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2024-10-29 19:42:56Jed arrived at the Earth Allied Defense Force’s Emmiton Province Base minutes after the appointment ceremony was held.
“Dude! You’re late! I thought you didn’t make it!”
A blond man with one mole under his left eye approached with a cheerful face. They bumped fists, and Jed instantly remembered who this person was.
“Ricky Mitchell, nice to see you again.”
“Are you okay? I heard you stayed in the hospital for a week? I’m so sorry about that. It was my fault. If not because of me, you wouldn’t get eaten by the monster–“
“It’s fine, Ricky.”
“Are you sure?” Ricky shifted on his feet uncomfortably, “Because if not, I’ll give you half two thirds of my monthly payment to make up for the horror and injury you suffered for the rest of my life.”
“That’s just too much.”
“I agree.”
Jed faltered at Ricky’s shamelessness.
“I mean,” Ricky rubbed the back of his neck, grinning sheepishly. “I have five younger siblings who live below my minimum wage working in the Monster Disposal Unit. I just, ugh, I’m really thankful that you saved my life, but… will you be okay to get only half of my payment?”
“Listen, I don’t want your money, okay?”
“You don’t?” Ricky was somehow doubtful.
“I have plenty of it. I think. Besides, I saved you because that felt right. I wouldn’t be able to live normally if I didn’t do anything back then.”
Ricky’s grin brightened like a light bulb. “You really are my saviour, Jed. I’m forever thankful to you.”
“Ah…”
“That’s right.” Ricky looked like he got an idea in his head. “You can order me to do anything you want for the rest of my life. As long as you don’t take my money or hurt my family. That is.”
Jed chuckled, “You’re going too far.”
“I mean it.” Ricky grumbled and spit on his hand. Then, he offered that hand for Jed to shake.
“Yeah, I’m not going to do that.”
“But that’s how Spombop sealed the holy agreement with Petrack.”
“That's a cartoon.” Jed backed one step away. “I’ll accept your gratitude if we don’t do it.”
“Okay. Deal!”
Jed sighed a relief.
But then, he heard someone scoff from behind. He turned to find Ellie Hawkins with a disapproving frown on her face. Even wearing the formal uniform, the wireless yellow headphones were still around her neck. He didn’t know they were allowed to wear such earphones in a place and time like this. Was this favouritism?
“Do you have a problem with me, princess?”
Ellie glared at him, “You’re just lucky to be here.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Don’t think you can joke around and take things lightly after this, Hunter.”
The corner of Jed’s lips quivered, “You remember my name?”
“Of course I’d remember the soldier with the lowest synergy force in history who was eaten by a monster like a fool.”
“I’m a survivor, you better remember that, princess.”
Ellie turned on her heel and placed her wireless yellow headphones on, leaving him flabbergasted at her cold treatment.
“What’s wrong with her?” Jed asked the loyal blond.
“Dunno, man. I wouldn’t go near her when she’s that pissed.”
“At me?”
“Well, yes… considering you don’t even thank her.”
“For what? Mocking me every time I breathe?”
“Dude, she’s the one who saved you!”
“…” Jed narrowed his eyes in confusion, “Huh?”
“Did no one tell you?” Ricky sighed and face-palmed. “She’s the one who found you near the alien monster’s corpse and helped you to the medic. If not for her, you’d stop breathing from the amount of stomach liquid in your lungs.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner, you dumbass!”
After hearing Ricky’s half-hearted explanation, Jed rushed to catch Ellie. Thankfully, he spotted her bright yellow headphones in the hallway. Running after her, Jed tried to grab her shoulder, but almost got hit instead.
“Careful there, princess!” Jed ducked, grimacing at the sheer speed of her punch. If he was even one second late, his face would have an additional black and blue colour.
“Don’t sneak up on me, idiot.”
“Pretty sure my footsteps are loud.” Jed straightened himself, “Besides, how can you move so fast?”
Ellie glared, “That should be my question. How can a three percent like you dodge without a scratch?”
“Ugh, you want me to get punched?”
“I want to have a match with you.”
Jed blinked in confusion. “I’m sorry?”
“The training starts tomorrow, so we’re free today. Meet me at the training room 1G at nine.”
