"Mack, what is going on?" A middle-aged man asked.

In a basement of a destroyed building, a group of 10 men panted profusely with sweat dripping off their foreheads. While some of them had various bruises and injuries on their bodies.

Robert rested his back on the pillar and looked at the men with various conflicted emotions running through his eyes.

'Did we do the right thing?' He thought. Previously, they had over 30 men in their group but now.. they were only left with this.

He turned his head and looked at Mack not knowing how to react toward him. He brought the idea to betray the Ark and now, things are not going to plan.historical

Mack turned his head and looked at the men and saw the bitterness in their eyes. Even though they tried not to show it, nevertheless it was still obvious.

"I know I promise a better life than what we have in the Ark. But I didn't think we would be attacked by the Terra-saw.." He paused for a moment to arrange his thoughts before he continued.

"Even though some of our brothers died for this course, we knew it wouldn't be easy in the first place. Nevertheless, we achieve our goal though with a cost. But I assured you, it was worth it. We're now independent and every resource we find will solely belong to us. And hence, our growth will be rapid."

The atmosphere was tense as the sound of heavy downpours reverberated through the area. The men looked at each other for a couple of seconds before one of the men said.

"It's easier said than done. Previously, we believed you and threw our golden opportunity away in the hope you know what you're doing. But to me, you don't know what you're doing."

He gripped his spear tightly and glared fiercely at Mack. Three of his companions died under attack by the Terra-saw and for what? A measly promise.

"Do you know why most of us follow you in the first place?" He continued. "We thought since you're the son of the General and with your connections. You know many hidden locations in the city that could be useful to our growth. Besides, we expect you to carry the Will of the Generals. But now..." He shook his head.

Hearing this, an unsightly expression appeared on Mack's face. He gnashed his teeth as he wanted nothing but to give the man a serious beating. Even though he was furious, he controlled the impulse and took a deep breath.

"I know how you felt..."

"You don't know how we felt!" The man snapped.

"Tell us, who do you lose? Miss Susan was never of you from the beginning. Hence, you and Robert were the only friends. Others like us are nobody that is trying to survive this trial time."

Mack swallowed the words he wanted to say and looked at the face of the men. He realized the men support the man's accusation. He turned and looked at Robert only for him to shrug.

'Deal with it.'

Mack clenched his fist and looked at the men. 'I betrayed and lost everything for you and you dare to question me.. You just wait and see. When we find a safe place, I will make sure to kill you.'please visit

Unknown to the thought going on inside Mack's mind. The man continued while stepping forward.

"If we want to survive in this dangerous place. We can't follow under your command. We need a new leader who has both strength and the intelligence to lead us."

Listening to this, the men nodded. Every one of them was already tired of following a useless and weak leader. Thus, they needed someone strong to depend on.

'What! This can't be happening.' Mack's heart skipped a beat. Never in his dream did he believe he would be betrayed by the same men he tried to save from Justin's tyranny. So he thought.

"You don't have the right to that. I'm the one that orchestrated the plan and gathered everyone together. I must be the leader of the group." He said with a trembling voice.

'If I'm a bit stronger than you. I'll have you kill you all.' He cried in his heart but could do nothing.

"What do you mean we don't have the right?" A young man looked at him with disdain. "Everyone of us is in the First Circle and only Robert is in the Second Circle. So tell me, what right do you have to tell us what to do or not?"

Mack gasped and widened his eyes. The thought of escaping from the ark and creating his faction had clouded his mind that made him ignore the obvious. Perhaps, he would be one of the weakest people in the group.

He opened his mouth to refuse the claim but the word failed to come out of his mouth. He looked at the face of the men and saw the scorn in their eyes. 'Why did everything turn out like this? This shouldn't have happened.'

The pride and illusory bright future he hoped for was crumbling before he even started. From the beginning, he was nothing but a joke to the men. He was only a First Circle Existence, how did he expect he would lead other people with such measly strength?

Unknown to him, if everything had gone according to plan. The savage men didn't have the intention of working with them. They only wanted to use them to get their weapon and armor before they killed them.

Meanwhile, Robert looked at Mack and shook his head. He already saw this coming but he hoped for him to wake up from his fantasy.. Unfortunately, he chose to live an unrealistic dream.

"We want Robert to be our leader from now on." The man looked at Robert with a bright smile.

At once, the men nodded and looked at him, hoping for him to accept the post. Though some of them wanted to lead the group. But they knew they weren't strong enough and thus, chose to keep quiet.

Mack looked at Robert with last hope in his eyes, hoping he would refuse the post. They had been friends since they were kids. He believes he won't betray him because of some useless post.

'Since you have thought of leading the people to create a powerful faction in the world. Why do you think I don't have such a vision?' Robert thought and the corner of his lips curled in a smile when he saw the hope in his eyes.

"I agree to be your leader from now on. And I promise to make us stronger in a short time." He said confidently.