Void Lycan's Advent

Exhibition

Orion stood up steadily, his action inadvertently grasping the attention of most students, Evangeline and Marcus included.

He took in their stares with no unease appearing on his face and walked to the forefront of the lobby - his body imperceptibly shifting with each step as he adjusted to his new strength - before he stood with his back to the reinforced door.

By then, everybody's eyes were locked onto him, concern and unease seeping into their expressions. They all seemed to be thinking with worry that he would do something drastic. Evangeline and Marcus even seemed poised to move should he make a move.

Orion stared at each worried face and simply raised his index finger, allowing specks of dark energy to flow out of his skin and gather together to form a small orb the size of a tennis ball. "You all should calm down, I'm not going to do anything crazy.

"You should all have realized how much the world has changed. You all are still alive due to me, Evangeline and Marcus securing us a building. In blunt terms, you are all leeching off us."

The crowd shifted, their expressions displaying anxiety as they all knew that he was speaking the truth. Still, they couldn't accept Orion's blunt and apathetic words and attempted to speak out in protest.

However, a single flare from the dark orb in his hand was enough to remind them of his strength and force their mouths shut. Seeing this, he nodded and continued his speech. "I don't know about those two, but I'm not fond of leeches." The crowd shifted again but stayed quiet this time, choosing to wait for him to finish. "As things are, we don't need to worry about air or temperature since the ventilation system here runs on solar power, we also have an abundance of medication. Yet, we are missing food and clothing, which will require going to the cafeteria and the dorms.

We can't get everything with just three people. Not to mention that we'd still have to fight some Aberrants on the way."

"He's right." Evangeline nodded as she walked to Orion's side before glancing at the worried faces of the students. "Fighting Aberrants isn't all that scary. Anybody with a D grade Class above would find it easy as long as you attack from afar. We all have to get stronger and contribute to the safety of the overall group, after all.

Those with weaker battle prowess can also help in their own ways, like cooking or handling the distribution of meals. We all need to work together to survive this dreadful new world."

Orion glanced to the valiant looking Evangeline to his side and nodded internally while dissolving the orb of darkness. He had debated for a while before deciding to help the students forge their mentalities. After all, he had spoken the truth. He couldn't single-handedly handle the waves of monsters and aberrants the apocalypse threw at him. That and the fact that, at worst, these lot could serve as a distraction should an overwhelmingly powerful aberrant appeared.

Helping them and leading them were two different things though. He had heard about how compassionate - well, as compassionate as one could be during the apocalypse - Evangeline White was towards normal law abiding humans. With her high intellect, she would be able to think of the same solutions he had offered but only when issues had begun arising among the survivors. So he had revealed the solutions ahead of time, allowing the group ample time to prepare.

"We should visit the cafeteria first." Marcus, who had walked out to meet the two, suggested as he looked at the group of students. "Are there any volunteers?"

The students hesitated as they heard his voice. The very thought of returning to the chaotic world on the other side of the reinforced door seemed to be enough to send shivers down their spine. Yet, there were some who took the initiative to move forward, though their numbers were still too few.

Evangeline couldn't help but frown as she saw this but she realized that she had no way to have them volunteer without directly threatening them. But that was something she'd like to avoid. In the end, she figured they'd have to make do with the few who had stepped out.

Of the 17 students gathered in the clinic, only three had stepped forward - a lanky boy with glasses, a girl wearing a sports tracksuit and a slightly muscular man who looked to be a teacher in the school.

Orion glanced at the three and nodded. "Names, as well as a basic description of your skills."

The man nodded back and spoke first. "I'm Derek, a P.E. teacher here. I have a skill that can toughen my skin and increase my physical strength as long as I have sufficient Ether."

The bespectacled teen adjusted his glasses. "My name is Alex, I have a skill that allows me to control objects with my mind, kinda like telekinesis."

The girl in the tracksuit followed. "I'm Emma, my skill allows me to control fire."

