CHAPTER 17
TWO DAYS LATER!
It has been two days now since the refugees of wall rose had been taken to wall steel.
On the world of Alcatraz, a wall of two hundred metres tall was erected covering about forty percent of the super continent.
Inside the wall, were three small walls compared to the much bigger wall.
These small walls were as big and spacious as a normal country of the old. With several cities and towns fitted inside protecting humanity against monsters, beasts and the Abberants.
These three walls were as follows: Wall rose which was first and this was where Ray was born and grew up in.
Wall steel which was practically made of strong steel. It didn't look like a normal wall made of rocks and earth, this was confirmed steel.
Every corner and cranny of the wall. Hence the name. This wall housed one of the biggest shelters on Alcatraz for victims of any attack from any of the walls.
And it also contained the Aspirant corps. A place were warriors were forged.
Agriculture and whatnot came from this wall hence it was essential for humanity and if it fell, it would be bad.
The last wall: Wall diamond.
This was akin to the capital of Alcatraz. The big guns of the world lived there. Only the high class members of society could afford to live there.
These were the three walls that made up humanity and unfortunately, four days ago, wall rose fell leaving humanity with two walls left.
It's been two days since Ray and Van with the refugees from wall rose had been huddled in the shelter at wall steel.
Although they were given meals, it wasn't regularly and that was because of the low stock remaining.
"What do you mean you won't give us anything? It's been a day since we last ate."
— Didn't you hear me? No food for you all.
"But that's unfair! What will Van eat. Forget about me and just give me a plate for my friend." Ray shot back defiantly as he stood outside of the shelter where the canteen for the shelter lay.
— I don't know who 'Van' is and I don't care. The food left are for the original occupants of this wall. If you don't like this arrangement, then you can go back to your country.
Oh. Sorry, it has fallen.
The man cackled loudly as Ray could only fume silently. His hands curled into fists as his teeth gnashed back and forth.
"How dare you…"
Suddenly, his arm was yanked back.
Turning around, he could see that Van had rushed out from the shelter after hearing of the commotion.
"Let's go Ray. There's no point in fighting."
"But…" Ray was about to protest but Van was firm on his decision.
With a hiss, he pulled his hand away from his friend's grasp and then stomped away angrily.
Van quickly turned around and bowed to the man serving the food.
"I'm sorry for my friend's outburst. Please forgive him."
The man didn't reply as he only sneered and turned away leaving Van to walk back to the shelter.
The truth was that, the man couldn't have possibly harmed Ray. But when Van rushed out, he noticed that some members of the Iron Corps were already approaching.
It would have been a hassle to get into an argument with the protectors of inside the walls.
Walking in, Van scanned the area for a few seconds until his gaze landed on Ray who stood facing a wall angrily.
With his posture and everything, it felt like he might just punch the wall. But he gave up on the idea and just grit his teeth furiously.
"Ray…" Van softly called out as he approached.
With a tired sigh, the teen just turned around and slid down to the ground. His shoulders slump in resignation.
"This is unfair. Our treatment in this place is totally unfair." Ray mumbled in annoyance.
Van strode over and then proceeded to sit down beside his friend.
"I know… we all know. But what can we do? It's not like we have anywhere we can go that we can have enough to eat and be treated like humans."
Hearing this, Ray lifted his head.
"Yes. There's a place we can go."
Van lifted an eyebrow.
"Huh? Where?"
"The Vanguard order. If… if we join the Vanguard, we can finally be respected in society and have enough to eat, a place to lay our heads and money to get whatever we wan…"
"Are you crazy? Ray." Van asked with his brows knitted.
"You want to join the Vanguard order? Do you have a death wish or something? What happened to joining the Iron Corps? Don't you know what the Vanguard order do? They fight against the Abberants outside the wall. They die uselessly."
"No!" Ray countered sharply.
"They don't die uselessly, they die valiantly. Die on the battlefield with the aim of vanquishing those monsters that invaded our world. They die heroically."
Ray's fingers curled up into tight fists as he gritted his teeth hard.
"... They aren't like those cowards calling themselves the protector of humanity inside the walls. The real protectors are the Vanguard order. And I have made my decision, I will join them no matter what.
I will make sure to vanquish all Abberants from this world. I will grow stronger than what this world has ever seen and make sure to rid the world of all threats. No matter what, I will take revenge for what I have endured! That's a promise!"
Ray unknowingly shouted his words aloud causing everybody in the hall to pause and glance his way.
A palpable hush suddenly befell the place with the people staring at him like he was a kind of a madman or something.
"Is that so?" A voice suddenly cut through the silence like a sharp blade.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
The sound of footsteps filled the air as everybody swiftly turned to see a man walking into the shelter with an air of confidence…almost as if he owned the place.
This man was one of the three overseers of wall steel and right now, his gaze was fixed on solely one person.
Ray.
"Is that what you really feel? Eh, boy?"