Chapter 57: The Phoenix Project
Days had gone by quickly and John kept training Dalia and Julia. He needed them to be able to fight without his oversight and they were getting there, slowly, but steadily improving. His favourability with Julia had improved up to 70 thanks to a few moments of bonding and plenty of physical contact, but Dalia's favourability wouldn't improve no matter what he did.
From his vantage point on a rooftop, he glanced down towards Dalia as she fought alongside Julia against a small group of goblins.
[Dalia Boric]
[Age: 21]
[Experience: Virgin]
[Preferences: ???]
[Kinks: ???]
[Favourability: 10/100]
Her favourability had been at 10 for quite some time and it wouldn't improve. At the very least, her stats were improving.
[Dalia Boric]
[Strength: 5.4]
[Vitality: 8.2]
[Agility: 6]
[Energy: 15]
[Skills: Fireball (E), Fire Control (E)]
Dalia had been focused on improving her control over her Fireball skill.
Dalia's muscles coiled tight like a spring as she unleashed the Fireball with every ounce of strength she possessed. The ball shot through the air with a ferocity that left a cloud of smoke in its wake. John fixated on the action, his mind mirroring Dalia's determination.
"She's really improved," he said to himself, admiring her skills. Her body language spoke volumes about her determination and focus.
The sound of the ball hitting the goblin's face was like a satisfying thud, reverberating through the room. The scene was alive with energy and danger, heightened by the smell of burnt flesh. Dalia's face shone with a mix of intensity and satisfaction, her eyes fixed on the target as if nothing could distract her. The goblin lay sprawled on the ground, its face scorched and smoking.
Julia's knuckles tightened as she landed a devastating blow on the goblin's skull, shattering it with a single, powerful punch delivered by her fists. She'd been honing her self-defence skills, concentrating on bolstering her natural abilities without reliance on weapons.
[Julia Bess]
[Age: 27]
[Experience: Not a Virgin]
[Preferences: Anal, ???]
[Kinks: Voyeurism, Humiliation, ???]
[Favourability: 70/100]
Her favourability was quite high, almost as high as Stephanie's, and her stats...
[Julia Bess]
[Strength: 12]
[Vitality: 9.6]
[Agility: 8]
[Energy: 12]
[Skills: Strength Buff (E), Agility Buff (E)]
She had a killer combo when it came to her stats, particularly her Strength and Energy levels. Her quests were straightforward - she had to team up with her buddies and pitch in however she could. John, on the other hand, didn't feel the need to join in. He had learned that killing the same monsters over and over again lowered the amount of stats one could obtain from them.
As John watched, he couldn't help but notice how different Dalia and Julia were. Dalia was aggressive and unrelenting, while Julia was more cautious and reserved. It was a dynamic that worked well for their team, but John knew that they could be better.
A few minutes later, Dalia and Julia approached John, their faces flush with excitement and adrenaline.
"You two did great," John said.
"Thanks," Dalia replied. "I feel like I'm getting better at using my skills."
"You are, but we still have a long way to go."
They walked away from the intersection they had finally managed to block. The intersection looked like a war zone, with rubble and debris strewn everywhere. The air was thick with the smell of burning rubber and smoke. It was hard to believe that only a few weeks ago, the streets were teeming with people and cars.
Now, it was a ghost town, filled with nothing but shadows and silence. John knew that this was the new reality, and they had to adapt to it if they wanted to survive.
As they walked away from the intersection, they saw a large group of people walking towards them. They looked weary and worn, their clothes ragged and dirty.
"What are you doing?" one of the men asked.
"Why should I tell you? John asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Hey hey, we're just trying to help, here. We have a shelter, do you want to come with us?"
"Who are you?"
"We're a group of survivors. We've set up a camp nearby."
John eyed the man warily. "You look pretty well-armed for just a bunch of survivors."
The man shrugged. "It's a dangerous world, we need to be prepared."
John turned to Julia and Dalia. "What do you think?"
"I think we should check it out," Julia replied.
"Me too," Dalia added.
"Alright," John said. "Let's go."
The man led them to a small warehouse, which had been converted into a temporary shelter. It was a hive of activity, with people cooking, cleaning, and repairing weapons and tools.
John couldn't believe his eyes. It was like a bustling city, with people going about their daily lives.
"Impressive," he said.
"Thanks," the man replied. "We've been working hard to build a community."
"What do you call it?"
"We call ourselves The Phoenix Project. We're a group of survivors who are determined to rebuild the world."
"Interesting. So, you're like a government or something?"
"No, not exactly. We're more like a collection of like-minded individuals who are working together to create a safe haven."
John nodded. "So, anybody can join you guys?"
The man smiled. "Of course. We welcome anyone who wants to join us. We have food, water, shelter, and even weapons and equipment."
"Right. Well, if you don't mind, we will take a look around."
"Take your time. We'll be here."
John turned to Julia and Dalia. "We're going to have to leave."
"Why?" Julia asked.
"There's something off about this place. I don't think they're who they say they are."
"Ugh, I really want to leave Theodore's shelter, though." Julia replied.
"Me too, but we can't risk it. Not yet."
"So, what are we going to do?"
"We'll have to keep looking for another place to settle. A real one."
"How are we supposed to find a real one?"
"I have something that can help us, we just need to find a good location."
As they were making their way towards the exit, a group of men stepped in front of them, blocking their path.
"Where do you think you're going?" one of the men asked, his voice laced with malice.
"None of your business," John retorted.
"I think it is."
John eyed the man warily. "Look, we don't want any trouble. We're just leaving."
"Well, I think you should stay."
"We're not staying," Dalia interjected.
The man smiled. "Oh, you are."
He turned to the group. "Seize them!"
Suddenly, they were surrounded by a dozen men, all holding weapons and looking ready for a fight.
"Fuck this," John muttered. He pulled out his dagger and charged at the nearest man, his blade glinting in the sunlight.
The man ducked and swung his machete, narrowly missing John's neck. He dodged and slashed at the man's stomach, cutting him open.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone