Apocalypse: SSS-Rank Monster Breeder

The Price of Salvation

​CHAPTER 5:

​Mark stepped through the bubbling puddle of corroding goblin remains, his sneakers clicking softly against the marble floor. Shadow walked closely at his left hip, his midnight-black fur slick with dark monster blood that slowly dissolved under the heat of his phantom embers. On his right, Sly slithered with a heavy, metallic scrape, his toxic green eyes fixed directly on Mr. Shola through the shattered storefront.

​The two remaining Orc Warriors, realizing they were outmatched but driven by primal battle rage, let out a desperate, echoing roar. Raising their heavy iron maces, they charged straight at Mark from both sides.

​"Sly, hold the left one. Shadow, take the right," Mark commanded, his voice level. He didn't slow his pace or even glance in their direction.

​Sly’s massive, eighteen-foot body whipped forward like a leather strap. He wrapped his thick coils around the first Orc before the monster could even swing its weapon. [Corrosive Constriction] activated instantly. The sound of fracturing bones and collapsing ribs echoed through the square, followed by a sickening hiss as the snake’s acidic scales melted through thick leather armor and tough green hide. The monster let out a wet, strangled gasp and went entirely limp.

​On the other flank, Shadow met the second Orc head-on. As the massive mace swung down to crush him, Shadow vanished into the floorboards using [Shadow Step]. He reappeared instantly on the Orc’s broad shoulders, opening jaws dripping with black flames to clamp down onto the monster's skull with an [Abyssal Bite]. With a sharp twist of his muscular neck, Shadow snapped the Orc's spinal cord, dropping the giant like a felled tree.

​[System Notification]

​Targets Slain: 2x Level 5 Orc Warriors

​Experience Gained: 1,000 XP

​Level Up! Current Level: 3

​Beast Level Up! Shadow & Sly are now Level 3!

​Mark stopped right in front of the heavily damaged glass door of the jewelry store. He looked through the web of cracks, his gaze resting directly on his trembling manager.

​"M-Mark..." Mr. Shola stammered, his fingers slick with cold sweat. He dropped his metal pipe, and it hit the floor with a loud clatter that echoed through the quiet square. His knees shook so violently he had to lean against a display counter to stay upright. "Mark, my boy! I... I always knew you had hidden talent! I always told the regional managers that you were the brightest, most hardworking employee at the shop! I only ran away earlier to draw the monsters' attention away from you! It was a tactical distraction!"

​The other survivors inside looked at Mr. Shola with deep disgust, but none dared to speak a word. They were completely frozen, staring at the giant black wolf with burning red eyes and the massive iron snake tasting the air with its purple tongue.

​"Is that so?" Mark asked, a cold, mocking smile playing on his lips. He stepped through the shattered doorway, glass crunching beneath his boots. "Then I suppose you won't mind stepping forward and handing over my property."

​Mark pointed directly at the glowing purple System chest sitting at Mr. Shola’s feet.

​"This?" Mr. Shola’s eyes darted down. Greed and terror fought a fierce battle inside him. "But Mark, I found this first! It technically belongs to the store's inventory! As your manager, I should hold onto it for the good of the group's survival—"

​Sly slammed his massive iron tail against the remaining frame of the door.

​BOOM!

​The entire storefront shattered into thousands of tiny fragments, raining down onto the floor. The survivors shrieked and fell to their hands and knees, covering their heads. Sly lowered his massive, crown-crested head directly into the shop, his toxic breath causing the nearby gold and silver jewelry to instantly blacken and tarnish.

​"I am going to count to three, Mr. Shola," Mark said, his voice dropping to an icy whisper that made the hair on the back of everyone's neck stand up. "If that chest isn't in my hand by then, I will let Sly test his new venom on you. Let's see if your B-Rank fire can burn out an SSS-Rank acid."

​"One."

​Mr. Shola stared at the giant snake's fangs dripping with sizzling, smoking green fluid.

​"Two."

​"Take it! Just take it!" Mr. Shola shrieked, his face twisting in pure panic. He kicked the purple chest across the floor toward Mark’s feet, losing his balance and falling to his hands and knees. He began to weep openly, hands covering his bald head. "Just don't kill me! Please, Mark! We're family! We share the same last name! Have mercy!"

​Mark looked down at the weeping man without a shred of pity. He bent down and picked up the heavy purple chest. The moment his fingers wrapped around the cold, runic metal, a bright system prompt flared to life inside his mind.

​[System Interface]

​Rare Grade Resource Chest Secured.

​Unlocking Time: Bypassed via SSS-Rank Divine Talent Features.

​Would you like to open the chest now?

​"Open," Mark thought, his eyes flashing with anticipation.