“B-b-but–“
“It should be impossible for you to dodge my punch just now. So we’ll have a rematch with the combat suit on. Let’s see what trick you’ll use.”
Jed gawked at her proposal, “But I just wanted to thank you for helping me while I was unconscious at the selection exam. I didn’t know about it earlier.”
“Save your thanks,” Ellie sternly stated, “Training room 1G at nine tonight. Don’t run away from me.”
It was decided.
Final. There was no way to make her reconsider it.
He was screwed.
He only wanted to thank her, but got challenged to a match with her. How wonderful.
“Dude,” the familiar voice of Ricky Mitchell made him turned. “I’m sorry to hear that, but you’re royally fucked.”
“Don’t tell me about it.”
“Not only the top three in the physical exam with the highest synergy force for a rookie, but she also scored the highest in the third exam. To be precise, she single-handedly defeated five monsters before she came to help you.”
Jed’s eyes widened, “She’s that powerful?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck me.”
“I can only give you moral support, but I doubt that’s enough.”
[Failure to use Ultimate Skill – Devouring for the next 1 hour will result in punishment.]
Jed’s heart skipped a beat. He stared in horror at the floating white and blue panel only he could see. The traumatising public punishment that happened yesterday played like a broken record in his mind.
“You okay, buddy?”
He exhaled in tremble. “I don’t think so.”
“Understandable.” Ricky paid him condolences. “I’d feel the same if I was in your position. Besides, it’d be pretty–“
“You said you worked in the Ministry of Planetary Affairs Monster Disposal Unit, right?”
Ricky faltered at the sudden change of subject. “Why are you asking?”
Placing both hands on the blond shoulders, Jed looked at him in the eye. “What I will tell you is a secret you have to bring to your grave. Can I trust you with it?”
Chest puffed, Ricky put his right hand where his heart was located. “I swear on my life, you can trust me with anything. I owe you my life, so I’ll do whatever you order me to.”
“Good. Because I need to eat an alien core right about now.”
“…”
“…”
“… what?”
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Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 7. Monster Disposal Unit Heist
“What do you mean you’d piss and shit yourself in public if you don’t eat an alien core now?”Jed never thought he’d tell anyone about this traumatising and humiliating nightmare even for once. Let alone only one day after the merciless punishment happened.Sighing in disbelief himself, Jed grunted, “It is exactly what it sounds like. What more do you need me to explain?”“Dude? Like, seriously? Everything!” Ricky crossed his arms. “Of course you need to explain everything. Are you even aware of the words coming out of your mouth?”“… yes?”“You must be joking!”“I know it sounds crazy–““Now you get it!”“–but the punishment for failing to do that already traumatised me. I can’t go through that the second time.”Ricky looked at him as if he grew a second head. “What do you mean by the second time?”“Do you really need me to explain that?”“I want to see it.”“Dude!”“Sorry!” Ricky turned away and held his stomach, shoulders visibly shaking. “…”“Please stop laughing at me.”Ricky did
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 8. Ultimate Skill – Devour!
