Continuing his errands, Josh headed to a department store. Arriving he pulled behind this building like the last. Getting out of the truck he did the same thing activating his purple eyes. However this time he noticed there were three people in the building. He could tell two of them had powers. He decided to strap one of the swords to his waist, and enter anyways. It was a old fashioned katana.
Walking into the store he noticed it was a mess. Many things were gone but he wasn't concerned. Along his way he found three carts that he tied together. He then pulled them behind him filling them as she came across things. There were some non-perishable food items, but not many. There were still a good amount of tools and Josh grabbed a good portion of them filling a whole cart.
He kept note of where the others were. They obviously did not know he was there yet. Maybe he could keep it that way. But honestly he was curious of their powers.
Continuing down in aisle, hidden behind some cardboard he found a bunch of jugs of water. Enough that filled two carts. Now all three carts were full. Instead of getting new carts. he decided to load the truck and then come back. After putting everything in the truck, and then locking the truck. He headed back in.
After around five minutes of looking, Josh wasn't paying attention. A arrow flew right past his head. Surprised just looked up from the direction of where the arrow came. The three people he sensed were standing there. One with a bow pointed straight at his head. She had long black hair and it was wearing some sort of leather suit. Another one a man in a hat, had two short swords in his hands. He was also wearing a leather type suit. And the third was another woman, with the same color hair as the other girl, and the same type of leather suit.
Both of the women looked very similar, it was obvious they were related. As Josh was thinking about this he noticed they were the same three he had saved earlier, so he spoke. "I saved this three of you from a monster cow and this is how you repay me"
The girl with the bow immediately lowered it. The man spoke. " It really is you I thought you looked familiar I didn't get too good of a look when you were in the truck. I'm sorry we're just very hungry" for the girls at the same time spoke"thank you so much for saving us"
Josh smiled and said "not a problem. After I grab a few more things I will be heading back to my community would you like to come with me and join. I just ask if you have any powers, I do" raising his hand, Josh activated his fire power, showing them a fire ball in his hand.
The girl with the bow spoke. "Yes I alexa have some sort of telekinesis power and my sister mia, here has a repulsion power. And this is my sister's husband Chris, he does not have any power. " After Alexis spoke Chris added" we need a safe place we would be happy to go back with you and we will do any work you need."
"Great." Josh replied. He then put his hand out and walked towards them."my name is Josh it is nice to meet you" they all shook hands and Josh felt more power. The telekinesis power was at level two. And the repulsion power is at level three. Josh was thinking that he couldn't wait to experiment with these Powers too.
They continued looking around for a while getting anything useful. After about five trips of emptying the carts into the truck. The sun was almost fully set and it was getting dark."we should head back."Josh said to the others. " We don't know everything that's out here"
They immediately agreed Alexa speaking " we've seen more than just that monster cow. There's also a monster wolf out here. We were only able to get away from it because we weren't its current Target."
"Well that's terrifying" Josh said " let's just go then, I don't want to meet him."
They all piled into the truck and Josh started to drive. Stopping not far away at what was a gas station. Josh hopeful went inside into his surprise he found a locker in the back full of cigarette cartons. And he also found a bunch of mountain dew which he loved along with other pops. He didn't understand how somebody didn't get these by now, but he wasn't going to complain. Two of his favorite things. He quickly got help and they loaded all of it into the truck. Josh did not plan to share the cigarettes and mountain dew.
He had not had a cigarette since Tom took his last pack. Using his fire power, He immediately lit one up, and opened a mountain dew, as they continued on their way. It was still good. Now Josh was happy, very happy.
It was quite a far drive. The other three had fallen asleep shortly after getting on the road. "They have must have had a rough month" Josh thought to himself. "I hope they have it much easier at the settlement.
That's when Josh noticed he wasn't even a little tired. His body just kept improving. He noticed he didn't even need food as often. Almost like he was evolving. Josh just wondered what he could become. " Hopefully not a monster cow" Josh laughed to himself.
Arriving in front the settlement, Josh pulled out his Earth pole, extending it, doing the same thing as before. As the wall opened he drove through. Then closed it behind him. It was late so he wasn't surprised that nobody was out and about. Parking the truck, he woke up his new acquaintances. "Come on guys we're here"
Yawning the three of them follow Josh out of the truck. As they were walking towards the encampment area Josh saw Joe walking towards them. "Hey you're back everything goes smooth? who are these guys? Joe asked and Josh replied. " I saved these three this is Alexa, Chris and Mia. Alexa has telekinesis power, Maya has a repulsion power. You mind showing them to where they will be staying. I have a few things I need to do"
"No problem." Joe answered and continued. " It's nice to meet you three I am Joe. Come along with me and I will show you to your accommodations." He then LED them towards the encampment area, to one of the unoccupied trailers.
