As the convoy approached their destination, the once familiar streets of Anchorage were barely recognizable, transformed by the chaos unleashed upon the world. The streets were littered with remnants of human defiance and despair, as half-eaten human bodies lay scattered. Windows shattered, doors stood open or destroyed, and holes in the walls told a grim story of destruction and violence in a once peaceful neighborhood.
Despite his frustration, he noticed the pale grimace of sorrow on Marie’s face as they drove deeper into the dense neighborhood. Derek was sure that she wasn’t the only one. The call was silent as the grimness of the world weighted heavy on the group.
The convoy rolled to a halt, shrouded in the tense silence. With a collective inhale, the group exchanged brief nods, an unspoken agreement hanging in the air. It was time. The sudden blare of horns shattered the quiet, a calculated call to arms. As if answering the challenge, goblins and orcs spilled from the shadows of nearby houses, their snarls filling the street with menace.
Janet’s arrows started peppering the orcs as soon as they appeared. Spells from James, Phil, and Marie leapt across the distance. Leroy was out front swinging his blade, carving through goblins with ease and the orcs with more difficulty, but he was figuring it out. Amidst the battle, Derek remained an unmoving sentinel by the truck, his gaze surveying the battlefield, his mind elsewhere. Around them, the air crackled with energy as spells from unseen allies arced overhead, bursting upon impact and scattering the enemy ranks.
Derek’s frustration simmered beneath the surface, a storm quietly brewing. The day’s events, compounded by the clash with Marie, left a sour taste that no victory could resolve. His mood got progressively worse the more he thought about it. He needed to step away from the present so that he could calm himself.
His brooding was cut short as the last of the creatures fell, allowing silence to reign. Jenny moved into her friend’s house behind Leroy, who was acting frontline and followed by Carson, who brought up the rear. Marie and the others stood outside on standby, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
“I’m going looting,” Derek said into his mic before muting it and walking into the house across the street.
The place was a wreck. He dug through the house looking for a safe or food. He found a home gym that would make a delightful addition to his own home. Then he walked through the adjoining wall of the townhouse and started looking through it. There was some chatter, but Derek ignored it. It would take them a couple of hours to get everything together.
Derek unmuted his mic. “Requesting permission to roam.” Derek asked Jenny, who was focused on her friends.
“Granted, but stay nearby.” Jenny replied.
“Add me back to the call when you need me.” Derek said and hung up before anyone could say anything else.
Then he was rushing up the street at full speed. He could make it to the nearby gym in five minutes at his top speed. Derek approached the gym, its once welcoming glass doors now a barrier to scavenge. With a swift motion, he kicked in the glass doors, sending shards of glass cascading across the lobby. Inside, the abandoned gym lay rows of free weights and benches coated in a thin layer of dust, untouched since the chaos began. Methodically, he stored all the free weights, several cardio machines, and a couple of squat racks.
His phone rang, and Phil was on the other end. “Hey Derek, how are you doing?”
“Just peachy,” Derek’s voice dripped with sarcasm, kicking his way back out of the gym. “Are they ready?”
“Ha, no, they are taking their sweet time. I wanted to check on you. That clash earlier sounded intense. Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not particularly. Where is the closest mattress store to…” Derek cleaved a troll’s head in with his fist. “…The Northern Gym on D street?”
“Uh, I don’t know. Ask your GPS.” Phil said.
Derek used his GPS to pull up the closest store and started running there. Thankfully, the cell towers were still operating despite the lack of electricity.
“It can be really damn annoying to get a lecture on for killing stupid ass people who point a gun at me and she’s all like ‘don’t kill the humans’.“ Derek said, mimicking her voice. “Whatever. It’s like she doesn’t even realize that they are literally trying to kill me. Sure, let me spare the stupid bastards that are trying to kill me. God damned pacifist, I should have left her and her damn bleeding heart at home.”
“I understand. That’s a hard spot to be in.” Phil replied with sympathy. “Hang in there. And Derek? It’s okay to lean on us. Not just for the heavy lifting.”
“Alright Dr. Phil, I’m getting off the phone. I have orcs to kill,” Derek said, already swinging his sword to ruin an orc’s day.
