Chapter 48: Ch 48: Do you want to get better?- Part 1
After dinner, Selene allowed Orion to return to his room to think. She knew that this was a decision he needed to make for himself.
If she pushed too hard, he would only resist. He needed to want this—needed to realize that hiding forever wasn’t an option.
Once Orion disappeared down the hallway, Selene turned back to the other two. She pulled out a tablet and placed it on the table, tapping the screen to bring up a map.
"This is our next dungeon."
She said, pointing to a marked location.
Ethan leaned forward, his expression shifting into sothing more focused.
"Alright. What’s the plan? I’m sure you thought of one by now, right?"
Zara, however, hesitated. She had other priorities and she even gave Orion a dirty look before turning to Selene and asking the question.
"Shouldn’t we check on the kid first? Ease him into this whole situation? He just got here."
Zara asked.
Selene shook her head.
"No. This is sothing he has to process on his own. If we coddle him, it won’t help."
Zara frowned.
"Are you sure? He’s just a kid. I don’t think we should burden him like that."
"I know. But if he’s going to survive in this world, he needs to learn to stand on his own feet. Being 10 won’t make these monsters leave him alone."
Selene said.
Zara still didn’t seem convinced, but after a mont, she sighed and leaned back.
"Fine. Your call."
She sounded bitter, but even she understood that this was a situation where nothing else could be done. The world had gone down the drain and the only thing humanity could do was survive.
Selene continued, outlining the dungeon’s details.
It wasn’t a high-level dungeon, just a local one that wouldn’t be too difficult to clear. Since the challenge was manageable, they decided that only two of them would go this ti.
"I’ll go with Zara. I want to clear this dungeon with just the two of us."
Selene announced without any hesitation.
Ethan imdiately frowned. He did not seem happy with the announcent.
"What? Why not ? This is not fair! I am bored as well."
Zara smirked.
"Because you’re too annoying?"
Selene shot her a look before turning back to Ethan. "
We want to handle this one ourselves before things start getting crazier. We need the experience."
Ethan crossed his arms and pouted.
"That’s unfair."
"Deal with it."
Selene said, already wrapping up the conversation.
Ethan sighed dramatically, then smirked.
"Fine, but you owe
a reward when you get back."
Selene rolled her eyes and ignored him.
—
The next morning, Selene and Zara set out for the dungeon, leaving Ethan behind at the base.
And Ethan, as expected, quickly grew bored.
With nothing better to do, he decided to entertain himself in the only way he knew how—by bothering their new resident.
Without warning, he broke into Orion’s room.
The kid had been sitting on his bed, lost in thought, but before he could react, Ethan grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out.
"Wha—?! What are you doing?!"
Orion sputtered, struggling.
Ethan ignored him. Without another word, he pulled Orion outside, into the open yard behind the base. Then, with a grin, he picked up a rock and chucked it at him.
Orion’s instincts kicked in imdiately. A shimring barrier ford around him, the rock bouncing harmlessly off.
"What the hell?! Are you crazy?!"
Orion shouted.
Ethan just laughed.
"Nah. It’s practice."
Orion’s eye twitched.
"Practice for what?!"
Ethan leaned on his heel, looking far too amused.
"For staying alive."
Orion clenched his fists.
"I said I didn’t want to go to the dungeon."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
Orion scowled.
Ethan sighed, rolling another rock between his fingers before tossing it lazily in the air.
"Look, kid. I don’t really care what you do. But Selene does."
Orion froze.
Ethan’s expression darkened slightly, his usual playful deanor fading.
"And if Selene wants you to live, that ans you need to get stronger. Weakness isn’t an option in this world."
Orion swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable under Ethan’s gaze.
For a mont, the older man looked dangerous.
Not in the sa way the scavengers or the monsters did. No, this was different. Ethan wasn’t so desperate fool trying to survive—he was strong. Strong enough that he didn’t need to be afraid of anything.
And he was looking at Orion like he was prey.
"I—"
Orion started, but he didn’t know what to say.
Ethan smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Do you get it now?"
Orion nodded stiffly.
Ethan dropped the rock and stretched.
"Good. Now, let’s try again."
He moved fast—too fast. Orion barely had ti to react before another rock ca flying at him.
With a gasp, he raised his barrier.
The impact was small, barely a tap against the energy field, but Orion still felt pressure.
’Ethan is ssing with .’
Orion gritted his teeth.
’Fine. If he wants to throw rocks, I’ll show him I’m not just so weak kid.’
This ti, when Ethan threw the next one, Orion redirected it. His barrier shifted, the rock bouncing back toward Ethan.
Ethan raised an eyebrow and easily dodged.
"Oh? So you can fight back."
Orion glared.
Ethan smirked.
"Then let’s see how much more you can do."
And with that, their training truly began.
Orion gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting as Ethan continued to throw rocks at him. His barriers—his only real defense—were failing him.
Every ti he thought he had successfully blocked a projectile, Ethan’s next throw sohow bypassed his shield and smacked against his arm, shoulder, or leg.
The older man wasn’t even trying. He was playing with him.
Orion clenched his fists. His body ached from the repeated hits, but his pride hurt even more.
"He’s mocking
now."
His barriers were strong. He knew they were. He had spent days refining them. He could make them large, small, curved, double-layered—whatever he needed.
And yet, Ethan was treating them like nothing more than an inconvenience
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