Chapter 22: System Error
While Nanako and Yasumi had that strange event happen to them Haruhiro reached the entrance of the orphanage, where he saw the anxious Anna and the people of the orphanage were waiting for him. He smiled seeing how anxious Anna looked and how her eyes are already forming tears on the verge of falling since she can see that Haruhiro is obviously hurt.
"What happened to you? Did you fight? How come?" Anna barraged him with a series of questions right as he got close to her. She tried to dive into his embrace but then stopped when she remembered how he's currently wounded.
"Saw some weirdos. It's fine I made them run away. I'll tell you later." He decided to tell her what happened later since right now what's important is for them to leave this place and go back to Nanako and Yasumi's side. After all, Haruhiro has been feeling worried ever since they left the two on their own.
He looked at Chiba Erina and nodded to say that he's fine. Haruhiro noticed how she's been looking at him with worry on her face. He felt that her worries for him are real which is why he took the effort to nod at her signifying that he's alright.
Haruhiro walked to her to try and tell her that they should leave but he suddenly felt a bad premonition. He hurriedly grabbed Erina on her waist and moved, they then heard a gunshot. The gunshot was followed by one of the orphanage's caretaker to fall to the ground, dead. If Haruhiro didn't move himself and Erina then either one of them would be the one lying on the ground right now.
Erina didn't know this, however, all she knew is that he dragged her away from their previous position and heard a gunshot. She then no longer noticed what happened afterward because her mind drifted into one of her fairy tales.
She saw herself being saved by a knight from a terrible monster that was about to take her life. That knight is a handsome young man, that knight then fought the monster finally saving the damsel in distress.
While Erina was lost in her fantasy, Haruhiro is frowning because he discovered where the gunshot came from. Several figures came out and revealed themselves, he knows of their identity just by looking at them once.
Blue uniforms with the same guns are what these figures are wearing.
Haruhiro is sure that the one behind this is Sloth, after all... Normal zombies can't fire guns. He looked at the pale limping figures and felt annoyed, it seems that Sloth just won't give up without him making trouble for him.
"Go! Inside! Now!"
He shouted at the remaining stunned people, there were those that already run inside of the orphanage when they heard the gunshot but there's also some who were so afraid that they just stood there not knowing what to do.
The remaining people run inside, taking the still clueless Erina along with them. Anna stayed with Haruhiro since she saw how exhausted he looks, her worry increase even more. At the same time, she also doubted what she's seeing since this is clearly not the zombie she was expecting. 'Can they really use guns,' is what's inside her head.
However since she can see the zombies all holding their guns and pointing it at them, she has no choice but to believe it. Haruhiro already found it difficult to move, now that he can see these zombies his hatred for Sloth increased further. He also regretted not being able to kill that shameless bastard.
Haruhiro tried summoning his shadow but it disappeared quickly. He shook his head bitterly, seems like they'll have to do this the hard way. "Let's go, Anna. We just run like hell, there's no way to fight them like this." He decided to just run away, besides he can barely stand.
He grabbed Anna and was about to join the others inside when he heard a voice saying, "Is this him?" Haruhiro quickly placed Anna at his back. This gesture of Haruhiro's made Anna's heart warm but she also felt annoyed how powerless she is right now even though she's been given by Haruhiro a skill. Haruhiro saw two people not too far from them, he heaved a sigh of relief when he saw them. He thought Sloth or the person in white called for support and now decided to get back at him but it seems he was just too worried, of course, he is still annoyed with how Sloth sent zombies to him and hid.
There was no hostility in their eyes which is why Haruhiro lessened his guard a bit to avoid being impolite towards the other party. He also felt quite afraid of the two. They are clearly standing just a few steps away from them but he didn't notice how the two arrived. Also, even now he can't feel their presence.
He's been used in the apocalypse so of course, he would notice if some sort of change happened in his surroundings but these two, even if he can't see them there... There's no change in the wind or anything. 'How is this possible? How can people like this appear suddenly?' Haruhiro's thoughts are messed up but he subconsciously moved his body in order to hide Anna though he knows it's useless.
