Only Way to Survive

And regardless of how many infected and drones the men manage to shoot to death, it is not enough, as more would come, and then more would come after that, all armed to the teeth with absolutely no fear of death whatsoever.

For they are merely fodders to the Hive Mind.

It is an unwinnable battle, and the only option available is to retreat. Sadly, there is only one way out of the building, and it is through the relentless horde. I mean the only way for the men, as I can always escape via my Trade Network.

But should I? I cannot find a good enough reason to stay and put myself in danger, as having the Major owes me one doesn't cut it, as I highly doubt that she will be able to pay me back in full. Come to think of it, no one has ever repaid me completely before, but then again, there is no price too high for their life.

And perhaps their freedom. Okay. I will go with that then, as I do need my own private army eventually anyway. It is all depend on how much they want to live.

"Fallback! Fallback!" the leader calls out as the men are dying one by one, and with every death, their morale plummets. "Fire in the hall!"

The incendiary bomb that I had sold to the Major becomes quite useful, but it is not nearly enough to turn the tide of the battle. It is merely slowly down the inevitable.

"Fire in the –

A sniper bullet silences him by drilling right through his skull along with several more men behind him for good measure, and that alone surprises me. The men are not standing in line, and even if they are, it is almost impossible to headshot all of them with a single bullet – unless it is a skill (or an ability).

The strike force has arrived!

I immediately take out Amaterasu and unleash hell. The black flames washes over the infected as well as the drones, burning everything into ash within an instant, shocking everyone. Magneto immediately form a magic shield, defending me against a sniper bullet. Several bullets, actually.

"Merchant…?" Several men utter. They are in shock at how effortlessly I just wipe out the attackers.

I cast a glance at the men before letting out a sigh. With a snap of my finger, a window appears before each one of them. It is a contract. Not the same one as Alex has signed, obviously, and there is no real reason for me to modify theirs.

"If you want to live then touch the screen and say your name," I explain and channel more mana into Magneto, reinforcing the magical barrier to defend against the seeming homing sniper bullets.

Only a handful of men do so, as they are on the verge of breaking down. I immediately teleport them away to safety via Trade Network, and that alone causes several more men to sign the slave contract.

"What are you?" the new acting leader questions, as the previous one has eaten a bullet.

I unleash another torrent of flames at the incoming fodders before eyeing the man. "I wonder myself, but I believe I am human, and as a human, I can be your most precious ally or your worst nightmare. I suggest you do what I have told you, as it is your only way to survive."