“Hands up or I’ll shoot you.” Jed felt the muzzle of a gun was pressed against the back of his head. He froze on the spot and did as told. “Who are you?” The female voice was achingly familiar, but Jed couldn’t place a name nor a face on it. “This is no place for a cleaning service. I’ll give you one last chance to tell me your name.” Jed gulped at the threat. “My name’s Phillip Youngs and I’m here to clean. If you don’t believe me, then why did my key card work to get me here?” “I’m sorry for my rudeness.” The gun’s muzzle was no longer against his head, but Jed had this urge to duck right about now– “Oh? You can dodge well for a cleaning guy.” Jed cursed as he crouched to avoid the girl’s attack. However, when he turned around and looked up, he didn’t expect to find Ellie Hawkins to stare at him with murder in her eyes. “Why are you attacking me?” “Because you’re a fraud.” “N-no, I’m not. I told you, my name is Phillip–“ “Youngs is dead.” Ellie started with an emotionless t
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 9. Zero Gravity Dive
This was school. Every day, every hour of classes.Basic combat and advanced weapon training. Alien biology and technology. Tactics and strategies. Survival Skills. Communication and Coordination. Psychology. Standard Medical Training. Intelligence Analysis.Many things to learn.Jed worked as hard as anyone. All of them struggled for the first time in their lives. They better struggled here than against an alien monster.But the games – that was when the fun began.The Captainof the 9th Division, Henry Reed, introduced them to the game room in their second month. The arena was located in the northeast building of the base, far from where they lived. They walked to where the biggest diving pool Jed ever saw was built, about half of a football field. The floor was clear thick glass, so they could see what lay beneath the water.Jed was shaking with excitement. One more list he’d crossed off in his bucket list.“Let’s get you dressed first,” Captain Reed said, climbing down the stairs on
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 10. Let Game Begins
Jed placed his feet on an uneven object as big as his previous office desk and pushed himself away. The impact made him dashed towards a red prism near the diving pool’s side.He didn’t know left or right, nor where up and down was. Before the game started, the way up was clear because the water was lighter due to the clear glass. However, once the game began on Captain Reed’s command, the clear glass was closed by a lid and everything became darker.The zero gravity environment in the diving pool also made everything feel the same. There was no pull towards the earth’s core, so one could easily forget where the way up was while being here.Nearing the red prism, Jed stretched his hands in front of him, bracing the impact to not make him face-plant against the hard object again. He saw one of the white cubes containing a gun headed there, so he’d get–“Not so fast, Jerky Jed!”Ryan Tanner appeared from behind the red prism and snatched the white cube away. It opened with a touch, show
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 11. The Last One Standing
00:03:23That was the time left before Captain Reed stopped the game. Jed only had less than four minutes to hide as best as he could and arm himself with a Lightlock.He had fallen into Ricky’s trap like a fool. He underestimated the blond and unknowingly mocking him like their other teammates, that he didn’t consider any other possibility. When Ricky pulled that Lightlock out of nowhere and shot him dead in the chest, he felt so betrayed like an idiot. However, he felt relieved because it’d be a fair fight.00:02:07Time was ticking down and Jed’s win slowly seemed so unreal. Ducking behind a yellow prism, he hid from the living menace who strolled around like a predator.“Where are you, little fish snack?” Ryan looked around while singing a tune. “Come here, come here, Jerky Jed.”That was the second time Ryan Tanner called him that. Now, Jed wondered why he was a jerk here. As long as he re
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 12. The Holy Search for A Chocolate Ice Cream
Jed never imagined that his hunt for a chocolate ice cream would lead him through the throng of people dancing in waste in a nightclub called Goddess’ Virtue. But here he was, spending his first off-day from the Force to cross one of his bucket lists.He heard a rumour in the dining hall about Smokey, the night club’s owner who trades on the black market. It was the only place he could think of concerning the rare chocolate ice cream that stopped being produced when the last factory was destroyed about three decades ago. Even though he knew the method to make it himself, to get cocoa as the main ingredient would be impossible.Alien monsters attacking one place after another in random outbursts caused the supply chain around the world to be restricted. Besides, the government and leading figures often disregard anything else besides eradicating the remaining alien monsters on Earth and strengthening the military force in preparation for another invasion in
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 13. Win, Win, Chicken Dinner
