Chapter 620.2: Shelter 100!

Thus, monster cataloging was a core feature of Wasteland Online, loved by collectors.

It also stocked the New Alliance’s Biological Research Institution with samples.

With that done, Team A pressed deeper into the subway sealed for a century and a half, harried by more Ghostface Bugs.

Though small, they were vicious.

They would lie still, then spring at prey, stabbing with stinger-like abdomens to drain their preys’ fluids.

The stingers couldn’t pierce the chest plates of the exoskeletons, but if they managed to get the necks and joints, it would be dangerous.

Their stealth made them experts at ambush.

Several close calls later, Darkest’s face was pale. He felt his sanity draining with each bug.

Beside him, Ten Punch Man grinned, rifle ready. “Bro, you’re not... scared, are you?”

From the start, he felt something was off about Darkest. It was like he was almost like a completely different person than when they were on the surface.

Darkest’s brow twitched. “Scared? As if... I just feel physically uncomfortable seeing bugs, that’s all. I’m not scared.”

The moment he said that, the comms channel erupted in gagging noises.

“

Pfft

!”

“Damn, are you an actor now?”

“I’m gonna puke.”

Ghostbuster didn’t join the teasing, only chuckled and patted his brother’s shoulder. “Doesn’t that describe being scared?”

Darkest snapped back with his face flushed red. “Shut it! You’re the scared one, your whole family’s scared!”

The communication channel filled with laughter.

“Man, if only Battlefield Cheerleader was here.”

“Yeah, that guy always charges in, hehe.”

“This little boy is way too timid!”

Realizing he couldn’t explain his way out, Darkest simply rolled his eyes at Ghostbuster and Ten Punch Man.

“Cut the crap. Back to your positions, shut it and focus!”

Battlefield Cheerleader was probably already in Triumphant City by now, living it up, not dungeon-diving with them.

As for him charging in without a care in the world... That was a few versions ago.

Ever since leaving the respawn point, that guy was even more cowardly than their doggy commander!

“Copy.” Catching the eye-roll, Ten Punch Man grinned and gave a cheeky salute, then returned to his spot with Ghostbuster.

The brief banter lightened the eerie atmosphere.

Though mutants still fluttered from the darkness now and then, Darkest was gradually adjusting to the jump scares.

If they ran into anything they were unsure of, they would fire first. If there’s movement, they could simply dump a mag. If it’s big, they would toss a grenade.

They would only continue moving if there was no movement.

They had basically unlimited ammunition anyway.

After several short but intense skirmishes, they passed the security gate without losses and advanced onto the platform.

The tunnel beyond was pitch dark, water still pooled knee-deep.

A derailed carriage blocked the tunnel mid-way. That was what they needed to cross to reach Shelter 100’s entrance.

Spring Water Commander glanced at the obstruction and ordered over their communication channel, “Team A, enter the tunnel. Teams B and C, provide fire from the platform edge.”

“Roger!” Darkest signaled to Ten Punch Man with a glance.

He got the message, stepped up, fired a few shots at the derailed carriage, then raked the water with bullets. There was no sign of activity.

Feeling a bit safer, he jumped down into the tunnel.

The others followed, wading into knee-deep sludge.

The icy water soaked their pants. Even with muted pain receptors, most shivered.

Feeling the slime swirling at their legs, Ghostbuster wrinkled his nose and muttered on comms. “Shit, this water stinks!”

Already used to it, Ten Punch Man jeered. “Let doggy Spring Water Commander wash our pants later!”

Darkest scowled. But with the goal close, he bit his tongue and said simply, “Shelter entrance ahead. Keep moving!”

“Roger!” the others shouted.

The squad pushed deeper, ripples spreading across the foul water.

Darkest’s heart thudded fast.

The cold wasn’t the only thing unsettling him. There was actually a gnawing dread in his heart.

If he had to describe it for real, it was just too quiet.

Then he saw it, planks drifting on the shimmering water, entangled with algae and trash, hidden from the platform view.

He froze.

Planks? In a place with no trees?

Suddenly, the planks shifted, sliding toward them rapidly.

Nerves snapping taut, Darkest leveled his rifle.

“Stop!” he barked.

As everyone halted, he saw clearly, they weren’t planks. They were giant water striders, each the size of a hound. Three pairs of slender legs skimmed the surface, unnoticed by everyone up till that point.

They would lie in wait among weeds and debris, springing forward only when prey entered their domain.

They were silent and deadly, their tube-like mouthparts gleamed like spears in reeds.

This time, not just Darkest but even fearless Ten Punch Man went pale. “Holy shit! Mutated water striders?!”

They were common in West Continent Municipality, outnumbered only by Battleship Shrimp and Crackleclaw Crabs.

Usually a meter long, with leg span up to two. Chitin armor, lean muscle. Attack by springing onto prey, pinning with fangs, and tearing apart with forelimbs.

Some were strong enough to flip full-grown monsters, so even mutants from the forests avoided nesting here.

Players hated them. They were too fast to hit, and their meat was inedible. Only extermination quests made them worth it.

“They’re shallow-water bugs, what the hell are they doing here?!”

“Who knows! Our pumps were running for a week straight!”

“Maybe the Ghostface Bugs drew them in... They eat little bugs, right?”

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“Forget what they eat! You’re on the menu now, fire!” Darkest shouted, firing first, shoulder braced as his rifle roared.

Gunfire thundered through the tunnel, the squad unleashing hell on the charging swarm.

Retreat was impossible.

The bugs skated lightning-fast. The squad slogged like ankles in ice blocks.

If they turned to run their backs would be skewered.

“Team A engage! Teams B and C, support!” Hearing the fight ahead, Spring Water Commander deployed the cannon on his back and started to calculate the range.

“Darkest, spread out!” he ordered.

Grinding his teeth, Darkest signaled to his teammates. “Spread out!”

As Team A cleared the center, Kakarot led Team B forward.

He splashed into the water, braced his drum-fed light machine gun, and roared, “Open fire!”

“

Ratatatata

!”

Light rained through the tunnel, bullets smashing water into man-high sprays.

However, it didn’t last.

Soon the swarm closed with Team A.

Kakarot slung his machine gun and drew a short blade.

“Close in!”

The squad bellowed, charging with melee weapons.

“

Waaagh

!”

Team A was struggling.

Despite spotting them early, the striders broke through.

Darkest was slammed away and his chest caved. He nearly drowned.

The bug loomed and mandibles stabbed at him.

He dodged by instinct, drew his knife, and drove it into its skull.

Crunch.

Yellow ichor sprayed everywhere.

He stabbed again and again, until its limbs twitched lifeless. He kicked it off and staggered up.

At that moment, a mortar shell landed thirty meters ahead,

WHOOM!

Flames erupted, spreading across the water’s surface.

Striders thrashed in the blaze, limbs writhing, then fell silent, consumed to ash.

With Team B’s support, the last striders fell. The tunnel was theirs.

Kakarot hauled Darkest from the water. He coughed violently, then roared, “Goddammit, Spring Water Commander, firing off a damn cannon in a tunnel? Are you nuts?!”

“All done, brother. Good job!” Kakarot patted his back, then pointed ahead. “Look, it’s Shelter 100. We’re here.”

Darkest turned.

Through the firelight stood a massive steel gear. It was algae-clad but pristine, untouched by time.

Flames gleamed off its surface and the number etched bold in its center.

Staring at that colossal door, Darkest felt his chest tighten.

Shelter 100.

They made it.