“Have fun, Conan.” Phil said and ended the call as the orc’s head exploded.
Derek didn’t have to get off the phone. Phil’s concern, genuine and unwavering, was a reminder of the bonds that tethered him to other people. The constant need for dialogue, and emotional reassurance wore on him, and Phil, ever perceptive, sensed his growing reticence.
The sudden appearance of goblins, bolstering the orc ranks. Releasing his Aura: Bloodlust, he flashed a menacing grin. Their faces dissolved from hungry leers into expressions of fear as he moved through them with precise, lethal movements. Even as they turned to flee, he tore through them with a series of spins, devastating the group, all while appreciating the simplicity of violence.
This combat, with its straightforward kill-or-be-killed ethos, provided Derek with a peace he couldn’t find among humans. Humans were so tedious, always needing conversations, answers, emotional support. Monsters were simple; eat, sleep, and slaughter the humans. This simplicity, albeit brutal, was refreshingly uncomplicated.
After the fight, Derek crashed through a door without even slowing down. Now that he knew he was basically bullet proof, well to small arms fire, he wasn’t worried about the door injuring him on the way in.
There were mattresses everywhere, but these were all the show room mattresses. They would work for what he needed. It didn’t take long to store them away in his ring. He checked the back and found more mattresses and took those too, completely clearing out the store. It took him longer to update the inventory list he was keeping than it did to store everything.
After checking in with Phil on time, he searched around on for his next looting destination. According to Phil, Marie was doing some family therapy with the kids and helping them work through their fear while it was still fresh. So it might be another hour. There was a hardware store quite a distance away, but it kept Derek within the ten-minute run he wanted to be within of the convoy. Since Derek had the top running speed of a Cheetah ten minutes was a pretty wide area.
The hardware store was a good distance away, and Derek immediately started in toward the roofing and siding supplies. Picking a color that he thought would look good, he picked up a few pallets of the thirty-year shingles that matched their house. They had a poor selection of siding, but he had enough for now. As he was storing dimensional lumber, his phone rang.
“This is Derek.” He said, answering Jenny’s call.
“We’re about ready to go. Should depart in fifteen. Can you head back?”
“I’m on my way.” Derek said, leaving the call open, but muting his mic.
Looking one last time at the stack of lumber still on the shelves, he turned away and left with regret. He shot through the lumber yard heading back to the convoy at a full sprint and made it back in only a few minutes. Surprisingly, by the time Derek returned, he was feeling better and his mood returned to its usual stoic state.
“That was fast.” Janet said as Derek thundered in toward the convoy.
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Derek slowed to a stop next to Janet and talked under his breath. “Well, you know us dragon daddies. We gotta be fast when needed, but slow when asked.”
Janet nearly blew water out of her nose as she drank from her water bottle.
Marie’s approach was tentative, her embrace a silent plea for understanding. “This is my husband, Derek. Don’t worry, he looks a little scary, but he’s really nice. Isn’t he?“ She finished through gritted teeth. Her introduction of Derek to the newcomers was laced with tension, a vivid contrast to her usual warmth.
Derek played along with a deadpan humor that didn’t quite reach his eyes, the genuine smile not enough to mask the underlying strain. “Hi, I’m Derek. I’m Marie’s husband and I’m really nice.”
“Actually, he’s a sarcastic, cynical asshole.” James said to the trio of shell-shocked kids that he obviously knew. “According to dad.”
“James!” Jenny reprimanded.
“Phil says it too!” James argued, not phased by his mother’s view of his words.
“I agree.” Janet added.
Derek shrugged. “Sorry Jenny, the jury has spoken.” Then turned back to the new family and dropped to one need. “Hi, I’m Derek. I’m Marie’s husband and I’m really nice, but also cynical and sarcastic.”
“Don’t forget asshole.” Leroy added with a laugh, but Jenny growled with irritation.
Derek looked over at him. “I was getting to that.”
Marie facepalmed and harrumphed. “Everyone get into the truck and let’s go. I can’t handle this conversation anymore.” Her exasperation was palpable as she corralled everyone towards the trucks. “Let’s regroup and refocus. This day isn’t over yet.”
