Chapter 14: Chapter 13 – The Worst Creatures

Adam Ross Stared at the huge projection on the wall, both He and his adversary were on top of a huge stage and, bellow it, there were thousands of people, on the projection there were their names followed by constantly changing numbers, he was nearly mesmerized as he stared, hoping against hope for the right result.

 

When the numbers finally stopped he saw the result, everyone exploded in noise as thousands of people cheered and commemorated, his wife and son climbed up the stage and ran over to congratulate him, she hugged him and gave him a deep kiss while his son patted his back smiling “Congratulations dad” looking at the image again barely believing his luck he saw the numbers, a few millions to zero, he had lost.

 

Turning his way his adversary and new president of the United States came closer extending his hand in a compliment, he shook the hand and congratulated him “Congratulations on winning Eduard” looking into his eyes Edward Hamilton smiled and said “Good morning Mr. President” “What?” “I am sorry but it is time to wake up sir”

 

Lifting his left arm that had been hanging by the side of the couch he wiped the droll of his face and grumbled “Five more minutes” “Mr. President I believe you will want to listen to general Jackson’s report” Lifting his other hand from his belly he scratched his sleepy eyes and yawned.

 

“What time is it?” “Eleven a.m.” “What!” jumping out of the couch he stumbled and nearly fell on his face “Why the hell did you let me sleep so much!” “Mr. President you hadn’t slept in nearly three days, even if there was any decision that needed your immediate attention nobody would trust your decision.”

 

“Fine, fine” adjusting his tie and dusting his suit he righted himself and yawned once more before shaking his head “What’s this about general Jackson again?” “I took the liberty of marking a meeting with him in half an hour sir” “Ok fine, since I am awake anyway get me a line with Mr. Sullivan while I wait” walking with fast steps he put a hand on the door knob and twisted.

 

“Ahem! I am sorry to say this sir but, you stink” freezing where he was he sniffed the air twice before releasing the knob “Change of plans, get Mr. Sullivan to be present at the meeting, I will be taking a shower” “Of curse Mr. President.”

 

Taking his suit off he threw it aside and walked into the shower, letting the water ran off his face and body he relaxed for the first time since this whole mess started, sighing he extended his hand for the soap.

[Congratulations, your guild has claimed a city, as the guild leader you get + 100XP]

[Congratulations, you have gained a level, as a human you get + 1 attribute]

Startled he let the soap slip through his fingers and fall to the ground “Fuck!” goddamnit he couldn’t get a fucking break, even in the shower this cursed <system> had to remind him of its existence, having finally reached level 3 without killing a single creature he distributed this new point into wisdom he finished his shower quickly, his good humor had vanished as soon as it came.

 

Jonathan, his aid, waited for him at the door of his room with a few folders of information and a cup of coffee “Sir, I think you would like to know the Einherjar’s Beta team has just returned to the base” looking his way quickly Adam asked “How is he?” “He is doing fine sir, their mission had a few inconveniences but was ultimately a success he has already reached level 4”

 

Releasing a breath he didn’t know he had been holding Adam picked the folder from Jonathan’s hands and started walking towards the meeting room, reading the mission report on the folder he was quiet the whole way as sadness gripped his heart, what a mistake he had made.

 

Entering the room he watched as all three people inside got up and waited for him to sit at the table before them “Greetings Mr. President” “Let’s not waste time general, what do you have for me?” “Mr. President today at 3 a.m. target C tried to break through the encirclement, our troops were still unable to damage the elemental creature and I was forced to detonate one of the nuclear devices at the western border of the perimeter”.

 

Looking at his general without saying a word he put a hand over his eyes “God, a nuclear explosion in American soil… and it’s not even the second wave” “Sir I…” He lifted his hand to stop the general from saying anything else, he knew there were no casualties this time but it was still a hard thing to swallow.

