After some effort, Nathan and Elia were finally able to locate a car that was in a drivable condition. Most of the cars had already been damaged by the abarations.
Fortunately for them, the car they found was a vehicle with a very large boot space.
"We need to store as much rations as possible," Nathan told to his aunt as he settled into the driver's seat while Elia moved on to the passenger seat.
With that, he started the car and moved toward their destination.
The number of abarations on the roads had definitely not decreased, but it seemed that after the initial panic and chaos, humans had begun to fight back—and quite a few of them had levelled up. Even so, it appeared to Nathan that most of the humans even after levelling were not willing to fight the abarations but were scrambling to find a safe house for them.
This adaptability- the ability to deal with any situation was what made humans one of the most tenacious species in the universe.
As Nathan drove, he skilfully avoided the abarations and used his dagger to kill any that came too close. However, he did not waste time collecting their crystals.
Nathan made it a point to not use his elemental manipulation in the public. He did not want to draw any unwanted attention till he was sure that he was powerful enough.
On the way to Sector 0, Nathan stopped at few supermarkets or grocery stores he spotted. He loaded the car, both the boot space and the backseat, with as many long lasting edibles as possible. It seemed to Nathan that most of the humans were still dealing with their survival and hence no rush for the food items had started, at least not till now.
Since they stopped multiple times, the journey, which should have taken no more than an hour, ended up taking an extra thirty minutes.
By the time they reached Sector 0, the sun had completely dipped below the horizon, and darkness had taken over.
The number of humans on the roads had also decreased and it seemed that most people had locked themselves inside whatever shelter they could find.
Since most of the electrical wires and poles had been damaged, there was no source of light, and complete darkness enveloped the city. Only the glow of the moon kept the little bit of illumination.
Elia's face held a slightly anxious expression, and the presence of Nathan was the only thing keeping her calm.
"We're here," Nathan said as they entered the third circle of Sector 0.
Sector 0 of Didono City had a unique design. The sector had been divided into three concentric circles.
In the innermost or first circle were all the major government offices, such as the mayor's office, the office of the city councillor, and the police chief's headquarters. A 40-foot-wide road round these buildings marked the inner circle.
The second circle, which surrounded the first, housed other government buildings and minor departmental offices. Another 40-foot-wide road ran around this ring.
The third and outermost circle contained the residences assigned to the government officials of the city. As expected, these were no ordinary houses but luxurious homes equipped with all modern amenities.
Six roads intersected the three circles, connecting Sector 0 to the rest of the city.
Ideally, Nathan would have preferred to take shelter in the mayor's office, but that would have been too ambitious. He knew that the moment any semblance of order was restored, the people in authorities would return there.
It wasn't that he was unwilling to confront them- he simply wanted to be cautious before making any moves. He needed a good understanding of both his own strength and the strength of others. Although, he knew that he was a lot more powerful than any other ordinary human, he was not willing to take any risk.
With that thought, Nathan steered the vehicle along the third circle's road, scanning for an empty house.
His search proved fruitful as he soon spotted a house locked from the outside. A large iron gate led into the front lawn. A stone pathway cut through the grass, leading to a wooden door at the house's entrance.
"It seems empty," Nathan said, parking the car close to the iron gate.
Elia nodded in agreement. The lock on the iron gate clearly indicated that no one had occupied the house.
Nathan took the lock in his hand, trying to shatter it, but just as he was about to act, his senses tingled and his head snapped to his right side as he senses a presence nearby.
He narrowed his eyes and from the darkness, a silhouette emerged.
Nathan tensed. The figure was carrying a large assault rifle, and while he was strong, he doubted he could outrun a bullet.
"Who's there?" a woman's voice came from the silhouette.
Nathan remained quiet as the lady stepped forward, and as she moved closer, Nathan recognized her face.
"Gloria," he muttered in surprise.
"Nathan!" Gloria was equally shocked to see him here.
Nathan took an extra moment to observe her. She was dressed in black pants and a navy-blue t-shirt, with black military boots completing her attire.
"What are you doing here?" Gloria squinted her eyes as she questioned him.
Not knowing her intentions, Nathan immediately lied.
"When all this happened… we were at a place not far from here," he said.
"So, I thought we could look for accommodation in one of these houses," he added, feigning slight hesitation.
Gloria gave a small nod. "Hmm" but she seemed sceptical of the answer.
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