Doomsday Pillars

The guards holding firearms were all disabled by Aria. It took Rama and Sergei a few minutes to take out the rest of the two dozen guards. The gun shootings and fighting made most civilians run into the hotel to find cover but some decided to stay. It seemed they really were mistreated or had suffered. 

All eyes were staring at the two people in the middle of the courtyard.

Alex and Anton still hadn't yet started the fight. Anton was checking the condition of his crew but it didn't look good. It seemed like the fastest way to finish this is to kill their leader first. Looking at Alex, Anton's eyes turned murderous.

Alex then took out two katanas, one on each arm, and got ready to fight.

AAARGGHH!!

Anton advanced, swinging his big knife with the speed and strength of a peak stage mortal realm. Alex knew their strength difference. 

Peak stage had twice the muscle strength and senses. Peak stage mortal realm could run twice faster than high stage mortal realm. They could run a 100-meter sprint in 6 seconds, hit twice as hard, twice the body resilience, see and hear better. However, this twice stronger wasn't as easy as one plus one equals two. A peak stage mortal realm with the same weapon and ability could fight at least five of the high stage realm.

Alex took a big breath, just like when he had fought against the 200 death squad soldiers. He used the breathing techniques that came with the Hexagram steps, making his body much lighter and movement faster.

SLAASSSHHH!!

Alex swayed back a little and the big knife just missed one centimeter from his nose.

Anton moved forward, his big shoulder on the front, trying to do a body slam.

BAAMMM!!

Although Alex got pushed 5 meters back, Anton looked as if he had just hit a pillow.

Alex's movement and breathing technique made him much lighter, he didn't get hurt at all.

Anton raged again. He quickly ran up to Alex again and did multiple swings of his knife.

SLAASSHH!! SLAASSHH!! SLAASSHH!!

Alex dodged them by coiling down and rolling to the front. He appeared behind Anton and slashed with his katana, however, Anton was faster. Anton deflected Alex's katana with his big knife.

CRAACKK!!

One of Alex's katanas broke. Peak stage truly was a lot stronger. Alex then jumped back a few steps.

Anton began to feel anxious, he almost got cut down by that Japanese sword from the back. "Who are you? You're really strong and can keep up with my speed. How many white stones have you eaten yet?"

"Six," Alex answered.

"..." Anton then shouted, "YOU'RE LYING! How could that be? I've eaten more than six and definitely no one under the amount I ate is stronger!"

Alex said with a smirk on his face, "Oh really? Then it's probably not the stone. It's you. You're just a big idiot."

"!!!"

Anton became outraged and used all his strength to do a full power blow.

SWWWISSHHH!!

A step to the left and Alex rotated his body to the left, avoiding the big knife just a few millimeters away. He then held the katana with both hands and did a precise counter swing.

SLASSHHH!!

Alex's blade went through Anton's neck, cutting off his head and then rolling on the ground. He was beheaded by Alex.

"Like I've said, idiot... what a waste of spirit stone..."

There was a reason why Alex didn't hand out 16 stones to all of his people. It was because of muscle memory.

The spirit stones enhanced a human's physical body by pushing all its muscle into its maximum limit. The legs, arms, chest, ear, nose, eyes, bodily function, everything. But the muscle needed to adapt to its new strength. This was facilitated by increasing the number of muscle nuclei, aka myonuclei, within the muscle cells. Human muscles needed a form of procedural memory that involved consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. With this process, it would decrease the need for attention and create maximum efficiency within the motor and memory system.

By pushing the body to the limit without letting the muscle 'remember' it would be like a man who normally raced using bikes suddenly took part in an F1 racing. He or she may have all the parts needed, however, they wouldn't be able to control it to the fullest potential.

In Anton's case, this man hadn't been able to fully use his peak stage mortal realm. And with Alex having ten years combat experience, a medium grade technique and messing with the guy's psyche by taunting. Anton hadn't had the chance to showcase his peak stage strength.

Alex then gathered all the survivors. When he told them about the burnt village, some of them suddenly started crying and probably thinking the same thing had happened to their village as well. 

It looked Mr. Big truly had nothing to do with it. It was just Anton who had been doing things in the shadow and forced them to work by fear of safety or food. He was probably the one who had suggested separating them with their families or their relatives in order to control them.

There were about 436 survivors in total, some decided to go back and check their villages even though Alex had discouraged them for it might still be dangerous. However, they didn't fully trust Alex too for they didn't know him. 

In the end, Alex didn't force them but still told them about the base he had prepared on east Bali, near the Bay City. As for those who would be going to his base, Alex had called out a few trucks to transport all these people.

Before they left, Alex went and checked Erick and his family. He approach Vina and said, "Hello, what's your name?"

"I am Vina."

"Hi Vina nice to meet you, I have a little girl just like you. I bet the two of you can be good friends."

"I am not a little girl, I am 12."

"Yes, yes, you are…"

Alex smiled. Her little brother named Jayden was also the same age as Tiarra.

He gave special attention and treatment to Erick's family. Erick looked to have been injured because of an accident in today's supply run. Alex gave Erick one of the stones so his injury would heal faster. Erick's wife thanked him for what he had done and did to the family. 

For Alex, this whole situation brought him nostalgia. The memory that had happened 10 years ago. Although none of them had recognized him, deep down, Alex felt he had done his duty in saving another family.

Alex then went to check around the hotel. They found mountains of supplies, mostly canned foods and dry foods. Mr. Big really was prepared. Alex roughly estimated that he had enough to feed about ten thousand people for months. So, Alex ordered the truck via radio to return and grab the rest.

After one full day, all of the hotel's supplies had been stripped off, even the beds and blankets. Nothing was left. This group of scavengers led by his wife were now professional home mover.

Alex and the group ran back to the small village Kesut. Found the jeep and went back together to the main base.