Dean's Apartment.
Upon entering, Clara was met with a… surprisingly nice-looking apartment.
She expected it to look messy, just like the hell she'd always see in the kitchen whenever her sister tried her hand at cooking. She was always the one to clean it up.
"Make yourself comfy," said Dean as he headed to the kitchen.
Clara took a seat on the sofa. After a while, Dean brought Clara a cup of coffee.
Then, Dean sat from across. "So, what did you want to talk about?" he asked. Taking a sip of her coffee, Clara said, "I want to talk about Tosla. The dream, more specifically."
Oh. I think I know where this is going.
"What about it?" asked Dean.
Clara's hold on her cup tightened. "Do you remember the angel that appeared in the dream?"
"Yeah, I remember. Somewhat." Dean nodded.
She continued, "And do you know what happened between me and that angel?"
Hm? Don't tell me the angel killed her? I didn't really listen to the report on what happened to everyone.
Dean shook his head.
"I see… Actually, I fought the angel, but I lost in the end. I… I died." Clara sipped on her cup of coffee.
She closed her eyes. Do I do it? Do I tell him what's troubling me? I haven't even told sis yet…
Suddenly, Dean sighed and said, "And let me guess, you can't stop thinking about it, and that moment has been haunting you ever since?"
She stared at him, wide-eyed.
Wow. I got it right. Dean sighed inwardly.
Clara can't believe that the first person she's telling this to wasn't her sister, but Dean.
"It's something like that. I've been having nightmares about that angel…" She finally finished her cup of coffee. "And every time, it's always the same nightmare…"
Dean was… skeptical. After all, it's only been a few hours since the expedition ended. "How many times have you dreamed about the angel?" he asked.
"More than ten times now… Ever since the expedition, every time I'd fall asleep, the angel would be there… waiting…"
"I've been losing sleep because of it."
Dean scratched his head. "Why'd you come to me, and not a therapist or something?"
"Because… You and Donovan didn't make a report on what happened as the dream was ending. Only Mr. Johnny did, but he didn't say enough…"
"I need to know what else the angel did."
Uh oh, she'll be disappointed…
Sighing, Dean said, "Nothing. The angel simply went to the king's side, and disappeared. That's all, and that's it."
Her expression turned to disappointment. "Wait, really?"
"Yes. My memory has never failed me."
She sighed.
Why does she even want to know about this? To find some form of closure? Or just mere curiosity? Dean wanted to know why she was doing this.
Clara's face suddenly turned into intrigue.
Oh? She thought of something.
Meanwhile, inside Clara's mind…
So, the angel really only went for me… She saw Dean, Donovan, and Mr. Johnny, yet she didn't try to attack them… She simply just disappeared.
But why? Why would the angel target only me?
"Thank you, Dean." Clara suddenly thanked him. With that, she stood up.
Dean was confused, but he accepted the gratitude anyway. "Uh, yeah, you're welcome."
Then, Clara sprinted out of his apartment!
Hm, she's clearly bursting with energy now…
Wait…
The bubble tea she promised me!
"Hey, wait—" But she was already gone.
Oh well, whatever.
***
Books, papers, and notes were scattered around the sofa, and the small metal table in front of it. Clara skimmed and scouted through her family's historical records for any mention of the angel.
…But she found nothing.
Her ancestors never encountered an angel.
So it's not because of the Swan bloodline that the angel targeted me… Then what is it?!
She was going insane.
Suddenly, the front door opened.
"Hm? Hey, what are you doing?" asked Sylvia.
"Um… I just suddenly had an interest in our family's history," answered Clara.
Sylvia could tell her younger sister was lying, but she decided to let it go.
"Just make sure to tidy up once you're done. Oh, and how's the fever?"
Clara just now remembered about her fever. She brought a hand to her forehead.
"Oh. It's gone now."
"Good."
***
Back to the present, 26th of January, Sunday.
"I'm familiar with our family's history. I can assure you, our family did not encounter an angel." Sylvia said as she calmed down from the rage she was feeling earlier.
"Big Sis… Will these nightmares never stop?"
