Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

They navigated through the forest. It was easy for Hitori since he had already been here, and to his surprise– they were still holding hands.

Reon looked at him, but could not see his face in the dark. "Did I do it right?" she asked.

Hitori shrugged, snapping a branch in his way. The vines and branches were getting in the way, he feared it might enter his eye or something. "I don't know. I didn't feel anything– a jolt I feel when I teleport with Eya-nee. But I am still walking," he said.

Reon was still in the dark– she wanted to make sure whether her mana was used or not– but she decided to keep quiet and continue walking.

"As soon as we get out of the woods," Hitori said, "I will contact Eya-nee and ask her to come for your help. No way we are going to the hospital."

Reon agreed with him. "Are you close to the house yet?"

"Yeah… I have been through this path, do you see those cut-down branches?"

"Yeah, actually, I don't."

"Well, I cut them on my way to the city border. It means we are on the right track and close."

It took them around half an hour to reach the house. Reon was halfway tired and she could barely walk, but she kept up with him. Hitori was eager to reach home that he ignored the pain.

Hitori unlocked the door and let Reon in. He went to the phone in the dining hall while Reon went to the sofa, and dropped herself on it.

Hitori punched the number, his hand was trembling, and he wished for only one thing– Pick the call, no matter what.

He saw her sleeping on the sofa with her legs over the handrest. The sofa was too small for her. "Get to your bed," he said to Reon.

"I can't…" she muttered, half asleep, and half tired, "I can't walk anymore, forget climbing the stairs…" She drifted off. He knew she could fall asleep anytime, and that would be for the best, but what about him then? He can't sleep, who will look after the house?

The phone rang. The rings stopped after five rings and he heard Kakashi's voice. "Who is this? It is past midnight, so it should be important. If this is some teenager playing a prank, then be warned kid, you have disturbed my sleep."

"It is me. Hitori. And I guess I don't have to ask a question."

"Boy? Seriously, this should be important," Kakashi said, half-asleep. Well, he won't be anymore after hearing Hitori.

"I need help. Reon is injured– so am I– but she is in a bad condition. If you can, please come as soon as possible."

"What did you do?" He sighed, still not out of sleep.

Hitori took a breath and held the phone in both hands. "Stormed Onogi's place. Burned the seven-story staircase, crushed around twenty-five guards in an elevator, knocked that bastard out, and rescued Reon."

Silence. Hitori called him to make sure he had listened to what he said, but still no reply. "Are you—? Man, I am serious, and I need help before things get out of hand."

Then came his voice after another moment of silence. "God damn you, boy. Stay right in the house, lock the doors, close the windows, and cast a healing spell on her– is she serious?"

"Didn't I just say she was serious? I am not moving out, just hurry up."

"You do realize we are going to have a talk about this, right?"

"Right. Right."

Kakashi hung up the call. He heard him talking to Eya before the telephone touched its pad. Hitori believed Kakashi went to get his coat when he went silent for a moment.

Hitori kept the phone in the holder and walked to the hall. "Reon, hey, Reon," he called, but she was out good.

He decided to lock the doors before taking her to a bed. He took a look outside the front door, it was clear, so he locked it and moved to the kitchen windows.

He made sure the forest area was clear before sliding the windows close. Then he went back to the hall and looked at her.

Shall I try to heal her? Oh heck, it might drain me.  He went back to the kitchen and took a healing potion and a mana potion. Hitori gulped them down and thought about getting a stamina potion– but he was out.

He walked back to her and picked her off the sofa. This is the longest I have ever touched a woman, he thought as he carries her to his room. He dropped her on the bed, got her a cover from the closet, and locked the door.

Waiting for you, Eya-nee, he thought as he turned to Reon. she was still unconscious and Hitori remembered what she had said:

'Don't you think it is cool? You stormed his fort alone.'

I think it is happening, Hitori said to himself, I need to distract myself.

He glanced around the room to find something. He moved towards the door to sit in the hall and complete reading the book, his eyes fell on the gaming console in the corner.

His heart suddenly picked up pace when he saw his premium metal gaming card on the table's corner. No. no way, he thought.

Hitori raised his hand and grabbed the card. He found himself sitting in the chair and the next thing he knew, the card was already in the slot.

The game loaded and Hitori was transmigrated into the game. He knew it was risky to leave the world and enter the gaming world. He would not even know if someone kills him while gaming.

But he did. He was in the spawning area. The broken water fountain, the dark doors, and the ruined building– but something was strange.

The satisfaction did not last long. He heard the players around him whispering at a high frequency, and they felt directed toward him.

Hitori gleaned around. Yes, they were looking at him, they were talking about him to their partners. What, what is this? He wondered, Okay you are making me uncomfortable.

He dropped his head, and adjusted his hood– forgetting his name was still visible– he walked towards the door.

He heard the whispers getting closer than feeling distant, then he sensed the players closing the distance between them and him. They were following him. He was sure.

He was not sure why, but before things could get out of hand, he decided to run away from the creeps. They must have recognized me. I, I should log out.

He came out of the spawning spot and opened the menu screen when he hear shouts behind him. Hitori panicked,d he jumped forward, and turned around.

Wands were pointed at him, men carrying swords were coming at him, bullets were fired at him, and bows were charged at him. Before he could process anything, he was killed by the thirsty players.