New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

"Yeah, oh… Did you think I would investigate something that is already dead?" David asked mockingly.

Alex clicked his tongue at him, throwing a glare his way, but David ignored it, returning to his explanations.

"These shots were taken in the southern part of Alaska just a week ago. There only seem to be sightings of whatever did this, but they are multiplying. I think this monster is quickly getting closer to settlements as he slowly eats his way through the animals in its habitat.

"It's only a question of time before he reaches a human settlement, but I worry more about what would happen if it multiplies. With the possible shatter of the veil, monsters like those could quickly start duplicating. And that would be bad. Like, very bad."

Alex couldn't agree more with David on this one. If the bear was the size he imagined it to be, then it was better dealt with as soon as possible, before it multiplied. However, the other places David mentioned were troublesome.

The situation in Italy was still under control, for now, while the monsters were content with eating vines and crops. But what would happen once they spotted humans and decided to switch diets?

As for the issue in Korea, well, it had already involved a person. How long until law enforcement poked their noses in the wrong spot and it escalated?

The choice was not an easy one to make. They were effectively trying to decide whose lives were more important.

Would they save the rich and sophisticated Italians and their vineyards?

Would they prioritize eradicating a threat to the Koreans on their most touristic island?

Or would they head northwest and save the natives in the frigid colds of the Alaskan forests?

"What are we prioritizing here?" Kary asked.

Both men turned to her, her question unclear.

"Should we prioritize the damage to economies, to the lands, or to the people? Because that is how we can separate these cases," she stated.

"Mind elaborating?" David asked, frowning.

"It's simple, really. If we let the threat in Alaska go for now, then we risk it killing everything in a many-mile radius, with possible human casualties. But the biome it lives in would be utterly destroyed.

"If we go to Italy, it'll be to save the rich folks and their wallets from losing profit, ergo, affecting their economy. But the way I see it, if those birds were interested in humans, they would have already struck at them.

"But the Korean problem is much riskier."

David interrupted her, trying to understand her logic.

"What do you mean, riskier? There is a risk of human casualty in all three places. Why would the one in Korea be higher?"

Kary looked at him with disappointment.

"Think about it. That place is close to a lot of people and is also very tourist-centric. Whatever attacked that man was not alone, and I doubt it'll stop at one person. Even if the local law enforcement doesn't poke their nest, they'll eventually venture out for food.

"What do you think is the closest source when looking at the Korean Peninsula, and the land mass that is Jeju Island? Do you think whatever monster that is will go for the fish in the sea? Or will they target the coastal villages and cities, taking away people to be devoured?"

David finally caught on to her logic.

It wasn't about what damage could be done in the long term. It was about short-term risk.

And the highest short-term risk was the Jeju Island threat.

Alex looked at David's face, where realization was setting in, and he chuckled internally.

"Then I guess that settles it. Korea will be our first stop," Alex said, getting up.

David looked at him, confused.

"Why are you standing? Shouldn't we plan our things while we can?"

Alex huffed.

"Do I look like a planner? If you want to plan, then Kary can help you. I'll be ready to do anything you guys tell me I need to do. But I'm not wasting my precious energy on plans. It's not my forte."

Kary glared at him, realizing he was throwing her at David, hoping to get rid of him.

"We can do this tomorrow, no?" she asked, trying not to sound desperate.

David smiled toothily.

"Nah, I'm already here. Let's get this over with. That way, we can all go back to our things."

While he was saying this, Alex was walking toward the balcony with a smile on his lips.

"Alex, why don't you stay and help?" Kary asked him, almost begging.

"What use is he going to have?" David mocked.

"David's right," Alex said with a smirk.

"Planning is your specialty. Mine is punching. So I'll head out and go do just that. I love you, and I'll be back before dinner!" Alex said before taking his last steps faster and jumping off the balcony.

"Wait… aaaaand he's gone…" Kary mumbled, her face scrunching up.

"Well then, let's get to it!" David exclaimed, holding in his laughter.

He knew very well what Alex had just done. But it wasn't his problem.

He wouldn't put in a good word for him, or defend his actions. Hell, he might even make sure to piss Kary off as much as he could without getting burned to have him pay the price later.

But first, they should focus on hashing out details.

While they started on this, with much arguing involved, Alex had flown away toward the suburbs of Laval, where he had detected another awakened a few days prior.

He wanted to start checking the signatures of mana he had detected to make sure there wouldn't be problems in the near future. With him, Kary, and David gone from Montreal, who would be there to stop them from acting out?

Violette would most likely follow them, and he was almost certain Jonathan would, too. So, that left only the weaker awakened people that Jack and Robert were training.

And they were wholly underwhelming in power or versatility.

Alex flew as high as he could without freezing and expanded his senses to the ground, trying to keep them at a minimum so he wouldn't tip off whoever or whatever he found. And it didn't take him long.

"A person. That's a good start," Alex mumbled as he tried to focus on that person.

His senses sharpened as he started making out details, and suddenly, the person's head snapped upward in his direction.

Alex had a mini heart attack, as he was discovered with so much ease.

Then, a voice reached his ears, as his senses were still razor sharp.

"I can feel you staring at me. Why don't you come down, and we can talk like people instead of making me feel like prey?" the voice whispered.

Alex sighed as he realized there was no mistake. He'd been made.

Diving head first, Alex picked up speed at an insane pace, until he had almost reached the ground. He was headed directly into the backyard of a small home in the suburbs of St-Francois.

Just before hitting the ground, he quickly opened his wings to stop his descent and landed roughly, digging slightly into the grassy backyard.

When he folded his wings into himself, he noticed that there was more than one person in the backyard, and almost all of them were staring at him with wide eyes.

"Uh… Hello… I guess?" Alex stuttered, realizing his mistake.

He'd been so focused on the traces of mana that he failed to sense the other life forces around his target. Now, four people, his target included, had just seen a person land in their backyard from god knows how high, with angel wings on his back.

'Shit…' he thought, thinking this would make the news, and Kary would tear him apart.

And that was only if Jack didn't get to him first.

"Dad, is that an angel?!" a little boy asked, looking at Alex with wide eyes and a gawking expression.

"No, son. He's a superhero. Like daddy!" the man responded, smiling at his son.

"Honey, take the kids inside, please. He and I have to discuss a… sensitive subject," he added, looking at his wife.

Meanwhile, the wife in question was still looking at Alex, her eyes wide, but her body language was screaming panic.

The last person looking at Alex was a teenage girl, who looked at him with eyes that Kary would want to rip out—eyes of fawning.

When the man saw his wife wasn't reacting, he cleared his throat loudly.

"Ahem! Sarah, get the kids inside. Please."

That was when his wife finally moved out of her stupor.

"Yes… Kids, let's go inside. Let the superheroes talk in private."

"I want to hear!" the little boy shouted, his eyes filled with excitement.

"I'm fine outside, too," the daughter said, smiling sheepishly at Alex.

Alex felt weird about getting hit on by a teen, so he didn't look at her.

Alex started detecting movement under his feet, and his gaze sharpened.

"Maybe we should talk, before you do something you might regret?" he asked, his tone severe.

"Once my kids are inside, I'll decide whether there is regret to be had. For now, keep your mouth shut."

'This is off to a poor start,'

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