'Hmm, Derek should have either a C or D grade Class. The other two should be B or C grade, since elemental and psychic type skills are relatively rare.' His Void Sight immediately activated, prompting the system panel to appear before Orion's eyes.

_

Name: Derek

Class: Unknown

Ether Scale: Lower Stage, 1st Stratum

Cumulative Attribute: 187

Skills:

Empower (Level 2)

_

Name: Alex

Class: Unknown

Ether Scale: Lower Stage, 1st Stratum

Cumulative Attribute: 191

Skills:

Telekinesis (Level 2)

_

Name: Emma

Class: Unknown

Ether Scale: Lower Stage, 1st Stratum

Cumulative Attribute: 188

Skills:

Flame Magic (Level 2)

_

Seeing Derek's and Emma's skills, Orion could easily confirm their classes -- being the C grade Pugilist and C grade Fire Mage classes. They weren't too bad, but were also not too good either. Especially the Fire Mage class. The cons of the class was a bit too harsh for inexperienced newbies. As for Alex's class? He wasn't too sure about it.

Sighing, he could only place the matter at the back of his head and instead focus on what was to come.

Evangeline stepped forward, her metal manipulation gathering the various metals in the building and having them suspended in the air behind her. "We won't need to move that fast. We should allow Alex, Emma and Derek kill a few aberrants to gain more Ether and, if possible, reach the Middle stage of the 1st stratum."

Orion nodded, that plan made sense. Even if their classes didn't focus on Etheric Power, a bit of the Ether they absorbed would still flow to increase that attribute, allowing their Ether reserves grow a bit larger. Alex and Emma were in the clear, their classes obviously had something to do with Etheric Power.

Derek, however, would have to be frugal in his use of his Empower skill as he was dead meat if his Ether suddenly ran out mid fight.

"The cafeteria's three buildings away." Marcus spoke, pulling out a roughly sketched hand-drawn map. "I can remember that most of the surrounding buildings are in a bit of a mess. We can't risk the entire structure falling down on us, so our only choice would be moving in the open."

The 6 of them nodded in acknowledgement, though a hint of worry and uncertainty appeared on the expression of all of them -- except Orion of course. As they prepared to move, he noticed the remaining students watching on with a mix of fear and hope. The 6 leaving seemed to be the strongest out of them all, after all. If they all died, there would be no one to protect them.

Orion ignored their worries though. He knew what was going through their minds but really couldn't care less. In a way, all those who possessed decent enough skills yet stayed among the crowd were selfish as they had the power to be of help to the team.

But Orion didn't really focus too much on it. He knew how complex human emotions were, so he knew that it was quite normal of them to display this amount of selfishness. But that didn't mean he would let them off easy.

A thin grin suddenly appeared on his lips as he spoke out to the group. "As the group heading into danger, we six will get prioritized meals from whatever we find over at the cafeteria. It would only make sense if our hard work was rewarded after all."

The expressions of some within the group faltered, hesitating a bit before settling back down. Orion's words were easily understood by them. But they really weren't shameless enough to admit their skill in battle after already playing sheep.

Orion's eyes could pick up on some of their frustrated expressions, the sight bringing a bit of peace to his tensed mind before he finally turned his gaze to the remaining five of his group.

Evangeline glanced at the door and exhaled slowly. "Marcus, you'll be in charge of the rear. Emma and I will stay at the sides. Alex will be placed at the center of our formation, and will be protected by Mr. Derek in case something happens. The vanguard will be taken by...." She suddenly paused when she turned to Orion, then a bit of red appeared on her face as she realized that she didn't know his name.

Orion seemed to understand her predicament and spoke. "Orion."

Evangeline nodded, committing the name to memory before nodding. "Let's begin then."

The reinforced doors opened with a mechanical hiss, allowing a stream of sunlight to land onto the six and causing their eyes to squint a bit. They quickly adjusted though, and began taking their first steps outside the clinic.

And towards their first hurdles to completely occupying what they could safely call a base.