Chương 15: The Path Ahead

Joe had been meditating for a couple of hours when three new dots entered the City from the south at a breakneck speed. This time, however, a smile spread across his face; he knew precisely who they were. It took less than two minutes for Hakeem to appear, pulling a cart with two passengers aboard. He came to a halt not far from where Joe sat.

"Dude, you look like a hobo just sitting there like that," Hakeem said with a laugh.

"It's Good to see, too, man," Joe replied, standing up. He reached for his egg, intending to sling it onto his back, but paused when a voice cut in.

"Is that… an egg?" one of the women on the cart asked as Hakeem helped her down.

"It is. Want to touch it?" Joe said.

"Dude, you better be talking about the egg," Hakeem interjected sharply.

"Oh, shush, Hak. He's obviously talking about the egg," the short-haired woman chimed in, rolling her eyes before walking up to Joe and pulling him into a hug.

"It's good to see you again, Nadine," Joe said warmly.

"It's good to see you, too. But… who are you?" she asked, her playful grin growing as she grabbed his face roughly and shook his head.

"What have you done with the ugly man I used to know? Take off this mask right now," she teased. Hakeem roared with laughter in the background.

"Ack! Stop!" Joe gently pushed her hands away, chuckling.

"I don't look that different, do I?" he asked, half in disbelief.

"Don't you have mirrors here? You look almost unrecognisable," Nadine said, still examining him.

"First, I found out my brother has become a giant, and now you look like a more handsome Dwayne Johnson! Whatever you guys are eating, I want some of it. Right now." She crossed her arms and pouted dramatically. Joe and Hakeem burst into laughter.

"Shaz, come here and say hi to Joe," Hakeem called, waving the other passenger forward. The young woman accompanying them hesitantly stepped forward while Nadine tentatively poked at Joe's egg.

"Hi, I'm Shaznin." She held out her hand.

"Nope. If you're a friend of Nadine, that makes you family. And family gets a hug." Before she could react, Joe scooped her up in a bear hug.

"Oh, wow. Okay," she said, momentarily stunned, but she didn't resist. Instead, she smiled and happily hugged him back. Being handsome had its perks, Joe thought; it seemed he could get hugs whenever he wanted.

"I'll show you guys the Cabin Kai built. There are plenty of rooms, it's freaking huge!" Joe led them to the cabin, giving a quick tour and introducing them to the other guests who had arrived earlier that day. That evening, Joe, Kai, and Hakeem sat outside under the night sky, a small fire crackling beside them.

"Sheesh, I hate days this social. My battery is drained," Joe groaned.

"No one told you to feed everyone. That only made them ask even more questions," Hakeem said.

"I can't not feed guests on the first day. That is the first rule of fight club," Joe shot back.

"Since when is this a fight club?" Kai asked.

"What else do you call what we do?" Joe smiled.

"True."

"Speaking of which. What the hell, Hak? How are you level twenty already?" Joe asked, surprised at his friend's rapid growth.

"I'm not a slacker like you," Hakeem said smugly.

"Hey, I got experience capped! I missed out on five whole levels from that spider battle," Joe grumbled, still bitter about it.

"Right, right, right. Mr Unique Class got experience capped, boohoo," Hakeem teased with a laugh.

"Fair enough," Joe muttered, conceding the point.

"Anyway, glad your sister's okay. No word about your brother?"

"That idiot is fine. Nadine was with him a couple of weeks ago. He was level thirty then and had joined one of the government military groups to help the older survivors."

"Oof, military guy now, huh? That sucks," Joe replied.

"I'm not worried. He's doing what he wants, helping people," Hakeem said with a shrug.

"Makes sense, I guess." Hak pulled out a couple more drinks from his storage. He had looted some abandoned shops on the way and was now stocked with bottles upon bottles of alcohol.

"Thanks," Joe said, grabbing one and immediately taking a deep swig. He needed this.

"So, what have you decided to do about those guys?" Hakeem asked, nodding toward the Cabin.

"I'm gonna head out with them tomorrow, go visit their camp, talk to their big boss, make sure they bring everyone here. Afterwards, I'll head north to check if Kai's parents are there. Then…" Joe stretched his shoulders.

