Despite their agreement to rest for the night, Leo just couldn't fall asleep, not when his mind was full of buzzing thoughts. His eyes stayed open even when Nyx's form became almost still, the stant stream of emotions from her side of the link dying out. How she dozed off so fast, he had no clue.

  As time flew by, he kept his bnk gaze glued to the opposite wall, trying to sort the mess in his head. It didn't work, at all. And so, spent and bored to the core, he summoned pure Esseside his body and began to shape it, practig his trol.

  While true that nowadays he mostly used shadows to fight, he probably shouldn't he potential ur Esse was still responsible for the majority of his skills, and sooner or ter, he would have to evolve them somehow.

  Kiss of Death and Reinfort were the first two on his list to improve, as he used them almost every hour. However, one particur ability always caught his eye when he looked at his status window.

  Vital Strike. Also known as the st skill of on quality in his arsenal.

  More than once, Leo had the passing thought about this ability and how to make it better. With other skills, it wasn't that hard. He just had to practid study how his Esseed when they formed. From there, it was just a matter of time until he figured something out.

  With Vital Strike — no matter how much he wahe opposite to be true — nothing was so simple.

  For ohe System never gave him any additional knowledge about this skill. It was as if the mysterious entity did all the work for him a it at that. Hell, Leo never evehe slightest bits of Essence used when the ability activated after sg a hit. Or at least that was what he thought.

  And so, without a single clue on how to tinue, he just left the ability alone in the past. It still helped him from time to time so it wasn't all bad after all. Besides, maybe, just maybe, once Adam and Ava were evacuated to the new Safe Zone, he could spend a bit of time studying iail how Vital Strike even activated.

  Who knew? He just might have missed something in the heat of battle.

  Leo sighed, watg as a snake of crimson Essence ed around his arm. I could really use a day or two of downtime. Doubt it's gonna happen anytime soon. At least not before we do something about Adam's dition...

  Slowly, the struct around his limb faded into specks of light, letting the usual darkness crawl over the room. He closed his eyes as a dark fog settled over his mind, finally lulling him to sleep.

  Hopefully soon though... Hopefully...

  A weak nudge brought Leo back to the nd of the living, and his eyes snapped open, cws raising. Only when he spotted Nyx's looming figure did he rex, falling against the wall behind him.

  "Now that's a way to wake up," he muttered, looking up at the feline. "Did you really have to stand above me like that?"

  Nyx tilted her head. 'Hmm? I apologize if I scared you, but the night has passed. I thought you wouldn't want to waste more time than necessary for sleeping.'

  "It's fine," Leo yawned, standing up and stretg his half-asleep body. "e o's cate breakfast. If I don't devour something soon, I will fall asleep standing..."

  The feline nodded and headed out through the door. 'Agree. Although a feast simir to the oerday might not be the best idea this early in the day."

  Leo chuckled with a weak shake of his head. "Then trol yourself. o eat everything in sight."

  Nyx huffed, leaving him alohout another word. Still ughing quietly, he followed after her, True Stealth already settling over his skin. At this point, it was sed nature to use this skill, so why not...

  As phe duo desded upon the Voidlings like hungry wolves, tearing the beast to shreds. Devour did the rest of the job for Leo, while e — a slightly worse skill — helped Nyx.

  It wasn't long before the leftover tiredness and aches faded away from their bodies. Instead, their respective skills filled them to the brim with energy, just waiting to be used through the day...

  "It got worse during the night," he ented as they both settled upon a random roof. "You barely see the sky now..."

  Dark as-night clouds hung high in the air, almost blog all of the sunlight. For now, Leo's night vision didn't activate and probably wouldn't. However, sidering how dark the days were already, losing any more visibility could be problematic for other survivors.

  'The wind is pig up too,' Nyx added, her tails zily swishing behind her. 'I see why you're worried. Even my own instincts are starting to notice that something is wrong. They are quiet, but I hear their whispers now. Whatever is ing, it's not that far away.'

  Told you... Leo y down, his eyes on the dark sky. A bit over a week ago I barely paid any attention to stuff like this. After years of living here, you get used to shitty weather... Well, look at me now.

  'So what's the pn, Leo? What are we going to do?'

  A single eyebrow shot up as he turo look at the feline.

  Pn? I don't have any. Not sure about you, but I'm definitely not strong enough to stop a force of nature. If that's what's even ing for us. He shook his head. No. We proceed as Holden told us and respond appropriately when shit hits the fan. And trust me, it will; I just hope not today.

  'Uood,' Nyx bowed before falling silent for just a moment. 'Leo... I wao ask. Once your family is safe and the little humaurns to normal, what will you do ?'

