CH 44

The group had moved towards the room where Billy was staying at. His supposedly comatose body was already awake, though he couldn't exactly move around like he used to. His beaten face hadn't healed to the point where he could be recognizable anymore but the fact that it was him can never be hidden from the two who came to his side in a heartbeat.

"Daddy!"

"Pops!"

Matthew stayed behind the crying Kylie who held on to her father's hand. The grip it was giving her hand made the pain and emptiness in her heart go away as it was filled with happiness with the fact that he was alive. Even if he was a vegetable for life, this would still be a happy moment for her. But the happiness doesn't end there.

"Like I told you Kylie, use it."

Emilia placed her palm across the girl's back in encouragement as they watched her place her other hand on to Billy's chest. The chest that used to be so strong and reliable felt soft on her palms as she felt no resistance. This made her heart ache as she remembered that her father's ribs were broken, and she might have just made things worse.

"Don't worry about that now! Do it!" Emilia hurriedly brought the girl back to reality as she saw Billy's expression turn worse while the girl just stood still and cried out of shock when she placed her hand over Billy's chest. The call seemed to trigger the girl as she closed her eyes, breathed in loudly and shouted.

"Heal!" A bright light appeared from Kylie's body that glowed a bright green, much lighter than Matthew's. Emilia gave a smile when she heard Kylie's words.

'There was no need to say 'heal'.'

The little girl was right in Zel's mind, as he knew the conditions on how to improve talents. Too bad he can't use them for himself. The light lasted for a few seconds as it passed through every part of Billy's body and Matthew watched every single part of it with focused eyes.

He was able to use his enhanced eyes to see that the pathways of Billy's mana were coming back together from the jumbled mess it was a few seconds ago. The others though were seeing Billy's body reshaping itself like a clay, turning into something more humanly than what it was a few seconds ago.

"Amazing!"

The ever-enthusiastic Phil recorded the whole thing with his phone. No one bothered him as he tried to get a closer look until he was on the other side of Billy's bed, directly facing Kylie whose forehead was now seeping out sweat. She held on to her ability as much as she could, it was only when a pair of large hands held the one placed on Billy's chest that she opened her eyes. Her teary eyes flooded out when she saw his smile again.

"Daddy!"

"Hush now sweetie, daddy's alright now." Billy gave the girl a warm embrace as he stroked her back. The whole time he was in here, he had been able to recognize his surroundings.

The restlessness in his heart due to being unable to move most of his body almost brought him to the brink of madness! It was only when he remembered the boss' offer and his daughter that he found the will power to persevere through it all.

"Hey boss!"

Billy looked towards Zel who was grinning at the side. He rested on a couch with Emilia by his side as he waited for the reunion between the three to end. He placed a hand on his chin as he wondered what to say now, it's pretty hard to get people to understand after all. Luckily the threat will show itself later today, so they will have an idea of why he wants their help and doesn't necessarily need it.

"Good job on being able to finally getting that side quest done Billy, though you really should thank your kid for doing it for you."

"That's... sigh."

Billy was unable to make up his mind on whether it was good or not that he had finished that side quest. It was only because he was promised to get protection for Kylie for if something was to go wrong that he accepted it. Though the fact that the details written on it were more than enough for him to be convinced of Zel's talent.

"You said that you would need us, what for exactly?"

"I never said I needed you, I just wanted you guys."

Zel placed emphasis on those words. He had more than enough problems to go around this subject. People thinking they were important enough to give him more problems were really not something he needs to deal with right now. That's why he approached Billy and Matthew with contracts rather than have a personal relationship with both of them, because telling your employees to work is easier than asking a favor from a friend. Still, it doesn't mean he won't be friends with them, just that there needs to be a hierarchy between them to make things clear.

"You see, the system that you all got isn't meant to be a kind gift from the heavens. It's more of a compensation of the universe itself!"

Being vague made it more mysterious so Zel did it this way. It's not that he wanted them to be reliant on him for information, he just wanted them to want to know more by themselves. If he gave them everything now, he won't be able to control what they would do because he would basically be changing things too much.

"The reason you got them was because you were special, more than anyone else, you were chosen by this dimension to survive what comes next. To be able to find our place in that 'place'."

"If you want to follow me and not only survive but to thrive! Feel free to do so and stay, if you feel that you'd be better off somewhere else, then say it now."

"Why do I feel like I'm getting married?"

Matthew couldn't help but share his thoughts aloud as he saw that not everyone was clear as to what Zel was talking about. But the fact that he was asking whether they want to stay sounded pretty stupid to them, he was already someone they needed to stay in contact with. Either for his abilities or because they had no other choice.

"Since everyone is already aware of what the system is, I'm now going to tell you what happens in the next few months..."

....

It was already dusk when the team had finally come out of the -Recovery- room. It's the only place on the floor that hosted all their medical facilities, serving as a med bay for the team.