"It's power levelling and boss-killing time." Hakeem watched as Joe took another swig, then nodded.

"Still a man of few words," Joe joked.

"Only around you," Hakeem shot back.

"Fair enough," Joe laughed.

"You gonna stick around here?"

"Yeah, for now. No rush. There is a lot to catch up on. I'll level here and join you when I'm level fifty on your boss-killing quest. I'm not crazy like you, running straight at those things. We have two years, right?"

"Yep, I just have itchy feet," Joe admitted.

"You always have," Kai said. The three of them continued to drink and talk late into the night. The following day, Joe stood at the base of the Pillar, his egg strapped securely to his back. He had skimmed through the Pillar shop and picked up some supplies for his trip, including a water canteen that could hold a small swimming pool, a pile of about 200 plates, and some random bits and bobs. Finally, he had some clothing that wasn't filled with holes and tears.

He no longer looked like a hobo and now resembled a weirdo in a fur cloak.

"This is goodbye, for now, Mr Pillar. You look after things here. No stupid quests, you hear me?" He gave it a final nod before turning back toward the cabin. The goodbyes were quick. Nadine and Shaznin had been added to the party so they could contact Joe whenever needed, keeping everyone in the loop as events unfolded. Joe left the city through the northern exit, jogging ahead with Team Scout. He had devised that name for their group on a whim and hadn't bothered to ask if they liked it.

It was just another addition to his overly dramatic antics.

"You guys don't mind if I handle all the fighting, do you? I need to level up badly," Joe called back over his shoulder. Team Scout exchanged glances.

"We don't mind, but are you sure about that? We can help," Trevor offered.

"Don't need it," Joe replied without hesitation.

"Just lead the way. I'll run point on the rooftops, giving me a better view of any movement. You guys, just keep to your normal speed." Trevor looked like he wanted to argue, but let out a resigned sigh instead.

"Alright, you got it." He turned to his team, gave a quick signal, and the group set off with Joe pulling ahead. Joe felt alive, being on the move again. He had been stationary for too long, and now, finally, he was out, levelling, and gaining stats. Why am I this excited to kill Beasts? The thought flickered through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. His instincts had fully embraced this new world; there was no point in overthinking it. A pack of wolves caught his eye slightly south of his position.

He veered off course, raising his staff to signal Team Scout before descending upon them, a quick, efficient slaughter. When he returned to his position at the front, his grin was broad. Yeah. This was precisely what he needed. The group moved at a steady pace, and Joe estimated their Agility stats were all decently high. Perfect. They were fast enough that he'd never lose sight of them, but not so fast that he'd have to push himself to his limit while fighting everything nearby.

After about ten minutes of travel, Joe spotted an abandoned shop with askance shelving still stocked with cans and bottles. He signalled to team Scout, then darted inside. Moments later, he emerged with his storage brimming with drinks and canned foods. More provisions never hurt. They set off again. Ding! Profession Nature's Custodian has reached level 9 - stat points distributed. Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 17 - stat points distributed. Joe smiled. Just one more level and I'll gain a new skill.

He was eager to see what it would be. He discovered this little detail while reading the book he received from the Bloodline Gate, tutorial 101. According to the book, every ten class levels granted a new skill. The system would offer up to eight choices based on a person's experiences and needs. But Joe? He had never been given a choice, apart from the very first skill he received. His Class and Profession had been forced upon him, and his skills were selected without input.

The book didn't mention anything about that. Did it mean he was a unique case? Some kind of guinea pig for the system? He had no idea. And until he did, there was no point dwelling on it. Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 18 - stat points distributed. After about forty minutes of travel, they arrived at the area where Team Scout's camp was. Joe perched on a rooftop, observing the makeshift walls surrounding the camp. Considering the state of the city, the defences weren't half bad.

The walls were an eclectic mix of metal railings, brickwork, and shuttering, all welded together to form a solid circle around the perimeter. At one point, there was a large gate to allow what looked like horse-drawn carts to pass in and out. Kim jumped up to join him.

"You have horses here?" Joe asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Kim replied.

"A couple of our people had a farm not far north of here. They brought their horses when they joined us about five months ago." Horses. That was unexpected. Joe hadn't seen a single animal since returning to London, not even a stray cat. He assumed most of them had fled the Beasts, hiding or simply gone.

