Page 27
Afternoon was turning to dusk over the arid landscape and skeletal trees, and the heat of the day was giving way to a biting chill that permeated the dry air. Jhon, despite the adrenaline of combat and discovery, felt the need to eat his evening meal and rest. Routine was crucial to his sanity. He prepared a simple dinner using the Advanced Camp Stove (Rare) and the Multi-Purpose Pot (Rare), cooking more of the creature meat, the smell of hot food a small oasis of normalcy.
As he ate, Jhon glanced at the information on his HUD. The survivor and death statistics were overwhelming, a constant reminder of the brutality of this world. God's message about the extreme heat still echoed in his mind. He needed more badges, and fast.
Jhon decided to stop the bus and set up a small camp. He got out, gathered a good supply of Dry Branches (Common), and, with his plasma lighter, quickly lit a fire. The flames danced in the chilly air, casting flickering shadows on the skeletal trees. The comforting warmth of the fire was welcome, dispelling the chill and perhaps keeping the more timid creatures at bay.
"Loli, what else do I need for the bus?" Jhon thought, as the fire crackled.
"John, you're doing great! Your Engine and Armor are both maxed out at Level 1. And you already have a Level 2 Badge (Wheels) ready for the future, but you need 9 more Level 1 Badges for the upgrade of the wheels themselves, in addition to the other parts. In short, you need 10 Level 1 Badges for each of the six remaining parts, plus 9 more for the Wheels:
Level 1 Badge (Wheels): 9 more to go to Max Level 1.
Level 1 Badge (Exchange): 10 points away from reaching the Level 1 Max Level.
Level 1 Badge (Glass): 10 points away from reaching Max Level 1.
Level 1 Badge (Body): 10 points away from reaching Max Level 1.
Level 1 Badge (Fuel Tank): 10 points away from reaching the Level 1 Max Level.
Level 1 Badge (Interior): 10 more to reach Max Level 1.
Level 1 Badge (Lighthouse): 10 points away from reaching Max Level 1.
In total, Jhon, you need 69 more Level 1 Badges to get all of your bus parts to the Max Level of Level 1. From there, you can start using your Level 2 Badges for the next stage!" Loli explained, her voice systematic.
Jhon nodded. 69 badges. It was a considerable number, but he had a plan. He would hunt down every Level 1 badge he could find in the Auction and the Shop, and trade for them if necessary. The ability to multiply or enhance them would be used without hesitation.
He lay down in his sleeping bag near the campfire, the Enhanced Desert Eagle at his side and the Sharpfang Dagger at his waist. The crackling of the fire and the silence of the desert lulled him into a light sleep, while the 300-meter radar continued its relentless scanning. The journey was long, but Jhon was determined.
Ammunition and Resource Calculation:
Pistol Ammo (Variable Caliber) Spent: 3 bullets (1 in Gray Beast, 2 in Gray Beast).
Starting Ammo (from previous section): 1500 bullets (assuming the previous count was reset)
Box Ammo (10): +10 bullets (20 enhanced, 10 multiplied)
Current Total Ammo before upgrade/multiplication: $1500 - 3 (spent in combat) + 10 (from the box) = 1507 bullets.
After Jhon's choices:
Improved Pistol Ammo (Varied Caliber) (Rare): 20 (New Acquisition)
Pistol Ammunition (Varied Caliber) (Common): 500 (New Acquisition)
Current Total Ammo: 1507 (base) - 20 (to upgrade) - 10 (to multiply) + 20 (upgraded) + 500 (multiplied) = 1997 bullets.
