Apocalypse Fighter

Chapter 30 - Anthony and the Carnelian

“I don’t believe you. There is no woman stupid enough to behave as you said. Anyway, you think I can’t find someone better than you to be my boyfriend?” Vera’s voice became cold and provoking.

Everyone wondered what kind of man would choose to be with Vera.

“Allow me to introduce my boyfriend, Dr. Milos Jackson. He’s, gentle and obedient and loves me very much. Am I right, Milos?”

Vera’s tone was proud. Although she had known this man for just a few days, she knew he was a catch. He was gentle and patient; a brilliant, well-educated man.

“Yes…You are quite right. It is my responsibility to take good care of you. I will do whatever you ask of me,” said Milos.

Milos came up close to Richard and said with a wry smile, “Mr. Richard, this task is so hard!”

“Keep it up, Milos. Soon, it will be over.”

Richard smiled and looked at Milos with compassion and encouragement.

He never thought Milos would be this effective at seducing women. In just 3 days Vera had taken him as her boyfriend and brought him here in public with her. Milos was no good at selling, but he certainly had a way with the ladies.

“You know him, Milos?”

Vera was smart. She wanted to know the truth.

“Oh, yes, we used to work together.”

Richard waved his hand to tell Milos to stop talking. It would be satisfying to humiliate Vera in public, but it would only make her hate him more.

For Richard, he just Vera to survive the doomsday, that was it.

“Knock, knock!”

Just then there came a sudden knock at the door, urgent and heavy, the anxiety of the person behind it clear from the sound.

“Open the door, it’s Anthony!”

Anthony was back!

Richard’s spirits were lifted when he heard this. He had obviously been able to get the activation potions, the only question now was how many he had been able to get!

But what was wrong with Anthony's voice? Something had made this powerful man extremely worried.

“Something was wrong. When I was ready to leave, there were a huge group of people outside, special police vehicles, police dogs… the works. I still managed to get out but I have a hunch that what you did yesterday may have been discovered."

As he entered the room, Anthony spoke with a grave expression on his face. Yet when he came further into the room and his eyes fell on Steven, the anxiety in his face subsided a little.

He said to Richard in a serious voice, “The vaccines are in the minivan outside. Unfortunately, John kept a large part for himself and only left you a few hundred. There's some money in the trunk too. Take your family and get out of here right now. Leave everything to me. I’ll cover you.”

Since having a child in his life again, Anthony seemed to have swept away the bad luck from before. His was back to his old ‘Lion Soldier’ self.

Pushing Richard aside, he walked into the room and carefully picked up Steven, eyes full of tenderness. He kissed him on the forehead, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a round Carnelian crystal.

“Mary, today is a special day for the boy. As his adopted father; this Carnelian crystal is my gift to your son. I acquired it some years ago after completing a special job. It was left for me under a pine tree on a mountaintop. I’ve asked many professionals but no one can trace its origins. One expert I spoke to said that it is connected to the ancient gods. They told me to cherish it and that this would bring good luck to whoever wears it. Take it, for Steven.”

Anthony smiled, and for a moment he looked as happy as a child. It seemed that he didn’t think of Steven as his adopted son, but as his own flesh and blood.

In order to give Richard and his family time to escape, Anthony had prepared for the worst. He feared that the Carnelian might be the last gift he ever gave Steven.

Still, Richard wondered how worried he should be by Anthony’s story about the hospital. It seemed that the fact he had killed two cops, stolen their guns, and taken Lora and the other two women hostage had somehow gotten out.

Richard didn't expect the police would come very quickly. Besides, in less than half an hour the apocalypse would arrive, bringing with it a world of chaos. No one would pay any attention to him then. Nothing would matter anymore except survival. Biological mutants, vicious beasts… the thought sent shivers running down Richard’s spine. Dozens of police, even hundreds, could never make him feel like that.

Looking at the blood-red Carnelian crystal, a memory suddenly came flooding into Richard’s mind. He remembered that someone had mentioned that the magic effect of the Carnelian was the reason for Anthony's power and accuracy with a gun.

The Carnelian had helped Anthony level up from an ordinary survivor to an invincible power mutant. With guns, he could kill countless mutant creatures and became a god in the minds of countless survivors.

Could it really be true that the Carnelian was responsible for all that…? Staring at the crystal, Richard's mouth became dry and his heart started beating fast.

This was a very rare opportunity; the Carnelian could make him a powerful man in the doomsday world.

If his guess was right, this crystal would give him the chance to dominate the doomsday world, build up a base for survivors, and create the Last Paradise for his son. All his dreams would come true. Richard would no longer have to worry about his wife and child being injured or killed by mutant creatures. And he would have a significant standing with the highest position of the survivor base, envied and admired by all.