After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 272

Chapter 272: Bloody Lesson (Part 1)
Aberdeen City, two years prior

The early morning sun filtered through the window, seeping to a certain couple inside their bedroom.

However, unlike the usual atmosphere, the air at this time was heavy with the scent of medicine and antiseptic.

Althea carefully unwrapped the soiled bandage, the sight inside slowly revealing itself. She frowned when she saw his jagged wound, it was reddish and bluish and painful-looking. Her heart ached at the gash, but continued to care for him, gently cleaning his wound.

Garan looked warmly as his wife carefully handled his wounds. One good thing that came out from that accident was that he got to spend many days straight with his wife, and she was still caring only for him.

His gaze was blatantly hot and Althea couldn’t help but blush. But then she saw his wound again and felt very angry in response.

She glared at him, though it looked adorable in his eyes. “Having fun?” She asked bitterly, and he didn’t dare nod.

However, she could see it in his dozing gaze and she pinched his cheek in response. “Well, it’s annoying! Don’t smile!” She ordered, and Garan immediately schooled his expression to his usual stoic one.

Althea then proceeded on her task, completely ignoring him. However, as she did so, her sights ended not only on the red wounds but those that were healed by time. She couldn’t help but trace her hands on his many scars.

“You have so many scars… do they still hurt?” She asked, voice soft. Obviously, her anger couldn’t last when she knew he was in pain.

Althea knew that sometimes scars were still painful even after years. Garan’s body was filled with them. If all these scars hurt, then…

Garan’s eyebrows furrowed and he flinched at the sight of his wife’s eyes slowly getting filled with tears. “Wife, don’t cry…”

“They don’t hurt anymore,” He said, “In fact they are important.”

Althea blinked and stared at him, and he couldn’t help but kiss her cheek.

“Each scar is a testament to what we have been through,” He told her, tone very gentle as he patted her smooth face. “For us soldiers, scars are testament to our story of survival and valiance.

“Even if the lesson was bloody, it was a lesson nevertheless.”

_____

Present.

Garan took advantage of the distraction to consume healing potions that he had in the space. However, he was kicked back down as soon as he did so.

“Calm down, let’s watch what your people can do.” Silas said, turning his attention back to the various fights the surrounded them. He was completely unperturbed at the misfired shots or stray rocks.

The closest fight was Sammy’s, though he was without his characteristic grin, and on his face was signs of tension.

The soldier fired his wind arrows with uncanny accuracy, all the while moving and avoiding the shots directed at him. He was particularly prominent in appearance with his semi bald hairdo and dark skin. Unlike Loki, who threw arrows from the dark, he shot away as he moved.

Gill was also very, very, impressive. He waved his spear with skill, as if it was a part of his body, and he was going head-to-head with Valeria, only receiving the occasional assistance from his teammates.

While other fights were entering their peaks, Sin and Gian’s fight, on the other hand, was at its decline. Gian and Sin faced each other. Sin was standing arrogantly while Gian was sweating profusely and could no longer stand upright.

In fairness, Gian did relatively well in his attacks, but Sin was just much stronger than he was. It didn’t take long for Gian to sustain a lot of damage, only able to stand up because he was being played with.

And they also received instructions not to kill, sadly, so there was that.

Anyway, Sin was definitely having fun torturing him, which was more humiliating than just getting beat up!

Gian was not reconciled. Obviously, he was almost beat by the captain! And he was already weakened!

However, his anger didn’t do much to his strength and soon Sin got tired and wanted to deal with the other ‘flies’.

Without noticing, a large hand formed into knuckles and was about to connect with his head.

“Oi, Gian!”

Mao’s earth elements surrounded himself with earth, using his body shield the defenseless Gian.

CRACK!

The heavy punch connected with the earth armor, but compared to the ground Sin had created craters on, the shield wasn’t much harder.

BANG!

CRACK!

The narrow-eyed soldier was thrown away by Sin’s punch, bloody and his shield had all crumbled to pieces. He was breathing, fortunately, but this was only because the enemy captain agreed not to kill them during the fight.

“Mao!!” Gian yelled and he whipped his head to his enemy, his anger only making his attacks on Sin wilder.

Vanessa, who had just dealt with a man’s injury, was quick to rush to the Mao’s aid. Fortunately, they stocked some expensive healing concoctions in their spaces so their soldiers weren’t left a step too close to death.

Returning to Sin and Gian’s fight, Gian was now gasping for air, and Sin watched him take his last mana potion.

Sin chuckled, walking forward, and crackled his knuckles. He was getting bored and wanted to deal with the spear-weilding Magma dude. However, before he could make another shot, he suddenly felt an arrow barrelling towards him. He immediately used his best Body Hardening technique.

As for why Sin wasn’t able to use this technique with Garan, it was because he needed to be still for more than 1 minute. Only Gian was able to give him this breathing time.

However, even if he managed to activate the skill, the arrow came with high accuracy and swiftness—which was just enough to scratch him.

The small bit of blood made his eyes turn red. Their Captain injuring him so much was one thing, but these people were even lower leveled than that guy! Annoying!

He growled and grabbed Gian’s head, and it felt like an iron grip on the soldier’s face.

Gian hit his strong arm with his elbow, but to no avail. With a huff, Sin lifted his weight and threw his entire body in a direction—to the tree where the arrow came from.

Bang!

“Oi, Loki!” Sammy and the others yelled, throwing various attacks on Sin.

Sammy sent Sin continuous arrows, most of which using mana-consuming skills. But at this time, Sin’s body hardening technique was in full effect. None of his shots caused him any damage.

“Shit!”

So far… they had yet to get the upper hand, even with their numbers.

It would only be a matter of time until they would get taken down one by one!

____

Important Announcement!

[11.22.23] Hi guys! Big news! We’re getting an e-bookkkk!!

Thank you guys soooo much! Wouldn’t have been chosen if you weren’t there supporting me from wherever you are~

I have 5 days to change anything in the first 50 chapters before it gets published for KDP.

I already diminished the info dump in the first three chaps (spoiler: still an info dump). If there’s anything else you want changed, tell meee! You can also comment on the chaps themselves if you want!

Thanks again Alterans!