Instead of relief, Denver looked at the girl with a blank expression. His grip lost the hatchet's feel, but he wished he could simply swing at this mimic.
At his obvious anger, the little girl closed her eyes. She said, "Don't worry about them. A group of armed men roamed the streets earlier. The evil humans were forced back to their dens."
"How about the mimics? Our people were attacked last night." Denver sighed inwardly. He loosened his tense shoulders. "Won't your people attack them this time? What was that I fought earlier? A field venator? What if another came?"
"You killed a field venator, and those armed men killed a whole pack of ravagers. The eaters will think twice about attacking as long as the death scent is in the air." The girl hummed as she got comfortable under the thick blanket. "You should worry about the executors. One won't see the death scent on them, but one will see it on you. Think twice before leaving in the next three days."
Denver stared at the girl. "Are you… an Invocator? What does that mean?"
The girl flicked her gaze at him. "I don't know where you heard about that, but I suggest you keep quiet about things you don't understand."
Denver smirked in ridicule. "Do your answers depend on the results of my evaluation? What would be satisfactory to you?"
"One where we get to kill a lot of things." The girl shrugged her shoulders to feel the blanket more. "You lucked out when you got matched with someone who loved blood and carnage."
"I got matched?" Denver echoed, but the hallucinations broke then and there. He noticed how everyone grew worried about the trembling little girl. However, he knew so well that the girl was only acting. This girl was the same mimic he met.
The nurse bit her thumb and looked at the man, who continued to stand around. "Twenty minutes? Do you think they can return that fast?"
Denver glanced at her. The man couldn't help but feel bad for her. He reached out to pull the blanket higher as if flattening it on the girl. "The blood can only be transfused within thirty minutes outside the refrigerator. The faster they get here, the better."
She frowned. "Why did your mood suddenly change? No matter. You should help Leonard and Mr Jones with the gates. That crash must have resounded all over the neighborhood."
"I'll get to it." Denver nodded and left the lounge. He sighed and picked up the hatchet from where he placed it. He slipped it into a belt loop and walked to the gates.
The two men could only position the gates back to their place. However, the latch couldn't be locked as the bars were crooked and bent. Mr Jones and the old guard didn't know if they had something big to block the gap. A person could simply slip through it without a problem.
Leonard, the old guard, looked over at Denver as he approached them. "We might have to take the gates down and flatten each first. The hammers will create so much noise."
"Leave the gates for now. I'll watch over it for you. Take a rest, Grandpa, Mr Jones. You two might have to do the hammering tomorrow." Denver pulled on a corner of his lips. "I'll also wait for Ms Ross and Mr Holmes to return."
"What about the attack? Won't the marauders strike tonight?" The old guard flinched in confusion. "I think we should continue guarding.
"Wait, I know! You're such a caring man." He thought Denver grew worried about him. With a smile, Leonard assumed a bodybuilder pose. "Don't worry about my old bones, Denver. This thing can still take a few more beating!"
Denver chuckled. "I don't want to beat you, Grandpa. But if you want to continue watching the building, it's fine with me."
He looked around and spotted no movements outside. However, he still frowned. "That sound could have alarmed everyone else. I think the marauders won't dare tonight. We should be ready tomorrow night instead. For now, we need to focus on the girl and these gates."
The man turned to the third person. "Mr Jones, you can return to the building now. Thanks for helping Grandpa. Can I bother you with driving the car to the inside parking? It'll attract eyes to our front gates."
"I'll see if the keys are in the ignition!"
Mr Jones was more than happy to sit behind the wheel. He hadn't driven a car for two years now. Even if he had to push it for the engine to start, he would. He would indulge himself with the difficulties of having a car again.
…
Three days… Denver heard the girl say they had three days free of mimic activity. A whole pack and a venator died in their streets. The lower ones wouldn't attempt to attack. However, she warned him about the executors. She even made it sound like he should be afraid.
Denver watched the sunrise from the building's rooftop. It looked so inviting through the red vision he didn't know how he had gotten.
'Hey, what should I call you? Are you the Symbiosis System?'
Denver didn't get an answer. He sighed and massaged his temples with a smile. His gaze swept along the quiet city once again.
'Can you tell me about the ranks of these… eaters? How far are the executors from the venators? Are they more powerful than I can handle?'
[Computing danger levels… Field Venators are… 300% likely to die from a… Inferior Executor. Inferior Executors are… 300% likely to die from a… Superior Executor. Subject… Denver Turning… is… 300% likely to die from Field Venators.]
Denver lifted his brows at the voice's response.
'I'm 300% likely to die from something I already killed? Hey, what do your percentages mean? They don't make sense to me.'
[Opening system index… '150%' represents the likelihood of killing more than one simultaneously. '300%' represents the likelihood of killing without deliberation.]
Denver blinked. He remembered how easy it was for the venator to kill him if the thing didn't choose to play with him. A sigh came as his response.
'No wonder you called me a non-hazardous substance…'
[…]
[Congratulations on passing the second evaluation! The result is as follows…]
[You have earned your special ability: Homesteading. Having a secure shelter for food takes precedence over leaving kills in the open. Quickly raise the rank of your Homestead by leveling its offensive and defensive capabilities, recruiting tenants, and providing comfort.]
[Your available homestead is the… Dandelion Apartments!]
"What do you mean?" Denver couldn't help but speak aloud.
However, he saw the little girl phase right in front of him. She slowly descended from the height as if an ethereal being. Her feet softly landed on the railing before Denver. She looked down at him, whose eye level was a good foot below hers.
She huffed. "It's time. Listen to me, human. I am an invocator sent to aid you in this trial. My name is Lulu, and I will serve you until your purpose is fulfilled or voided."