Chef in the Apocalypse

Upon impact, the meteor exploded in a radiant burst of searing flames. The forest around it was instantly engulfed in a hellish conflagration, as the towering trees, spiderwebs, and grotesque arachnids alike were incinerated in the merciless inferno.

The cacophony that followed was a nightmarish symphony of anguish and torment. The shrieks and wails of the spiders, now transformed into living torches, filled the air, their horrifying cries echoing through the desolate plain.

Jayce watched on in horror as the cataclysmic meteor tore through the forest like a rampaging inferno. He gawked at Amber who had dropped onto her knees, panting heavily from the immense amount of mana she had used. Her eyes shimmered with a contented look, watching on as the spiders were burnt to death.

The meteor kept rolling, taking out everything in its wake. Spiders, thick redwood trees, boulders and spiderwebs were obliterated, becoming nothing more than burning piles of rubble. It was then that an odd scene began to take place in front of them.

At least 20 spiders began to crawl on the flaming meteor, smothering it with their bodies. The flaming ball began to slow down and the fire began to die down, a result of lacking the oxygen needed to fuel it. After around 20 seconds, the spiders who had all melted from the flames by now had managed to stop the ghastly spell.

The group watched on as the remaining spiders looked towards them with fury, particularly Amber who had used up all of her mana with the overwhelming meatball. They began their ascent up the hill towards the party, their own flames of anger burning within their 8 eyes.

Colin walked in front of the group, a large grin on his face. He slammed down his shield with force, causing cracks to appear in the ground beneath him. With a deep voice he roared, "Come at me you hairy bastards!"

However, in the next moment Jackie lifted her Goblin Staff, channeling her own mana and created an icy surface on the hill, causing the spiders to lose their footing. As their spindly legs attempted to climb the now smooth terrain, they ungraciously slipped and fell, returning to where they had started. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Jackie’s ice magic had grown in precision and potency with her ascension to Adept mage. She cast her Ice tomb spell, encasing some of the spiders whom she had sent packing. Now subverted in ice, the spiders were immobile, leaving them as sitting ducks.

The group did not waste time, Ben retrieved his sword, the blade singing as he prepared his wind slash skill. A torrent of slicing air swept forth, cleaving through the enemy ranks with lethal finesse. He glanced at Paul with a gloating look, receiving a harrumph in response.

Zane, who was silently standing by the side, wordlessly pulled out his bow and began to efficiently send out one arrow after another, accurately striking the gigantic spider’s vitals. Jayce had to admit that Zane, whom he inwardly called the Mute Casanova, looked really cool.

Colin watched on as all of his prey were being killed one by one. His earlier declaration now looked like nothing more than a comedy act, thanks to his beautiful wife. He turned towards her with a dissatisfied expression, only to receive a wink and a cheeky grin in response.

The big man let out an exasperated sigh, however he couldn’t be mad at Jackie, she had made the best tactical decision for the party. However, he still wanted to get his hands dirty. "If you can’t come to me, I’ll come to you!" he shouted, leaping grandly onto the ice-covered slope and sliding down.

Were this to happen before he had had access to the system, he would have likely fallen straight onto his rear end. However, with his dexterity and balance, it made for an easy descent.

Colin roared, approaching the spiders who had been forced to group together by the ice. He leapt off the icy floor with a surprising grace, swinging his club like a force of nature, smashing it with an impact that resonated through the air, leaving behind an aftermath of awe-struck silence.

The club landed onto the top of an unfortunate spiders head, forcing its head down into the ground. The impact of the club caused a small earthquake, wreaking havoc in the surrounding area. The spiders who were too close began to feel their insides vibrate, dealing a lot of damage.

This was Colin’s new ability, Force Impact which harnesses the power of frequency vibrations to create devastating shockwaves. By generating intense vibrations at a specific frequency, he could focus this energy into a concentrated force that he can project outward, typically through his weapon, causing immense damage upon impact.

This skill was probably the most devastating melee attack in their arsenal. As long as Colin hit an enemy with his club, his ability would be able to hone in on their frequency, allowing him to use the skill instantly.

With Colin on the front lines, the battle ended quickly, leaving Jayce and Lianna with nothing to do. These spiders were not strong enough for them to be in any real danger, especially since Amber had almost decimated all of their numbers with one spell.

Jayce looked over with trepidation at Amber who had seemingly calmed down now. Despite her class being a fire mage, she was usually cool-headed and rational. Yet the woman he had seen just a few moments earlier was anything but.

As the battle’s echoes faded, Jayce’s voice rang out, "Well done, everyone. Gather the spoils."

At those words, both Jackie and Amber shot him a fierce glance, startling him. He recoiled, and cleared his throat, "Ahem, Colin, Ben and Paul please collect the drops."

The two girls relinquished their harsh gazes, seemingly satisfied with the decision of their leader. Jayce didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’I guess women still hate bugs and insects no matter how strong they become.’ he lamented inwardly.