 

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“Did it at least stop the creature?” “Yes sir, our troops have already recovered a guild badge, the second one since the avian giant, we also have recovered a skill book but our inspection level is too low to know much about it” “Thank god for small favors, what about Target B, is it still on England?” “Yes sir the dragon seems quite content on nesting at Windsor castle for the time being”

 

Pushing some pictures his way the general sat back down, in the pictures he saw the result of the nuclear explosion as well as the remains of the british castle and the huge red lizard laying on top of it “Fuck that’s a big lizard” “we could send a nuclear missile at the creature?” “No, no more nuking things damn it!”

 

Shaking his head at the overeager man he received another cup of coffee from Jonathan and drained it in a single moment “ok so, any suggestion about what to do with the new guild badge?” “Sir the air force and navy are eager to have their own guild and the senators want a chance at guild politics as well, the army itself is asking for a civilian guild” he thought about it for a while.

 

“As far as I am concerned the senators can go fuck themselves, the few that have any clue are not asking for a guild and the others are fools who still think the world can return to normal, what’s your opinion for the others?” “Well Mr. President the Navy has no reason to have a guild at the moment as we have no need to defend ourselves from the sea before the second wave and the air force needs a guild but they wouldn’t receive it’s full advantages as they are usually too far away to even receive experience from their kills, my suggestion is to form a guild for civilian fighters as make an alliance” “I see… I will have to think about it thank you general.”

 

Turning towards the third man in the room Adam laid back on the chair and asked “And you Mr. Sullivan, what do you have for me?” “Well our space experts are currently monitoring Target A, its confirmed the creature is making its way towards earth, its size is a little over a thousand square kilometers and it will probably arrive in about 8 to 9 years if its speed doesn’t fluctuate more, well after the third wave.”

 

“At least we have a little time to figure out how to stop the thing good to know, have the space guys work on ways to intercept the target before it arrives but I suspect we will have to coordinate with the other nations after the second wave, have you compiled the information we have at this time?” “Yes sir” Passing him yet another folder, oh how he cursed the endless things, Mr. Sullivan got up “If you will excuse me sir I need to coordinate with Alfa team”

 

Studying his new papers he saw all the information they had gathered about the <system> a whole 98 pages of reports and conjectures he would have to read by the end of the day “How are the Einherjar as a whole doing by the way?” “Very well sir, we had a 11% loss rate at the first mission, far better than any other military unit plus nearly all of the survivors reached level two and some managed to get to level three, now that they have the experience success will be greatly increased.”

 

Dismissing the general he made a mental note to decide the guild badge’s fate before the end of the day and prepared himself for lunch with Senators Baldwin and Cornwell, oh joy, the two of them represented the old kind of senator, those who wanted to find a solution and banish all the creatures back to wherever the hell they came from so they could enjoy their privileged life and leave problems for future generations.

 

In truth the only difference between him and them was the fact that he wouldn’t delude himself into thinking such thing was actually an option, the <system> was a terrible thing but unfortunately it was here to stay and all they could do was adapt.

 

Surviving his lunch by focusing on the food and thinking happy thoughts he mostly tuned out whatever crap about his lack of effort or military excesses that they complained about, leaving their meeting he called for Jonathan “Remember to double the agents watching those two bozos they are bound to do something stupid so we can get rid of them.”

[Congratulations, your guild has claimed a city, as the guild leader you get + 100XP]

Stumbling on the middle of the corridor his aid managed to catch him before he fell down “Goddamnit I hate those things!” before Jonathan could even ask he answered “it’s those damn system messages always popping out when I last expect” shaking his head he moved on.

 

His phone rang and he answered “What now?” “Hello Mr. President this is Linda Rollman from daily news” turning around he threw the fucking phone out of the window, it skipped off a statue and broke down into many tiny little pieces “Damn!” “I am sorry Mr. President I am sure we can get you a new phone in a few hours” “Forget it this is the fourth time some newshound finds out my number, it’s just that I was aiming for the fountain.”

 

He didn’t know why those people still thought he would actually give an interview to anyone at this time, reporters are the worse creatures the <system> has thrown his way and he had no wish to actually meet one “Jonathan what else do I have to do in the evening? I just threw out my appointment book”