Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Hitori landed behind the house. He stumbled against a wall and fell to the ground. He grabbed the ice in his hand and pulled it out. Then he checked his jaw, it was hurting.

Hitori got off the ground using the wall to lean on. He grabbed the wall's corner and stood on his feet. He sensed pain in his legs too. He was covered in blood and sweat.

The box was still in Hitori's grip. His wand was safe and so was the gun. He looked around, his vision was blurred, and he felt like someone was pointing something in the middle of his eyebrows.

He felt his head shaking from left to right as his vision changed sides, still blur. Hitori leaned against the wall and tried to keep standing.

He looked around but he could spot anyone near him. Where was he even? Was he at the right spot? Where are others then?

Suddenly, a beam was fired at Hitori. He only saw it when the beam was an inch near his chest.

He thought he heard someone in the background saying, "Kami no Megumi…" He saw a silhouette, too, of someone he could not recognize.

Hitori opened his eyes again, and this time, he could see clearly. He saw Kakashi and Eya standing in front of him, Kakashi lowered his wand, and Eya raced to Hitori.

"Are you alright? Do you have severe pain anywhere?" she asked, inspecting Hitori's body herself.

Hitori shook his head and brought his hand. His knuckle was healed and the stab in his hand was healed too. Hitori lifted his head and found Atama and Senso behind Kakashi.

They exchanged glances and suddenly disappeared. Eya stepped back and Senso took over Hitori. He grabbed him by his chest and banged his back against the wall behind him.

"Why the heck do you have a gun? Tell me it is not yours," Senso said, he was angry, his eyes were scary, and his grip was tight.

Hitori was choking, he still looked at Senso, into his eyes full of anger, and said, "It is mine now."

Senso pushed him into the wall. "I am not kidding, tell me why do you have a gun and where did you find it."

Hitori looked down. He was not planning on answering it. He exactly knew what they would do. They would first ask for the gun, then they would never give it back. Why? Because only scientists use guns.

"I just found—"

Senso lifted him off the ground. Hitori's head was throbbing when pressed against the wall. He felt the rocks were trying to penetrate his head.

"You better answer him," Kakashi said. "We all want to know if you got it illegally. If yes, then we will have to take care of that gun."

Hitori looked into Kakashi's eyes. "Make me spill it," he said, "just like you made me jump back then, come on."

Eya grabbed Kakashi's forearm. "Do it, Kakashi."

He pursed his lips. "I do not know…" he whispered, "I think he will fight against my spell. It seems something important to him and you know how he becomes—"

"I know. I know. Just the same as his mother. Stubborn." She looked at Kakashi. "But you can at least try once."

Kakashi nodded. "I do not know. Let me try." He looked into Hitori's eyes and opened his mouth. "Where did you get the gun from? Tell the truth, Hitori!"

He stressed Hitori's name.

Hitori protested. He closed his mouth tight. If he told them, they would take that gun. It was the last thing Kamiya left after dying. They could not even find his wand or his glasses or his gaming card. Nothing.

If he gave Kamiya's gun, what would he do with hundreds of murder plans which would never come true? If they take the gun, they will inspect the box, and take everything that belongs to Kamiya.

But in the end, Hitori's injured jaw gave up and he was forced to spill the truth. "I found it under Kamiya's bed. It belongs to Kamiya."

Senso released his grip and stepped back. "God damn you, you teenagers!"

Hitori dropped to the ground and coughed on the ground. His jaw, which was healed, was hurting again.

Kakashi clicked his tongue and threw his hands. "Who the fuck said they are normal teenagers? These two kids are full of fucking surprises!"

"Shocks." Eya nodded. "Full of shocks," she corrected him.

Hitori looked at them. He got up and went for his suit's inner pocket. Atama grabbed his wand in case Hitori plans to do anything.

But he took out a plastic packet. Then he swung his hand to the backside and pulled the gun. "Kamiya. This is Kamiya's gun. I got it under his bed," he said, "with this. Bullets."

He handed Senso both of the items. But Senso removed his hands and they fell to the ground. "Do not give me that."

Atama sighed. He kept his wand inside and walked to Hitori. "No one is taking that from you. Just make sure no one sees it with you. Do not carry that gun everywhere you go, do you understand?"

Hitori was surprised. He looked at Atama and nodded. He felt relieved somehow. Then Atama's eyes fell on the metal box.

"I would not ask what is in that box. But if something goes wrong, you will be responsible for it. But if you tell us now, we might be able to help."

Hitori grabbed the box and the gun. He kept the gun in the pant and the bullets in the jacket. "I am going back to my house."

Atama stared at him as he got up. "Hitori…" he called.

Hitori ignored Atama. He did not need any help. Why would he? No way he was going to get in trouble for this. But then he stopped and nodded with a wave of his hand.

Atama chuckled. "You will be punished for what you did to Jigoku's father."

Hitori walked, then picked the pace, and disappeared from the street. Everyone was left staring.

Senso sighed. He looked at Eya. "Is he coming to the Vr-cade?"

That was totally off topic so she did not get it at first. She looked at Senso with a blank expression. "What?"

"Is he still playing?"

"Oh…" She looked at Kakashi. "No… he has not logged in since… I do not know," she said.

"I will leave, I need to be at the site," Atama said and teleported to Kamiya's house.

Kakashi nodded. "The news of his defeat is all over the web."

"That… that was cheap. Well planned, though," Eya said.

Senso looked at the street Hitori teleported from and said, "He should come back to gaming. Something, I hope, something should happen to him that would bring him back into the world of gaming."