south, don't stop, even if it seems like a safe spot with many people and the monsters can't enter. It's only temporary. Reach Sonis City!" I shouted, cracking my fingers to warm up.

"What about you?" Haze clenched his fists, "I can help!"

"Me? I will have a date with those guys. You keep the others safe. That's your job!" I smiled.

"W-we'll help! We can take them!" Jiwan tried to stand up but staggered. His face was pale, and he kept holding his chest.

"I can't fight while keeping an eye on you guys-"

*Awuuuuuuh, Awuuuuuuuh*

The Siberian huskies howled, demanding my attention.

"Uh?" Surprised, I faced them.

They howled loudly, confusing the longclaws and stopping their movements. This was probably how they survived last time. The wounded red one dashed in front of me, running in the middle of the demons, even with blood dripping down.

"Awuuuh, awuuuh!" The grey one signaled with the head.

Was it telling us to go? You will… hold them back?

I ground my teeth, hating my powerlessness, to leave them to their fate. Yet I decided, "GO, NOW!"

Jiwan and the Class Rep ran much slower than before since they couldn't breathe properly. Sooyeon glanced at her mother and sister, and also made her mind to run, dragging her sister by the hand. The Black Lab followed them.

Haze went next. I stopped to gaze at the brave huskies, risking their lives to distract the enemy. "Don't die on me!"

I shouted, clenched my fist, and ran.