  Leo closed his eyes, a certain versation with Ava fresh on his mind. I don't want to leave them. I really don't, but at the same time... Lily, I o find out what happeo her. I will never five myself if I don't at least try.

  'Your sister... I see…' The felitered, rising to her feet. 'Know then that I shall assist you all the way. Even if I was borerday, remember, you t on me.'

  Also standing up, Leo gave Nyx the best smile he could muster. Thanks... Now, I think it's time for me to head out ahe others.

  She nodded and burst into a cloud of shadows, diving off the roof. 'I shall attend to my task too.'

  Sliding to the ground using the nearby tree, he called out. Remember to leave enough Voidlings so they won't suspeything. Only get rid of the dangerous stuff. Good luck.

  'You too, Leo. I will tact you soon.'

  When he arrived at ReachHope, Leo didn't have to wait long for someoo greet him at the door. To his surprise, it wasn't anyone he knew, but the dark-skinned man still weled him with a smile and gave him all the info he needed.

  Onside, he quickly made his way through the crowd. Really, with all of them running around with boxes and other kinds of stuff, nobody even spared him a gnot a problem for him as it made sneaking into Adam's room quite easy.

  "Leo?" Ava muttered, her brow furrowed as she rose from the mattress. "What are you doing here? Is it already time?"

  Ign the child-sized missile that once more ed around his waist, he shrugged. "Thought I would stop by before the roup arrives. How are you two doing? Ready to finally get out?"

  Adam's excitement couldn't be quelled as the child exploded into chatter. Ava barely got any word iween, but it didn't seem like the woman minded. After all that happened, she was likely just happy to see her kid ag like someone his age should.

  heless, even though Leo smiled ahe eic boy oside, his mind was in a pletely different pce.

  Already level nine... He was still at eight when I left yesterday. My Essence is really speeding up the process. I need a fi-

  A loud kno the door stopped his musing, shifting his attention. Slowly, he put Adam ba the mattress and moved toward the entrance.

  "You're here, Leo. Gd to see ya, d," Dyed the moment the door opened. "They told me to get you. Apparently, the others are close."

  Giving the older man a nod, he turo his family. "Well, I'm off then. I will stop by again when we e back for the sed group. Be good till then, okay buddy?"

  Adam's only answer was a broad grin followed by a giggle that had Ava shaking her head. Everyone in the room knew how saying stuff like that to a child ended.

  With a chuckle, Leo left the room, bathing in the gre that Ava sent at his bao matter the time, he would always enjoy getting under his sister-in-w's skin.

  "Here they are," he muttered, just loud enough for the mao him to hear it. "This is goneresting."

  A rope of new arrivals spilled into the warehouse, most dressed in police clothing and armed with firearms. A quick Identify also firmed that none of those people were below level eight. Quite the feat, sidering what he saw not long ago.

  "I think we have a different definition of that word, mate," Dyn grumbled as they both observed from their p the er of the warehouse. "Ah bloody hell..."

  Just a moment before those words left the older man's mouth, Frank and Holden arrived behind the new group. Gasps rang around the building while some people even backed off, hiding behind shelves and boxes.

  Leo chuckled, knowing well something like this had to happen. Although, looking at the two leaders, he wasn't sure if the Fallen was the only one causing those reas.

  Asded Human | LVL: 11

  Guess someone finally listeo my advice. Good.

  Despite the apparent evolution, Holden didn't look much different. Maybe he gained an inch or two, and his body seemed like it was shining, but apart from that, there was nothing new. No additional limbs, no spikes, zero cws, and hell, even his eyes didn't ge except for the weak golden glow.

  He is still a human after all. Not a monster like me.

  Once more, any further p was stopped when Frank jumped onte box. A few masps filled the air, but the man didn't seem to care as he spread his arms.

  Uh, oh.

  "Gather round, maggots. We have a long day ahead of us, so I will keep it short," the Fallen shouted, ign Holden's growl and gre. "Name's Frank. Some of ya know me, others don't... It doesn't matter if you like me or fear me; I really don't care. What matters is that ya all listen to me and Tony when we go out there."

  Frank paused for a moment, sweeping his eyes over the gathered crowd. "There are no sed ces beyond this pce. If you fuck up, you die. So listen! Nobody will risk their lives because you 't follow simple orders. Capiche?"

  Some people gave resolute nods, while others? Not so much.

  "Better than nothing at all, I guess," Frank scowled. "Alright then. Group one, gather your shit! We move out in five. Oh, and Hale! Lose that bloody cloak of yours. Let those idiots see who is saving their fat arses."

  Leo froze, ao him, Dyn wasn't faring much better. But, the shock didn't st long as a snort left his throat, followed by a louder chuckle.

  I fug khis would be iing…

  Chaos65