Collapse and Progress

Wearily standing after his long rest, Mark looked to his surroundings in worry.

'I'm in no condition to fight again. Soul damage is no joke.' Mark let out a sigh, clutching Vibra tightly as he slowly made his way back to base.

When he finally arrived, Mark ignored everyone's curious looks and questions, simply giving them an exhausted look as he headed for his room.

Once he was alone, he let Jor onto the wall, before crashing to the floor and passing out, only making it here from pure willpower.

Clye kept prodding him, trying to make sure he was okay, but she received no response. Her worry only increased with this, as she tried to think of something to do. After some time, she realized her own powerlessness and sighed, giving up and letting Mark get the rest his body craved.

Over the rest of the day, a few people came to check on him. Seeing his condition, and the deep sleep he was in, they all decided to let him rest as they went about their business.

...

While Mark recovered, Ruby and the others kept working hard on their tasks.

Ruby and her team were standing over the body of the dog, planning and discussing the method they would use to strip the hide of the beast.

"If we make the incision along the stomach where the skin is the thinnest, it should be easier to cut along the path." One of the team members pointed out as he walked around the corpse.

"Good idea, let's start from there and cut up to the limbs." Ruby instructed as they all got to work.

...

As this went on, many of the combat teams were sitting around the storage area absorbing mana crystals. Their faces were tense in concentration as they slowly absorbed the mana within.

"How did Mark absorb the mana in the crystals so fast...?" One of the team captains said in awe, as many others nodded their heads in agreement.

"He was almost like a vacuum compared to us. It is unbelievable after experiencing it myself." Another commented, as he shook his head and sighed.

"There's no point in comparing ourselves, the best we can do is gain the strength to help the stubborn kid." The old man said, taking another crystal and beginning the process once again.

He may have just arrived, but he and the other new arrivals quickly integrated with the others, sharing their plights the night before. The survivors were slowly forming into a tight knit community as they all struggled to get a solid foothold here in the airport.

...

Rick sat there with his team as he looked over the claws and teeth of the kobolds and giant dog. Holding a dagger that was rewarded from the dungeon, along with a claw, Rick began grinding away at the base of the claw. Over time a ridge was formed and he repeated the slow process on the other side. Doing it again with another claw, Rick then grabbed a handle taken from one of the blunt pickaxes the goblins used and strung the claws to the handle.

"Not anywhere near my best work, but it is a usable war pick. Sharper than the blunt iron used by the goblins, and just as durable hopefully." Rick handed the new weapon to one of the team members and gave a few orders.

"You saw the process, that took two claws, so I expect ten of these total in the end. No fuck ups!" Rick ordered as he walked off with a few others as they discussed their next plans in depth.

"Mark cleared the way to the basement where the custodial supplies should be, lets get the people together and collect everything useful from it ASAP." Someone, holding a notepad began reading off a list of needed supplies to Rick as they walked over to the logistics teams that were waiting for orders.

Once he arrived, they all turned to him and someone asked, "Is it time?" To which Rick nodded his head and turned to leave in a hurried manner, clearly excited to see what was down there.

"Everyone bring a weapon just in case. We don't know what could be down there." Rick reminded everyone as he gripped his hammer tightly and tugged the backpack strap around his shoulder.

...

While Mark's group progressed on one side, another group was forming opposite them.

"Alima, another one over here!" Someone yelled as Alima snapped her head to the direction of the shout. Seeing where the monster coming was, she cast her talent, and a blue mist left her hand before surrounding it.

Immediately, the creature grew slower as it continued its approach. Its hulking green body was full of rage as it took the weapon in its hand and swung down with all its might. The man that shouted easily dodged the attack, before swinging his fist at the creature's exposed face. The monster's weapon slammed into the ground with a resonating bang.

The man's fist lit up with flames as his punch connected to the creature, crushing its already crooked nose and sending it reeling back in pain.

*Raughh!*

It bellowed out as it tried to stand and retaliate, but before it could, a sword came down and slashed its neck. It gurgled as it clutched its throat, clinging to life hopelessly.

"Finish it." Alima ordered, as the man with the sword nodded and stabbed into its eye, killing the monster instantly.

"Clean up here and let's move on, that hole in the wall is going to be a real problem when the other monsters outside notice it. We need to regroup with the others and rest before then." Alima sighed and pulled her long, black hair back into a pony tail, heading back to camp with the others in tow.