"Shrieek!!"
A large rat shrieked infront of Vash while he was preoccupied. These rat become like these because there is no predator around here for a long time, that they think they were the boss around, even daring to snare at a human being it feared before.
Seeing the large rat running towards him, Vash didn't fret nor become afraid. He pulled back his leg and kicked hard when the large rat lunged forward, sending it flying for a couple meters. It's a good way to show this freed menace that there is a mountain after a mountain.
But Vash didn't relax his guard as after sending one large rat away, more and more large rat appeared within his vicinity, shrieking at the invader of their territory.
Hundreds of such large rats surrounded Vash in all sides, these menace felt confident that they could take down this new adversity with their numbers.
Vash face turned serious, kicking one or two large rat is no big deal but hundreds? Nah! He bet only bones would be left from his legs if he do that. So it's better to retreat.
Vash then back away, eying the door he entered from before he rushed forward at his full speed at the exit door, kicking the large rats that dared to block his way.
"Shriek!"
"Squeak!"
"..."
He didn't stop running until he felt like he left those large rats far behind, that's when he finally dared to breath heavily. It's still safe period but countless danger already exist everywhere around this ruined city, what about when the real danger arrive? Could he really survive when that happens?
When Vash finally stopped that when he noticed that his shoes is broken from repetitive kicking, now he could only walk with his shoes hanging like a broken mouth. "Damn..."
After experiencing this, he finally learned the importance of being careful and finding a safe place is not a choice but a priority, the first important notice notified by the system.
He then begins to ponder about what requirements he should need for a safe shelter. First it needs to be strong enough to stand being attack, second is that it needs to be mobile so when something happens he could escape, and lastly large enough to be piled up with goods he may find in the future.
After thinking for a while he come up with the one that suited his requirements. "Isn't the rusty car I tried experimenting my talent before satisfied my requirements?"
Vash immediately went back from the path he took before and searched for the location of the cars wreckage.
After he finally found the reinforced rusty vehicle from before, he flicked it with his fingers and learned how strong this reinforced rusty vehicle is first hand, he could feel his fingers go numb from it's toughness alone.
"It's already this strong, then... If I'll do a couple more synthesis, then isn't that mean I would have an impenetrable mobile fortress?" Vash muttered to himself exitedly, while thinking about other possibilities. But now, he needs to pop this idea as the vehicle were still immobile and still looks like a scraped metal.
Then he look for two more scraped vehicle to be synthesize and merge with his current one, he just wish that the next synthesis would result good, at least the car would not look like scrap.
[SYNTHESIS ATTEMPT INITIATED]
Components:
• Rusted Vehicle*2 (Junk)
Energy Cost: –1
Synthesis initiating...
[Synthesis Complete!]
Result: Reinforced Rusted Vehicle*1
Category: Mechanical Object ⚙
Grade: Junk–
Durability: 12 / 100
Condition: Immobile
***
Vash then pushed the newly synthesized vehicle near the other reinforced vehicle to begin another synthesis, even do he felt tired after using his talent.
"*Huff! *Huff!"
He really pushed the heavy reinforced car with broken ragged wheels towards the other reinforced vehicle using all his strength.
[Compatible components are available!]
Reinforced Rusted Vehicle*2
Energy Cost: –2
Do you wish to attempt synthesis?
Yes | No
***
Without any hesitation, Vash attempted synthesis.
Then the reinforced vehicles trembled violently as the two merge. Rust from it's metal plate peeled away like a dead skin, metal screeched as frames twisted and compressed, fusing together under an invisible force. Sparks burst out as malformed parts were rejected, while sturdier components were forcibly integrated.
Then—
[SYNTHESIS ATTEMPT INITIATED]
Components:
• Reinforced Rusted Vehicle*2 (Junk+)
Energy Cost: –2
Synthesis initiating...
[Synthesis Complete!]
Result: Crude Armored Utility Vehicle *1
Grade: Junk+
Durability: 200 / 200
Condition: Semi-Mobile
Features Unlocked:
• Reinforced Chassis (Common)
• Basic Impact Resistance
• Improvised Storage Space
Limitations:
• Engine non-functional
***
Sharp pain shoot through Vash head, the backlash of losing 2 energy point instantly is really great, worst than what he thought.
[Energy: 6/10]
He then staggered to get inside his newly upgraded car, inside the seat looks good, made of military grade materials with high tech looking controls, too bad he can't operate this powerful machine because he lack the necessary knowledge and it's engine is dead. Even if he meet all requirements, he still need to think about the fuel.
Having a powerful and fully mobile shelter is really hard, but that's not Vash priority currently, he needs to take a rest to relieve the pain from his head.
A couple hours later.
Vash woke up slowly, yawning as he did. He really have a good sleep, a luxury in this world. The sky above already started to set and only few more hours before nighttime.
Seeing this, Vash didn't rest anymore. He needs to start moving and optimizing his talent to the limit in order to increase his survival rate.
After getting out of the car a dark silhouette hiding above Vash shelter vehicle suddenly lunged towards him at fast speed.
Baam!
Vash immediately dodge the upcoming attack in a split second, and turn his head to stare at his attacker. It was a large rat, much larger than the rats he meet before, it's size already reached the size of a normal house cat with sharp dried bloody teeth. These stupid rat really followed him towards here, hiding for a long time for me to get out the car so it could eat him.
It's good that Vash reacted fast or the consequences would be undesirable.
"Squeak!"
The big – cat like rat squeaked in anger and irritation, it's the first time someone dodge it's sneak attack and it's feeling angry and confused right now. Should he continue to attack or run away.
Nah! It stood stall on its ground and shrieked through it lungs to call for it's kin.
"Shrieek!"
Dozens of huge rats smaller than the cat size rat that was lurking for a long time around the ruined buildings appeared around Vash, surrounding him.
"These rats know how to use tactics huh! How clever!" Vash frowned, his eyes look around him to look for a weapon, his shoes cannot handle anymore kicks.
Vash eyes then landed at a corner of a broken building, there saw a rotten baseball bat inside a store just a block away.
He sprints forward towards that store with his shoe hanging wide whenever he raise his leg.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
Fierce squeaking of rats rang out as they followed close behind Vash, their numbers is jaw dropping. That's to say, it's stupid to fight them head on.
After moments of sprinting, Vash finally entered the store holding couple wooden baseball bat in the shelves, rotten due to time. As he grabbed one, a notification appeared before his eyes.
[Compatible components are available!]
Rotten Baseball Bat*2 (Junk–)
Energy Cost: –0.5
Do you wish to attempt synthesis?
Yes | No
***
Without even finishing to read the panel, Vash choose yes, and instantly two rotten baseball bat that was close to each other merged like liquid, morphing to create a new look. The rotten part of the baseball bat got excreted out, before long a brand new looking wooden baseball bat.
[SYNTHESIS ATTEMPT INITIATED]
Components:
• Rotten Baseball Bat*2 (Junk–)
Energy Cost: –0.5
Synthesis initiating...
[Synthesis Complete!]
Result: Wooden Baseball Bat*1
Category: Weapon Item ▲
Grade: Junk
Durability: 20/20
Condition: New
***
After having a weapon, Vash turn his head towards the rats with deep coldness in his eyes. Killing intent start to radiates around him, making some rats hesitate to attack.
"Squeak?"
"I'm going to crush all of you, into a pile of rotten meat!" Vash declared.