What if honey was a universal Beast Core?
Crystallized, its energy hit through the roof—off the charts!
Damn, with this stash, endless Beast Cores were theirs for the taking!
Elara took ages to calm her racing heart.
Watching the sunrise paint the sky crimson, she smiled faintly.
With this mysterious space and magical honey, she and Kael wouldn't just survive the Apocalypse.
They'd thrive.
Even surpass her past life.
Stand atop this broken world.
After a quick breakfast, they hit the road again.
By 10 AM, Elara's group was on the highway to X City.
An hour later, Elara stared at the half-collapsed tunnel.
Her face darkened instantly.
"Ugh! You just had to jinx it!" Piper snapped, glaring daggers at Elias.
Elias pushed up his glasses.
He strode to the tunnel's edge, bending to inspect the debris.
Jaxon and Silas followed close behind.
Elara studied the impenetrable wreckage—detour was their only option.
"It looks smashed by something massive. Explosion marks too," Elias reported, voice flat.
"Guess we're taking the long way 'round," Jaxon sighed, throwing up his hands.
"I know another route. But it cuts through a village," Silas frowned.
His pale, sculpted face held no flaws—even in the Apocalypse.
"A breeding village," he added softly.
Elara's brows tightened.
She knew exactly what that meant.
Harmless before the Apocalypse? Sure.
Now? A Mutated Beast nest. Get trapped, and death was guaranteed.
But she had confidence.
Her gold-element Superpower hit Level 1—wide-range attacks were now at her disposal.
Self-preservation? Locked in.
"I'm taking the village route. Scared? Go around," Elara said, turning back to the car.
Jaxon rushed after her.
Elias followed silently.
"I've stuck with you since day one—you can't dump me!" Jaxon grinned.
Elias said nothing.
He just climbed into the car, settling in.
"Silas and I are with you!" Piper dragged her brother over, eyes sparkling.
"I'm still waiting to be your apprentice, remember?"
Elara's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Get in."
Jaxon drove as they turned back.
"The village is dangerous, but it's packed with Beast Cores," Elara said calmly.
"We can stay a few days to train—if it's safe.
Stick together. Fight freely. With me here, no one dies."
Piper and the others smiled.
Their tension melted away.
East of the highway entrance, a road stretched 100 miles south.
At the end of the paved path, a sign read: "Experimental Breeding Village."
Small—around 200 households.
All raised livestock: chickens, ducks, cows, pigs.
The stench? Unbearable.
"Look! A supermarket at the village entrance!" Piper pointed, clamping a hand over her nose.
"I'll suffocate without a mask—this smell's toxic!"
Elias and the guys didn't complain.
But their brows were knitted tight—they could barely stand it either.
Elara had never endured such filth.
In her past life, Kael had shielded her from this.
Only necessary battles—nothing more.
She nodded.
Jaxon held his breath, slamming on the gas to reach the supermarket.
"Be careful. Sometimes, humans are scarier than Mutated Beasts," Elara warned sharply.
With a flick of her finger, rice-grain-sized bubbles drifted through the doors and windows.
It was a big rural supermarket—grains, oils, snacks, daily supplies, clothes.
In the back room, Elara found dried blood and tattered cloth.
The owners hadn't survived.
She reached for the door.
Silas and Elias pushed it open together—quiet chivalry.
Piper covered her mouth.
Her eyes darted about, amusement dancing in her gaze.
"Elias and Jaxon: check the backyard.
Piper and Silas: search every room," Elara ordered firmly.
They nodded.
Splitting up immediately.
Elara rummaged through the shelves.
She grabbed every plastic bucket in sight.
She also collected a dozen stainless steel bowls, pots, and cans.
All useful for storing honey.
Soon, the four returned.
"Backyard's empty—just some vats and mineral water," Jaxon said.
"No one left. Traces confirm Mutated Beast attacks," Silas added.
"Take what we need. Piper, handle logistics—keep track of supplies," Elara said.
"Got it!" Piper replied excitedly.
Elara went to the backyard.
She grabbed two cases of mineral water.
When she returned, Jaxon and Elias were tying a net of supplies to the roof.
Silas took the water from her, shoving it into the car.
They'd have to huddle to fit.
No one minded.
Elara went back for packaged socks, underwear, hygiene products, and toilet paper.
"Enough—we can't carry more," Jaxon panted, wiping sweat from his brow.
"We'll restock later. This is more than enough," Elara said, her tone softening slightly.
Piper grinned as they drove deeper into the village.
It was 3 PM—lunch had been instant noodles.
"Find a clean yard. We'll rest here tonight.
Proper meal for dinner," Elara said.
Suddenly, a deep moo echoed.
Loud. Terrifying.
The ground shook—like a drum being hammered!
Elara's face paled.
Her bubbles transmitted images in an instant.
A herd of over a dozen Mutated cattle—charging.
And three people, running for their lives ahead of them!
"Turn!" she shouted, pointing to a side road.
Jaxon swerved sharply.
Tires screeched.
The car bounced onto a narrow village lane.
"What's happening? Mutated Beasts?" Piper tensed, voice shaking.
"Mutated cattle. A dozen strong, chasing those strangers," Elara said.
"Step on it, Jaxon—don't you dare stop!"
No one spoke.
Breaths were held tight.
No one suggested saving the strangers.
Elara approved—pragmatism was key to survival.
Through her bubbles, she watched the tragedy unfold.
Two were pushed into the herd.
By their injured companion.
To buy himself time to run.
Elara's lips curled in a bitter smile.
Those two had helped the injured man escape.
Who'd thought betrayal would come from the one they'd saved?
Humanity could be far more terrifying than any Mutated Beast.
She closed her eyes.
The car's air turned icy cold.
Piper shrank back, wanting to ask.
But Silas pulled her hand, shaking his head.
This girl was a mystery.
Unreadable. Dangerous.
"Something's off," Elias broke the silence, adjusting his glasses.
"Every household raises livestock. Why haven't we seen a single Mutated Beast?"
"Maybe they all ran out of the village?" Piper guessed.
"Or gathered in one spot," Silas said.
"Yeah, this feels wrong—like we're walking into a trap," Jaxon agreed, scanning the surroundings as he drove.
Elara opened her eyes.
She sent bubbles out in all directions, expanding her range.
"Find a place to rest. Nightfall is bad for us," she said slowly.
"Your guesses make sense. But there's a worse possibility."
"What?" Piper asked, curiosity overriding her fear.
"A Beast King," Elara said, her voice flat as a blade.
All the Mutated Beasts here—they're controlled by one.