After finding out who Max Petrovich was, Jed took a daring plan in mind. He went to the station and rode a bullet train heading straight to Brexton, a neighbouring city with an enormous alien monster rampaging wildly. All for the sake of meeting EADF’s strongest captain to deliver a ridiculous message and get his prized chocolate ice cream.Jed grinned, imagining how the legendary rare chocolate ice cream would taste in his mouth.However, due to the ongoing alien attack at the centre of the city, the bullet train stopped three stations before its actual destination. In fact, all train stations from there on stopped operating, as the protocol when alien monsters strike a city.“Do you need a ride, sir?”Jed turned to a taxi driver offering from the station’s exit. He nodded and got in the yellow car. “How close can you get me to the alien attacked area?”The driver looked worriedly from the rear view mirror, but his mouth couldn’t lie. “D
Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System 14. Bloodstone Shards
A fucking flying heavy-duty tank was above them.Jed reflected on his misserable life. He would be dead in less than seven months peacefully, hopefully. But, the freaking tank probbaly would kill him any seconds now.Fuck.There was a way to escape this instant death, but Jed wasn’t sure it was a great idea. It’d cost him to reveal something he’d like to keep in secret. Although, it was way better than being a crushed potato.Shit. Shit. Shit.Using the Threxian Exosuit was the only way to keep his body intact, but he wasn’t alone. The strongest Captain in the Earth Allied Defense Force was here. If Jed’s strange power was found out, he could end up locked in a secret facility with chains and straightjacket, enduring many inhumane experiments day and night until his last breath.Of course, unless they found a way to revive him and keep on experimenting. Or they’d just use his dead body for it.Jed c
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53. Unknown Potential
Ricky groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. The dim lighting of the infirmary comes into blurry focus. His body ached, a dull reminder of the events he vaguely remembered from the previous day.He sat up, wincing, and looked around the room. Several of his younger siblings were there, along with a few base personnel, all of whom seemed to be grinning at him.“Hey, sleeping beauty,” his brother Michael said, smirking, “Decided to join us again?”Ricky rubbed his eyes, confusion etched across his face. “What… what happened?”“You don’t remember?” his sister, Lily, asked, her eyes wide with excitement. “Your teammate said you took down two flying aliens. By yourself.”Rikcy blinked, his heart skipping a beat. “What? No, that can’t be right. I don’t even remember half of yesterday's attack.”“Believe it, bro,” Michael said, crossin
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52. The Sniper’s Prey
“…what the hell?”As he was busy trying to figure out the control panels, Jed almost missed the moment the humanoid alien and his Draquilonis were blasted from behind. Precisely, from the ground where the base was located behind the spaceship.Like lightning, the sniper took down the humanoid alien in one shot. Something Jed dreamed he was capable of doing, sadly, he couldn’t.Seeing as the humanoid alien was killed, he thought it was safe to land the spaceship now. The large viewport in front of him showed more city lights below. He had to turn the ship towards the west, where a desolated rocky plain with no building or civilian housing was located. Nothing was there, making it a safe place to land.Jed gritted his teeth as he pulled on the controller bracelets. The spaceship thrusters roared against the planet’s gravity as he tried to redirect the ship.However, he heard a sharp crack echoed through the alien spaces
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51. Alien Spaceship
[Active Skill – Molten Pierce]Jed grinned as he activated his skill.Molten Pierce took less than a second to form in his right hand. The jagged material of his Threxian Exosuit morphed into a drill with a fiery orange edge. He punched the alien’s chest with it, enhanced by a penetrating force that sent the alien through the metallic airlock.The slender humanoid alien was thrown out of the spaceship, but Jed was sure it’d still be alive. Moreover, with one Dracuilonis flew past the broken airlock to save its master. At least, this gave them enough time to do something about the nuclear bomb aboard in this ship.“Max–“Jed stopped himself, realising that he called the captain’s name. But, Max ignored him as he was busy trying to speak through his earpiece and connect to the base. “Control room, can you hear me?”He doubted it would work. The last thing Jed heard was that craz
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50. Dual Blades and Warhammer
