Solo Cultivation in The Apocalypse

Hitori was staring out of the glass when he heard numerous guns cock on Tengoku's command. "Ready!" Then the next moment, he saw sparks of bullets. "Fire!"

Hitori turned and dived onto the sofa. He landed on its top and pulled it down with him. The bullets shattered the glass and entered the house, but Hitori took cover behind the sofa to protect himself.

He opened his eyes and saw Akira in the corner with a shield in front of him and Reon. Those bastards were showering the house from every side.

Hitori heard a loud thud, he turned to the other side and glanced at the broken door. Shit, he thought, they took down the door– it is an open path for them.

Not like the wooden door was going to hold up or anything. Kakashi took the cover of the walls and stepped out of the kitchen. He was holding a shield in front of him as he dived by the side of the storeroom.

Hitori leaned flat against the sofa, he could feel the pressure of bullets trying to pierce through the cushions, he believed that the sofa was holding it any longer.

Kakashi peeked through the corner, trying to save himself from the bullets, he levitated the door and punched it back into its place. Then with some magical glue, he sealed the door.

That action changed the shooters' attention on the door, they shifted their free fire on the door. Soon, the door was not even a door, it was a piece of wood with hundreds of bullet holes in it.

Hitori was watching from the sofa's corner, and so was Akira from the cover of the coffee table. Kakashi looked at Hitori and pointed at the staircase.

Hitori nodded, then turned to Akira and Reon who were behind the coffee table. Reon was trying to land a shot on the attackers, but then remembered her ammo was limited.

She leaned forward to get close to the room when her eyes caught Hitori staring at her intensely. Hitori raised his hand and pointed towards the staircase. She gulped and nodded.

While she told Akira about the plan, Hitori turned to Kakashi for further instruction. He could feel his heart banging against his chest. He was expecting them, but not in such numbers and this way. This was insane.

His chest felt heavy as if he was filling it with water. He realized he was holding his breath since he took cover. He released his breath in a deep and long sigh.

Hitori opened his eyes and saw Kakashi holding three fingers, then he rolled down his ring finger. Hitori raised two fingers behind him and got to his feet.

Reon and Akira received the sign and were ready to dash toward the staircase. Then Hitori pulled down his middle finger.

That one finger remained standing alone, like the last man standing on a battleground. Hitori was waiting for Kakashi's one finger to drop so that he could dash to the staircase.

He was not expecting the firing of the stop, it seemed eternal– like they are ammo that would last them for an eternity.

Through the blaring sound of firing, came a strict and hard voice, "Halt!" Clearing through the bullet noise came Tengoku's order, and the firing stopped as if the switch was turned off.

Kakashi pulled down his index finger. Hitori jumped from his hiding spot and dashed towards the staircase. He did not stop till he reached the first land. He peeked over the side and saw Reon, followed by Akira.

Hitori sat on the side of the staircase wall, Reon sat behind him, and Akira beside Hitori. But Kakashi had not moved. He was staring at them from the storeroom's side.

He raised his palm, pointing at Akira, and he moved his hand to the side. Akira understood the gesture. He got up and went behind Reon.

Hitori glanced and wondered whether he could even see anything from there– he could not. Akira whispered, "I am going to Eya-nee."

Reon hummed and Hitori nodded. Akira's heavy steps vibrated the hollow staircase. Hitori opened his mouth, but Kakashi's wide eyes shut it for him.

Kakashi gestured for Hitori to wait. He got up and checked outside from the kitchen window. It was still dark as ever, but the air was filled with thick smoke and the smell of gunpowder this time.

He did not see anyone in the three-meter radius, he was wondering where the Guardian Spirit was. He came back to the storeroom, then bolted to the stairs.

Reon jumped to her feet and went inside. When Kakashi reached the first landing, Hitori followed Reon inside. Then came Kakashi.

Hitori saw the guest room's door open, he went inside and saw everyone in the room. The common bathroom door was open. Kyoryu was at the window with his wand in front of him.

He saw Reon hugging Eya in one corner, and Akira waiting for him by the door.

Hitori went near the window, then came back. He could see nothing but the woods. To get the outside view, he would have to go downstairs– but he was not doing it.

Hitori came out of the room and looked down the staircase. The door was closed and he could not hear any movements outside– for once he believed he was safe. But he drew his wand as he went back to the room.

Kakashi was staring at him. "What?" Hitori asked. "Is this not the right time for action? Or do you want to agree anymore?"

Kakashi shrugged, then sighed, and rolled his head. "Alright, you win, boy."

Kyoryu moved away from the window. "Don't gather in one room. Eya, take the bathroom. Kakashi, go to the main bedroom, and you two go to the fireplace," he said without turning.

Everyone got moving. Eya took Reon to the bathroom, Kakashi had a little chat with her, then went to the master bedroom.

Akira went out of the room first, then Hitori followed him to the fireplace. Akira was moving the two chairs and coffee table to the door. "Hey, we would need them. Where are you taking it?"

"Yes, we need cover, but only if they come inside– which they will not– and if they did, these freaking chairs are not holding even for a second."

Hitori was hit by the bitter truth. But really, what would the chairs do in front of those assault rifles? He still arranged the chairs and jumped behind them.