Cherreads

Chapter 12 - 12

Page 23

The bus engine hummed softly, a constant sound punctuating the heavy silence of the new environment. Jhon, at the wheel, kept his eyes fixed on the HUD radar, which scanned a 300-meter radius around him. The desert landscape stretched to the horizon, with dry trees and cracked ground. The heat, though still bearable, was beginning to make itself felt, a harbinger of the hell to come.

 

"John, your radar is picking up an anomaly! A Supply Crate is about 150 meters ahead, slightly to the right of the road!" Loli warned, her voice serious. "It appears to be a gray crate, John. These crates usually contain items of moderate value, but the chance of a badge is slim. Be alert, they may have guardians."

 

Jhon slowed down and stopped the bus. He stepped out, his Enhanced Desert Eagle in hand, its grip cool and familiar. He moved cautiously toward the location indicated on the HUD. The air was still, the silence almost deafening, broken only by the crunch of dry leaves beneath his feet. The twisted trees cast long, distorted shadows, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

 

He spotted the box, a solid, opaque gray metal cube, half-hidden behind a mound of unevenly stacked rocks. There were no signs of creatures nearby, but experience had taught Jhon never to underestimate the dangers of this world. His Predatory Sense was active, but it detected nothing beyond the inert surroundings.

 

Jhon opened the box. A soft glow of white light emanated from within. Jhon examined the items.

 

"Wow, Jhon! What luck! A two-burner stove, a 20-liter gas cylinder, a lighter, 10 rounds of pistol ammunition (various calibers), and two full magazines!" Loli exclaimed in surprise. "You received five items! What are you going to do with them?"

 

Jhon gathered the items. The Two-Burner Stove (Standard) looked sturdy, made of simple metal. The 20-Liter Gas Cylinder (Standard) was standard. The Lighter (Standard) was a basic but essential item. The Pistol Ammunition (Varied Caliber) gleamed, and both Magazines (Standard) were full.

 

"I'll upgrade the stove and the lighter. Multiply the gas cylinder. For the ammunition, I'll remove all the bullets from the magazines. I'll upgrade twenty bullets, and the other ten I'll multiply by 50. The magazines, I'll keep them," Jhon thought, his mental voice clear and decisive.

 

"Excellent choice, Jhon! Thinking ahead!", Loli agreed.

 

A shimmering light enveloped the stove, transforming it into an Advanced Camp Stove (Rare): A robust stove made of a lightweight, durable metal, with controllable blue flames and an automatic ignition system. Its energy efficiency is remarkable, capable of heating and cooking food quickly with minimal gas consumption.

 

The lighter glowed and became a Plasma Lighter (Rare): A modern, durable lighter that generates an intense blue plasma flame, windproof and moisture-proof. Ideal for lighting fires or even for defensive use in emergencies.

 

The gas cylinders replicated in a silent burst of energy, and where there had been one, there were now 50 20 Liter Gas Cylinders (Regular), stacked neatly.

 

Jhon, with his choices, removed the bullets from the magazines. Twenty pistol rounds were transformed, while the other ten multiplied.

 

Improved Pistol Ammo (Variable Caliber) (Rare) x 20: High-penetrating, high-damage projectiles capable of causing more serious wounds to armored or tougher targets.

 

Pistol Ammo (Varied Caliber) (Common) x 500: A vast amount of standard ammunition, sufficient for long periods of combat or target practice.

 

"Fantastic, John! You now have a highly efficient portable cooking system, a versatile fire source, and plenty of ammunition for both emergencies and extended use! This is a game-changer for your meals, heating, and combat!" Loli exclaimed, genuinely impressed.

 

Jhon felt a faint sense of accomplishment. One more step toward an unstoppable bus.

 

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With the new Advanced Field Stove, numerous gas canisters, and his vast ammunition reserve, Jhon resumed driving the bus. The colossal machine glided once more over the unbreakable asphalt, its wheels boasting a performance potential he could only imagine. The arid landscape and skeletal trees stretched as far as the eye could see, the pale morning sky promising a day of intense heat. The heat was already noticeable, a harbinger of the coming hell, gradually rising as the sun climbed the sky.

 

"Loli, remind me again which Level 1 Badges I still need to complete the bus," Jhon thought, wanting to keep his goals clear.

 

"Sure, Jhon! Let's go!" Loli promptly replied, her voice collected. "You already have the Engine and Armor at Max Level 1, which is excellent! For the rest of the vehicle, you'll need 70 more Level 1 Badges to get all the parts to Max Level 1! You need 10 Level 1 Badges for each of the seven remaining parts:

 

Level 1 Badge (Wheels): To improve tire grip and durability.

 

Level 1 Badge (Gearbox): To optimize transmission and acceleration.

 

Level 1 Badge (Glass): Improves the strength and visibility of windows.

 

Level 1 Badge (Body): Refers to the general structure of the bus, increasing its robustness against impacts and scratches.

 

Level 1 Badge (Fuel Tank): This increases the fuel storage capacity of the bus's main tank.

 

Level 1 (Interior) Badge: To begin adding comforts like air conditioning, heating, radio, and other interior systems.

 

Level 1 Badge (Headlight): To improve lighting and nighttime visibility, as well as being able to blind enemies.

 

Remember, once all parts are at Max Level 1, you can choose the next vehicle modification, like turning it into a full mobile home, for example. And only then can you start looking for Level 2 Badges to take the next big leap in your vehicle's evolution! You can't use Level 2 Badges until you've fully upgraded to Level 1! And be careful, Jhon: upgrading a badge doesn't make it "better," it evolves, becoming a Level 2 Badge directly. But you can only use it when all parts of your bus are at Max Level 1.

 

Jhon absorbed the list. Seventy Level 1 badges. An ambitious but clear goal. The idea of an upgraded interior, with air conditioning, heating, and a radio, was a glimpse of comfort in a hostile world. And the possibility of transforming the bus into a mobile home... that would be the ultimate fortress and base of operations. The journey to find all these badges would be long, but he was prepared. He activated badge search mode on his HUD, focusing the radar to pick up any signs of supply crates or creatures that might drop them.

 

The landscape stretched on, monotonous in its desolation, but Jhon knew danger could arise at any moment. He maintained a steady speed, his eyes scanning the horizon. Suddenly, the 300-meter radar beeped with a new detection.

 

"John! Another Supply Crate! This time, it's about 200 meters ahead, on the left side of the road, barely visible between the exposed roots of a dead tree!" Loli warned, her voice a little more tense. "It looks like a blue crate, John. Be careful! Blue crates are usually more difficult and may be guarded by more powerful creatures. But the chance of a badge is considerable!"

 

Jhon slowed, but before he could come to a complete stop, a quick movement in the periphery of his vision made him turn the steering wheel sharply. A creature emerged from the shadowy darkness between the dry trees, a slender, gray figure, running with surprising agility toward the bus. It wasn't a Nightstalker, but something much larger, more robust.

 

"John! A Gray Beast (Rank G)! Watch out, they're agile and have sharp claws!" Loli shouted, a more urgent warning in her voice. "Stop the bus and prepare for combat! She's coming straight for the door!"

 

Jhon slammed on the brakes. The bus stopped with a muffled metallic screech. The Gray Beast was the size of a large wolf, with sparse fur and glowing red eyes that reflected the dim light. It growled, a guttural sound that seemed to come from deep in its throat, while its sharp claws scraped against the vehicle's armor, producing an irritating metallic sound but leaving no damage to the bus's sturdy armor. The unbreakable asphalt beneath its paws remained smooth and perfect.

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