"That's nice," he muttered.

"Let's go in," Kim said, hopping down to rejoin her team. Joe followed after her. When their eyes met, she gave him a little wink, but that seemed to be the limit of her flirting now. Joe mused that she probably wouldn't have given him a second look if this had been back before the system arrived. Oh, how things have changed, he thought. He still wasn't interested; stress, brain overload, and everything else left little room for that sort of thing.

Entering the camp with Team Scout, Joe's nose immediately wrinkled at the pungent, tepid smell lingering in the air. His gaze swept across the crowd of ragged, unkempt people milling about. Their clothes were worn and filthy, their faces tired and hollow. Almost everyone looked to be on the verge of starvation. Loose skin hung from thin, gangly bodies. Of all the things Joe had anticipated encountering upon his arrival, this was not it. The stark contrast to Team Scout was striking.

The team's noticeably cleaner clothes and fresh-fed faces stood out like a sore thumb. It was clear that there was a hierarchy here, one that determined who got better resources and living conditions. Joe wanted to believe it was due to a genuine lack of resources. That the ones protecting the city from Beasts and gathering supplies needed to be kept strong for the sake of everyone else. But deep down, he feared that wasn't the case. He frowned slightly. This place felt… wrong.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As Joe made his way through the camp, all eyes were on him. He had left his Progenitor title visible, and the moment people identified him, their wide-eyed stares turned into hushed whispers and pointing fingers. Fear? Awe? Recognition? He wasn't sure what lay behind those stares. Out of curiosity, he identified a few of the people sitting on the road. Most were hovering between levels ten and fifteen.

How are they even surviving here? On his journey here, he watched Team Scout, and from their conversations in Heliopolis, Joe quickly realized that those who had a common Class, like Warrior, Archer, or Priest. Had much lower stats than he did, to the point it was almost shocking how few stats they had. This gave him an idea he wanted to confirm. He separated from the group and approached an old man draped in ragged clothing, sitting on a rocking chair just outside one of the buildings.

"Hi, I'm Joe; I just had a quick question," he said, bowing slightly.

"Ai, go ahead, young lad. No need for all that bowing now. Out with it." The old man replied, his voice thick with a London accent. Behind him, Team Scout had stopped, watching the exchange with a cautious curiosity. Joe leaned in, lowering his voice.

"I was hoping you could tell me how many stat points do you gain when you level up?" The old man blinked, his face scrunching in confusion. Joe raised a hand. A water bottle materialized in his palm. He held it out, a little incentive. The old man eyed it briefly before deftly snatching it and tucking it beneath his rags with practiced speed, survivor instincts.

"Five young'un. Just like everyone else," he mumbled. Joe nodded.

"Thank you, Sir." He stepped back, then paused.

"Oh, by the way, you should gather everyone you know; something interesting might happen today." With that, Joe spun on his heel and rejoined Team Scout, who all stared at him quizzically. He just shrugged, unfazed by their looks, and continued walking. As he left, the old man waved over a few people, and within seconds, whispers rippled through the camp. Figures darted between buildings. Word was spreading. A strange visitor had arrived.

Joe's thoughts churned as he processed the revelation; he gained four times the stat points per level compared to someone with a common Class. That meant there was probably not a single person in this camp who could match him in raw stats. The realization was unsettling. How much stronger was he? What kind of gap had formed between him and regular survivors? He was so lost in thought that he barely noticed when they arrived at a building in the camp's centre.

"We have to make a report to Harry; we won't be long," Trevor said, pausing at a corridor leading further inside.

"If you wait here a moment, I'm sure he will be very excited to meet you." Without waiting for a response, he and Kim strode down the hallway and disappeared into a room further inside. Joe took a moment to glance around. A freckled woman sat at a small desk at the end of the hallway, her head buried in paperwork, barely acknowledging his presence. The room was pristine, with a clean couch, spotless floors, and, most notably, an absence of the thick, unwashed stench that clung to the camp outside. His hackles rose.

The contrast between this place and the rest of the camp was stark. Too stark. Slowly, he lowered himself onto the couch, but the unease creeping through him only grew stronger. Minutes passed. Then five. What's taking so long? Joe crossed his arms, foot tapping against the polished floor. Another three minutes crawled by before his patience snapped. Enough. These people were taking the piss. If they thought he was the type to sit around and wait while they played games, they were about to learn the hard way.

