Grey's expression was calm but his heart was beating frantically. The gazes of the other party was enough to put fear in his heart.
These were all battle veterans who had fought countless battles. Hence, they emanated a strong aura of bloodlust. Especially the captain, his delicate appearance and harmless expression made for a stark contrast to his fearsome aura.
The captain seemed to have felt Grey's discomfort, so his gaze passed by his team members and they all retracted their baleful aura. It was then that Grey inhaled. There was only one word in his mind.
'Strong.'
"What's your name kid?" The captain asked when he saw Grey's expression subtly turned relaxed. His companions were also looking at him but they looked at him softly.
When Grey did not answer, the captain sighed and shook his head for a few seconds before contemplating.
"Would you like to go with me?" His gaze was calm and Grey was surprised. Taking in a random kid, that was suspicious.
"No need to get the wrong idea, I don't mean any harm. If you have been able to survive here for this long you would obviously have some tricks up your sleeve."
"Just take it as me inviting you to join NY scavenger camp." His gaze was calm and his expression was sincere. His team members did not seem surprised. It was like they were used to it.
Seeing as Grey kept silent, he sighed again before rubbing his forehead. "Lemme tell you something kid, this corroded zone was just born a few months ago. So that means it's not yet fully matured. That's the reason for the red clouds -' he then pointed at the red sky and continued '- Once the corroded zone has finished maturing, more bizarre existences and terrifying creatures would appear and the entire corroded zone would be in chaos. It won't be safe, so carefully consider my words." He said and then turned to walk away. He seemed to be satisfied saying that and wanted to leave.
After a short while of walking, the young woman asked with a inquisitive expression. "Why did you warn him about the corroded zone and still leave?" She was very confused at the captain's strange behavior.
The Captain just looked at her before answering. "Have you ever seen a peculiar kid like him living alone in a corroded zone? Even if he doesn't want to come with us I still feel good knowing that I gave him an advice. If we do meet again, I believe it's Fate." He stopped at that and walked a little faster. Leaving the young woman in her thoughts. The young men also seemed to be considering the captain's words deeply and feel into thought.
"As always, our Captain is peculiar in his own rights." It was the burly man with the battle axe that spoke this time with his other companions agreeing.
They looked at the back figure of the Captain strange expressions on their faces.
Back in the dilapidated house, Grey was silent as was deeply in thought. Everything the Captain said made sense. Back then he could already feel the corroded zone was still lacking something. Lik it was in its nascent stage. Now with the words from the Captain, he finally confirmed that thought.
As more time grew by, a determined expression appeared on his nonchalant face for the first time. And he packed up the things he thought he would be useful for him and left the dilapidated house in a hurry.
He followed the tracks left behind by the Captain and a few minutes, he saw their figures in the distance. He slowed down his pace until he was walking side by side with them.
Five adults and one kid, walking into the depths of the corroded zone with determined expressions on their faces made for a ethereal sight for all who saw it.
As they walked deeper into the corroded zone than he had ever gone, he subtly studied each and every single member of this team. Each one of them gave him a dangerous feeling.
Staring with the burly man, despite his silly demeanor, Grey felt his chance against him was less than ten percent. As for the woman with the bow, he felt that he could have a chance against her if he went all out and attacked her from behind. The other two men gave off a baleful aura that made his pupils constrict. He would definitely have no chance against them. And finally for the Captain, he could not even see the depths of his power and felt a strange coolness permeate his body.
The feeling he gave him was one of a calm lake. The same feeling he normally git whenever he practiced the Sky Mist art and entered a deep meditative state.
'Could he perhaps also be practicing the Sky Mist art?' Grey thought it was possible since the feeling he got from him was one of kinship and familiarity.
The Captain had his hands in his pocket as he walked forward. His gaze was determined as he gave him a strange feeling.
Feeling his gaze, the Captain glanced at Grey befwe beaming to him a small smile.
Grey's face flushed red a bit and he turned his gaze away. Between them, the Captain was much more mature and refined. He looked like the noble young master of a prestigious family. He even gave him that feeling.
They came across a Mutated moose with several large antlers on its head. It was over three meters big and had a coat of siver fur.
It's eyes were red as it stated at the party from over a thousand feet away. Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked to the Captain. His face was scrunched up in a frown.
He lead his members away in another direction as they avoided the moose. Since the mooses was very far away, Greg could not feel it's spirit energy fluctuations but felt it was strong for the party to avoid crossing it.
The moose looked at the retreating party until they could no longer see it again.
"Don't think too much kid, the Captain has much better senses than all of us so we trust his instincts." The woman with a bow on her back said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"I just felt that I should say this if you are going to become a part of our team." She continued.