13. Warehouse Woes

A metal-on-concrete squeal echoed through the warehouse. Zeke held his breath, listening silently, the mist blocking his view outside. The cartaurs individually aren’t that bad, especially with Manipulate Wires, but if one of them sees us, it’ll call the rest… and whatever else is out there. We don’t know what kind of monsters are roaming the Cyborg Apocalypse. Cartaurs are surely the least of it.

Outside, tires ground slowly along, gravel stones popping out from under the rubber. A distinctive pop and groan sounded out as one of the cartaurs climbed the curb toward the warehouse, close enough a stone pinged off the metal door. The door swayed, opening slightly. A sliver of daylight shone in.

Zeke jolted. He looked at Domi and Ryan. Both of them stared back, eyes wide. I undid the lock and opened the door… did I remember to close it? Shit!

Pressing his toe into the ground, he activated [Crystal Burst]. Crystals pushed out of the concrete floor just behind the door, preventing it from opening further. As the crystals broke through the floor, a loud crack! echoed forth.

Zeke’s eyes widened. Beside him, Domi flared her nostrils, somewhere between fear and annoyance. Ryan pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head.

Outside, the rumble of the car’s engine dropped to an idle, the wheels no longer squeaking forward. Abruptly, it started again. The car rolled forward. Metal clanged on metal, and the door crashed into the crystals.

Shit! Zeke mouthed. He backed away, peering deeper into the darkness.

The warehouse was cloaked in near-impenetrable darkness, as black as a deep cave. Not a single window lit the space. Aside from the line of light from the cracked-open door and the light filtering through the mist from the hole, not a single mote of light lit the enormous space. From the pale light reflecting off the smooth concrete floor, Zeke caught the vague shapes of boxes and shelves, marching away into twilight until they faded into the pitch.

He gestured at the other two, pushing back toward the rear of the warehouse. Back, get back! Let’s get behind the boxes!

Ryan backed away, brows furrowed a little. Domi tilted her head.

Wait, hold on. There’s that new skill. Hands-free Calling! Zeke cleared his mind, then activated the skill.

[Hands-free Calling]

Can you hear me?

Domi jolted. She looked around. Her eyes landed on Zeke, and she pointed at him and mouthed, That you?

Ryan looked up. He made eye contact with Zeke and nodded, a strange expression on his face. In the dim light, Zeke couldn’t tell worry from fear, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

Zeke pressed his lips together. Quietly, he thought to himself, I’ll address that later. Louder, intending for it to pass to Domi and Ryan, he added, Get back. Quietly, get back behind the boxes. We can hide in here!

Domi glanced over her shoulder, then nodded. Lifting onto the balls of her feet, she crept into the dark. Ryan vanished directly, gone from Zeke’s vision. Backing away, Zeke shuffled to the side as much as back, edging away from directly behind the door. As long as I’m to the side, even if he smashes the door open, he won’t see me right away. I might have a chance to hide or run before I’m found.

The cartaur bashed at the door. Metal bashed. Crystal snapped. The door flew open. Revving its engine, the cartaur jammed its front corner into the door. Stuck there, it paused a moment, leaning its human half in to peer around. It squinted into the dark, then reached down and slapped the car’s hood. The engine grumbled, and the headlights flicked on.

Shelves. Boxes and crates, stacked to the ceiling. Shiny slick concrete floor.

Tucked behind the shelves against the front wall, Zeke held his breath. His back pressed into the corrugated metal wall, breath held, chest tight with tension, eyes locked on the cartaur’s upper half. Female in appearance, this one clutched a no-enter sign, one arm fully metal and skeletal. Multicolored wires wrapped the metal bones like veins. Oil dripped from its heavy elbow joint. It backed up a little, reangling the headlight, and swept it across the space.

There’s nothing here. No one. Leave us alone! Zeke thought, annoyed.

From behind the cartaur, a wordless cry sounded out. The cartaur paused, then backed up, vanishing from the door. The door swung shut, and the room fell into shadow once again.

Domi stepped out from behind a stack of boxes. “Phew! That was tense!”

Ryan appeared atop a stack of crates, crouching there, knife in hand. He twisted his lips. “Back exit?”

Zeke nodded. “Yeah, I think—”

[Hunger Awareness]

Zeke’s stomach panged, straight to his spine. Behind! He threw himself to the side, activating [Heat Vision] for a split second. The bright yellow-orange of a car engine glowed through the wall, the body atop it equally hot, and then the cartaur smashed through the warehouse’s thin wall inches behind him. Metal shrapnel cut across his ribs and left red lines on his arms.

“Holy shit!” Domi shouted.

The cartaur skidded to a halt in the center of the warehouse. The human part slumped backward against the windshield, dead. The engine beneath it spat up oil and died a beat later.

Behind it, sunlight poured in through the crumpled metal wall. The rest of the cartaurs stared at them through the gash, momentarily frozen. Dozens of them, all staring into the warehouse.

