"My lord, next time, please grant us a moment to strategize! That was utterly reckless and you could have killed yourself! It would have been far better if one of us had acted in your stead!" Chio's voice, usually a calm murmur, was laced with a raw, growing worry as he took in John's battered state. The crimson stains on John's tattered clothes were stark against his pale skin and though he stood, a faint tremor ran through his frame.
John, however, merely waved off Chio's concern with a dismissive hand. "It worked, didn't it? How are Aria, Ivy, Hope and Angel? Are they all okay?" His gaze swept over his companions, a flicker of genuine concern replacing his earlier bravado.
Aria, leaning heavily against a charred pillar, offered the most pitiful look she could muster. Her posture was visibly theatrical, yet the exhaustion etched upon her face was undeniably real. "Just tired Master. It took a considerable toll on me. Unfortunately, I won't be of much use for the remainder of the day, so please look after me." Her voice was a soft, breathy whisper and even in her feigned vulnerability, some fatigue was visible. Ivy and Hope though also looked weary but at least seemed fine, having endured the ordeal with less direct impact.
"Why didn't you have me try sniping at it earlier, rather than you jumping in headfirst? Or with enough thought, maybe I could create a large-caliber weapon or something even better! A powerful move to try and destroy it!" Ash all but yelled, her hands twitching as if already mapping out schematics in the air, only to receive a weary shake of his head.
"It's better this way," John explained, a grunt of pain escaping him as he shifted. "I didn't know how thick or tough the skin on that black mass was. Besides, you're still mostly okay, same as Saya and even if a bit beaten up, Sieg is also good to go. You, Saya and Sieg are going to be protecting us while we recover – specifically protecting Hope and Aria." He wrapped himself tighter in his chains, a few links digging into the scorched earth to help keep him upright, just as he had done countless times before. His body knew its limits and it was screaming at him now.
A soft sob broke through the tense air as Angel darted forward, her small frame propelled by a surge of raw emotion. She latched onto John, burying her crying face into his stomach. "Master did it… Master took down an Enforcer and Master lived… This one is so happy, please Master! Never let this one worry like that again! This one knows how horrible those things can be and doesn't want to lose Master to one of them or their kind, like this one lost everything else important to her." Her voice was muffled, but the desperation in her plea was clear. John gently stroked her hair, a rare softness in his eyes. "It's okay, Angel. I won't be going anywhere any time soon." He reassured her, his voice a low, steady rumble that seemed to calm her trembling.
Just as the quiet moment settled, Z's voice shattered the peace, cutting through the heavy atmosphere like a sharp blade. "More, more! This core should be worth a score! And these wings, so many feathers and even some of the wings themselves are still intact! I must have it all!" Z was already kneeling over the grotesque remains of the fallen creature, picking up a bizarre, multifaceted eye-orb and tucking it into their pack before scrambling around, zealously collecting feathers and fragments of the immense wings before practically trying to rip the fallen creature apart like a butcher with a prime piece of meat.
"It's all mine Z!" John yelled over, a hint of his usual pragmatism returning. "But I am glad you're picking it all up for me. You can keep a wing and some feathers in exchange. Along with a small collector's fee," He then turned his attention to Hope, instructing her to cease her healing efforts and preserve her own energy. He was already feeling marginally better, but his concern for Hope was paramount. Visible beads of sweat gleamed on her forehead and the stark paleness of her complexion showed she was pushing herself far beyond her limits.
Hearing this, Ivy immediately turned to her sister, a sharp rebuke forming on her lips. "You idiot! You're neglecting yourself again! How many times do I have to tell you that your also need to look out for yourself!" Hope could only manage a weak, exhausted smile in response, making Ivy huff in exasperation but ultimately relent, knowing further scolding would do little good.
"Hmph. But I collected it all. Shouldn't I get a bigger and better cut?" Z reappeared next to John, having seemingly teleported from the pile of loot, a shrewd glint in their eyes as they attempted to negotiate a larger share. John merely gave them a stern look and Z sighed, knowing when to retreat. "Fine, fine," John conceded, "I'll make a deal with you about it later."
A new shadow steadily detached itself from the side of a partially ruined building, revealing Lucy. Her eyes, wide with incredulity as they fixed on him and his group. "What was that thing? How did you even manage to take it out? I mean, it was like a raid boss but it seemed slightly stronger and it often takes a whole army of people coordinating well to bring one of them down according to the reports I've read. But you took this arguably stronger creature down with so few of you! So how?!" she demanded, her voice a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"We got lucky," he began, his gaze sweeping over the ravaged landscape. "It pretty much took itself out by using that weird fire to try and strengthen itself and the black stuff didn't seem like it was supposed to be there. Where did you go by the way?" He turned to look at her, his voice dropping to a near whisper as he subtly instructed Ash, "Ash, if you can, create a black key, like the ones in the Nasuverse." Ash gave a barely perceptible nod, her hands already beginning the slow, almost imperceptible formation of the mentioned blades.
