Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Jasper didn\'t acknowledge what was said, instead still looking forward with an expression hidden by his silver helmet, "He got away. Not surprising. Cowards like that flee the moment favor leaves their side."

Sure enough, as the smoke settled from the slash of sapphire light from a moment prior, there was no sight in the hunter.

The hoodie-wearing knight sheathed the longsword he wielded into the leather scabbard on his back with an exhale before turning to look at the wounded man, "You\'re hurt, mate? Crow got you, didn\'t he?"

"Yeah, he got me by surprise. Do you know him?" Finn asked, wincing as holding his wrist that was barely held together.

Jasper stepped closer, inspecting the assassin\'s arm as he grabbed it by the sleeve while also getting a look at his cut ear, "Yeah, he got you good alright, that cunt. I know him, yeah. He killed my mate."

"Did he…?" Finn began to ask, letting himself be checked out.

"Yeah, he did. That\'s why I\'m after that cunt," Jasper clarified with contempt lacing what he said. "But, I\'m not the vengeful type, really. If you can take him out, I\'d appreciate it."

After having the intensity of his wounds verified by the knight, Finn watched as the man reached into the pocket of his coat, pulling out a bottle filled with golden liquid.

Jasper popped the cape right off, holding the ambrosia to the injured assassin, "Take a sip, mate."

"Wait, hold on…Are you sure about that? You don\'t even know me," Finn asked.

"What\'re you on about? You\'re hurt, aren\'t you? So, take a sip," Jasper insisted, practically shoving the bottle of ambrosia into his hands. "The world may be ending, but it doesn\'t mean you can\'t be a decent person."

"Right. Thanks," Finn said, accepting the aid as he brought the magical substance to his lips, letting it slip into his mouth.

It was a mystical taste, like that of syrup but much lighter and smoother as it went down. A single sip was enough to fill his body with renewed vigor, as if having a full day of sleep. The pain in his body completely subsided, as did the soreness as his wounds repaired themselves.

As he removed the bottle from his lips, he looked down at his right hand, finding his wrist completely unharmed. He clenched his fist a few times to check that it was functional before feeling his ear, finding it restored as well.

"All good?" Jasper asked, taking the bottle back before stuffing it away.

"Yeah, thanks again," Finn said.

The Australian knight pointed across the street towards a clothing store, "That ambrosia wasn\'t completely free. I want to know what you know about that freak. Let\'s talk over there, out of the way of monsters."

"Alright. That\'s fine by me," Finn accepted.

Out of the web-infested parking lot, the store that harbored mainly sports shoes was left mostly intact, with the shelves still standing with rows of pristine footwear.

Jasper checked the corners to make sure nothing lingered around before leaning against one of the snow-white pillars inside the shop, "So, what happened? I\'ve been on that cunt\'s trail awhile now. He seems especially focused on you though."

"Yeah," Finn responded, sitting down on the floor with his back against a rack of shoes.

"Why\'s that? Crow is a lunatic, don\'t get me wrong, but he usually goes after those under his own level. You\'re pretty capable, so I don\'t see why he\'d target you," Jasper asked.

"I killed somebody "special" to him, as he put it," Finn explained.

The knight-helmed man was quiet for a moment, taking in what was said before speaking up, "When you say you killed this person…"

"Out of necessity. I\'m not some cold-blooded psycho, alright?" Finn clarified, looking at the Aussie knight.

Jasper held his hands up as if claiming no offense, "Just making sure, mate. I\'m guessing somebody "special" to someone like Crow wasn\'t a standup citizen, yeah?"

"No, he was awful. "Raven"--he was the first realization I had that I wasn\'t fighting just against monsters," Finn recalled.

"I see. I\'m glad somebody like that is out of the picture, then. About Crow, what sort of abilities did you see from him?" Jesper asked.

Recalling what he experienced, it wasn\'t difficult to remember the daunting skills used by the hunter as Finn sat there.

"He seems to be able to gain the abilities of whatever he eats. Including people," Finn explained.

"Yeah, I thought as much. That\'s a frightening power," Jesper remarked.

"Yeah," Finn agreed.

After exchanging what they knew about the elusive killer, there was nothing left but the next step.

Finn picked himself up, looking at the armored man, "Listen, I\'m with two other people, not far from here. You can join us, if you want." He offered.

Jesper was quiet for a moment before responding, "I appreciate the offer, mate. I do. It\'s best if I move alone, though. I prefer it that way."

"Right. I see," Finn said.

"I\'ll be around though. If Crow attacks, kick his ass, will ya?" Jesper assured him, extending his fist. "Stay safe, mate."

Finn met the fist bump halfway with a small smile, "I\'ll try."

Taking his leave from the shop, he found his way back on track to the library while traversing the foreign street. Navigating his way through an alleyway, he was spit out right in front of the library a few blocks down.

"—Ah."

He was greeted by the sight of the silken-haired, young man right when finding the building. It looked as though she had just come back from the opposing direction.

"There you are! Where have you been, Finn?" Charlotte asked, walking over and checking his body for injuries.

"Were you looking for me? Sorry, I\'m fine—actually, no. Where\'s Magnus?" Finn shook his head, looking around.

He kept his eye out for the prowling hunter, not losing the killer from his mind for even a moment.

"Why? What\'s up?" Charlotte asked, opening the door to the library.

Finn led the way in, not wasting a moment, "This is something both of you need to hear."