After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

"Surely, you expected us?"

Zaol and the others looked at the faces of their pursuers. Some they didn't recognize, but some they did.

For one, two of the most powerful ones were older members of two mid-level noble families: Vaza of the Vesto Family and Aswan of the Sephon Family. They were Level 49 and Level 48, respectively. They were in the same generation as the current patriarchs, and not much weaker.

They hadn't been seen outside often, famously focused on trying to extend their limited lifespans by making the younger generation collect aether stones.

Of course, even if their levels were primarily products of aether stones, they were still very strong—especially to the weakened Golds.

Further, around them were a mix of level 30s and early level 40s, a few scores in number.

The family formed a circle, with them guarding each other's backs. They surrounded Uncle Liu in the middle, making him cry as soon as he opened his eyes and attempted to force himself up, though to no avail. "Please… leave… masters…"

Instead, Gaia kneeled down to give him a healing potion. He used all his energy to tilt his head away. "Don't waste in on me, Madam, we don't have a lot—"

"Quiet!" Gaia snapped, practically forcing it on him.

She then stood up and took out her whip from her new space. She was not nearly as strong as her husband or even any of her sons, but she was definitely ready to protect her children no matter what.

Among them, Zaol was the strongest at level 55, which was impressive for his age of mid-60s. Gaia, on the other hand, was a level 45 non-elementalist.

Orion was a level 45 elementalist, her twins were at level 43 and 37, respectively, while Obi was at level 40.

They were up against people several times their number but with similar levels. Obi also recognized a few elementalists among this group.

The most obvious disadvantage was, of course, the fact that they were still weakened.

Hoffen's weakening potion was not something that affected their physique. It affected their connection to aether and, therefore, their mana.

High-leveled individuals were also strengtened by the integration of aether too so, in a sense, the weakening potion could also reduce their defenses and recovery—even if just a little.

That Bleumrick really wanted them dead. Though… they really shouldn't be surprised.

The two elderly men sneered as they looked at him. "Ah, how tables have turned," Vaza said, looking at Zaol. "It seems like it was only a week ago when I was pleading for your help."

Zaol narrowed his eyes at him. The Golds were in-charge of the distribution and handling of the Blus. This man had requested to buy more blus beyond the limits each family could purchase.

Apparently, the buyer would exchange some aether crystals for it. In exchange, he offered a good amount of gold to Zaol in turn.

However, Zaol was an upright man and refused his request. He also believed it was his task to keep the harvesting of the resource sustainable—to keep the industry alive for as long as he could.

Giving way now would hasten this reduction, and when someone else found out, then it'd be even more troublesome.

In the end, he just asked them to wait for the scheduled distribution of crystals—something that didn't satisfy the man, likely because he felt he was dying.

"Now you cannot keep all those blus for yourself!"

Zaol didn't bother to grace him with a response. Bleumrick probably spread he was stealing Blus, which was why the supply was decreasing.

The old man Aswan was also laughing, though his attention was on Orion in particular. "You ruined my business, now watch our family eat yours! HAHA!"

It was a simple commercial competition, though the old man and his kin took it as extreme humiliation and a major challenge. It was estimated that they were among the happiest of their downfall.

Anyway, the talk soon got boring. Vaza looked around him. "Well? Aren't you going to attack? Should I be the one attacking first?!"

At this, the men around the patriarch lunged forward, raising their weapons, and all aiming for the kill.

The family stood side by side, leaving just enough space for them to be able to make clean hits with their weapons.

Clang!

Slash!

A clash of metallic weapons echoed in this patch of forests, with the Golds completely on the defense, making attacks only when there were openings.

However, there were rarely such opportunities because attacking meant they would have an opening—and the number of enemies was too many for them to safely land an attack without sacrificing their own flesh.

They did manage to keep some basic defensive equipment—the expensive clothes on their backs all had some defense properties—but with the barrage of attacks, the equipment could only handle so much and their durabilities quickly reached its breaking point.

Fortunately, because they limited the 'surface' of which the enemies could attack (by creating a dense circle with their bodies), the enemy's numbers didn't become hopelessly advantageous.

A lot of them even ended up hitting each other, some of which were planned by the Golds.

This way, even when the Golds were obtaining wounds all over their bodies, their enemies were not getting out unscathed, either.

Of course, they were still extremely outnumbered and outpowered in the end. Their wounds only increased and deepened. They were even targeting Olga in particular, causing damage to her clothing!!

The men's eyes turned red when they saw their sister being treated like this, but it only created openings which eventually led to their remaining defensive equipment cracking!

"Hold on!" Zaol whispered to his sons, the strong wave of his sword keeping a few men at bay. "It shouldn't take long for us to recover!"

The two old men watched at the side, also realizing the same.

They were amused at first, but then they saw the Golds successfully defend themselves for so long despite all the disadvantages—and it felt humiliating!

Worse: What if someone recovered their powers before they finished all of them off?! How embarrassing would that be?

"You're taking too long!" Vaza yelled, feeling both impatient and a little fearful. "KILL THEM ALREADY!"

At this, the elementalists—the two flame users—stepped forward, their hands filled with fire. They were both elementalists in their level 30s, and damage from them would be no joke!

The attackers made an opening for their flamethrowers and the Golds could only focus on defending on what they could—which wouldn't be much, especially against aether elements!

Only aether elements would be able to effectively defend against other elements!

Their eyes flickered as it reflected the stream of orange and red energy heading straight at them, feeling a little hopeless in their hearts.

Just a little more!

Just a little more and they would have been able to defend themselves!!

Unexpectedly, thick circular earth walls sprung from the ground, shielding them. The ground shook so suddenly that most of them lost their footing, causing them to kneel down.

BANG!!

The earth walls were then quickly reinforced by metals, and the earth wall grew upwards, forming a dome that completely enveloped their small team.

BANG!

BANG!

They could hear the outside being attacked relentlessly, but the creator just continued to reinforce the walls, over and over, as much as he could.

The Golds' eyes widened as they looked up to see a familiar blonde with fists clenched and raised above his head. Wherever the fist pointed at, more earth or metal would appear there.

He was now drenched in sweat and extremely pale, but his eyes were filled with determination to protect.

The family almost cried.

"OSLO!"