Lucy looked surprised, momentarily at a loss for words. It was clear he and the others had no reason to join her group. "You said you're heading to my lord? What is it you want from him? Is it to be a power under him?" she couldn't help but ask, suspicion coloring her tone.
"Not exactly," John replied, his expression carefully neutral. "Like I said before, his subordinate group, the Marauders, caused quite a bit of trouble for me. I just want to see if your lord is cut from the same cloth as them or if he's amicable to trade or cooperation." It wasn't an outright lie, but he conveniently omitted his true intent: to sever the head of the proverbial snake should this 'Lord' prove to be as malicious and destructive as his underlings.
Lucy bit her lip, considering his words for a long moment before slowly nodding. "Then I'll take you to my lord as a favor for our past encounters. But any attacks until we get there will need to be handled by your own group. I promise none of the Lords should attack you while I'm with your group."
"Perfect," John said, already shifting his focus. "Now, onto something more important. Z, can I get that stove again and any meat you might have that can help everyone recover? Also eggs and milk if possible." He turned to them, his expression expectant.
Z, ever the opportunist, immediately responded, "I have some, but it will cost you." John gave a dismissive nod, prompting Z to growl under their breath, but they nonetheless produced the compact stove along with a large sack and several smaller ones filled with various provisions.
"What are you doing?" Lucy asked, bewildered, as everyone seemed to visibly relax around John, who was already efficiently cutting strips of meat and skillfully frying them alongside eggs on the portable stove. An enticing aroma began to waft through the air, a stark contrast to the scent of smoke and decay.
"Making something for us to eat so we can regain our strength and help with recovery. I thought that would be pretty obvious," he replied with an eye roll, flipping a piece of meat with practiced ease.
"But… is that really important right now? What about my lord?" Lucy pressed, her logic overriding her rumbling stomach.
John didn't even look up. "He can wait. Priorities come first, meaning food for me and my group before we continue on." The rich, savory smell of the thin, bacon-like strips of meat became almost unbearable. Lucy found herself swallowing hard and against her initial resolve, she slowly sat down with the group, though a small distance separated her from them.
A half-hour later, John was thoroughly impressed with Z's stove and cooking tools. He made a mental note to negotiate with them about buying it all; the cooking speed was phenomenal and it seemed to operate far beyond any conventional stove he was accustomed to. He served the meal on three large plates: one piled high with crispy bacon-like strips and cuts of ham, another with perfectly fried eggs, a third with fluffy scrambled eggs and surprisingly even some toast all for communal self-serving.
"What about me?" Lucy asked, realizing she hadn't received a plate.
"You aren't part of my group, so even if you are guiding us, surely you have your own rations," John fired back, meeting her serious stare with one of his own. "Besides, food is a rare commodity these days and quite limited."
"But you have so much!" Lucy protested, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice.
"Yep, but it's for my group. I didn't see you making any offer of aid and you didn't fight in the battle like them either. They need it more than you"
"Wha—but she didn't either!" Lucy retorted, pointing accusatorily at Angel, who upon hearing this, visibly flinched and looked down, the words clearly cutting into her.
John's eyes narrowed dangerously. "My food, my word, my final say. And I say Angel gets a proper share. We all have our demons; that one was one of Angel's so don't even go there. If you had to face your own trauma, I doubt you would handle it any better." He snapped back at her, his voice laced with protective fury, causing Lucy to go silent, chastened.
The group ate in a tense, uncomfortable silence after that. Once everyone had finished, in a final, pointed act of spite towards Lucy, he deliberately bumped the plates, sending what little remained of the food scattering onto the dusty ground. "My bad," he muttered, feigning innocence, "due to my injuries from fighting I seemed to have ruined what food was left over."
"You… you did that on purpose!" Lucy yelled, her face reddening with outrage. John and his group, however, ignored her, simply getting there stuff together and already beginning to walk once more.
"Grrr, fine! Let's just keep moving forward. This little act just shows how much better the Lord is, he wouldn't be as petty as you just were." With one last furious look at the ruined food, Lucy turned, rushing ahead to lead the group, her resentment a palpable cloud around her.