[Chapter 14. End in sight]

  Time passed his arms got heavy from the continues swings, he was tired but he knew he cant stop now. They were three hours in and in that time two dozen humans meet their end. For the last thirty minutes the only sounds were from the chickens and the wet sounds of bodies getting smashed, as well as the zapping of the magical guns of his drones. Searanox looked at his Status and saw the Level 7 a small smile formed on his face.

  `Only twelve more hours to go... we should take a break when my drones run out the next time.′

  He was lost in thought as he struck a chicken with such force that it crunched against the wall and fell lifeless to the floor. His arms burned from the constant exertion, but he continued striking, hitting one chicken after another. It was simpler as expected to kill a chicken it felt like cheating, as if it was to easy.

  `If you can just hunt down any living being...′

  whack... once again the head of a chicken hits the ground lifelessly after a swing with the board.

  `I'd like to know how the others compare. If I'm in first place and Iris is in second, and we're both at level 7, what level is the person in third place?′

  There was no popup or anything like that. It did not react at all, not even a sign of confirmation from the system. He just accepted it and continued. His Drones were resummoned a few minutes later, flying off again.

  The speed of the counter in the corner of his vision speeded up once again. The wet smacking sound of the board hitting a chicken was the only thing that filled the hall for a short while, followed by a scream that stopped abruptly. He was so used to it that he didn't even look up this time, he just continued with his work.

  After 3 hours of almost constant slaughter, he finally reached the required amount of experience to reach the next level. He was so engrossed in the work that he barely noticed the system message.

  As the Drones connection vanished he walked out of the building he was in, like the ones before there was only death inside.

  Stolen story; please report.

  A pile of dead chickens and gore. The plank from the fence now resting against the outside of the building right next to the door. Searanox walked over to where he hears Iris. She was cleaves through them with her claws that had an ethereal glow to them, extending them by the length of her fingers the glow was pale green with a slight blue tint.

  `That's what I'm talking about.′

  He grins slightly as he sees the System notification, leaning against the doorframe calling inside.

  "Iris, lets catch a break. We got far lets rest and continue after eating something at full strength"

  She stopped mid-swing and turned to him, her amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the barn. The ethereal glow around her claws faded, and she lowered her hands, her form a silhouette against the piles of dead chickens.

  "I understand, Searanox. We will resume after we have replenished our strength."

  Her tone was professional, but he could sense a flicker of relief in her voice. The constant killing was taking its toll on both of them, a shared burden of their brutal existence. He hopped over the wall and got the bag of food, looking inside he chuckled softly. The bag was placed in front of Iris and he asked with a chuckle.

  "What's the blanked for Iris?"

  Iris looked at the blanket, then back at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion.

  "It is for comfort, Searanox. I assumed it would be... preferable to sit on something other than the ground."

  Her response was logical, a stark contrast to the strange, yet intimate scene they were creating. He couldn't help but smile, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes. He was a monster, a predator, but he was also a man, and he was finding moments of humanity in the most unlikely of places.

  Searanox patted the spot next to him on the blanket, a silent invitation. She sat down, her movements a little stiff, as if she were still getting used to the concept of a break. He started to unpack the bag, there were cold cuts and even a few sweets inside.

  "Are you also leveling up nicely Iris?"

  "Yes, I'm at Level 8 at this moment."

  She picked up a slice of sausage and ate it, licking her bloody fingers afterwards.

  "We should pack some of them for dinner, it would be a filling meal to eat them cooked over a fire."

  She said after she finished the slice. Searanox looked at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't thought of that, but it was a good idea. He was a predator, and predators didn't waste their kill.

  "Good idea, Iris. We'll do that."

  The break was mostly quiet, after Iris had her fill she lay down on his lap closing her eyes. After his TP were full again he gently nudged Iris.

  "Time to get up."

  Without a word but with a soft growl she got up and helped pack the bag. Searanox stood up, the brief respite over, a sense of urgency washing over him. The clock was ticking, and the Mana Infusion was getting closer with every passing hour. He needed to be stronger, faster, more deadly. He needed to be ready.

  `Let's finish this.′

  With a single, decisive thought, he summoned his drones again, their silent arrival a familiar comfort.

  He sent them back to their work, a relentless, mechanical killing force. He picked up the plank, its weight a familiar comfort in his hands, and walked back into one of the buildings, the smell of blood and death a constant, oppressive presence.

  `Only Level 8... I want to be at least Level 10. This is taking to long, to inefficient and yet my only choice.′