*Thud*

I slam my shoulder and elbow hard into the muddy road.

“Inventory!” I shout loudly, quickly rolling in the dirt as I open it.

The flexible handle of my hammer starts materializing in my right hand, and just as I finish my roll, it fully forms.

There’s no time to hesitate. My head is spinning, but I’m already pushing myself back onto my feet, scanning the surroundings.

I saw it! I know it!

One of the flatheads had been tailing the car closely. At least I think I've seen the thing in the sand cloud behind the car.

“Where are you, you bastard?!” I yell.

I hear the car speeding toward me again as Harald makes a quick U-turn.

“Markus!” A beautiful feminine voice calls out urgently.

I turn back for a quick glance. Astrid leans out of the open car door, the bug shield materializing in her arms.

She throws it with one hand, expertly aiming in my direction.

I catch the shield in mid-air, slipping my left hand into one of the inner crevices. It indeed feels light like made out of styrofoam, yet it's super sturdy.

From where I stand, I notice the car has a small dent in the yellow front bumper, but the massive chrome guard has clearly done its job, protecting it from major damage.

Suddenly, I hear the unnerving sound of countless legs scuttling all at once.

A trilobite-like creature with a glowing health bar is approaching.

I brace myself, holding my shield steady in front of me with one hand, gripping my sledgehammer tightly with the other.

"Thanks Rhinoceros!" I thank the bug as I'm using its most prominent features as a shield and a weapon.

My bicep is flexed, bulging with strength like I’m a warrior about to face down a beast in ancient times.

The car engine roars again, and I suddenly know that the first strike on the ancient beast won’t be mine.

Harald shifts gears with a loud *Clunk* and accelerates toward the flathead.

There’s no way it can dodge—or maybe it just doesn't care to.

*Disgusting blurp*

The creature spits a stream of acid across the car’s hood and lights.

I expect the car to blow up and cover my face but it does absolutely nothing to the car—except for washing off the dirt and insects.

*Bang*

*Crack and squelch*

The car rams into it, breaking all its insect legs in one hit. At least I assume by the sound.

“So that’s what your acid does, huh?” I taunt the creature, observing its futile attempt.

“Organic matter dissolves in seconds, but it’s useless against anything inorganic!” Harald yells out of the car window, and as he does he accidentally spits through the hole in his cheek.

Hearing this, I can’t help but feel a bit concerned about the shield Astrid gave me.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

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The flathead is knocked to the side, and its health bar shrinks by half. That’s more like it!

"We can take these things out with the car Harald!" I answer him, but he does not listen.

He quickly shifts the gear shaft into reverse, getting ready to charge again.

So I seize the moment and rush forward.

The beast is slightly stunned, perfect for giving it a taste of my hammer.

Still worried about what the acid might do to the shield and my hammer handle, I decide that dodging the next acid burp would be better than risking getting hit.

I hoist the hammer high, channeling extra strength into my shoulders and back.

With no pain to hold me back, I focus on the sight of my veins popping on my bicep and the area around me, preparing for the perfect dodge, if needed. There’s no room for mistakes!

*Bang*

The flathead’s body crumples under the hammer’s blow, far more brittle than the fossilized ones covered in hardened stone.

The hammer buries itself deep into the top of its head, and a nice chunk of its health bar disappears.

Thank god for health bars.

At least now I know I’m actually doing damage, not like when I was fighting those longnecks without a clue.

Not wasting any time, I swing again.

*Bang*

The next hit tears a massive piece of flesh from the creature’s body, exposing its acid sack.

“Yeah, it’s harvesting time!” I shout, grinning.

The creature’s health bar is nearly gone, and a familiar sound rings out. It’s been too long since I’ve heard it, and I’m starting to crave it.

*Ding*

I need more!

The thought races through my mind, my excitement building.

But in my victory, I let my guard down—and that’s when I make the mistake.

----------------------------------------

Just before it dies, the flathead releases one final acid burp aimed straight at me.