Josh went back to the warehouse and unloaded the truck. Moving all food items to the food storage, along with anything else for the others in the storage room. Josh then got all the weapons and materials out and put them in a special area, That he used as his workshop.
The first thing he wanted to do was mess with the crystal. So he pulled out the biggest sword that he had collected. It was a great sword that was slightly rusted. It had a gold hilt It looked like it had been through some battles. Pulling out the crystal he unwrapped it from the cloth. He then wondered how he should proceed. He stood there thinking for a moment.
After waiting for a short while, he came up with an idea. Placing the crystal on the sword, he activated his power along with his purple eyes. Holding the crystal he started to focus. The crystal started glowing brightly. Josh placed it on the sword, at the center of were the hilt met with the blade .
Using his power along with the ability of his eyes, he moved to the energy from the crystal into the sword using the crystal with the sword. It was glowing brightly for a moment. so brightly Josh could not see. When the light subsided, Josh could tell the sword looked completely different. It was still a great sword , but the hilt was now silver and the blade was clean. He could see the Crystal's power had become the swords power. He could not wait to try it out.
Taking the sword out to the field, that he like to meditate in. Josh began to swing it around. He could feel the sword and powering him making him stronger and faster. With his eyes he also saw a power in the sword he could activate." What is this" he thought to himself. Activating it he can now feel the sword as part of his body. He immediately understood what the sword's ability was. Several metal spikes warped out of the blade at Josh's command. They could go in any direction he wanted, up to five meters out.
After about 5 minutes of experimenting with it the ability ended. Examining the blade Josh could tell there was a cool down that would take about an hour. "This is incredible" Josh thought. " I need more of these crystals. Josh then headed back to the warehouse.
He pulled another weapon out. He tried putting power into a few different weapons. He could tell he could empower them. But if he wasn't holding them once the power ran out it would not refill, unlike the greatsword which had its own power. With this in mind Josh empowered several weapons, Shields and pieces of armor. He did not do anything with the armor set that he got for Joe because he was waiting for a crystal for that one. He kind of wishes he would have used the metal Crystal on the armor. But he let that thought slip away.
He left all the empowered items along a table with notes explaining about the power in the weapons and how it was limited. He then continued with what he needed to do.
He spent a few more hours building and experimenting. Following that he decided he would get a little bit of sleep, since there was an hour or two before the sun came up. Even though he didn't need it he wanted to be fully ready for tomorrow. He made sure to hide his cigarettes and mountain dew stash before laying down. It was starting to drizzle so he needed to sleep in his tent this night.
Listening to the raindrops hitting his tent. He began to think of his daughter. He missed her greatly. But he would see her soon. He just needed a little more strength. While he was thinking about her he drifted off to sleep.
Waking up Josh noticed that it had only been a few hours. Yet he was fully rested. He realized he would no longer feel tierd in the morning and he was ecstatic. "This just keeps getting better and better" he thought to himself.
Climbing off the roof Josh noticed, Joe and Cynthia and a few others. They were standing around one of the contraptions Josh had built last night. As Josh walked up to them he asked "do you like my new transportation. " Joe responded with. " How in the hell is that transportation.
It was a boat with 4 wooden cloth wings coming over the side, two on each side, two in the front, and two in the back. Josh had plans on using his wind power to fly in his new flying boat. He had tested it last night so he knew it would work. He responded to Joe" I'm going to use my wind power to make it fly. This way I won't need to find gas or anything. By the way I left something for you on the table in my work area"
Joe was so surprised. After being speechless for a moment he said" of course you have a flying boat I am so jealous." He then walked away with the other people except Cynthia. She had stayed to talk to Josh.
Cynthia kept staring at Josh. Josh felt awkward so he asked" is everything okay? Did you need something."
She then finally spoke" I need to be stronger is there anything you can do to help me become stronger. I want to be useful to you and everybody else.
" Maybe let me see" Josh answered and then activated his purple eyes. Cynthia immediately stepped back and Josh reassured her. " Don't worry it's part of my power I will not hurt you. "
He then began to look inside of her mainly in her core. That is when he saw it. There was another power in her power well. It seemed like a type of evolution. He's in reached his hand out and placed it on her stomach. She didn't even flinch. She was ready, even though she did not know what was going on. After concentrating an experimenting for a moment Josh was able to open this other power.
Cynthia's eyes immediately started to go light blue and then faded. At the same time her power had awakened, Josh had acquired another Power in his core. It had awakened at a level five power. He did not want to waste time finding out what it was though. he wanted to get on the road. He then spoke " your power had some sort of second power inside of it. I was able to awake in it but I do not have time to experiment with you. Train hard and you will Master it I'm sure. Stay safe and please help keep an eye on everyone. "
Cynthia could feel the power coursing through her body. She said "thank you. I won't let you down.I will become strong."
Grabbing supplies and everything he needed, loading it into the boat Josh was ready to go.