Chef in the Apocalypse

Three months had transformed both individuals and the city of Bastion. Jayce’s steadfast party, consisting of Zane, Ben, Paul, Amber, Colin, Jackie, and Lianna, ventured eastward from their city’s safety, their steps now marked by the confidence of those who had conquered new heights. The journey showcased the results of their individual class upgrade quests, except for Jayce and Lianna, who walked amongst them as the only ones who had not taken that step.

Jayce still had not figured out how to upgrade his faction level, meaning the maximum number of members was capped at 50. While this was unfortunate, he wasn’t too upset considering he was still improving every day thanks to the VIP15 skill and his cooking prowess.

Lianna on the other hand, was a bit more unfortunate. Being that Cleric’s were so rare, Jayce had no idea what the prerequisites for earning her class upgrade quest was. Therefore he had told her to constantly heal everyone and cast buffs wherever possible, unfortunately there was still no sight of her quest.

Zane, in line with his personality, had chosen his class to be a scout, giving a great boon to the party. His class had graced him with the keenest of senses, and his vision now transcended the ordinary, allowing him to scan the terrain for threats and opportunities with remarkable accuracy while remaining difficult to detect.

Ben and Paul, their trusty swords, had ascended to the rank of Adept swordsmen. Their forms exhibited the result of tireless practice and dedication, each movement fluid and precise. Not only had their stats increased, they’d also been given a higher mastery over their weapons in the form of skills.

Amber and Jackie, had trekked the same path and were now Adept mages, their chosen elemental paths blooming with brilliance. As their spells cascaded through the air, it was evident that they had harnessed their magic to levels that surpassed their former selves.

Amber’s self-crafted skill, "Meteor", or affectionately known as "Meatball" was a devastating area of effect skill. This blazing orb, seemingly birthed from her fiery resolve, crashed into the monsters with explosive impact, leaving trails of fire and destruction in its wake.

Colin, who had been a sturdy shield for the party, had evolved into a great guardian. His prowess had not waned, but had diversified, incorporating new offensive skills that echoed with the resounding power of his strikes. His club, an extension of his will, now carried an aura of untamed might.

The party’s strength had reached new heights thanks to their class upgrades. This is what gave Jayce the confidence to head further east in search of not only resources, but also other survivor camps. Something that he and Dion had talked about in great length.

They were currently 2 days east from Bastion, trekking through the plains with the mountainous range to their left. Jayce had traveled this road before he regressed, so he was pretty confident that there weren’t any enemies stronger than the Bloodfang wolves nearby.

Zane hurried back from scouting, appearing next to Jayce like a shadow. "There are some spider monsters up ahead." He said in a neutral tone.

Jayce nodded, gathering the party. They had yet to come across any spider monsters on their journey so far, but thankfully Jayce was quite familiar with them.

"These spider monsters hate fire, Amber, you will be our main source of damage. Aim for their webs, use your AOE spells and disrupt their formation." As usual, Jayce laid out the battle plan in advance, receiving nods and affirmations in response, albeit some were less than enthusiastic.

The group made their way over the hill and crouched down. In front of them was a dense and ominous forest that exuded an eerie atmosphere. Shafts of pale light barely penetrated the thick canopy, casting long shadows over the forest floor. The air grew heavy with anticipation as an unsettling silence enveloped the surroundings.

Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by a series of sinister rustlings. From the shadows emerged a horrific sight that sent shivers down their spines: giant spider monsters. These arachnids were monstrous in size, standing as tall as a human, with grotesque features that sent a chill through the bravest of hearts.

Their eight spindly legs, each as thick as a tree trunk, were covered in needle-like hairs that glistened with a sickly, venomous sheen. Their enormous fangs, the size of short swords, dripped with a viscous toxin, while their multiple eyes gleamed with predatory intelligence.

The trees in the vicinity were draped with sinister spiderwebs, glistening ominously in the dim light. These grotesque creations stretched from branch to branch, forming a sinister tapestry that hinted at the horrors lurking within this nightmarish forest.

Lianna who was crouching near Jayce tightly grabbed his arm, her anxiety evident. Jayce didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, their group had felled plenty of monsters stronger than these spiders, yet this was the first time she had shown any fear.

Stifling a laugh, he put his free hand on hers and said in a confident tone, "Don’t worry, they aren’t that strong." It was clear that she was afraid, considering she did not even register that Jayce had held her hand.

Jayce looked over at Amber, signaling her with his eyes, however his jaw almost dropped in the next moment, seeing her clinging onto Ben with a pale face. It seemed that it was not only Lianna who had an aversion to spiders in the group.

Just to be sure, he checked on Jackie. But instead of being scared, she had her face turned up in disgust, looking like an exterminator ready to put an end to a legion of vermin with a flamethrower.

Shaking his head in exasperation, he tried to get Amber’s attention. "Psst, Amber. I need you to create a path of fire."

Amber’s pale face turned to Jayce, staring daggers at him. However, she soon calmed herself down and extricated herself from Ben’s side who was left blushing.

She began to channel her mana between her fingers silently and soon enough, a blistering heat was being created. She stood up and continued to channel and chant her mantra, causing the others to retreat some distance to avoid the heat.

Jayce had a sinking feeling in his stomach, seeing that Amber had still not released her spell. The mana was continuously being drawn into her hands, lighting up her surroundings. When he looked up at her face, he wasn’t sure if she was aiming for the spiders or the whole damn forest.

She raised her hands high, sending the accumulated mana into the sky. With a voice filled with power and conviction, she incanted the ancient words of her spell, invoking the elemental forces of fire.

As her incantation reached its crescendo, a radiant sphere of flames manifested above her. This Meteor was unlike any she had conjured before, a colossal orb of destructive potential. It blazed with an intensity that seemed to rival the very sun, casting a fiery glow upon the forest below.

The meteor was a monstrous entity, easily spanning ten meters in diameter. Its fiery surface writhed and churned, exuding an aura of raw, unrestrained power. As Amber completed her incantation, she threw her hands out in a pushing gesture, directing the fiery behemoth towards the heart of the spider-infested forest.

With a deafening roar, the colossal meteor descended, plummeting from the heavens like a harbinger of doom. Its impact upon the forest floor was cataclysmic. The sheer force of the collision sent shockwaves rippling through the earth, shattering the ground upon contact.