Chef in the Apocalypse

An hour later, Agni’s eyes, like twin emeralds, suddenly snapped open, their depths filled with anticipation. He cast a quick glance towards the opposite end of the clearing, and in that moment, his face ignited with a kindling excitement.

"They’re here," he muttered softly to himself, his voice carrying the weight of eagerness. With a fluid motion, he leaped down from the boulder where he had been meditating, landing gracefully on the forest floor below. His crimson robes swirled around him, imbuing him with an aura of authority.

As Agni approached the waiting members of his faction, their anticipation was the same if not more than his own. Their eyes, various shades of curiosity and expectation, followed his every move. They formed a motley group, united by a shared purpose.

And then, like phantoms emerging from the depths of the forest, eight figures came into view as they ascended the hill. At the forefront was a man who wore a chef’s outfit, an unexpected contrast to the wilderness surrounding him. His tousled black hair was only partially concealed by a chef’s hat, and his presence exuded an air of quiet heroism and rugged handsomeness. His striking sword-shaped eyebrows framed a pair of piercing blue eyes that held a fierce determination.

Flanking this central figure were two massive men, each distinct in their own right. One appeared as if he had stepped out of the pages of a bodybuilder’s magazine, muscles rippling beneath tanned skin. His sheer size was a testament to his dedication to physical prowess.

On the other side stood a man whose appearance seemed to prioritize practicality over aesthetics. His sturdy build and rugged features suggested a life of rugged experiences and a resourceful nature.

As the eight figures reached the clearing’s edge, Agni stood at the forefront of his faction, his gaze locked onto the newcomers. His mind blanked for a moment, feeling an overwhelming pressure strike his core.

His faction members behind him were far worse off, feeling a sense of dread well up inside them from the aura of the newcomers. It was as if the ones in front of them were monsters themselves, merely wearing the appearance of humans.

Agni expectant grin turned into a frown. He could feel the oppressive atmosphere flow throughout the plains, causing fear and anxiety to rear its ugly head in response.

’These guys are strong.’ Agni thought, his eyes narrowing on the three leading figures. He could instantly tell who the number 1 supporter was, not just based on his Chef’s attire, but also from the deep strength and quiet confidence that resonated from him.

In opposition to the deep strength of the Chef, the large man who looked like a bodybuilder had a different aura. It was as if he was an impenetrable shield that would not hesitate to throw itself headfirst against any danger it encountered.

"Greetings, you must be Flamecaster? I am Jayce." The man in the front casually walked over and held out his hand confidently.

"Agni." He responded, grasping the hand that was outstretched. The strength of the handshake was firm and unyielding, making him second-guess his plans.

After withdrawing his hand Jayce smiled broadly, his enthusiasm evident. "That was such a long trip and my team is hungry. How about I cook us all some food before we start our discussions?"

A few of Agni’s faction members looked at each other in surprise, before smiles appeared on their faces. Coming from a poor neighborhood, they were never one to pass up a free meal. However, their gazes were drawn to their leader, waiting for his decision.

"Sounds like a plan." Not wanting to think about it too much, Agni responded rather quickly. It would be in his best interest if the people in front of him would let down their guards.

"Very good." With that, Jayce began to retrieve his cooking utensils from his inventory. Pots, pans, cutting boards and even a portable camping table materialized, giving the others the impression that he had done this many times before.

Before long they all watched as he effortlessly began to prep vegetables and slice meat into chunks before placing them inside the pot. His party seemed uninterested, or rather they were too preoccupied scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

Colin was the only one with his eyes trained on the faction members, a dazzling grin held on his face. Yet instead of looking charming, it evoked a terrifying feeling from within those who gazed upon it. As if it may be the last thing they see before their deaths.

Both groups sat in silence for what seemed to be an eternity, yet only about half an hour had passed. The beautiful scent of the stew began to waft throughout the clearing, causing stomachs to growl with anticipation.

Agni’s eyes widened after smelling the tantalizing scent, his mouth salivating in response. There was a time not that long ago that he had scorned the top supporters class, thinking it nothing more than a useless and burdensome class.

Yet his expectations were subverted from the very moment that he laid eyes on Jayce. Not only did the guy look absurdly strong, the casual meal that he was making would probably be the best thing he had ever eaten in his life, even before the Apocalypse.

"Come and get it!" Jayce called, using a tea towel to wipe away the beads of sweat that had accumulated on his brow.

Producing a pantry’s worth of bowls from his inventory, Jayce began to load them up with delicious stew, still bubbling hot and filled with flavor. He held out a bowl towards a young woman who was the closest, a warm smile on his face.

The woman in question seemed to hesitate, turning her head towards Agni as if waiting for approval. He merely nodded in silent approval as their eyes met. She smiled joyously before grabbing her bowl and scurrying away quickly before anyone could change their mind.

Once the first person grabbed their meal, many others quickly got into line and grabbed a bowl, afraid that they would miss out. Jayce felt like one of the ladies in the canteen as he dished out bowls of stew for all of the men and women.