"…Don't worry. You'll someday have the strength and courage to repel these nightmares, and you'll no longer be scared."
With an exhausted sigh, Clara nodded weakly.
Sylvia clenched her right fist.
On this night, she made a new goal for herself: To hunt an angel.
27th of January, Monday.
I just realized something…
Donovan was brushing his teeth, looking at himself through the mirror.
Do I even have a "cheat" or power-up that came with my transmigration? If so, then what and where the hell is it? I would really appreciate it if my "cheat" makes my progression faster, much like a manhwa protagonist… Sigh, that is, if I truly have a "cheat."
He finished brushing his teeth.
Oh, come on, do I just transmigrate and nothing else? That's it? Whoever made me transmigrate here, do better!
After dressing up in a three-piece black suit, he left his apartment, locked it, and headed for the Portal Chamber.
Will I really just be doing missions every day? Man…
Upon arriving at the Portal Chamber, Donovan saw Tiero talking to three Visitors. As he approached, Tiero noticed Donovan and said, "Here he is."
The three Visitors turned around, and their faces fell.
"Donovan, you'll be accompanying these three on a mission. They'll— hey, what's the matter?"
The three Visitors had gone quiet all of a sudden. "Ah, nothing! Everything's fine…"
Oh, I remember these guys. When I was Shower Rank, Category 4, I helped the three of them advance to Shower Rank. That was three months ago. I wonder what Category they're now in?
"The planet's name is 38-Arnica-81. Four Drone-types, and one Reaper."
Tiero approached Donovan, leaned in, and whispered, "These three kept on bugging me to give them a high difficulty mission to gain a dramatic increase in Category. I'll compensate you extra for the trouble."
Donovan sighed. I seem to remember the original Donovan doing the same thing… That was a year ago.
"Okay, you three, I'm guessing you already know who this man is?" Tiero gestured at Donovan.
"Y-Yes, we know."
"And Donovan, do you want me to introduce them to you?" asked Tiero.
"Sure." Donovan nodded.
"She's Ava, he's Nico, and he's Arden."
The girl, Ava, had blonde hair and dark eyes. She was quite young, most likely in her teenage years. She was wearing a white shirt with a black coat on top.
Nico was quite tall, had short black hair, and was dressed in a suit with a necktie. He was wearing glasses. He also seemed quite young.
As for Arden, he was shorter than Nico, but his body was of a good build. He had long, black hair and had a small but noticeable mole near his lips. Just like Nico and Ava, Arden also seemed to be in his teenage years.
When together, they look like a ridiculous trio.
Nico nudged Arden's elbow, and said in a low voice, "Isn't he… the same Donovan Volgard that we almost hit with the car?"
"The very same. Just be quiet about it," replied Arden.
"You two, just act normal," said Ava with a whisper.
"Hello again, Mr. Donovan… Do you still remember us?" asked Ava.
Donovan nodded. "I do."
Tiero watched their interaction. "You all seem to be getting along." With that, he handed them the Planet Card for Arnica.
"Be quick and precise. Remember your training. Good luck," said Tiero.
And with that, they activated the teleportation sequence and disappeared in a bright flash of light.
38-Arnica-81.
They found themselves in a forest. It was night, and the moonlight helped illuminate their surroundings.
Before them was a river. The trees looked similar to Earth.
"Mr. Tiero informed us that the Annihiliths will be arriving soon. We just wait here, I guess," said Nico.
"Alright." Donovan found a log to sit on. "We wait."
The others sat together on another log. Donovan looked at them.
They seem to be best friends. An old friend group, perhaps?
Suddenly, Donovan's right hand quickly went to his neck. A mosquito. The insect that was on the top of his list of "Kill on sight."
"Ah." Ava suddenly took out a strange metal box. This was called the Portable Storage Device. Then, she took out two mosquito coils. "Mr. Donovan."
Donovan caught the two mosquito coils. He smiled, and cast a tiny Flame Ball on the tip of his index finger. Then, he lit the two mosquito coils.
He tossed one towards them, keeping one for himself.
"Thank you," he said.