Nick and his gang already hit four stores. From daily necessities to weapons and ammo. They were prepared for anything that could pose a problem.

They started driving out of the town. The scenery was always the same with thrashed streets full of chaos soldiers with the occasional monsters in the mix.

They had turned on some music that they found already installed in the vehicle. By the sound of it, it was an older song in the style of rock n roll. They were arguing about the choice of songs for a while, but in the end, they settled it with rock paper scissors, making Nina the winner.

The only thing disturbing the music was the occasional bumps of the vehicle and gunshots sounding all around. There was no end to them.

When they were passing by an intersection they heard the sound of an engine. Looking at the right side an all-terrain jeep was heading their way.

It drifted into the street and not long after it caught up with the humvee.

Inside the jeep was a group of four guys rifles waving through the windows as they drifted on the streets. They came toe to toe with the humvee and started gesturing Nick to go faster.

He ignored them and after a while of not getting a reaction they full throttled the thing and blitzed through the street. They passed by a truck that got two people on it they waved in distress, yet they continued on.

"Let's go save them." Said Tami peeking her head from behind.

"That would cut off a chunk of our limited ammo. Mainly from the machine gun. You know that we've found only three boxes." Nina said from the passenger seat. She was designated to sit in the front as to better spot any situations that may arise, thanks to her skill.

"We can help them. So, let's do so. It's not like we can't find more ammo." Nick said.

"You're the boss." Mike said from the back already preparing ammo if Vanessa needed to reload.

We pulled over a distance away while Vanessa started cutting up the chaos soldiers with the machine gun. It left behind massive holes in them the armour they had on them did nothing to stop the penetration.

After a while they came rushing at us seeing as there'll be no chance of reaching the survivors. Everyone started shooting from the open windows on the car and not long after the part of the street was clear for a while.

From the top of the truck the duo came down and sprinted towards us.

One of the was a woman that got a squad leader on top of her head while the other was a man with soldier status. The woman was particularly interesting not because of how she looked, but because of what she was carrying. Other than the rifle from the chaos soldiers she had a bow on her with a quiver of arrows on her hip.

"Don't you know it's rude to stare at other people."

"Well, pardon me. But I need every piece of information to know who I'm dealing with." Nick replied.

"That's why you were staring at my breasts?"

Nick just stared at her as if looking through her soul with dead eyes.

"Nick, it's no shame to admit it. After all it's only natural to appreciate beauty." Mike said and just as he stopped talking, he got kicked right in the face by Vanessa.

"Well anyway nice to meet you. Name's Victor but everybody calls me Vito. I'm sorry about my sister's behaviour. She just likes to tease people. By the way her name's Julie." Seeing everything playing out the man scratched his temple as if fighting the headache his sister was for him.

"You jerk, don't just mention my name as an afterthought."

"Well, I just did. What're you gonna do about it?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

As they were about to continue fighting it out with each other Nick's voice sounded out.

"Let's not waste time do you two need a ride or are you fine with us leaving you here as it is?"

"You wouldn't do that. Leaving behind such a charming lady." She said before quickly getting into the car as she heard the engine start rumbling once again.

"You, stupid face. and my jerk brother are the same."

"Thanks for taking us in." Vito said while hopping on and going into the back.

With the additional passengers the humvee was nearly full.

"Glad to have you. I'm Mike this is my girlfriend Vanessa, in the front our squad lead Nick. Next to him scout Nina and here sitting next to you is Tami." Said Mike seeing as no one was going to talk. While Tami had a small frown with the lack of team position.

"Nice to meet you."

They started driving through the streets heading out of the city. It would take them two hours to get out of everything goes right.

Just then they saw a barricade on the road while gunshots sounded out from there. They made their way to the front of the barricade and saw a gathering of about fifty people shooting the chaos soldiers.

"What do you all think this is?"

[It's a refugee camp of sort. They want to obtain and repair a chaos repellent shield to keep them safe.]

"They can do that?" Nick asked.

"It was an alternative quest that we got, but since we're with you might as well do this one."

[If you checked your tasks interface. You would know.]

[Task: Get to safety or create one

Option 1: Get to any of the three remaining cities that are marked on your map.

Option 1 reward: money, and the ability to use it

Option 2: Acquire a shield array and build your own sanctuary with the supplies in city.

Option 2 reward: based on the role played.]

"You can't be serious that you didn't check your interface. It is even flashing when you have something not read." Julie said while hitting Nick's seat from the back.

"I think I'd make a better leader."

"In your dreams maybe. I don't even know how you managed to get a squad leader position with how you behave."

"To let you know. The moment we get to the base I'm going to be trained to be a squad commander. In charge of multiple squads and the squad leads."

"Quit joking. If you are going to be a squad commander then I'm going to be a general."

Everyone was minding their own business not willing to get into the argument of their supposed leaders. Except one voice sounded out.

[Nick in contrast to you squad leader Julie has proven herself with her resourcefulness and quick thinking.] Hearing that Julie started laughing a bit while hitting the front seat.

"Ok, then tell me why couldn't I rank up more. Last time you didn't exactly elaborate on that."

[It's because of your suicidal tendencies.] Hearing that everyone stopped what they were doing.

"How can you say that I'm completely mentally stable." Nick called out while looking behind into the car to seek some affirmation. Seeing as Mike alongside Tami agreed with him filled him with relief.

[Does anyone stable go into a Hell difficulty Dungeon and jump into the middle of the enemy settlement?]

"Wording it that way seems that bad. But guys it wasn't that bad." He turned around to see Julie and Nina smiling at him as if waiting to see how he'll get out of this one.

[Oh, let's not forget that before that you near crushed yourself with tons of water. The only thing that got you out alive must've been your own stubbornness.]

"How about I grab the wheel before this suicidal maniac drives us off the bridge or something." Julia said.

"I agree with that." Nina said. While in the car nobody else seemed to be against the decision.

"Oh, come on guys. It happens to the best of us." Nick said while turning his head once again. But before he could say anything else they all started screaming. He turned quickly back just in time to avoid one of the street lights.

"That was clearly waiting for me."

"I don't think so after all, they are placed every ten meters."

"Thanks Tami. You aren't being really helpful right now."

"Okay let me drive." Julie said.

"Fine if it's everyone's wish." They stopped and switched places before continuing on their journey.

"So, you've joined us for the journey."

"It would appear so." Vito said giving a sour smile.

"Don't worry if push comes to shove. Me and my brother were taught by our father a lot of survival skills."

"You know he was a hunter. Sometimes he would take us with him, teaching us along the way. I didn't really pay much attention. But sister on the other hand."

"You could've listened more and not be interested only in your paintings. You see it made me a squad commander."

"In training." Nina said taking a quick jab.

"So, your final goal is visiting him on the agricultural planet." Hearing that they both seemed kind of off.

"No, he already died."

"Sorry, I didn't know."

"Yeah, that's fine you couldn't have known. Besides he wouldn't be able to miss such an opportunity as this. Fighting against chaos forces and monsters. He would have liked it." Julie said while having a smile on her face.

"The old bastard wouldn't stop talking about the game he hunted. He would have started and nobody could stop him." Vito said while laughing at the image.

In this warm atmosphere they drove through the city. Sharing stories with each other. They left behind the gloomy atmosphere of the city. The gunfire getting quieter by the second. Until there was no more than the sound of the engine and the smell of the fuel in the air.