System Message Progenitor. You have been given a new quest! Relieve Harry Carlston of his duty as leader of Camp Mystic. A bonus will be awarded for the swift completion of this quest. Reward - Legendary Skill Book. Joe smiled. Without hesitation, he strode down the hallway Trevor and Kim had taken. At the far end, the freckled woman from earlier sat at her desk. She barely had time to react before he reached her.

"They in there?" He asked, not breaking stride.

"Yes, but you should wait… Stop, don't go–" Too slow. Joe shoved the locked door. The wood splintered under his strength, swinging open as he stepped inside. Four sets of eyes snapped toward him. Trevor was sweating, clearly out of breath. Kim stared at him in shock. The other two men were already red with anger.

"What the hells you doing, boy!?!" one of them bellowed. Joe turned his gaze toward the source, a rough-looking, hairy man with arms as thick as tree trunks. The man stood around six feet tall and looked up at Joe, his eyes burning. Identify: Peter, Human, Berserker level 46 Joe ignored him and focused on the man behind the desk before Trevor and Kim. Identify: Harry, Human, Hunter level 45"Hey! I'm talking to yous!" Peter's heavy hand clamped down on Joe's shoulder as he tried to shove him backwards.

Joe didn't move. He didn't even acknowledge the man.

"Hi, you must be Harry. I'm Joe. I have a complaint about your hospitality," Joe said, locking eyes with the man. He was still wearing his sunglasses and sensed the shift in Harry's demeanour. The man tensed, his posture stiffening as he instinctively stepped back before catching himself. Joe smiled. Before he could continue, movement from his side forced him to react. Peter was winding up for a punch. Joe sighed.

With effortless precision, he dodged the incoming fist and brought his elbow down hard on the back of Peter's head. The impact sent the man crashing to the floor.

"No!" Trevor shouted.

"Stop!" Kim exclaimed at the same time. Joe took a step back, glancing down at Peter. Was he unconscious? He was.

"Sorry. I thought he'd be tougher than that. I didn't mean to knock him out," Joe said, sounding more amused than apologetic. He reached down, lifted the heavy-built man with ease, and dropped him onto a chair in the corner of the room. He turned back, and three pairs of stunned eyes were fixed on him. He waved.

"How dare you!" Harry exploded, his face red with fury. Joe raised his hand, cutting him off.

"I suggest you think very carefully before saying anything more," he said, voice calm but firm. Silence. It stretched for what felt like two minutes before Trevor finally spoke, his tone careful.

"This is Joe. One of the Progenitors we met in the City." He gestured toward Joe.

"This is Harry. He runs this camp." Harry's face was still flushed red, but he visibly breathed out two long, deep breaths.

"I apologize for him," he said stiffly, gesturing toward the unconscious Peter.

"But you have no right to barge in here like that." Joe tilted his head slightly.

"And you have a lot to learn about manners," he replied.

"I am a guest here. Do you treat all your guests this way?" Harry took a deep breath before continuing.

"Again, I apologize," Harry said through gritted teeth.

"We always take care of scouting reports before meeting new recruits." Joe raised an eyebrow.

"New Recruit?" His voice dripped with indignation.

"My dear man, you are terribly mistaken." He stepped forward.

"I am the new management." __ A Young boy sprinted toward an old man sitting on a rocking chair outside his house. Excitement sparkled in his eyes.

"Pa! Didya see the man wit da glasses? He was sooo cool!" Pa chuckled, looking down at the boy with amusement.

"I dida ya wee thing. He was spiffy, I say," he said, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

"Paul said he ha some title. Progenie, and he was not human! Can ya believe dat, Pa?" The young boy said as he danced around. Pa's eyes snapped open.

"Wait a sec, what ye say, boy? What that aboot not human?" A loud crash split the air. A man came hurtling through the wall of Harry's office, smashing through brick and stone with a thunderous impact. Dust and debris billowed outward, covering the street in a thick cloud. Pa jerked upright, waving away the dust.

