Apocalypse: The World In Ruins

5:45 AM.

Shen is together with Pil and Shizu staring at the stampeding rhinoceros as they wreak havoc to the path that they are traversing.

9 EXP Gained!

Shen then remembers something as he asks: "What are you waiting for here? Are you planning to do something with the corpses of those monkeys?"

7 EXP Gained!

Both Shizu and Pil looks at each other as the latter shrugs his shoulder, seemingly in a way to tell Shizu that it's all good.

Shizu stares at Shen and spoke: "Kid, we already ignored the fact that you didn't introduce yourself, but now, you're even sticking your nose in our business?"

12 EXP Gained!!

Shen bows his head apologetically as he rubs the part behind his head: "I'm extremely sorry, my name is Kaz Shen, I studying in 7th City Acad... I guess that's not really important now, but that's my name, I`m also only 17 years old."

14 EXP Gained!

Shizu couldn't help but sigh, this is clearly how they greet each other ten years ago: "Well Shen, this is already common knowledge, but those monster's meat is valuable, we're also searching for their body if there's a chance that it has a monster shard."

6 EXP Gained!

1 EXP Gained!

7 EXP Gained!

Shen is also elated at the EXP continuously being hoarded as the monkeys get killed by the stampede, there's also the 1 EXP which could most likely had come from the termites as they get killed by their comrades.

"Monster Shard?" Shen asks in puzzlement, he already 'KS'ed a few monsters, but he never found a single shard in them.

"Monster Shards are something that helps us, normal human evolves like how we look like, it increases our strength by a wide margin while giving us the ability of the monster that we took it out from." This time, Pil explains.

Shen nods his head, talking to people can really help him understand the inner workings of this renewed apocalyptic world of his better than doing it alone.

Shen: "Then, the more you eat those Monster Shards, the more you`ll look like them?"

Both of them chuckles as they shook their heads: "Not really, but eating monster's meat will help us bit by bit." Pil spoke.

Shizu: "Well, there are already a few people that have evolved so much that they can already return to their human appearance."

Pil: "Yep, and one of them is our Leader! He's extremely strong too! He's leading the fort unhindered but there are still a few fort masters that are targeting our base."

"This..." Shen felt astounded; "Even in this apocalyptic world, people are still fighting for their selfish gains?"

Shizu nods her head and adds: "Yeah, although our population is not even at 500 people, everyone there is good-natured."

Shen already approved that they're good, who would even save a random stranger without any benefits. With that in mind, Shen smiled as he spoke: "If it wouldn't be rude, can I ask how to join you guys?"

But as soon as Shen said those words, both Pil and Shizu's eyes slightly displayed a sharp intent before it disappears completely. Shen immediately knew that they are still suspecting him of being a spy for these so-called 'Fort Masters'.

But before Shen could speak again, Shizu pats his head: "Shen, it will be decided by our Leader, if he accepts you, then it's all good, but if not, you will have to walk out of our territory, is that acceptable?"

Shen nods his head: "That's fine by me, being saved by the two of you is already a blessing, having to leech over your foods will be extending my shamelessness."

Both Pil and Shizu sigh as they nodded, Shizu then noticed that the Rhinoceros has already stopped.

"Let's collect the meat now." Pil then flew down as Shizu follows.

Shizu: "Stay there, we'll gather the materials first."

Shen immediately stood up; "Let me help you with that!"

After speaking, Shen immediately climbs down, Shizu and Pil only chuckle as they continue their way down.

Both Shizu and Pil then took out a huge clothing bag that seems to have been dyed in red, most likely blood from the monsters they hoarded before.

Pil: "Shen, you need to slice up all parts and only take the limbs, we don't have any use for its body and head, here, catch."

Shizu: "Slash open their bodies, check if there's a shining stone inside in their hearts."

As soon as Pil finish speaking, he threw a dagger towards Shen, Shen immediately caught it and got a notification.

*Item!*

Name: Wooden Chopsticks(Main Weapon)

Attack: 3~5

Level: 1

Rarity: Uncommon (Green)

Holding it in his hands, Shen tilted his head; 'My chopsticks are stronger? Well, it's an artifact after all...'

Shen then immediately start doing it, he avoided using dismember to not arouse any suspicions.

After removing the arms and legs, Shen will secretly dismember the body for the loots.

You have gained;

Monkey Heart 1x

Monkey pelt x3

This notification would show up whenever he dismember the body.

Shen and the other two are doing it rather fast as the smell of blood would actually catch up to other predators sooner or later. There are at least a hundred monkey corpses and after 15 minutes, the three of them somehow finished 3/4 of the work.

While in the middle of dismembering, Shen noticed a different notification, it came from a level 15 monkey.

You have gained:

Monkey Heart 1x

Monkey Pelt x6

Monster Core(Monkey Small) 1x

Although it was just a second, a light shone out in the location of where Shen is doing his labor.

Both Pil and Shizu caught it in their peripheral vision but decides to ignore it. Who knows what the two of them might be thinking.

Shen panics a little before pulling it out of his inventory and placed it in his pocket.

After a few more minutes, all of them finally finished.

Shizu and Pil moved towards Shen's location which has about twenty corpses.

Both of the placed the clothing bag in the ground and helped Shen put all of the limbs in the bag.

"Let's go." As soon as they finished packing, Shizu spoke.

Shen then remembered that he actually gained a monster core earlier: "Sister Shizu! I forgot I got a monster shard earlier, look."

After speaking, Shen pulls out a stone the size of a baby's fist.

"Oh, that's good, hold on to it first and we'll go back to our base," Shizu replies.

Shen nods his head and replied: "Okay."

Shizu took a clothing bag and Pil took the other one.

"Shen, sit on my foot and grab on to my knee." Pil with smiles on his face spoke.

"Thanks." Shen did as told as the three of them departed.

6:55 AM, it took them almost an hour to return, but they finally arrived.

Shen looked at the base in shock.

The base is actually an aquarium-amus.e.m.e.nt park, although it is already an apocalyptic era, the water is extremely clean and there are farming fishies on the tanks, the ceiling has been removed completely and was replaced by some iron made ceilings. There are also plots of land where fresh vegetables can be seen growing there is also rice growing in some plots in it.

Shen couldn't believe it himself, but there's also houses made of stones and electricity running.

"This..." Shen felt speechless and couldn't help but had tears in his eyes; 'Humanity isn't dead...'

Seeing his reaction, both Pil and Shizu chuckle: "Welcome to our base, Fort Bandillo!"