The acid splashes against me, but my reflexes kick in just in time, and I instinctively raise the shield to block the worst of it.

I watch in horror as the holes in the shield start growing bigger.

The acid is eating right through it.

"Shiiit!" I quickly drop it to the ground, and within moments, the shield melts into an unrecognizable jelly-like substance.

“Oh god!” I lean on my sledgehammer, checking myself for damage.

Miraculously, I’m unharmed.

A wave of gratitude washes over me. Astrid saved me, but I can’t bring myself to express it, not with Mike around.

Am I starting to like her? I wonder to myself, trying to make sense of this strange feeling of gratitude.

Shut up, you idiot! She would do the same for anyone!

I quickly push those feelings aside and refocus on the situation at hand.

----------------------------------------

I hop back into the car.

“You okay?” Astrid asks, her voice soft but concerned.

With a bit of surprise and a hint of regret, I answer.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks. But... I lost your shield.”

Harald cuts in before she can respond. “Don’t worry about it. You can have mine. I don’t need it anyway.”

"But I’ll hand it to you once we’re out of the car," he adds with a wide smile, though it’s no longer a pleasant sight with the hole in his cheek.

“I need to borrow some of your bottles,” I say, leaning through the car’s open door, eyeing the flathead’s carcass.

“For harvesting the acid. Not really a loan—you can keep the acid.” I add.

----------------------------------------

Both Mike and Astrid hand me their water bottles without hesitation.

“Hold on, kids. We’ll use the jug from the car,” Harald says, his voice calm.

“Give me a minute to find a safe spot to park.”

I settle back into my seat, taking a deep breath. The smell of gasoline fills the air, and I can’t help but find it oddly comforting.

Since we got here, it’s felt like we’ve been cut off from the modern world.

The familiar scent of gas and the soft, cushioned seats bring back a wave of nostalgia.

It hasn’t even been that long, but the thought that everything we knew is gone forever makes me feel strangely sad.

But I brighten my mood with a single thought: my amazing magical muscle powers.

----------------------------------------

While I daydream, Harald finds a flat spot and turns off the engine.

He hops out, leaving the door wide open and I watch as he rearranges the contents of the trunk—rags, a wrench, the spare tire—before grabbing a jug filled with blue liquid.

Leaning into the car, he fumbles for the lever, popping the hood with a satisfying click.

*Glo, glo, glo..*

After dumping the jug’s contents and refilling the windshield washer fluid, he hands the jug to me and asks for a rag.

I get out of the car and leave Mike and Astrid chatting while I fumble around the trunk, eventually finding the rag.

The trunk is nearly empty now, save for the spare tire and some basic tools.

I know what comes next: pierce the acid sack, drain it into the jug, and finally, the most exciting part—spending my skill point on endurance.

Harald finishes cleaning the engine and walks back over to the flathead’s corpse.

I hear his footsteps approaching as I carefully position the jug.

Pulling out a combat knife from his inventory, he stabs the acid sack.

Forbidden liquid pours out, filling the jug and splashing all over it.

“Do you think we’ll ever feel pain again?” Harald asks, his voice laced with concern, worry lines etched across his forehead.

“Honestly, Harald, I hope not. But let’s just hope it doesn’t wear off at the worst possible time.”

He nods, handing me the polished jug after cleaning it with an oily rag.

I watch him toss the rag onto the flathead’s carcass.

“Keep it,” I say, as he tries to return the jug.

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Back in the car, we start discussing our next move. My mind races as I lay out my plan.

“Here’s the plan: we park by the crater, eat, and sleep. Tomorrow, we backtrack to loot our burning knight, restock on water, and maybe hunt some nutrias for meat. After that, we return and explore the cave from the map.”

I catch my breath, trying to look serious.

"Why not explore it right now? We are close!" Mike steps in.

“Seriously Mike?" Astrid frowns.

"I’d kill for a good soup right about now,” She adds, out of nowhere.

“Good. I’ll make you one,”

Harald replies, sounding nonchalant as ever.