Chapter 101: To the mainland
The thing that Dhruv feared the most had happened. This was the third day since the tribe arrived, and there was no sign of the third quest. Their food supplies were running low, and although they could survive on the spider eggs for a few more days, Dhruv had decided not to delay any longer. Today, he would venture into the world.
For this mission, Dhruv was accompanied by the trio and ten of the tribe’s strongest members. There was also Navi, who would be the boat’s captain and some powerful Chrysilce undead.
Initially, Dhruv had considered leaving some forces on the island as well so they could protect it in his absence. However, he changed his mind when he realized how difficult it would be for anyone to infiltrate the island. Even if someone managed to infiltrate the island, they would have to contend with hundreds of Azarex undead and a colossal Ice golem. These defenses were likely more than sufficient to handle any threat.
As soon as the first rays of light touched the island, the crew eagerly prepared to board the boat, eager to explore the new land.
After Dhruv’s suggestion and two days of practice, the trio had finally mastered their human forms so proficiently that they could not only live in them but also fight effectively. However, they knew they wouldn’t be performing at their absolute best in these forms so, they still preferred their monster form in battle.
The trio had undergone a noticeable transformation. Vexar now resembled a young man with long, vibrant red hair. His face featured a strong jawline and phoenix-like eyes. When he stood, a red-orange aura would envelop him, and he always carried his new sword. While Vexar looked like someone who was ready for battle any moment, Azarex was the complete opposite of him...
Azarex also possessed the appearance of a young man, but he was adorned with numerous tattoos and piercings that adorned his entire body. He consistently wore a black suit jacket, a white shirt, and a black tie, which was found during their expedition to the prison. His long, dark hair was styled in an undercut. What stood out the most was a diamond-shaped tattoo inked on his head.
Alaric, on the other hand, appeared as a man who exuded confidence in his work. His hair was short, unlike his brothers’, and had a deep, dark color. His face lacked any distinctive features, almost as if it were intentionally designed to blend into society. He had also chosen to wear a black suit for his attire.
Dhruv was joined by the rest of the crew as they boarded the ship, and soon the captain of the boat got things moving. The boat had been cleverly designed to navigate on its own with the assistance of the air, and there was an ample supply of air to propel them forward. Moreover, in case luck wasn’t on their side they had the added advantage of having an air mage on the crew.
As the boat set in motion, the crew didn’t just simply sit back and relax. Instead, they scattered in various directions along the boat’s edge, each keeping a vigilant watch for any potential threat from the same fish monster or any different one.
The boat gradually distanced itself from the island, and after a few minutes, all that remained in sight was a distant silhouette of the island. Whether it was luck favoring them or perhaps the monsters’ luck, they managed to avoid encountering any monsters during their journey.
After nearly two hours of travel, they finally started to make out the outline of the mainland.
Before reaching the mainland, Dhruv gathered the crew so he could outline his plan for addressing the food crisis. Once he saw that everyone had gathered around, he looked at them and said,
"We only need enough food to last us for about three to four days at most. So, here’s the plan: we’ll find a supermarket and loot it," he explained.
Seeing the confusion on their faces, he proceeded to explain what a supermarket was and why they would likely find food there. He assured them that this single plan would suffice to address the food crisis.
"...And as for water, I initially considered bringing water bottles, but I abandoned that idea and came up with a new one. If we come across an intact water tank, then that will be enough. However, if we can’t find one, we’ll locate a river and transform a massive chunk of it into ice, bringing as much as this boat can handle," he explained to the group. When he noticed their expressions, he added,
"Is this plan alright, or does anyone want to add something?" Dhruv asked.
"No, master," replied the trio.
"No, Your Majesty," said the rest of the crew.
"Alright, once we reach the land, we’ll decide what to do—whether to scatter or stay together in a group," Dhruv stated.
Everyone nodded in agreement, their excitement was evident in their behavior when they gathered on the side of the boat facing the mainland. Dhruv didn’t quite understand why the tribe members were so excited about this, but he couldn’t do anything, as he was one of them at that moment.
They didn’t have to wait much longer, as just after five minutes, the boat reached a point where the water wasn’t deep enough for it to continue. Navi swiftly secured the boat with an anchor made of a pointed rock and sturdy ropes to prevent it from drifting away. The crew promptly disembarked and started making their way toward the land.
The closer they got to the land, the more their excitement faded into frowns. Dhruv had expected this, but it wasn’t to this extent. With each step they took, a growing chill ran down their spines.
The city looked barren and desolate. A chilling silence enveloped the streets, broken only by the haunting howl of the wind and some monsters. Skyscrapers who were proud to touch the cloud had their windows shattered, many of them split in half and tilting dangerously.
There were many abandoned cars with their owner rotting on their seat. There wasn’t a line of office workers nor were any offices left. Everywhere his eyes could wonder there was nothing but death and destruction.