Just from how they mysteriously appeared Haruhiro knows that these are very powerful individuals. He also couldn't help but try asking Ava how there seems to be too many Evolved coming out before the apocalypse even begins, he asked Ava if there's any information regarding this but Ava didn't respond. He was shocked. This is the first time in these past days that Ava didn't respond to his question. Haruhiro clearly remembers that even when he's not asking any question Ava would give him some sort of answer but this...
He tried accessing the System as well but only a holographic screen with letters saying "System Error" appeared in front of him.
He started sweating, he's been thinking of surviving the apocalypse by relying on the System but if it suddenly stopped working like this in critical times then won't it be unreliable?
Haruhiro then heard one of the people speak. "Don't worry, I'm just checking a few things. After that is over the System will be operational again." He was stunned by what this person is saying. Just checking a few things? Doesn't that mean he's the person who created this System? Or at least he's related to that person...
"Yeah, it's him. I've seen the data and you're right... Well, he's also right. The old fools are changing their games a bit. People with different abilities have started to appear even before the energy shifts have stabilized. They're bored." The person with brown hair and golden eyes said to the other. He's wearing casual clothing that you would assume that he's just like any other person in the streets but his aura and his handsome face tells otherwise.
Haruhiro and Anna listened to him speak but they couldn't understand what they're talking about.
The other person then replied. He has golden hair and eyes, his clothes seem fancier than the other. His looks and his aura is also not one bit inferior to the first person who spoke.
"This is troublesome then if they really are bored won't that mean those old people will start looking for us?"
"I think that's why he suddenly came out of his cave. He and his crazy little sister are out of the realm last I checked, the old fools will be too busy with them to worry about us minor characters."
"He got out of that cave of his? With his sister? Then is that why you were allowed by your wifey to come with me? That makes a lot of sense now, no wonder when..."
"Shut up."
The one with brown hair cut their conversation short, clearly, he's displeased with what the one with golden hair said. The two watching this conversation didn't know what to make of this, they didn't even notice how the zombies who were pointing their guns at them stopped moving the moment the two appeared.
The attention of the two people returned to Haruhiro. However, the person with golden hair got bored fast that he started looking around. The person with brown hair is fiddling with a bunch of holograms that appeared in front of him. This caused Haruhiro to doubt the identity of this person even more.
As Haruhiro and Anna are busy watching the person with brown hair and how the one with golden hair is messing around with the zombies, the person with brown hair closed all the screens and said.
"I'm done. Your name is Haruhiro, right? I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask and trust me I want to answer all of it but the rules of the worlds won't allow that..."
He paused and signaled the one with golden hair by waving his hand. However, his casual wave of hand caused the zombies to turn to ashes.
"...If you want answers, feed your greed. This is what you've taken with your own hands. You can call it luck or anything but the thing is, you've got it.
We'll be going now maybe we'll meet again."
When he said that, the person with golden hair arrived back to his side. He looked at the person with brown hair with disdain and playfulness.
"You say that the rules of the world won't allow us to speak too much but the truth is you just don't want to go against his rules again."
"Shut up. Open the gates"
The person with golden hair chuckled and formed hand signals with his hand after he was done a golden circle appeared behind the two. The golden circle that appeared out of nowhere is big enough to fit one person at a time to enter, at the center of the circle is what really attracted Anna and Haruhiro. In the center they can see a vast grassy plain, from afar they could see a green lush forest as well. Near the place where the circle appeared is a Western-style mansion. It looks new and well maintained, "See you when there's a next time then."
With that the person with brown hair entered the circle, he simply walked inside. His figure blurred a little when he entered it but after that, it was like nothing happened, he continued to walk towards the mansion. The one who made the circle appear, the one with golden hair followed behind him. His figure also blurred a little when he entered it and that's it, the circle slowly closed behind them.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Endless_Starlight
Endless_Starlight I've recently started talking with a person from another country (Taiwan) and I've now learned how difficult the language barrier really is like what my communication professor said. I feel like I should study some other language, that would be my third one.
(Second being English.)
Thank you for giving some time to read my work.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone