Becoming a Monster

Chapter 301: Chapter 301: A Leader Receives the Glory & the Blame

Levi’s popularity wasn’t as high as the others, but his dedication and history of fighting alongside everyone the moment he joined their base made him another figure that the majority of the people respected.

Initially, there were those who were dissatisfied that they couldn’t follow behind Mark, whose ability to amplify their strengths gave them an extra sense of stability. Nor were they able to follow their saint who distinguished their fears of turning into zombies.

But as they turned to see the corpses that littered the entire lot, the blood that began to create deep puddles, even miniature ponds within the crevices of craters, the fear of it luring in other creatures began to sink in.

Reluctantly, the group shifted. The ones who were completely assured that their bodies were completely clean of cuts and deep bruising were the ones who took the initiative to pile the zombies’ corpses together. The others went to collect the chest, coming to a consensus to gather all the loot and place it within one chest when Mark came back so he could redistribute it to everyone.

Although they collectively came to agreement, not everyone held the same principles. Just the thought of there being another battle made many of the people waver. Even with Mark leading them, many still fell under his ”protection”.

It didn’t escape Levi’s notice when he witnessed groups becoming smaller in numbers. Occasionally, he would spot someone sneaking back into the base. But surprisingly he wasn’t mad at all.

While he went to one of the accumulating hills of bodies to set it ablaze, his eyes glazed over as he watched the bodies burn. His goal to dissolve the government system wasn’t as strong as it used to be.

Looking around, the system he abhorred was practically gone. It was only in the brief moments of peace that it seemed to exist. The world was already in chaos, the people already showing their true colors. He couldn’t help thinking, what was the purpose?

But then he thought about Noah and his monsters. They didn’t live their life in fear, they didn’t plot behind each other’s backs, and the only system they needed was to follow Noah’s orders. And from what he knew of Noah, he basically let them do whatever they wanted.

A flash of enlightenment reflected with the light of the flames.

For a moment, he turned in a certain direction. A lone body burning while few people gathered around it. Out of the group, Raven stood dangerously close to the flames, unbothered by its heat, she was in her own contemplation as she silently watched Peterson’s body burn.

There was guilt in her eyes, she was the first-person Peterson had called for aid. In fact, she was originally fighting alongside him before she went out on her own to save another.

She loathed men in general, but she, like Levi, still respected Peterson for what he stood for. He was a stubborn man, a strict leader, but he never shied away from protecting the weak.

Levi saw this, but in the end, he began to chuckle to himself. Even now, Peterson’s death went ignored by almost everyone. That was what it meant to be human. To leave and die alone unless your life benefited someone else’s.

He chuckled one last time before he looked towards his hands, his mind vividly recalling the moment he was just about to die to those blue flames. He wondered if his death would be the same, unnoticed, only by the few minorities. And what about the others who died? Their bodies were now being stacked along with zombies. They were just discarded, and will be completely forgotten, their value was treated no differently than the undead.

Levi felt truly lost, but only one image gave him hope.

________________________

While the others were initially behind Noah, Noah slowed his pace to allow them in front of him to properly play their part.

And all the while, just like Levi believed, none of them were reflecting about those who had perished to fight alongside them. They were all walking in long strides in silence. Many of them wanted to speak up, but Noah’s presence behind them made them silently keep moving forward.

Mark’s expression was more determined than ever, but as they reached the doors, his expression began to become twisted in anger.

It wasn’t just those who had initially abandoned them waiting at the doors, but he noticed guards who were completely under the finger of those who held the political power in their favor.

Despite his anger, Mark was still wary of the new identities. The guards who fled were meaningless, built upon those who grew their power around their guns. Their individual power was useless and even when together they weren’t seen as an actual threat.

However, it was the others that made Mark anxious. He didn’t believe they were stronger than him, his pride alone wouldn’t admit that.

Yet, that didn’t mean they were pushovers. What truly made him anxious was that they wouldn’t stand down and let Noah pass, if that was the case, Mark’s goal would be destroyed before they could get past the first hurdle.

Mark’s pace picked up, rushing to get inside the building as fast as possible. The others followed suit while Noah continued the same pace, but now Fenrir moved in front of him.

”Mark! Don’t come any closer!”

The moment Mark entered the building, guns from all directions were pointed towards him, instigating his frustrations even more.

These people would’ve been dead if it wasn’t for him. And the ones behind them wouldn’t be any better off if Mark and them would have died out there, and that fact annoyed Mark even more.

”Cowards! You’d rather fight us than fight the actual enemy? All of you should be ashamed.”

”Heh!”

His words hit the mark for many of those who had initially fled, their bravado warning, their fingers fidgeting at the trigger of their guns.

With Mark’s charisma, it would only take a bit of effort to get them to completely give up any resistance, but a sudden chuckle disrupted the tense atmosphere.

”Why are you acting like you didn’t expect this, Mark?”

Everyone’s gaze directed themselves to one of the guards leading the new group. His face wasn’t memorable at all, yet Mark was familiar with all of those who fought with him.

The person was someone that initially followed them. Just like how the majority of Peterson’s men left him, so too did almost all of the university students that followed Mark and the others. Power and safety swung their loyalties with ease.

”You call them cowards, but all we did was join the side that actually wanted us to live. We deserve to be treated with respect; we shouldn’t recklessly give our lives for those beneath us. They should be happy that we aren’t letting them starve. And you? You would lead us all to our deaths, and for what? For glory, for pride? No! Everything in the end benefits you.”

The man’s voice grew louder, feeding off the flickering hesitation in the crowd. Some of the guns, which had started to lower, steadied once again. The people were desperate for someone, anyone, to convince them that they were doing the right thing. And more than anything, they wanted to wash away their guilt for abandoning everyone to save themselves.

Mark stared at the man, his once frustrated expression was now much more subdued since he realized that maybe, just maybe, he needed to take partial blame in all of this.

He was aware of the deaths of those who followed his league, but what should he do? He wanted to save as many people as he could, he was a hero, not a god.

He could do what the others wanted; he could’ve allowed everyone to stay under his protection while he fought solely in their stead. But not only was he not strong enough to do that, was that really saving them?

In the end, there was one thing that he had gained from Noah, in this new world they found themselves in, everyone should learn how to protect themselves.

Mark felt obligated to give the man an answer, to give everyone an answer. Though his actions may have been misunderstood, everything he did, every decision he’s made, it was for the prosperity of humanity.

But the moment he was about to speak, Mark remembered why he was here. His lost gaze suddenly regained its clarity. He despised these people for betraying him and abandoning their comrades, but that didn’t mean he wanted them all to die.

”I won’t apologize for my actions, only for those who have died following me deserves my apology. But now is not the time to prove who’s right or wrong. Grant, I know you remember Noah. I need you to listen to me, he’s about to walk through these doors. Tell your men to stand down if they want to live.”

Grant, the man leading the guards, visibly stiffened at Noah’s name. For the first time, real fear cracked through his bravado. He licked his lips nervously as he tried to glance past them to look outside.

But then something clicked.

He did remember Noah, and he also remembered that Noah wanted nothing to do with them, they had left that monster a long time ago. His anger flared, thinking that Mark was trying to scare him.

”You really think I’m scared of that monster??”