Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 92: We’re A Family.

Chapter 92: We’re A Family.

"Who in their right mind decorates a room like this?" Maya whispered, clutching her arms tightly. "It’s like these monsters are about to crawl right out of the walls."

Austin’s lips curled into a faint smile as he watched their reactions. "Welcome, new members," he said, his voice smooth and commanding. "I see you’re all intrigued by the... decor." He chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yes, the artwork is unsettling, isn’t it? But rest assured, these creatures are nothing more than a reminder of the dangers that exist beyond our walls."

He gestured toward the table. "Please, take a seat. We have much to discuss."

"Even though you’re not yet recognized as part of this organization, until you prove your worth, you still need to sit and attend this meeting. You might grab one or two pieces of information from it," Ayra urged with a warm smile, her voice firm but inviting.

"Exactly. Don’t just stand there like dummies." Jones added, letting out a heavy sigh as he leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying a mix of irritation and impatience.

Scarlett exchanged a quick glance with her group before stepping forward, her movements hesitant yet purposeful. Kato followed closely behind her, his eyes scanning the room. Gradually, the others trailed after them, their gazes wary as they each took a seat, their attention finally settling on Austin, who stood at the head of the room.

Austin’s eyes swept across the room, lingering momentarily on each individual before locking onto Scarlett and Garvin who were sitting down together. His voice, calm yet authoritative, broke the silence. "I trust you’re all ready to begin your journey with us. You see, we’re not just a community; we’re a family."

Kato folded his arms across his chest, his patience thinning. His voice was sharp as he cut in, "Just tell us when the test starts."

Scarlett turned her head slightly and connected with Kato through their mind link. You’re awfully excited about this test, she remarked, her tone tinged with mild sarcasm.

Of course I am, Kato shot back with a smirk, his mental voice laced with a dark humor. The sooner it starts, the sooner I’ll know how many humans I’ll be killing and eating. I promised to only target the bad ones. Besides, there are monsters here...thousands of them, if I’m right. We could kill them and earn rewards to buy resources. And if this Austin guy turns out to be a bad apple, we’ll save the humans staying here by taking him down too.

Before Scarlett could respond, Austin’s booming laughter filled the room, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Your test could begin anytime, right here in this room, outside this compound, tomorrow, or even next week. The timing is for you to figure out."

A hushed silence fell over the room, broken only when Austin spoke again. "There’s a monster hunt tonight. Your test is embedded within this hunt or maybe not." His gaze hardened as he added, "You’ll be provided with deadly tools, whether you have powers or not. Let me give you some insight into the kind of monsters you’ll face tonight."

The group leaned forward slightly, their curiosity piqued despite the tension in the air.

"These monsters," Austin began, his voice measured and grim, "are part of my collection. They haven’t consumed human flesh for the past six months...using Earth time, of course. Instead, they’ve been injected with a special serum that enhances their strength. This strength fools their instincts into thinking they’ve fed. However, once they catch the scent of a human, the serum triggers a feral killing instinct."

Austin paused, his piercing gaze meeting each of theirs before he continued. "In tonight hunt, make no mistake as without careful planning and thinking, even someone with powers could be killed. As for those without powers? Their chances are even slimmer."

From her seat, Maya whispered to Scarlett, her voice barely audible but filled with contempt. "He’s training monsters. Just like Victor, you know."

Austin’s sharp ears picked up on her words, and he turned to address the comment head-on. "I’m not training monsters," he said, his voice steady but cutting. "I’m training monster slayers. In a world where I’ve encountered so few people with powers, I have no choice but to prepare ordinary humans to become extraordinary. These injections, as cruel as they may seem, are necessary to push boundaries and build resilience."

Maya could only roll her eyes away in distain, definitely not buying Austin words.

Austin soon began pacing back and forth, his hands clasped behind his back. "Victor, on the other hand, uses this same serum to bolster his monsters. But unlike me, he’s not training survivors, he’s amassing an army. The injections he administers vary in dosage. Some monsters retain only a moderate increase in strength, while others become nearly unstoppable killing machines. It’s these ’super monsters’ that Victor plans to unleash as a last resort, potentially wiping out humanity."

Austin stopped mid-step and turned to face the group, a smirk spreading across his face. "And you should know, these injected monsters view the human who administers their serum as their master. They won’t harm the one they recognize. I aim to train survivors to think strategically, to adapt, and to overcome even against creatures enhanced far beyond their natural capabilities."

Maya leaned closer to Scarlett again, her voice a hushed whisper of suspicion. "I wouldn’t be surprised if those people downstairs, the ones walking around naked were injected too. This whole place reeks of manipulation. Victor’s powers may be destructive, but this guy? He’s playing a long game. I can say he’s more dangerous than Victor."

Scarlett didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on Austin as he resumed speaking.

"Tonight, Ayra and I will escort you on the hunt," he announced, his tone leaving no room for debate. "But let me make one thing clear, we’re not there to hunt, and we’re not there to save you. The only way to defeat these monsters is to use your wits. If you can’t think smart, then forget about surviving."