SSS-Knight in a Hero World

"Is there a window?" Ferris asked, knowing the nature of this secret base. All windows were taped in thick layers of paper and cloth.

"Oh? Huh, yeah there is." Zaku stepped over his words. Despite the chaos, he was much more concerned about the internet problem.

Making his way to a covered window, he opened a tiny slit which allowed a small view over the streets.

Ferris peered through it and noticed a crowd of villains flowing on only one side of the street, away from the direction of the museum.

What's happening now? Ferris carefully wondered, but he wasn't concerned at all.

If chaos erupted, it would actually benefit him. But the question is, what caused it?

"Zaku, since it's safer here, stay and protect your friends. I'm heading out," Ferris said, turning away from the window and heading to the hallway door.

"What? No way, I can't do that alone," Zaku answered.

Ferris stopped in his tracks and glanced back at the man. He saw that Zaku had a genuine expression of a mix of unsureness, laziness, and some fear.

Looking at his bone sword, Ferris gripped the handle tightly before offering it to Zaku.

I don't know how his blessing works, but it only seems to activate when he's holding a proper weapon.

Understanding Ferris's offer, Zaku grabbed a piece of cloth and carefully covered the sword with it before taking it.

"Use it when you need to. I'll be back in a second," Ferris said as he pulled the door open.

When he returned his face to the hallway, he was suddenly startled by a girl.

"Zaku, what's happening—

Who the heck are you?!"

... Ferris awkwardly stared at her, but now that he was his true self, the reaction wasn't that bad.

To clear up the misunderstanding, Zaku quickly rushed beside Ferris. "He's a friend, don't hit him—

Punch!

"...I just told you not to hit him..."

Ferris politely pushed away her fist. "It's fine," he gently said before walking out to the hallway.

There he saw the rest of Zaku's friends.

Although they were somewhat all around the same age, Ferris saw them as scared children with no one to look up to.

He walked past them all, not looking at their eyes even once. But he stopped just right in front of the staircases that led down.

Ferris turned around and cleared his voice.

"Fret not, your nightmare will be over tomorrow.

So...

Once that happens...

Promote me on social media!" He gave a thumbs up and a fake happy expression.

. . .

One of Zaku's friends raised their hand. "What's that?"

. . .

"...Ask Zaku."

***

Ferris returned to the trashy alleyway and closed off the opening he sliced back then with stacked boxes.

They should be safe inside, but I doubt any villain would even bother looking here.

Walking back to the street, Ferris stuck himself near the buildings to avoid bumping into the many villains rushing.

Since he didn't know what was happening, Ferris decided to go the opposite direction which led to the museum.

On the way, he saw a slightly rabid and cloaked person looting a corpse for valuables.

With nothing to lose, Ferris decided to pick him for the interrogation.

Grabbing the man's neck from behind, Ferris easily lifted him up and turned him around before slamming the looter onto the brick wall.

"Tell me what's going on."

The man wailed, finding it difficult to breathe under Ferris's chokehold.

Once the man calmed down a bit, Ferris eased the pressure to allow the man to talk.

"I don't know, the world is ending!" he screamed with bloodshot eyes. "Please let me go!"

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone will die! Please, don't kill me!"

The world is ending? Ferris wondered what that meant, but he quickly realized that asking an insane person was not the best idea.

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then released the man's neck free.

But the moment it happened, the rabid man pulled out a bloody dagger which was aimed at Ferris's stomach. "Dumbass!"

However, it was far too slow for Ferris, as he quickly disarmed the man before taking the dagger and plunging it straight inside the man's brain, causing instantaneous death.

Taking the cloak for himself, Ferris continued on in the direction of the museum, with the new weapon hidden under his cover.

Following the road where it led to the museum, there were more bodies littered around, but it was hard to tell who they really were.

But in contrast to the bloody streets, Ferris no longer heard any ongoing battles, and the streets were now suspiciously quiet.

Knowing this, Ferris completely restricted his essence flow and began navigating the alleyways instead of the main street.

Although it took longer to get there, Ferris eventually made his way to the museum. But of course, he did not dare approach it, as he still remained within the dark cover of the space between buildings, poking a small portion of his head out just to see the old structure.

That's a whole lot of bodies... what the hell happened?

Beyond him, and the plaza in front of the museum, lay almost close to a hundred dead. Near the entrance was a familiar group he encountered.

That wyvern girl, and that muscular guy. Ferris noted those two people once more, ignoring the rest.

I assumed they slaughtered all of them, but why?

After spying on the group, they eventually disbanded, except the two people Ferris targeted as strong villains who made their way inside the museum.

I have to destroy that egg, but I should wait for Prodigy Prince.

But that's in five hours, and a lot can happen in only five hours!

Knowing that there were two strong villains inside the museum, he held himself back for now, aiming to return to Zaku's apartment.

He hoped that since the villains were mysteriously leaving the area they were in, himself, Zaku and his friends could somehow fix the internet.

But if that wire goes all the way to the TV tower, then who knows where the real problem was, just trekking that distance alone will take them beyond midnight.

Why am I so unlucky? Ferris clicked his tongue.

Maybe waiting isn't an option... Prodigy Prince didn't even tell me what will come at midnight and where.

Since he told me that there was an opening above the museum, then should I go there and wait?

What if the villains get a hold of it?

Ferris couldn't help but stare at the entrance of the museum, he wasn't sure if he should act now or wait.

. . .

I should go back, there's plenty of time to plan before midnight comes...

Ferris took a deep breath, closed his eyes and turned around.

"Hey."

"!!!" What the fuck?

Ferris stepped backwards, almost screaming his lungs out from the shock alone. Why is he here? "Judas?"

"Follow me, quickly!" he whispered, signaling Ferris to follow him somewhere before taking off deeper into the alleyway.

Before Ferris could utter a word, he decided to follow Judas though he was still shocked from the sudden appearance. "Why did you come here?"

Judas didn't turn around; he looked far ahead in front while speaking. "There was a change of plans, Asmadeas foresaw another vision."

Asmadeas? Ferris covered his face in disappointment.

So much for that 'good vision' of hers, now it changed?

While Ferris was thinking, Judas suddenly made a sharp turn before stopping in front of a back-alley doorway.

"I didn't come here alone. Elizabeth also came with me while Lionheart and the rest stayed behind to protect the water park and the mall," Judas explained to his comrade, as he pointed at the door. "She's inside there."

Elizabeth is here?

If Elizabeth was here, then the overall combat strength of the other group would be greatly diminished. But since there was an influx of official heroes, then it might have been okay for her to leave her outpost.

This might actually be good, with her, we could infiltrate the museum and have a better chance of destroying the egg.

"You guys are way too careless," Ferris jokingly scoffed as he passed by Judas.

He approached the door and placed his hand on the knob, eager to reunite with a strong ally.

"You're the one that's careless, coming alone." Patting Ferris's back, Judas smiled and laughed. "Even if you're strong."

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . .

This...

...door isn't safe—