Apocalypse Supermarket: I Exchange Noodles for Artifacts

Chapter 8: The Rooftop Threat

The bright red laser dot stayed locked directly on Jax’s chest. The air grew cold and quiet as the gunman on the dark roof five stories up adjusted his grip on the heavy rifle.

Jax stood right at the edge of the store entrance. His mind raced, but he kept his body still. He knew that one wrong move outside the barrier could mean a bullet through his heart, but as long as he took one step back, he would be completely untouchable.

Jax took a slow step backward, crossing the shimmering line into his safe zone. The moment his boots touched the clean store tiles, a sense of absolute calm washed over him.

"Don't move a single inch, boy!" a loud, rough voice boomed down from the rooftop across the street.

A man stepped out from the dark shadows of the roof, standing right near the edge. He wore a dark green tactical vest, heavy combat boots, and black gloves. Behind him stood four other armed men carrying assault rifles. They were ex-security guards who used to guard the private bank down the street.

The leader of the group was Captain Vance. He was a tall, ugly man with a deep scar running down his left cheek. Before the red haze hit the city, Vance was known as a ruthless bully who stole from poor people and used his gun to scare everyone in the district.

Vance raised a megaphone to his mouth, his cruel laugh echoing through the empty, blood-stained street.

"Well, well, well," Vance yelled down, his small eyes greedily scanning the lit convenience store. "Look at what we have here. A little store clerk sitting on a goldmine of clean food and fresh water while the rest of the city burns."

Mia ran out from behind the checkout desk, her face turning pale as she saw the armed men on the roof. She grabbed Jax’s sleeve with shaking hands.

"Jax, that's Captain Vance," Mia whispered in pure horror. "He and his men took over the apartment building hours ago. They killed anyone who wouldn't give them their food. They are monsters!"

Jax patted Mia's hand gently, keeping his cold eyes fixed on the rooftop. "Don't worry. They can't do anything to us in here."

Vance rested his rifle against the concrete ledge, pointing it straight at Jax’s face through the clear glass door.

"Listen to me carefully, little clerk!" Vance shouted through the megaphone. "We saw what you did down there. We saw that glowing purple rock that dropped from that giant beast, and we see all those full shelves of noodles and water behind you. You are going to pack all that food into boxes and throw that purple core out onto the sidewalk right now!"

Jax didn't answer. He walked calmly over to the silver counter, picked up a fresh bottle of cold water, and twisted the plastic cap open. He took a slow, relaxed sip, looking up at Vance like the captain was nothing more than an annoying fly.

Seeing Jax treat him like air made Vance's face turn bright red with pure rage.

"Did you hear me, you little trash?" Vance roared, his voice trembling with anger. "You think you can ignore me? I am Captain Vance! I rule this district now! You have ten seconds to drop to your knees and push that food out, or I will put a bullet right between your eyes!"

Jax swallowed his water, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and chuckled softly.

"If you want the food, Vance, why don't you come down here and get it yourself?" Jax called back, his voice cool and filled with deep mockery. "Or are you only brave when you're hiding five stories up in the dark like a scared rat?"

The four guards behind Vance gasped in shock. Nobody had ever talked to their boss like that before.

Vance’s teeth grinded together so hard that a vein popped on his forehead. He had been a feared commander, and now a twenty-year-old store clerk was openly humiliating him in front of his own men.

"You insolent little dog!" Vance screamed, his sanity completely snapping. "You think that thin glass door is going to protect you from me? You think you're safe inside that little tin box?"

Vance turned around and barked an order to one of his men. The guard quickly stepped forward, handing Vance a heavy, black metal tube with a green rocket mounted on the front.

It was a rocket launcher, a military RPG capable of blowing a hole straight through a concrete wall.

Mia let out a terrified scream, covering her face. "Jax! He has a rocket! He's going to blow up the store!"

Jax narrowed his eyes, but he did not step back. He stood firmly right behind the glass door, crossing his arms over his chest. He wanted to test the full power of his Infinite Sanctuary System. He wanted to see if Vance’s strongest weapon could even scratch his domain.

Vance rested the heavy rocket launcher on his broad shoulder. He aimed the weapon straight at the center of the store's glass display window, right at Jax's chest.

"I'll give you one last chance, boy!" Vance yelled, a cruel, mad grin spreading across his face. "Give me the glowing purple core and the food, or I will blow you and your sweet little store into microscopic dust!"

Jax didn't even blink. He reached down into his pocket, pulled out a piece of hard candy, popped it into his mouth, and looked straight up at the barrel of the rocket.

"Fire it then, coward," Jax said softly, his voice full of cold payback. "Show me what you've got."

Vance let out a wild, demonic roar of fury and pulled the heavy trigger.

Vance fires an explosive RPG directly at the store’s front display window.