“Back exit! Back exit!” Zeke shouted, sprinting away. I can use Manipulate Wires, but… that’s a lot of cartaurs! I have to point them out one at a time… I’ll get overwhelmed in no time on foot!

“No kidding!” Domi shouted back, chasing after him.

Ryan vanished again, reappearing ahead of them, his back lit by the headlights of the dead cartaur. A moment later, he vanished again, only to return, gesturing. “This way.”

Zeke pivoted, chasing after Ryan.

“We really trusting the guy who tried to kill you?” Domi muttered under her breath, but followed him anyways.

Outside, the largest cartaur, a petite young girl attached from waist down to an oversized jacked up black truck, raised her sign-spear high and let loose a shrill war cry. The rest of the cartaurs joined in, revving their engines in sync. She charged toward the shattered wall, ducking almost flat against her hood to fit through the hole, and the pack fell in behind her.

Mid-stride, Zeke slammed his foot down on the ground, shoving into the move with all his strength. More… larger… taller!

[Crystal Burst]

Crystals surged out of the ground, easily six inches tall, their points thrusting toward the oncoming wheels of the cartaurs. The lead cartaur’s car frame hunched down, the springs compressing. With a great lurch, she pushed off the ground and leaped into the air, clearing the crystals.

Behind her, the next car in line, an old, dented sedan, bent the same as she had. Springs groaning, it pushed off the ground. Unlike the massively tricked-up truck, the sedan lurched an inch into the air, then slammed into the crystals. Its front wheels popped with almost gunshot-like booms, and it front-flipped over the crystals, slamming onto its roof with enough force to completely crumple in on itself, glass shattering. The human body vanished, pancaked under the flattened car. Blood and oil leaked from the wreckage.

“Over here!” Ryan shouted, waving from around the next corner.

Domi and Zeke cut a sharp corner, ducking behind some boxes. Zeke glanced over his shoulder. The cartaur should be slowed down by all those turns—

[Hunger Awareness]

Zeke grabbed Domi and pulled her back toward him, ducking almost flat.

BAM! Wood flew. An innumerable number of shiny metal objects flew, raining down on Zeke and Domi. The tricked-up truck roared over the crates, huge wheels spinning, headlights beaming, and blasted over them.

Dark undercarriage flew overhead. Metal creaked. Wheels spun.

Domi yelped, grabbing onto Zeke. Zeke instinctively grabbed her as well, knuckles white.

The truck cleared them both and slammed down with a bounce. Immediately, it slammed into reverse, hurtling at them.

Zeke jumped to the right. Domi went left, pointing as she went. A bright orange fireball lit up the side of the girl’s face. Her head snapped back, and blood flew.

Domi got her! Zeke thought, punching the air.

The girl stood upright again and whirled toward Domi, leaving Zeke behind.

“Domi!” Zeke shouted. Or not!

“Dammit, I can’t explode inside her. Her SPR’s too high!” Domi shouted. She scrambled up onto the crates in front of her. The truck smashed into the crates, throwing her backward.

Gritting his teeth, Zeke threw his hand out.

[Manipulate Flames]

Flames roasted the back half of the truck. Paint bubbled up over the truck’s metal surface. Plastic dripped from the truck bed, letting off thick fumes.

The rear of the truck rushed at Zeke. Zeke jumped to the side. Ahead of it, Domi clapped. A wave of force slammed into the cartaur’s chest. She fell back against her windshield, eyelids fluttering, body faintly twitching.

Zeke sprinted to the front of the truck and clambered up onto the hood. The cartaur woke up, shaking her head, just as he reached her. Raising his foot, he stomped her back against the windshield. She struggled, pale arms flailing at the air.

Mouth open, Zeke dropped down on her neck. His jaws closed around her jugular. He tore. Red, hot blood spilled down her chest. She shuddered. Small hands gripped his, and then she went slack.

[Devour]

Defeated Member of the Cyborg Apocalypse: Leader of the Cartaurs!
Level + 1.43
Level: 64.92
Please choose a skill.
Headlights (Large) (Condition)
Horsepower (Minor)
Spear Fighter (Lesser)
Burn Rubber (Lesser)
Can’t
Cyborg Integration (UNIQUE)

Zeke stood back. He wiped his chin and quickly swallowed his mouthful of blood. He glanced over the skills. None of those look too exciting… but Cyborg Integration… what is that? He bit his lip, then chose it. I’ll fuse it away if it isn’t useful.

Eyeing his lengthy skill list, Zeke snorted to himself. I probably should fuse my skills soon one way or another.

Speaking of, System, where’s my level 60 bonus, huh? I haven’t forgotten!

Level 60 bonus loading…

“Over here, there’s a door here,” Ryan called.

Zeke turned. He offered a hand up to Domi. “Let’s get moving.”

Domi grasped his forearm. “Yeah, let’s get out of this musty old place.”

Chasing after Ryan’s voice, they hurried through the crates and toward the distant glimmer of sunlight where Ryan held the door open.