Jed’s dual swords, Noxblades, glinted under the flickering lights of the narrow corridor. His breath came in measured intervals, each one syncing with the hum of the ship’s bio-engines. Standing across, a slender humanoid alien mirrored his stance, its own dual blades that came from its long limbs shimmering with an eerie, otherworldly glow. With a sudden movement, both of them lunged. Blades clashed against blades, sparks flying as they exchanged rapid, fluid strikes. Jed’s muscles burned as he parried and struck, his eyes locked onto the alien’s unblinking human-like gaze. The alien’s movements were almost dance-like, its agility matching Jed’s Hyperreflexia, a passive skill that granted him superhuman reaction times for dodging and countering attacks swiftly. Not stopping, Jed recalled the skills that came with these dual blades. ‘Crosscut!’[Active Skill – Crosscut][CD: 59 minutes 59 seconds][Core: -500]As if his arms were moving on their own, Jed gave a crisscrossing attack
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49. Stealth and Speed, He Said
Jed managed to find a small opening to the alien spaceship and cautiously stepped through the airlock.The spaceship was a massive, imposing vessel with an eerie otherworldly design. Its walls were composed of a dark, metallic material that seems to absorb light rather than reflect it. The corridor was lined with sharp, angular edges and adorned with pulsating crimson energy conduits that gave off a dim, menacing glow.The air was thick with mechanical hum, and the occasional flicker of blue and purple energy fields added to the foreboding atmosphere. It seemed that everything here felt almost organic in nature.“Alright, my awesome self, just stick to the plan.” Jed muttered to himself. “Find Max, get out. It’s all about stealth and speed. You got this.”He had less than five minutes to do that. Awesome, he said.Jed moved forward, his Sky Dominator boots didn’t make any echo as he thread inside, thanks to his n
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48. Sky Dominator
[Item – Frogsbane Coil was drawn.]Jed swung the dull pink whip, snapping his wrist to make the end curl around the tailless manta ray reptile. It screeched in anger, but Jed didn’t let go. He gave a thug on his Frogsbane Coil, making him and the manta ray reptile to jerk each other.He managed to get on its back despite the flying monster’s useless roar of shockwave and struggles. Once he got a good grip on the manta ray reptile, Jed drew his right arm and shot it quickly to its thin back.The flying monster roared and roared in pain, but Jed didn’t let go. He curled his fingers on the small core located in the middle of its chest and wrenched it out. The manta ray reptile gave a final roar and its struggle ended. It dropped dead from the sky, along with Jed who couldn’t stop grinning.“Well, there’s no better time to eat a snack than now, hmm?”And so he did.[Ultimate Skill – Devour was activated.]“Damn right!” Jed laughed as he was free falling from the sky. “I better get the bes
- Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System
47. Headshot
“Do you think this is enough to defeat me?”The slender monster said as its cracked face reconstructed in a matter of seconds. Its twig-like hand reached out for Jed, the four fingers spread right in front of Jed’s face. From its narrow palm, a crack formed and opened, showing a small hole.Jed barely had time to react before the slender monster shot him dead in the head.[Active Skill – Fungal Shield][CD: 59 minutes 59 seconds][Core: -100]Bang!Agony exploded through his head, and he fell to the ground and screamed in pain. His vision went dark, and for a moment, he was sure he was dead.[Alert!][Alert!][Alert!][HP: 7/100]Through the haze of pain, Jed desperately tried to call for a skill in his repertoire.[Active Skill – Regenerative Spores][CD: 359 minutes 59 seconds][Core: -400]Miniscule spores were released from the small gaps
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46. Shadow Cloak
The air brushed fiercely all around Jed’s body as he tried to make sense of the monster’s strength. He had to do something before it greeted him in the sky and kicked him down to the earth.“Shadow Cloak!”[Item – Shadow Cloak was drawn.][You may activate its invisible feature at will.][However, attack initiation will deactivate its feature immediately.]A dark cloak shrouded around Jed’s body, and he disappeared into thin air.Invisible.“So I was right.” The semi-translucent humanoid monster remarked. Its slender face looked like a piece of chopped wood with a pair of slanted eyes and wide mouth, looking around it in wonder. “You absorb creatures to get their strength too. Just like me. I wonder if you can fly, too.”Jed couldn’t. It’d be cool if he could, though.The semi-translucent monster looked up at the sky, couldn’t
- Bucket List of the Apocalypse: Devour System
45. Curious Monster
[Ultimate Skill – Devour was activated.]Boooom![You have devoured Velociphron.]Something fell from the sky. A tall humanoid figure with an ominous presence that sent Jed reeling.[You received rewards as follows.]He ignored the blue and white panel that only he could see. It told him the rewards he got from devouring the humanoid monster just now. How could he, when a more menacing creature dropped from the sky, like a bad omen for a curse after he ate another alien core.Jed cautiously observed the new alien.It stood taller than Velociphron, with a semi-translucent, shimmering skin that shifted colours every few seconds. It had elongated limbs and fluid movement, like a walking serpent as colourful as a disco ball.“What are you?” It asked curiously, staring at Jed with unblinking six eyes on its face.When he locked eyes with the colourful slender creature, he felt an eeri
