Chapter 111: CH 111: Ignarok (MUC)

Chapter 111: CH 111: Ignarok (MUC)(Make Up Chapter for Wednesday) **** As Dave entered his office, he was greeted by the sight of Jackie waiting patiently beside a mountain of supplies. The sheer quantity of goods was staggering, and for a moment, Dave’s mind struggled to reconcile the abundance with the harsh reality of the apocalypse. Canned goods, bottled water, and food supplements stretched out before him, a treasure trove of necessities. "Isn’t this a bit too much?" Dave asked, his fingers tracing over the neatly stacked crates and boxes. Jackie shrugged, a hint of concern etched on his face. "I was even thinking it might not be enough," he admitted. Dave’s expression softened as he surveyed the supplies. "This is more than enough," he reassured Jackie. "Thanks so much. This will go a long way to help them." Jackie’s face lit up with pride, his eyes shining with satisfaction. "You don’t have to thank me," He said, his voice filled with loyalty. "I’ll do anything for the leader." His gaze lingered on Dave, admiration and devotion warring for dominance. Without another word, Dave began to pick up the supplies, his movements smooth and precise as he placed each item into his void space, and Jackie could only watch in amazement. The supplies seemed to vanish into the thin air, appearing as if it was never even there before. Jackie’s mind reeled with wonder as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. It seemed almost unbelievable, but then he recalled all of Dave’s incredible feats so far. The way he had decimated the Tai Faction, how he summoned and controlled beasts with ease. If Dave could accomplish such feats, then this should be the least of what he was capable of doing. As he watched, his awe deepened even further. He felt a sense of wonder, mixed with a healthy dose of caution. This man was powerful, capable of things that defied explanation. Jackie knew that he had made the right decision in following Dave, and that he’d do well to avoid crossing him. With a satisfied nod, Dave ceased loading the supplies into his void space, approximately three-quarters of the stockpile now safely stored away. "You can take the rest," he said, turning to Jackie. "I’ve taken just enough that will be sufficient." His voice was firm, brooking no argument. Jackie’s eyes lingered on the remaining supplies, but he nodded understandingly. "Yes, leader," he said, his tone respectful. Dave’s gaze turned serious as he continued, "I have to get going. I’ll be back in two days, and then we’ll discuss our movement into the city." His eyes locked onto Jackie’s. "During that time, I want you to find out how we can get the spaceships." Without hesitation, Jackie stood up, his movements swift and precise, as he bowed low, his voice filled with determination. "Yes, leader, I’ll see to that as best as I can." The air was thick with anticipation as Dave nodded, and then he turned to leave. *** As Dave exited the factory, the bright sunlight was a jarring contrast to the dimly lit office. He made his way through the desolate streets, his footsteps echoing off the buildings. The landscape was a grim reminder of the world’s current state – dead bodies littered the streets, some human, some beast. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, and Dave’s eyes scanned the ground, his gaze lingering on the corpses. The skeletal remains of humans and beasts alike dotted the landscape, some fleshless bodies reduced to mere bones, while others still retained remnants of skin and muscle. Dave’s eyes narrowed as he spotted a dead beast, its body partially intact. Without hesitation, he reached out, his hand passing through the corpse as he stored it in his void space. As he continued on his way, Dave encountered more dead beasts, each one added to his growing collection. The void space seemed to swallow the bodies whole, leaving no visible sign of their presence. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of Dave’s footsteps and the soft rustling of the wind through the desolate streets. As Dave continued to collect the dead beasts, he remained oblivious to the fact that certain creatures were now tracking his scent. Unseen by Dave, these creatures began to close in on his location, their movements swift and deliberate. Just as Dave had finished storing a particularly large beast in his void space, a new creature emerged from the horizon. The beast was a lion-like creature, but its mane was ablaze with fire, casting a warm glow on the surrounding environment. Instantly, the system had popped up as it identified the beasts before Dave. [An intermediate Ignarok beast has been identified] Dave’s eyes lit up with interest as he gazed at the creature. "Ignarok?" he mused, his voice conversational. "That sounds so fun, considering that it has fire all over its mane." With a fluid motion, he summoned his sword from the void space, and then placed it by his side. At that moment, the Ignarok beast let out a deafening roar, the devastating sound rippling through the air and causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet. Dave’s expression remained calm, his eyes fixed intently on the creature. "Unfortunately, you have come to the wrong person," he said, his voice low and even. "Now, it’s time for you to die." The Ignarok beast charged forward, its paws pounding the ground as it sprinted towards Dave. Its roar grew louder, the flames on its mane dancing wildly as it moved. Dave watched the creature approach, his sword still held at his side. He waited for the right and precise time to move. He waited until the beast was almost upon him. Then, in a blur of motion, Dave sped past the Ignarok, his speed seemingly impossible. The beast didn’t even have time to react as Dave had already passed by it. His sword passing through its body in a smooth motion. It was only after he had ran past the beasts that he eventually halted in his movements. He then turn around to face the creature. The Ignarok’s body seemed to pause for a moment, before splitting into two halves, each section crashing to the ground with a thud. [+10 Exp] With a soft sigh, Dave began to walk towards the beast’s corpse, his eyes scanning the ground. A glint of red caught his attention, and he spotted a crystal nestled in one of the beast’s halves. The crystal pulsed with a deep, fiery energy, and Dave’s gaze lingered on it, a smile appearing on his face. But just as Dave was about to retrieve the beast crystal, the ground beneath his feet began to tremble and shake violently. The earthy scent of disturbed soil wafted up, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke and char. A thunderous roar echoed through the air, growing louder with each passing moment. The sound was a cacophony of fierce growls and crackling flames, and Dave’s head jerked up to scan the horizon. In the distance, a pack of Ignarok beasts emerged from the haze, their fiery manes illuminating the darkening landscape like a procession of blazing torches. The flames danced and flickered, casting eerie shadows on the ground as the beasts drew closer. Dave’s eyes narrowed, his grip on his sword tightening instinctively. "What the f..." he muttered, his voice trailing off as he watched the approaching beasts.