"What de hells was dat!" The young boy huddled at his feet, eyes wide. As the dust began to settle, Pa found himself staring at the same strange man with spider sunglasses, only now, he stood over a bloodied and coughing Harry. For a long moment, Pa could only sit there, stunned. Out of sheer instinct, he activated Identify. Identify: Joseph, High Human Level 18, World 43 Progenitor Pa was speechless. __"Joe, please. Don't kill him!" Trevor pleaded. Joe barely spared him a glance.

"Why shouldn't I?" His voice was calm, almost bored.

"This piece of shit attacked me first. I was just defending myself." He resisted the urge to grind his heel into the man crawling at his feet. Things hadn't gone quite as planned, but he wasn't too concerned. The noise had drawn a crowd, and that was exactly what he wanted. More witnesses. More ears to listen. Joe lifted his boot and stomped down hard on Harry's leg. A sickening crack. To Harry's credit, he didn't scream. He just groaned, teeth clenched as pain shot through his body. Tough bastard.

Joe stepped back and stood waiting, watching as more people gathered, their whispers growing louder. Perfect.

"Joe…" Trevor started again, but Joe simply raised a finger to his lips and shook his head. Silence fell as more people gathered around them. Muted whispers passed among the staring, hollow eyes. Then Joe spoke.

"People of Camp Mystic." Camp Mystic? He nearly laughed. These guys really named it that? He shook his head slightly before continuing.

"My name is Joe, as you can see if you identify me. I am one of the Three Progenitors of Earth. What that means is simple. I am strong. Strong enough to protect those around me. Protect those I care about." He lifted a hand and pointed skyward.

"I have activated two more of my titles. Everyone who can use Identify, do so now." The air in the crowd shifted. People hesitated but did as he said.

"As you'll see, I have killed a Beast over twenty-five levels higher than me. And not only that…" Joe let his voice drop slightly, letting the tension rise.

"You'll see my City Protector title." He let that sink in before continuing, his words slow, deliberate.

"I am part of the first system-sanctioned City. It is officially classed as a safe zone." A beat of silence. Then…

"What that means… is no Beast attacks." The reaction was immediate. Gasps rippled through the crowd. People turned to one another, wide-eyed, whispering in disbelief. It was working.

"I have come here today to make you all an offer." Joe's voice carried over the gathered crowd, firm and unwavering.

"You are all welcome to come to the City of Heliopolis to become a citizen today! There, you will be safe from beasts. You will have housing and a chance to build a community. You will earn credits, a currency made by the system that will allow you to rebuild your lives, to feed your families again." He stepped around Harry, who was still writhing on the ground.

"I came here to make this offer to your pitiful leader," he said, gesturing toward the man.

"But how was I treated on arrival? Dismissed. Insulted. Attacked." His eyes swept the crowd; he was in his element.

"It took me only a short time to realize, he! Is the reason you all live in such squalor. That's why I've decided to replace him." A ripple of unease ran through the people. Joe stepped closer to them, meeting their uncertain gazes. Doubt. Apprehension. But beneath it all, something glimmered. They had seen his titles. They had witnessed his strength. The murmurs among them had already spread the word.

"I am not an unreasonable man," Joe continued.

"I came here to give you a choice, not force you into anything." He let his words hang in the air.

"So I'm going to give you all the time to think about my offer. Stay here, under this tyrant who treats you like nothing. Or come to the city built by my Progenitor friends, where you will be granted freedom, safety, and a chance to build something real." He gestured to Trevor and Kim.

"These two will help answer any questions." Kim winked at him. This woman…

"They have seen the safe zone and city we plan to build," Joe continued.

"We have running water, and the more people who come and help, the faster we'll get everything needed to thrive," he paused.

"So please talk to them, talk among yourselves, and make a decision that best suits you all." With that, he turned and walked over to Trevor and Kim.

"Talk to them, will you?" he said, lowering his voice slightly.

"The offer goes for you guys as well, of course." Then, with a grin, he added.

"I'm gonna step away a bit and cook up some steaks. We can't have all these people thinking on an empty stomach now, can we?" He casually strolled down the street, completely ignoring the bloody, groaning man still lying on the ground with a shattered leg. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out his oven and set to work, cooking up fresh Wolf meat steaks. Half the crowd approached Trevor and Kim, eager to ask questions, while the other half remained in small clusters, murmuring among themselves.

