Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

How am I gonna be optimistic about this?

From behind the academy looked like the house of gloom. Even in the morning, it was covered with clouds of pollution and all of the universe's dirt. It looked so dark, Hitori had to check the clouds on the other side to make sure it was not going to rain.

Kyo had the lead while Eya was behind him. Hitori and Reon were walking together, and for the first time since even before Kamiya's death, Hitori was not scared of the monsters behind his back.

Every monster haunting them was already dead. No one would reach out to him with a dagger or a wand from behind. The ones who would be not left alive. He could walk without any fear, to take just a glance over his shoulder once to make sure no one is following him.

"I do not feel right," Reon said, only to Hitori.

Hitori looked down at her. "What do you mean?"

They had climbed the border and were now reaching the backside of the academy. For Hitori, this was already breaking into the academy, he wondered how they were going to turn this legal.

Reon looked up at him and said, "Tengoku tormented our lives, but we never got to kill him. We stood petrified and could not even land the last blow…"

Hearing that in the third person gave Hitori a different outlook on Tengoku's death. He thought as they stopped in front of the five-foot back door, then nodded. "It was not a satisfying death."

"What IS a satisfying death?" She frowned at him, not expecting that kind of reply from him. She was stating they should have been the ones to end him – not that it was an unsatisfying death.

Kyo lifted a fist and knocked on the door. Hitori frowned back at her, thinking, 'This is what you wanted to hear.'

"The one we get to commit. He tortured us, killed Kamiya, and messed up our lives; then some other person jumps out at the time to kill him when we should be the ones to kill him."

That made her think about it for a moment while Kyo clicked his tongue and raised his wand; Eya checked the surroundings for guards, traps, or CCTVs.

"Yeah, I guess that is what I meant." Reon nodded. "Then… I am not going to let that happen this time." Her voice was booming with confidence and determination.

"That was Tengoku – the queen, this is Onogi – the king – our queen took the queen, but we will take this king."

Reon liked the analogy. She smiled at Hitori. "Eya-nee and Kyo-san will deal with his father." She shuddered when the door suddenly opened.

Kamino with his octopus arms stood in the doorway. It took him some time to study the four people, then he stepped back. "Come on in."

They went. Hitori and Reon followed Kyo and Eya inside a dark hallway. He looked at Kamino, the man who wanted his son dead. Hitori was grateful he did not have such a father.

"The Academy is closed today, due to the summer. So that bastard son took this as an advantage. He thought you would not even find him – well, you would have not found him – and he thought it would be hard for you to enter – which indeed is hard – but he forgot about me."

Kamino then glanced over his shoulder, then turned, and continued walking. He did not say anything till they reached the elevator.

"I know the room he is in, I will go first and bring him to the ground floor, so you all stay here." He stopped and turned his back to the elevator. "I see some of your men are missing. I presume it has to do with the dynamites Masao set under the fort. I am going to kill him for that."

Kill him. Oh, no, he was not. Hitori stepped forward as Kamino turned. "Do not kill him."

Kamino stopped, then glanced over his shoulder, moving one arm out of the sight. "What do you mean?"

"Onogi is ours to kill. Do not—"

"Of course. He is not even my son, I have no right to kill him. You do." Then he went inside the elevator and closed the door.

Hitori stood petrified by what he had just heard. 'He is not even my son.' What did he mean by that?

He had no chance to find out. Hitori turned and spotted the courtyard behind him. The walls surrounded it on all four sides, leaving a little space that led to the battlegrounds and a door on the right that led to the classes.

"Shall we?" he said, pointing at the courtyard.

Reon shrugged. "This brings back memories. Oh, I was such a bright student. Only if my parents had money—"

"Reon," Eya said, "do not think about it." She held Reon's hand. "Tell us if it is safe."

Reon studied the courtyard, she had very less memories of trouble happening in the courtyard. Mostly, it was Kuzu and Onogi bullying other students. Nothing serious ever happened.

She shook her head. "I think it is safe," she said.

But of course, Onogi was alone and now his father was going upstairs, does not matter if he says he wants him dead, he still is his father. So no one could tell what the father-son would plan against others.

As Hitori walked to the courtyard, he glanced around. Then he thought about the worst case – what if the Onogi showers bullets from the balcony of the first or second or whatever floor he is on?

Hitori ignored that thought and waited by a pillar in the corner of the courtyard. He looked up. The lights were turned off, and although it was morning, the hallways remained dark. The balconies had glass protection – perhaps polycarbonated glasses.

"How do you even want to study in an environment like this?" Hitori muttered under his breath, but Reon caught him.

"It looks dull and gloomy now, perhaps not even the worst place to study, but you should come when the classes are on, in the middle of a working week – you will see the bright lights, decorated lights and plants, and the fresh air freshener they use—"

"He is coming." Kyo jumped to his feet and drew his wand. Hitori stepped away from the pillar to take a look at the balcony, and yes – he was coming.

Onogi's collar was in one of his father's arms, and he was being dragged across the hallway – toward the glass. Hitori shuddered at the thought of what was going to happen next.