Adjustment Theory

Mark put all the ammunition in two bags Frank handed him. They filled the bags but it was enough.

After they were done they retreated up to the main store.

Frank was still cautious, he didn't even bother much about the fact that Mark was half-demon. He didn't know why but he just naturally held his guard up around Damian.

Damian was surprised at how the transaction went smoothly. It was too unnatural.

"Frank we got this stuff, a refuge of some sort. We'll need someone like you." Mark said as he stood in front of the counter, looking at Frank who was behind it.

"I don't think staying in an area filled with people will be in the least safe. I could sell you food and supplies when the time comes." Frank said plainly.

'Very smart, indeed.' Damian commented silently. In truth, he completely concurred with Frank. He wasn't as good-willed as Mark who just wanted to help protect people. He originally set his plan to stay underground up for himself but it all changed when he heard what Ivan, the senile prophet had to say about the apocalypse.

The latent dangers hidden in having a group of people stay together far exceeds the benefits. Damian didn't want to put the safety of others in his hands even though he caused the apocalypse in a way. All he wanted was to get to the bottom of everything.

The apocalypse was prophesied. Did it mean his answer to that wish was predetermined? What made him come to that answer was because of everything he faced up to that point, so did someone make his life play out exactly as it did so he would come to that answer?

"Then I hope we trade again in the future." Damian's lips curled slightly and in contrast with his glasses made him look rather cold.

Damian took a Beretta M9 which Mark loaded the cartridge for and kept it in the underarm gun holster Frank gave them.

Mark carried the two bags and proceeded out of the store.

They only walked a few steps before Frank called for their attention from behind.

Damian and Mark both turned to look.

"I forgot to ask--" Frank wasn't able to finish before they heard an ear-splitting scream come from opposite the street at the left.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

A black-haired woman screamed as she held a girl's hand who looked to be about 10 or 11 years old and were running for their lives from a skinny demon chasing them.

They got to the road and were crossing but the woman left the girl's hand and ran further before noticing she was no longer with the girl.

Meanwhile, the girl fell in the middle of the road and the demon was about to pounce on her.

Seeing this sight, Mark instinctively wanted to help but not only was he a bit too far, but his hands were currently occupied. Even if he managed to drop what he held and ran he still wouldn't be able to get there fast enough.

"STOP!" He shouted. The demon about to land on the girl, the woman that tried to quickly turn around to run back to the girl, and the girl that stared at the demon in terror… all froze.

Damian felt goosebumps all over his body and his hair stood on end. A tremendous force made him freeze on the spot.

Only about a second after were they released but the stop was very noticeable. Damian and Frank were released half a second earlier.

"Krieeee…" The skinny demon turned to the opposite side then ran away.

Damian turned to look at Mark in fright that made his face twist a little but didn't portray in his voice as he asked, "What happened?"

"I… don't know. Adrenaline, I guess." Mark stood there in total confusion but his attention was soon drawn back as the woman ran back to the girl.

A skinny demon came flying down and picked the woman up as she was about to get to the girl.

"Ahhhhh!" She let out another scream that resounded the extreme fright in her voice.

Damian quickly removed the gun in his right arm holster and pointed it to the demon about half a kilometre away, 'I don't know how to use guns.'

He threw his knife up with his right hand and caught the tip of it then turned his hand and threw it straight to the demon that was trying to fly away with the woman.

The knife curved multiple times before stabbing the demon in the head.

"Kyaarrr…" The demon let the woman go midair and also staggered before crashing to the ground. Thanks to the fact that it only went as high as 15 feet she landed on the concrete road surface, only gaining a few bruises.

Mark was left in shock, he turned to ask Damian, who was also surprised by his actions, "How'd you do that?"

Damian didn't let his puzzlement show on his face as he answered, "Adrenaline."

"This is what I wanted to ask." Frank said in astonishment.

"What do you mean by that?" Damian asked, not hiding his confusion.

"I wanted to ask if you noticed any changes in your body after the end of the first phase."

"Why?"

"This-This concludes what I deduced! My special power is 'Survival sense' but it never really had any effect. Just yesterday after the end of the first phase was announced, I had a feeling some terrible creatures have made their presence on earth. Although I didn't see them. Today earlier in the morning, I saw three armoured demons and one with a horn in the middle of its forehead through the window. They were extremely terrifying.

"And today, I don't know why but I just had a feeling agreeing to your request was my best chance of survival. I was constantly thinking you guys were bad news but after Mark asked for my help regarding your haven, I realized the best chance of survival was allying with you guys by selling my goods. Which in turn, means I'll get rings and I won't be cannon fodder for those creatures."

"So what you're saying is…"

"I am changing... you are changing… the world as a whole is changing, no… instead, adjusting."

Damian thought about it for some time, while Mark ran to help the woman and the little girl.

'What happened was quite awkward, to be honest. Mark shouted… hmmm… that manual said something about the higher-ranked being able to control the lower.

Mark is ranked Low and that everyone here has no rank so this is explainable, but maybe that's why we weren't attacked on the bridge yesterday, Mark is of a higher rank.

I threw a knife across a distance with extreme accuracy… I feel like I always knew how. It's not like I can see from far… I just threw it knowing 'it' was my target.'

Mark carried the little girl on his back as he and the limping black-haired woman approached.

"Thank you very much." The black-haired woman said.

Damian nodded then asked, "What's your name and what were you doing out?"

"My name's Rachael Benson and this is my daughter, Michelle. W-We ran away! They wanted to use Michelle as a sacrifice!"