300 Liter Plastic Fuel Cans:
Starting Gallons: 2500 gallons (assuming the previous count was reset)
Gallons Purchased from Supply Box (Multiplied): + 50 gallons
Current Total: 2550 gallons (consumption unchanged)
New Items Purchased in this section:
Advanced Campaign Stove (Rare): x 1 (Upgraded from Two-Burner Stove)
20 Liter Gas Cylinders (Common): x 50 (Multiplied)
Plasma Lighter (Rare): x 1 (Upgraded from Lighter)
Improved Pistol Ammo (Variable Caliber) (Rare): x 20
Pistol Ammo (Variable Caliber) (Common): x 500
Magazines (Common): x 2 (Full, but bullets removed for choices)
Gray Beast Skin (Uncommon): x 1
Sharp Fangs of the Ashen Beast (Uncommon): x 2 (Transforms into Sharp Fang Dagger)
Sharp Fang Dagger (Uncommon): x 1 (Transformed from Sharp Fangs of the Ashen Beast)
Medium Creature Meat (Common): x 5
300 Liter Plastic Fuel Can (Common): x 50 (Multiplied)
Indestructible Tactical Tire (Rare): x 1 (Upgraded from Reinforced Tire)
Level 2 Badge (Wheels): x 1 (Evolved from Level 1 Badge (Wheels))
Car Parts (Engine - Insignia): 90 (unchanged)
Car Parts (Armor - Insignia): 1140 (unchanged)
Page 29
The ground shook again, louder this time, and the guttural sound intensified, a primal echo that seemed to tear through the dry morning air. Jhon stopped the bus abruptly, the indestructible tires gripping the smooth asphalt. His eyes fixed on the radar. The Green Supply Box stood there, imposing and promising, but the threat that guarded it was palpable. The heat, already approaching 40 degrees Celsius, made the atmosphere even more oppressive.
A massive silhouette emerged from behind the rocks, revealing a colossal creature. It was a Mutant Minotaur (Rank F), a giant with twisted muscles, leathery gray-green skin, and red eyes bloodshot with fury. Its bovine head sported sharp, curved horns, and its front paws were enormous claws, ready to tear. Its roar vibrated the very air, a sound promising violence and destruction. The creature stood between John and the box, an imposing guardian.
"A Mutant Minotaur (Rank F), John! He's tough and strong! He'll need everything you've got!" Loli warned, her voice stripped of its usual playful tone, now purely focused. "He's far more dangerous than the Gray Beast. His hide is like armor, and his attacks are devastating. This is not a monster to be underestimated!"
Jhon took a deep breath, pulling the Enhanced Desert Eagle from its holster. He didn't like head-on combat, but sometimes there was no choice. He stepped off the bus, the heavy, familiar weapon in his hands, feeling the heat of the asphalt beneath his boots. His Predatory Sense was heightened, mapping the Minotaur's slow, powerful movements.
The Mutant Minotaur stomped its paws against the ground, kicking up dust and small pebbles. It growled, fixing its eyes on John, and then, with surprising speed for its size, it charged. The earth trembled beneath its paws.
BANG!
Jhon fired the first shot, aiming for the Minotaur's massive head. The Enhanced .50 caliber round ricocheted off the creature's leathery skull, leaving only a superficial scratch and a trail of smoke. The Minotaur didn't even flinch.
"Shit! His natural armor is insane!" Jhon thought, taking a few steps back.
"I warned you, Jhon! The head and chest are the most protected points! Try the knuckles, or if you have good aim, the eyes!", Loli advised.
The Minotaur came close, its massive claw grazing where Jhon had been seconds before, tearing the air violently. Jhon rolled to the side, avoiding the blow. He fired again, this time aiming for the Minotaur's knee joint.
BANG! BANG!
The two Enhanced .50 caliber rounds struck home. The Minotaur shrieked in pain, and a trickle of black blood oozed from the wound. He staggered, his charge losing momentum. This gave Jhon a split second to react. He reloaded the Desert Eagle with reflexive speed.
"The eyes, Jhon! This is your chance!", Loli shouted.
The Minotaur, still stunned, raised his head. John aimed with surgical precision.
BANG!
A single shot, true. The Enhanced .50 caliber projectile struck one of the Minotaur's red eyes. The creature let out a horrifying roar of agony and slashed its claws at its face. The eye exploded in a spray of blood and pus, and the Minotaur began to spin disoriented, crashing into one of the rocks surrounding the crate.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Jhon didn't hesitate. Three quick shots, aimed at the Minotaur's second eye and, finally, its throat. The Enhanced .50 caliber rounds found their mark. The creature staggered, its massive body swaying, and then collapsed with a crash that shook the ground one last time. Dust rose in a dense cloud, covering the monster's inert body. The smell of gunpowder, blood, and death filled the air.
"Unbelievable, Jhon! You took down an F-Rank single-handedly with just a few shots! My former master would have panicked and thrown everything he had at him, and he still probably would have been crushed!" Loli exclaimed, her voice a mix of admiration and shock. "Last night's carnage was just the beginning, wasn't it? You're a true hunter!"
Jhon approached the Minotaur's body, the Desert Eagle still in his hand. The creature was immense, its twisted muscles relaxed in death. He felt a pang of exhaustion, but adrenaline still coursed through his veins. The silence of the desert seemed to have returned, heavy and oppressive.