World's Best Protagonist [BL]

[3rd Person’s POV]

After defeating all the monsters in sight, the two teams had time to catch their breaths.

Captain Jerome of the Charlie team who had regained his strength after Etienne’s treatment, had ordered his team members to gather the mana stones they could to all dead monster corpses.

Unlike before when they were all reluctant to be part of the scavenger team, now their heads were lowered and they silently obeyed their captain’s order. They felt ashamed that most of the job was done by the Alpha team, whom they arrogantly insulted and underestimated.

Now, their words were biting them back.

Captain Jerome sighed and scratched the back of his bald head. He stole a glance at the Alpha team gathered on top of a floating slab stuck in the water. His gaze moved on the body lying in the middle of them, motionless and pale.

If it weren’t for that man, they would have all been swept up by Allen’s Nightmare and continue to float higher in the air. Who could tell if they could survive if ever they fell, even though the whole place was entirely covered in water?

Witnessing a Seeker’s Nightmare was terrifying enough on the Earth, but dying from it inside a vortex was supremely dreadful and spine-chilling. No one would want to die in a strange place away from their homeland. Everyone in his team entered the vortex believing they would survive, but they were all arrogant.

If it weren’t for the Alpha team, they would have all died.

Captain Jerome ran his hand over his weary face. He wasn’t frustrated that they were kicked back right to their place, he was frustrated and ashamed that as Seeker, he acted like that and treated his colleague badly.

So, what if Captain Claude and his team were hoarding and gatekeeping the vortexes? They had the right to do so since they were far greater than any team Jerome had ever seen fight.

Their teamwork was immaculate, and they did not hesitate to sacrifice for the greater good. Their mind wasn’t focused on surviving, but on defeating the monster so that it wouldn’t break through the vortex and invade the Earth again.

That was what Jerome felt while watching the Alpha team fight. It made him very ashamed to call himself a Seeker, a protector of humanity.

Jerome sighed. The Alpha team gained his respect, especially the new member of the team. He recalled what was the name of that self-sacrificing guy, but remembered his team hadn’t even paid attention to his introduction before.

He slapped his face in regret. He sighed and gathered himself again, jumping from his place to the slab where the Alpha team was.

"What do you need?"

Captain Jerome flinched after Lexie shot him with a glare as soon as he landed in their space.

Without saying anything, he lowered his head, his hands clenched on both his sides, not a sign of restraining his frustration or forcing himself to bow, but an act of determination, pulling up the courage to admit his mistake and apologize, at the same time, say his gratitude.

"I’m sorry for acting arrogantly all this time, thinking we can’t defeat the monster just by my team alone. I was arrogant and ashamed. I deeply apologize for treating your team that way. And also, I want to thank you for saving our lives. If it weren’t for your team, my team would have had a hard time surviving or might have not survived at all."

Silene reigned among all of them. The sounds of water flowing and the distant noises of the Charlie team members gathering the mana stones were the only noises heard.

After a while, a scoff broke that silence.

"Your teamwork sucks," Noir remarked, insulting.

Captain Jerome only lowered his head more. He was aware. As soon as they entered the vortex and were swept away by the current, every member was overwhelmed and forgot to rely on one another. Due to that, they wasted their power, and only increased their dark energy simultaneously.

"Not only their teamwork but their strategy as well," Terrius added.

Captain Jerome was deeply ashamed. He was the captain of the third highest rank of Seekers in the NSA, but he was useless.

"So, what do you want here?" Claude’s voice came up.

Jerome looked up, dumbfounded. Didn’t he state his purpose already? However, judging from the blank face of the Alpha team captain, Jerome thought he wasn’t heard. He pressed his lips tightly and swallowed his pride for now that his team members weren’t looking.

"I said I’m sorry for acting arrogant and thank you for saving our lives," Jerome repeated.

Claude smirked. Jerome’s eye twitched. He realized that the latter only wanted him to apologize again.

"Sorry. I didn’t get to hear it the first time. But you’re welcome."

Jerome calmed himself. "That attitude must be the reason why you’re often badmouthed in the NSA."

"What do you want again?"

Jerome looked away from Claude. His eyes landed on Allen wiping the sweat of the unconscious guy.

"What’s his name again?"

Terrius clicked his tongue. "You don’t even remember the name of your savior?"

"That’s why I’m trying to remember this time."

"Jade," Etienne answered Jerome. He looked at him, then at Claude. "Captain, with due respect, but don’t you think instead of bickering, both of you should talk about what the next step to take? The exit hasn’t yet appeared, which means that the giant mother octopus wasn’t the boss monster. How are we going to proceed from here on out? I don’t want something like this to happen to Jade again."

Everyone was silent after Etienne’s angry speech. He rarely gets upset and mad, but once he does, he won’t stop talking until the person he’s mad at feels so small and ashamed of themselves.

So, before Etienne could start wrecking their egos, Allen tapped his shoulder and said, "It won’t happen again. I’m sorry I’m the cause of this."

Etienne sighed. He took the towel in Allen’s hand and continued wiping Jade. "I don’t blame you. Jade made a choice. I just don’t want us to create a situation where Jade has no choice but to do this again. So, don’t overuse your powers again."

Allen nodded, feeling dejected. "I won’t."

Noir frowned. "What’s wrong with it? In the first place, this is the reason why Jade joined us, right? There’s nothing—"

"Shut up. Ilya Noir."

Noir shot Terrius a death stare but all he received in return was a cold, indifferent look that says if he would be in Jade’s position, Terrius wouldn’t even bother with him. Noir gritted his teeth and was about to throw a punch at Terrius, but Claude hissed at them.

"Noir, can you see the boss monster at this distance?" Claude asked seriously.

Noir shook his head and crossed his arms. "No. I need to get closer."

"Then, Terrius will accompany you."

Noir gaped. He was about to complain when Terrius grabbed his hand and yanked him as he jumped away. Noir’s cursing Terrius echoed in the air before they completely disappeared from their sight.

"Let’s wait for the information. In the meantime, have your members rest as much as possible and prepare themselves for another battle. It’s good that there are no casualties this time, but we can’t guarantee it will stay the same once we face the boss monster."

"Understood," Jerome answered Claude. He went back to the other side and gathered his members.

Everyone waited for Noir and Terrius to return, all the while, hoping that there wouldn’t be any monsters attacking them while they did.

Meanwhile, despite not being blamed for what happened to Jade, Allen was still feeling resentful of himself. Etienne was right. He was careless. He didn’t want any casualties; he didn’t want to see anyone dying; so he always prioritized the safety of others and tried to save them, even at the cost of risking his own life.

Before Jade came into their team, the members would have abandoned him once he went berserk and saved their own lives, which Allen thought was the better, but Jade believed otherwise.

Jade looked indifferent to humans and appeared apathetic to life most of the time, but he had the biggest heart.

Allen should have realized that once he went berserk, Jade would not hesitate to help him. When he met Jade’s eyes before he lost control, he believed Jade wouldn’t act recklessly out of his worry, but he admitted now he was wrong.

He underestimated Jade’s kindness.

Unconsciously, his hand reached out and held Jade’s cold hand. He squeezed it tightly, as tight as his chest felt watching Jade lay on the surface motionless. He was breathing, but the last time he absorbed dark energy out of a Seeker’s Nightmare, he was unconscious for a whole week.

Without food and proper equipment to help him survive that long, Allen was scared out of his wits.

He brought Jade’s hands to his cheek, giving him warmth as much as he could, while praying for him to wake up soon.