Despite their conversations, all eyes kept flicking toward Joe. Sitting casually in the middle of the road, he continued cooking, completely unbothered by the spectacle he was creating. The mouthwatering aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, and Joe didn't miss the hunger in their eyes. He started to pull out stacks of plates, placing them on his side and filling them one by one as the meat browned to perfection. The row of steaks before him grew steadily.

Noticing a group that had edged closer and closer, he waved them over.

"The First batch of steaks is ready. Grab a plate," he announced with a smile. The nearest person hesitated before tentatively grabbing a plate and darting back to the group. They sniffed the food, unsure. Then, one of them took a bite. The moment the glee spread across his face, the floodgates opened. People rushed forward, scrambling to grab a steak of their own. A young boy approached, his mouth already stuffed with food.

"Mister," he said through a loud chew, "how are you cooking in the street? Where'd you get that oven?" Joe smiled.

"Welcome to the future, kid." He tapped the side of the oven.

"This is a mana oven, and I'm cooking using my mana. That's why the steaks taste so good." The boy nodded enthusiastically, clearly only half-understanding but impressed nonetheless. Joe waved over more groups as he cooked, and soon enough, a line had formed, people waiting patiently for their share. It took about forty minutes to feed everyone. Now, Joe was already cooking up more for seconds. Trevor and Kim walked over, standing beside him, watching him cook.

"So what's the consensus?" Joe asked as he handed two plates to a young girl, who immediately blushed and ran away.

"Your bribery worked," Kim said, half-joking.

"Every single person is ready to leave with you right now." Joe grinned.

"Perfect" System Message Quest complete. Relieve Harry Carlston of his duty as leader of Camp Mystic. Reward - Legendary Skill Book deposited into your storage Joe's grin widened.

"Great." His eyes flicked toward a group sitting off to the side, the same group that had helped Harry up earlier. They were all level thirty-five or higher. And they were all eating steaks.

"They aren't going to cause trouble, are they?" Joe asked, his tone casual but pointed. Trevor and Kim followed his gaze before shaking their heads.

"No," Trevor said.

"They want out of here just as much as we do. It's been tough on everyone, and there's never enough to go around." He hesitated before adding.

"Not that I'm making excuses." Joe turned to Trevor. He didn't say anything, just stared. Trevor looked away, ashamed. He hadn't been the one to create these conditions, but he had allowed them to continue. And Joe almost wanted to make sure he felt that weight. After a long moment, Joe exhaled.

"I understand. Hard times bring hard decisions." He handed another plate to a couple of guys around his age.

"Thanks, Mr Progenitor," They both said, practically salivating over the food. Joe nodded as they walked away, already devouring their steaks.

"I won't judge people by their past mistakes. Everyone deserves a second chance." Joe handed a plate to the last person in line before adding.

"Except murderers and rapists." He stood up and made his way toward where Harry lay on the ground, surrounded by a small group. Before he could reach him, a shaggy-looking woman with mud smeared across her face stepped before him.

"You've won, haven't you done enough?" She asked, her tone defiant. Joe met her gaze calmly.

"The only winners are the people of this camp," he said.

"I don't care about personal gain. I'm not here to hurt him; please let me through." She hesitated, uncertainty pulling at her, but after a moment, she stepped aside. Joe knelt beside Harry, placing a hand on the man's broken leg. Harry flinched but said nothing. Mana surged through Joe's palm, pouring into the injured limb. Slowly, the tension drained from Harry's body as the pain faded away. For five minutes, he knelt, the group around him talking quietly.

After a short while, Joe stood, the bone mostly mended, and the wound closed.

"You're welcome to join everyone else in Heliopolis," Joe said simply.

"No grudges here. All I need is a promise you will work towards helping others." His gaze hardened.

"We're all in this together." Harry pushed himself up, testing his legs before looking Joe square in the face, Joe's sunglasses reflecting his image back at him.

"Those glasses look stupid." Joe laughed, gripping Harry's outstretched hand in a firm shake.

"I got them when I killed a level fifty-four Queen Spider." His grin widened.

"They give me forty stat points." Joe turned and left behind a group of stunned, wide-eyed faces. Surprising people was too easy. He chuckled.