Baam! Baam!
"Squeak!"
Large rats lunged at Vash but they meet his wooden bat instead. Their squeaks rang out at the long quite store as Vash bashed their bodies and sending them flying few meters away from him.
In his primary days, he was a professional hitter with many players fearing him due to his deadly hits, and now he was not hitting a ball but a large rats, how gruesome would the show would be.
Blood splattered, head smashed, and bones break everytime Vash swings his weapon, paired with cold murderous eyes, he now look like a cruel monster. These rats didn't showed him any good and they even want to eat him, so there's no need to show pity.
The battle rage on for a half and hour, draining Vash stamina and leaving strain in his muscles but the result was satisfying.
"Haa!... Haa!... Haa!"
Almost a hundred large rats layed dead in the ground, bloody and horrifying. Seeing these scene, the remaining large rats hesitate to attack anymore as things is not going their way, then they retreat, running back to their den.
"These rats would not attack me anytime soon." Vash muttered after he finished his eye contest to the cat size rat that attack him before.
Vash rested for a couple minutes before he start to move. He approached the body of a fallen rat to check on it and got surprised that he saw a new information panel.
[You found a dissectable object]
•City Large Rat*1
Do you wish to dissect?
Yes | No
***
Vash rise on of his eyebrows before he unconsciously pressed 'yes'. Then, almost immediately light entered through the body of the large rat before it deflated like a balloon.
[You gained the following items:]
•Large Rat Meat*1
•Large Rat Claw*2
***
Vash was kinda startled when a piece of meat appeared on his hand, he almost throw it away after felling the weird sensation of fresh meat.
He asses the new items in his hand carefully and assessed that the rat meat in his hand weight around a pound and the rat claws length is around 1 inch. He don't know what he should do with this thing as he currently don't have any thoughts of eating rat meat for survival, he's still not pushed to that lengths yet.
After looking for something in the dilapidated store, he found a rusty cart and a beaten up cooler but he prioritize the cooler more because it could store has spoils. After he synthesize two beaten up cooler together, he finally have a normal cooler that can keep foods.
But after storing 30 pieces of rat meat the cooler was filled to the brim, it force him to search for more cooler out there is there's more. After a while he brought 2 more brand new looking cooler from this store inventory.
After putting all 90 pieces of large rat meat, he prepared to get out of here, using another synthesis at a rusty cart he upgraded it to 'Strong Cart' in which he put the cooler to push it towards his mobile shelter. 3 returns later, he finished unloading his spoils towards his mobile shelter, now he could rest.
After getting into his car, he felt a wave of exhaustion slamming against him. Today's unpredictable events really took a toll on him, but weirdly, he felt happy and comfortable inside, compared to his life back on earth which was full of bitterness.
So many things has happened today and now, he only want to take his deserve rest. He was drain but still kinda exited about tomorrow, and the start of apocalypse.
When e close his eyes, the world turn dark and time seems to become nonexistent.
Hours passes slowly, everything was fine this night, except for the incessant scratching on his car and noise from the insect around mating.
When the time reached 12 am, something major happened that it even woke Vash up from his deep sleep.
[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[Major event is unfolding! The first apocalypse is initiating...]
[First apocalypse – Undead Apocalypse!]
[The apocalypse would begin in an hour and would last for a week before the next apocalypse would begin.]
[Survivors! Good luck!]
The flashing red light and blaring alarm woke Vash up, he was immediately alerted and scanned the area around him.
It was still nighttime, if it's not because of the moonlight the world right now would be absolutely dark.
He then checked for his energy, planning to plan how he should allocate his most essential resource.
[Energy: 10/10]
His energy already replenished more than half, and now Vash was planning what he should do. Then he approached other cars around, opening it's hood before taking it's engines out, putting it on his reinforced cart before he start to synthesize it to others.
[Synthesis Attempt Initiated]
Components:
• Destroyed Car Engine*4 (Junk–)
Energy Cost: –1
Synthesis initiating...
[Synthesis Complete]
Result: Reconditioned Combustion Engine *2
Category: Mechanical Object ⚙
Grade: Junk
Durability: 20 / 20
Condition: Functional (Low Output)
Notes:
• Engine internal damage repaired at the minimal level
• Fuel efficiency is extremely poor
• High failure risk when under prolonged use
***
Then Vash upgrade it again
[Synthesis Attempt Initiated]
Components:
• Reconditioned Combustion Engine*2
Host Energy Cost: 1
Synthesis initiating...
