Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Traversing abandoned shops was a skill he picked up on early, navigating his way to the back of the building quickly. As he pressed his forearm against the push-in door, he opened it only a smidge to first peek out.

It led into an empty parking lot with trash cans left filled and the back way into another shop just a quick dash across.

Finn opened the door completely, stepping into the back way that smelled of garbage; expired food and gunk.

"We're clear," he claimed, gesturing for them to follow.

The footsteps of the nearby giants continued to rumble. As he stood there, he could feel the vibrations emitting beneath his feet.

"They're close," Charlotte remarked worriedly, looking up.

From the power lines above, the perched birds scattered from the thunderous stomps reaching closer.

"Yeah," Finn said, moving without wasting any more time.

The plan was to move from building-to-building to reach the Tower, even if it meant passing by the frightening cyclops.

He crossed the concrete lot, approaching the door with a large "EXIT" above it. Testing the door, a single tug brought him to realize it was locked as it didn't budge.

"Shit…" Finn mumbled.

"It's not opening?" Charlotte asked.

"Nope. It's locked," Finn said, backing away.

A sigh left the lips of the Swede as he moved up instead, trying his hand at the door, "Maybe you didn't pull it hard enough. You just have to—damn, this door is tight."

Even tugging until his face turned red didn't work in the face of the cannoneer as Magnus gave in with an exhale.

"Yeah, I said that," Finn remarked with a raised eyebrow and a hint of annoyance at being doubted again by the Swede.

"Well, I could always just blow it up," Magnus offered, manifesting his cannon into his grip.

"And alert every monster in the area…" Charlotte snidely remarked.

"Just putting our options out there," Magnus conceded, casting away his weapon with his hands raised.

As they discussed their options, as the streets were occupied by steel-clad giants, the door suddenly began to open from the other side.

It was caught them all off-guard as weapons were drawn, bringing Finn to believe a curious monster hiding out in the building had heard them.

As he prepared to plunge his dagger into what stood on the other side of the door, he instead found a different result.

The gleam of spotless silver of a knight's helmet showed itself first.

"—Jasper?" Finn said out of realization.

Standing there was the hoodie-wearing man in knight equipment, waving for them to come in with a whisper, "Get in, mates. It's not safe out there."

The offer was taken up quickly by Finn who walked right in, though realizing the others had yet to meet the hospitable knight.

Finn looked back at his hesitant companions, "You can trust this guy. He saved my life."

That was the only convincing Charlotte needed as she graciously walked in, giving a nod to the Australian, "Thanks."

Of course, even in the predicament they were, Magnus stayed wary even with Finn's approval, looking the knight up-and-down before stepping in.

"Don't mention it. Heard you mates out there, then heard one of you mention blowing the door up. Couldn't really have that," Jasper explained, turning his head at the cannoneer.

As the door was shut again, tightly locked behind them by the cautious, hoodie-wearing knight, the rumbling of the outside giants became louder.

The interior looked to be some kind of bar-grill, though having been turned into an impromptu safe house by the knight.

"Have you been staying here?" Charlotte asked, stepping behind the bar counter, finding many of the bottles of liquor still intact.

Jasper sat at one of the stools, "Just tonight. I don't stay anywhere more than one night. It's best that way."

"I see the benefits of choosing a place like this. There's definitely…strong points," Magnus remarked while examining the selection of alcohol.

The Swedish man who looked like he dearly missed the embrace liquor ran his hand along the shelf.

"You are free to stay here. I'm moving along after sunrise, anyway," Jasper offered, sitting at one of the booths by the bar.

It didn't seem that the helmed man was much for conversation as he unsheathed his sword, cleaning it with a rag.

"What do you think? Should we just call it here for the night?" Charlotte asked, tapping her fingers lightly against one of the wooden tables.

Despite the contrarian nature of the cannoneer, Magnus didn't protest as he already had a bottle of vodka in his hands, "I think that's fine…I can make do here, definitely."

Finn sat himself down in the booth right across from the man whose face was hidden behind his helmet.

"Crow showed up again," Finn said, looking over at the Australian knight while adjusting his gloves.

The sound of the cloth being rubbed along the length of the blade came to a stop as Jasper sat there for a moment in silence.

"As you're here talking to me right now, I assume you got him?" Jasper asked.

"I did…I think so, anyway," Finn answered, running his fingers through his messy, dark tufts.

"I see. If you're not certain, then I'd wager that cockroach is still alive," Jasper remarked. "Scum like that always seem to find a way to survive."

"I feel like you're right. I hope not though," Finn said, leaning his chin on his hand.

"I hope not as well," Jasper agreed, continuing to clean his blade. "Even a world like this would be better without him."

Without the presence of conversation, the only ambience amidst the night was the march of the steelclad giants.

While zoning out in his own thoughts, Finn found the young woman sitting herself right across from him.

"What's up?" He asked, looking over.

Charlotte fiddled with her fingers as she kept her hands together on the table, looking down somewhat before back at him, "You know…I really want to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?" Finn asked.

"When you and Damian found me…I was at the end of the rope, you know? About ready to just give up and let this world swallow me up," Charlotte admitted, looking down.

That sentiment was one that he found himself all too familiar with, drowned in it as he listened to her.

Finn looked at the table, reminiscing of the one he began the maddening journey with, "I get it. I've felt that way, too. Still do, a bit."

"That's hard to believe," Charlotte said with a small smile.

"Is it?" He asked.

Glancing over to the bar area, the Swede was still helping himself to the assortment of drinks on display, already red in the cheeks.

Charlotte clarified, "Yeah, I mean…you always seem to be doing everything in your power to survive. I mean, aren't you?"

For a moment, he thought about it while resting his cheek against his palm, "I guess so. At this point, it'd be really stupid to throw the towel in, wouldn't it? I at least need to see what the hell is at the top of the Tower."

"I think that's good enough of a reason," Charlotte laughed quietly.

He didn't even know the quiet girl would show such joyful emotion, sitting up as he looked at her in surprise.

"What is it? Did I say something wrong?" Charlotte asked with a slight tint to her cheeks.

"No, it's nothing," Finn said with a small smile of his own. "You're right. Damian told me something like that. We all just need something to find that keeps us going."

"I didn't know him very long, but he seemed like a great person. I…I wish he was still here," Charlotte lamented.

The same sentiment was shared by Finn as he looked towards the bar, finding his own memories swelling in his heart, "Yeah. This world was crumbling around us, but that oaf still saw the light. I didn't know him much longer than you did, honestly."

"Really? It seemed like you two were close," Charlotte asked in surprise.

"Guess the end of the world does that to you," Finn answered, quietly exhaling. "That guy–he was hard-headed and clumsy, but I think that's the kind of person I wanted to be."

Reminiscing of his friend inspired both warmth within him mixed with a cold sadness, neither of which overwhelmed the other.

For a moment, they both sat in silence while Finn looked over, watching the clearly tipsy Magnus stumble his way to the table of the quiet knight.

Magnus sat right across from the quiet man in the same booth, pushing a glass cup towards with while shaking a bottle, "C'mooon, share a drink with me, man. World's ending, and all that."

The helmed gentleman politely declined, shaking his head, "Ah, 'preciate it, mate, but I really can't. If I start drinking, I get real stupid."

"That's the point," Magnus insisted.

It was a funny sight to see the usually cynical and stoic cannoneer have his facade completely crumble with a bit of liquor.

"I don't envy Jasper right now. Poor guy is going to get pestered," Finn playfully remarked while watching the drunken Swede shove the bottle in the Aussie's face.