As the new members joined the group’s dynamic, the atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Derek noticed the children’s wide-eyed curiosity and the adults’ wary glances. They climbed in and the five joined the call. James and Leroy started getting rowdy as they talked to the new couple’s little boy and the three girls were talking to each other, causing the entire call to get swamped with multiple conversations.
“James, Leroy!” Derek barked. “You’re in the middle of a mission. Keep your head.”
The boys, sensing the shift in Derek’s tone, nodded, their demeanor changing from boisterous to focused. Derek reported his acquisitions to Jenny and Marie as the convoy started toward its next destination.
The convoy navigated the destroyed streets in silence, monsters were everywhere. The silence was interrupted only by the occasional comment over the call. As they neared their next destination, the somber mood was only further amplified by the sight of trolls aimlessly wandering amidst the debris of what used to be a serene neighborhood. It was only around ten minutes when they arrived at the next house and trolls were roaming the area in large numbers.
“Alright folks, playtime.” Derek declared, his voice a mix of anticipation and an unspoken challenge, as he deftly stepped from the moving vehicle, ready to face the chaos head-on.
He hit the ground running as Leroy closed the distance. Taking an example from Derek’s behavior, Leroy already had his sword out. At least they weren’t wearing armor. Derek pulled his pry bar from his bracelet instead of his sword.
“Alright folks, no guns.” Derek called. “We need to get some practice in. James focus my target. Janet and Candace your on Leroy’s. Everyone else…” He trailed off.
Derek’s approach was violent. Each step built momentum until he collided with the nearest troll, every with Newton of force driving his bar into the troll’s head. Nearby, Leroy executed a precise strike, his sword cleaving through a troll’s leg, then circling around and decapitating it as it stumbled. Derek, not missing a beat, twirled his bar, snagging the troll’s legs and toppling it. In one smooth action, he drew a cable from his bracelet. The pre-made slipknot tightened around the dazed troll’s neck.
“I have it,” Derek announced.
James unleashed a barrage of spells on the troll. An array of magic missiles, fire bolts, acid arrows, and thorns sprayed over the troll in a matter of seconds.
“I got mine,” Leroy drawled, with his dad’s accent.
Candace and Janet released their own spells and arrows. Derek and Leroy circled their towering foes in a coordinated show of force. As Derek maneuvered to maintain the troll’s attention, an errant Fire Bolt from the rear lines scorched his armor, the heat searing through to his skin.
“Shit, sorry Derek!” James cried.
“I’m alright.” Derek responded, feeling the heat burn through the padding on his armor.
The steel backplate protected him from the worst of it, but some flames licked between his helmet and his backplate cooking some of the exposed skin. It didn’t stop either of them from casting spells. A lightning bolt ended that troll’s life as and Derek picked up two more than they lumbered toward the group. Derek broke a knee and a shoulder on each one before positioning them for James to work on. Leroy’s troll died. He then picked up another troll that was attacking Derek.
Candace’s spells weren’t nearly as effective as James, but James had been in isolation working on his magic nearly constantly. Where Candace was being more of a part of the family. Derek and Leroy simply kept the trolls busy and focused while the others did the killing. It was a solid enough plan. Carson joined in on the fun using a few rank 1 spells. Phil started singing, and Derek felt his stamina restoring.
As the last troll fell, the group took a moment to catch their breath. Derek was impressed with that amount of coordination, and he considered it an achievement. The air was heavy with the scent of battle. The smell of blood, burnt hair, and death was almost suffocating.
Derek congratulated everyone for their efforts. “Well done everyone… Except for you Phil.” He looked directly at Phil. “Hey Marie, can you heal my bleeding ears?”
Marie came by and slapped him on the back of the head, causing everyone to laugh. Her hand had been filled with healing magic and it helped his burnt flesh.
“My singing isn’t that bad,” Phil replied defensively.
“I’m really sorry, Derek.” James said apologetically.
“Don’t worry about it. It was only a minor burn, but you should apologize to my armor. It will never be the same.” He said with a crooked smile.
“Oh, I can fix that.” James said, putting his hand on it and using a spell to repair the damaged leather and padding.
“Thanks!” Derek said. “You need to teach me that spell.”
