CH73: MARKED

[!!WARNING!!]

[Weather conditions critical.]

[Survival probability: 45%]

At this moment as Ace was making his decent to the bottom of the building into the tunnel like the rest of the city's inhabitants were, he looked over to where the dust cloud was and watched at how monstrous and terrifying it was to a faint-hearted man or woman. The cloud was large enough to cover two cities stacked on top of each other and still have room for more. The wind blowing from its direction was so strong that some parts of the building he was in started to rumble.

The intensity of the lightning bursting within its interior struck fear onto its onlookers but that wasn't the only thing he was worried about. Thanks to his slightly enhanced vision, Ace swore he saw three medium specs hovering a few distances far from the cloud. Not so sure of what they could be, he used the system scan skill to see if he could figure it out.

[Scan Complete.]

Although the system couldn't show Ace how the storm looked like inside, it was able to show him just exactly what those three specs were, and they were the last things he dreaded to see at this time.

'It can't be.' He thought to himself with his eyes dilating in fear. 'They left ArkVille and are coming here. How did they find me?'

"I'M NOT GOING TO ASK AGAIN, BOY. YOU EITHER GET IN, OR WE'RE CLOSING THE DOORS." Ace was now faced with two choices. One: He could risk a dance with death and hide in the buildings and slowly make his way through the storm, head into the ships and see how many Granians he could kill or Two: he could seek refuge and maybe escape once he found Sky.

With the obvious answer in mind, Ace quickly run deeper into the city and hid in the tunnels with the rest of the civilians hoping to wait out the storm. Once inside, he was welcomed by warm smells, calming music, and a sort of friendly environment.

What he was currently in was a place named Neveah. Ever since the Granians invaded and war raged on, the weak were forced to take shelter inside of tunnels, old military bunkers, and doomsday shelters that were made decades ago. Once the war raged out and the treaty was signed, many left the bunkers while a few stayed behind and beautified them in order to make them hospitable in case another world ending threat occurred. These places were literally cities under cities with all the basic needs like electricity, food, and clean water already provided for.

"Alright everyone!!" The Hunter who yelled at Ace earlier spoke while trying to get the people to relax. He looked a lot more like Indiana Jones with the casual brown leather jacket, brown hat and boots with kaki jeans. However, his body was two times larger with bulked arms, a chiseled chest and beefy legs (no homo). His jacket, which was slightly unzipped, revealed the large, diamond shaped crystal resting on his hairy chest. Ace looked around and saw that the other hunters dressed like this one each had crystals either on their chests or on their hands in forms of jewelry. "Just as we always practice, we'll need your full cooperation if we want to keep our streak for no casualties lost, alright? Please stay away from all exits, do not push, and make sure to stay calm, relaxed, and not to hog any of the resources we have."

"In case we come across any beasts, let us handle them. Do not try and play god with your lives."

After calming the people down, the Hunter glared at Ace and noticed how shabby he looked. His poorly cut hair, torn, dirty clothes, and the poor health condition he looked to be in struck a gut-wrenching feeling of disgust within him. He leaned over slightly and sniffed Ace, only to have his nose hit with a musk so musty that it made him feel light headed for a quick second.

"Boy, you need a shower and some fresh clothes. You look like you haven't showered in weeks."

"You'll be surprised…" Ace rolled his eyes while muttering under his breath.

"I notice those weapons you have there," The Hunter pointed at the sword mounted on the boy's back and the gauntlets tied to his sides. "Those are some high-grade weapons you've got there. How did you get them?"

Knowing very well that these weapons would make Ace a target, the boy quickly came up with a lie and said, "They're not mine. I just—found them lying around."

"We'll then, I'll take those off your hands if you don't mind." As the Hunter reached for Ace's sword, the boy quickly ducked and pressed the Hunter's arm in his unusually strong grip for a boy his age. "Tch—you've got quite the grip there, haven't you?" The Hunter asked while wincing in pain due to how Ace increased his grip with each passing second.

"Don't touch my things, please." Ace quickly let go of the Hunter's arm and disappeared into the ground, allowing him to lose the attention of the Hunter.

'That kid's got some weird strength for his size.' The Hunter whispered to himself while holding his sore arm. 'Those high-grade weapons will be completely useless on a thing like him. I'll find a way of getting them from….wait a minute!!'

A certain realization crossed the man's mind as Ace's picture stayed on his mind. He quickly pulled out a screen and after swiping for a few short seconds, he replayed the bounty video Grim had sent some time back. The striking resemblance made the Hunter gasp in shock but joy at the same time, making him devise ways of getting Ace's weapons and returning him to the aliens for a handsome bounty.

'Well well well. Looks like someone just barked up the wrong tree. Who knew we had a vigilante amongst us?'