[Synthesis Complete]
Result: Reinforced Combustion Engine*1
Category: Mechanical Object ⚙
Grade: Junk+
Durability: 45 / 45
Condition: Stable
Enhancements:
• Reinforced cylinder block
• Improved ignition timing
• Reduced internal friction
Limitations:
• Loud operation
• Overheats after extended use
• Requires frequent maintenance
***
Then he initiated the last synthesis, with his own car engine. Car engines are really heavy.
[Synthesis Attempt Initiated]
Components:
• Reinforced Combustion Engine *2
Host Energy Cost: 4
Synthesis initiating...
Result: Standard Utility Engine
Grade: Common–
Durability: 100 / 100
Condition: Optimal
Features:
• Stable power output
• Acceptable fuel efficiency
• Compatible with multiple vehicle frames
• Reduced noise emission
Special Trait:
• Mechanical Compatibility +10%
***
Vash finally got what he wanted at the cause of his energy, which is around 4 units, and now, he was extremely tired again. His head is searing from pain, like listening to a high frequency scream, ringing his ears and numbing his mind.
Still, he can't rest yet, the apocalypse is about to come and he don't know what he should do when the time comes, better to prepare necessary things.
Now, he have a functional engine, but still lack fuel, he don't know where could he get it from his current location, there's no gas station around.
After being stuck in dilemma, he tried his luck in the chat function. The system said, that he could trade with other survivors within his area, maybe they have the items he wants.
[Local Chat – Area B09] the
[Jules]: The apocalypse is coming! What should we do? I don't have anything right now, I just circled around the ruined city and sleep in a safe corner.
[Kenji_M]: Why are you afraid of the dead guys? We only need to beat them to death, they they would be resting peacefully again.
[Theo_92]: Yeah we could just beat them, but do you have any weapons out there? I've been searching for long but I only find a bent rusted rebar.
[Kenji_M]: I don't have any weapons with me but I trained in martial arts for years, I I'm confident I could beat hundreds of rotting monsters.
[Theo_92]: Want to fight zombies with your bare hands? Are you confident or just downright stupid?
[Kenji_M]: You're the stupid one, your family is full idiots! If I see you, I'll be sure to teach you a lesson!
[Theo_92]: A stupid dog, barking nonsense.
[Kenji_M]: You!
[Yoyo]: I haven't eaten since this morning. I searched all around but there's nothing here other than broken concrete and corroded metal. Please give me food, I'm starving. I'm willing to pay thousand dollars for any food.
[MomOfTwo]: Please... If anyone can see this message, please my kids are hungry. We need food like right now.
[StaticNoise]: I tried breaking into a convenience store before, but everything inside turned to dust the moment I touched it. Even steel knives broke into multiple piece the moment I tried to use it.
[WeapomSeeker]: Anyone got weapons? I'll trade anything I have.
[Margrove]: I ate some green moss growing on a wall… stomach hurts like hell. Might be poisoned.
[MaraL]: Hey! People, we should relax right now and avoid doing stupid things. The zombie apocalypse is coming, and we don't know where it would begin nor show up. Now we should find any sort of weapons and look for a safe place to hide, as for the next steps, we should plan it after we know what really is happening.
[Arvin]: Yes, you're right. I'm following your idea boss!
[Rex]: We're about to die! Hahaha, all of our shall be coming with me to meet God! This is his punishment for our sins! AHAHAHA.
X99
***
Vash read the chaos unfolding in the chatroom and noticed how people are becoming crazy. When humans face the unknown, they either become brave or become insane.
Then the begin typing what he wanted in the chat:
"I have a weapon and food here, I want it to be exchanged with diesel. Prices can be negotiated."
Vash typed in the chat, but before he could really send it, a notification panel appeared before him.
[Please create a nickname in chat or use real name.]
Vash didn't have any reason to use a nickname nor have the talent in naming things, so he go ahead with 'Vash' it sounds nice to him as that's his real name.
[Message Sent!]
After sending his message in the chatroom, the chat exploded and countless message poured in Vash private message.