Leroy cleared the house. Not that there was anything there. Jenny entered and retrieved the terrified couple from their hiding spot.
“Did you kill the big one?” The man said, looking at the trolls.
“Not the trolls?” Jenny asked.
“No, there was this big thing that carried a huge axe. It had horns.”
Jenny looked at Derek, who shrugged.
“Come on, let’s get you packed up and out of here.”
Before the group could fully relax, a new and heavier thud echoed through the shattered streets, drawing their attention. A huge bipedal bull stepped out from around the corner. A huge double bearded axe was carried over its shoulder. Its body rippled with muscles covered by tough cowhide as its gaze lazily locked onto them. Every single step caused the earth to shake. The figure that emerged was unlike anything they’d encountered before - a minotaur, towering and formidable, its gaze locking on Derek with a disdain that bordered on amusement.
“We got a minotaur.” Derek announced. “I’m engaging.”
Derek rushed down the street as the minotaur looked at him as if this were a joke. Derek’s rock bar appeared in his hand. With a jump and a spin in the air, he slammed his bar into the knee of the bar, causing it to vibrate up his arm. The minotaur roared as the puny human dared to cause it pain.
“Fuck that’s hard.” Derek said.
Derek eyed the descending arc of the minotaur’s axe, a maneuver he’d seen before. With a swift roll, he ducked under the beast, emerging behind it with the familiarity of a practiced move. He transitioned some of the momentum from the roll into a swing, bringing the heavy end around into the minotaur’s hip.
It rumbled with displeasure as it whirled around and slammed its axe into his torso, sending him flying across the street and into the wall of a house. Derek had been here before and was up and running.
“Magic ready at your command,” James announced.
He focused his mana and activated Stone Skin. When he released the spell, he was building; the asphalt leapt up and wrapped around his body. Still focusing his mana, this time into a wave, he released the energy into a cone of thunder and fire. The cone slammed into the minotaur, causing it to bellow while it reeled back several steps as the fire singed its hair.
Derek pressed the assault. He swung and his bar slammed into the minotaur’s ankle, but again, the minotaur shrugged it off. Why the hell wasn’t his weapon making a difference?
“Leroy, get in here.” Derek ordered over the call.
Leroy joined the fight in an instant, dodging under a swing. His sword cut a small gash in the minotaur’s leg, but wasn’t overly damaging.
“Everyone attack.” Derek ordered, sending a fireball into its face.
The minotaur bellowed as its face was burned by another one of Derek’s spell. A barrage of spells leapt across the distance and started pelting the minotaur. It reminded Derek of the burn phase of a boss fight from a video game.
Derek dropped his bar and drew his sword, wrapping it in lightning. As soon as the volley of magic faded, the cloudy air cleared, revealing the monster bleeding from dozens of wounds. Derek jumped in, only to get kicked through the wall of a house. His asphalt armor protecting him from most of the impact.
Leroy picked up the massive beast, while Derek recovered. Dodging under a swing of an axe Leroy sliced across it’s hip. A barrage of magic launched from the back of the convoy. Fire, ice, stone, and lightning arched across the distance slamming into the minotaur causing an agonized bellow. It didn’t take the attack lying down and charged toward the convoy.
Derek slammed into the side of it like a defensive lineman hitting a running back with full force. Derek’s mana reinforced blade carved through its chest, rending it open. The magic in his sword did its job, leaving the beast stunned and heavily bleeding. Leroy came up behind the minotaur as it collapsed to its knees grasping for Derek’s blade. Leroy’s blade sang as it cut through the air. The blade sliced into the neck of the minotaur, rending an artery, but stopped when it hit the spine, leaving the minotaur in a state of suffering as it fell to the ground.
When the minotaur breathed its last, everything fell into a deathly silence. Everyone was in shock at how much effort it took to take the beast down. Leroy fell back and sat, his sword still lodged in the minotaur’s neck. When Derek looked at him, Leroy beamed with a pleased smile. The blood that coated his face only added to the odd sight that was becoming much too common.
There was a collective sigh of relief from the group as the monster died. Derek looked from Leroy’s blood-covered face to the rest of the group. They looked tired and strung out from the fight. Each of them had relaxed as their attention fell inward instead of paying attention to their surroundings.