It's also where Billy had stayed in so that he could be given treatment though that was mostly being provided with enough mana so that his body wouldn't breakdown due to the lack of it.

Forcing his ability even though he was using it to keep his injuries at bay worsened his body to the point where he was experiencing mana overload. It was due to the quick response of the people involved that he got off lightly considering his condition now.

However, now he was back to his prime. Even better than before he was beaten up by Chris. Kylie's healing ability wasn't merely putting things back together and making it function, it was restoring the body to it's peak state. Though it uses up vessel storage if done to a rather extreme condition like what Billy had, making him unable to grow stronger if he gets treated like this more than a few times. Basically, limiting the extent of his abilities.

Right now, the team was preparing for the first fight. It's only the first appearance of the abdicates and Zel wanted the team to realize just what they were dealing with. The fights will only get harder from here, so he must provide morale right at the start. They entered the -Containment- room to get ready.

For this mission, the organization had divided themselves into two groups. The 'Eyes' who will be guiding the 'Angels' as they serve as the reinforcements for the attack on Linghua tonight.

The Eyes consisted of the whole -Surveillance- crew, Phil, Mikey, Daisy, Karl, Masie and Gopher. Though it's mostly just Masie and Gopher doing the hard work. They will also have Emilia and Kylie on standby with them, since they've yet to learn combat.

The main combatants are Zel, Matthew and Billy. The team leader, Zel, will coordinate their attacks in accordance with the actions of the Coalition. It's their problem after all. They just gave them early information, vital information courtesy of Daisy.

"We've already set up a perimeter around the city. Any and all suspicious activity will be expressly alerted to us and we'll send it to you. Good luck boys!"

Phil was standing over the door frame as Zel, Matthew and Billy suited up. Due to the sensitivity of this mission, they needed to disguise themselves to leave them a way out in case they were to be turned against by the Coalition.

"Daisy has followed through on her directive and is already monitoring their movements. Since they've shown actions that imply, they are ready to fight, we will not initiate unless things get dire. I hope you remember your promise Zel."

"Shut it, Phil! I won't be held down by my own words."

Zel put on the combat armor that's been specifically modified at his discretion. He had taken the glossy silver glassed helmet that completes the armor and held it as it suddenly disappeared, directly taken into his storage ring.

"But I'll get the boys home safe and sound! That's a promise!"

Zel and Phil looked in each other's eyes in understanding. The two had met when Phil needed help the most. He had known about Zel's stubborn attitude when it comes to what he wants to do. If there's anything to say about him, it's that he's never let him down before.

"Head down to the location first, we'll keep watch!"

Phil went out of the room as the three got ready. The whole room was meant to serve as their armory of sorts, keeping the standard military grade weaponry they collected through some black-market deals.

'It's easy to get a few dealers available during times of war.'

Arms dealing had long since become a private industry. Tech has been getting deadlier and more available because people buy them. That's just how it is. Supply follows the demand.

"How do you wear this?" Kylie watched as her father was thinking about which weapon to carry. The assault rifle would help him pack a punch while being highly mobile, but a sub machine gun is a heavy hitter that makes it easier to clear out areas. He was still wondering to himself when he felt a finger tapping him on the shoulder.

"Hey daddy, how do I wear this?"

Kylie was pointing at her torso where a loose-fitting bullet-proof vest was hanging on her shoulders. The size is meant to fit all but the girl didn't understand how to adjust the thing down to her size.

"You use this sweetie, the straps here are adjustable. Just remove the grip and place it back tighter so it hugs the body. Though not too tight or you might lower your mobility, just enough that it would follow your body."

Kylie watched as her father unstrap the things on her shoulder and her sides. He tightened up the things so much that she felt uncomfortable so when he was finally done, she made her own adjustments.

"Thank you, daddy!" Kylie gave her father a hug. She was only doing this to get his attention, thinking that he might try and tell her that she shouldn't try it on as she didn't need it. The fact that he even teaches her shows that he's not going to hold her back, fully supporting her all the way.

"Of course, sweetie. Anything to keep you safe."

Matthew watched the two with a smile. His armor was unlike the bulky one that Billy wore where the plates where thick enough to block an armour piercing bullet. It was a level 4 armour while his was only level 3, to account for the fact that he needed more mobility.

He brought a few knives that he's always been proficient at while carrying a few grenades that fit on his storage ring. Zel's already told them the possible things that can appear, so they have prepared for the worst.

"Be careful, ok?"

"Always."

Zel himself only took a long sword that's very thick, about an inch thick at its thickest and two meters long. He swung it with one hand while Emilia watched him from the side. Not holding him back because that's just who he is. Emilia and Zel bade their goodbyes with a short kiss. It was enough for them, it always was.

"Let's go!"

Zel took the hidden elevator that can only be accessed from this room. The key to opening it also requires Zel's presence as it is his own code that needs to be placed on the lock, one that needs mana to encode.

"Let's hunt us some motherfucking abdicates!"