Setting up Base
"Bahaha! I'm liking you more and more kid!" Rick along with a few others laughed at Mark's corny joke, easing some of the tension from their situation.
"Alright, alright, let's get serious. Since this area is cleared out and there are so many people, I plan to turn this place into a base of operations. I don't know if any of you have looked out a window recently, but we won't be leaving this airport anytime soon. Not only are the original inhabitants slaughtering each other and becoming much stronger, there are flocks of bird monsters, and insect monsters swarming and surrounding the airport as well." Mark paused, allowing reality to sink in for everyone.
"On another note, I plan to slowly clear out the inside of the airport and increase my strength in order to combat the growing threat. I'll bring as many people as possible over here to enhance our defenses in preparation." Mark turned his head, looking over everyone in the rag-tag group.
The pause in his speech allowed for others to chime in. "Mark, was it? Despite the strength you've exhibited, aren't you a bit young to be calling all the shots? You look about what, eighteen? Don't you think you should leave the heavy lifting to us adults?" An elf woman condescendingly asked.
"Oh, don't worry about that, I'll be focusing on killing monsters. I'll be leaving the leading and logistics work to everyone here. If other parties want to fight, that's fine as well." Mark gave a forced smile and turned to Rick as everyone in the crowd nodded in agreement, now ignoring the disgruntled elf.
"Rick, is there any way you can craft makeshift weapons? Or does anyone that didn't mutate have a talent that can help out with weapon making?" Silence followed as everyone looked at each other inquisitively. Unfortunately, there was no positive response.
"That's alright everyone! I may be old but I can rig up something from just about anything." Rick confidently said, patting his chest.
"Great, also we need to get these bodies cleared out of the wing to avoid attracting monsters and spreading disease... Oh yeah! There's a little girl in the supply closet at the end of the hallway where we camped out last night. I'll go get her and introduce everyone. Please be gentle with her though, I'm pretty sure she lost both parents yesterday." Speaking of parents, Mark remembered his messages and eagerly checked his phone. The battery was low, but he had enough left to see his lack of new messages.
'Nothing, huh? I hope they just lost their phones in the mayhem, but that's pretty unrealistic...' Mark gloomily sighed and stood up, heading over to the supply closet to get the girl.
...
A few hours later, the terminal was cleared and sleeping arrangements were being set up. A logistics team was formed and after Mark recovered his mana, they all headed out to gather more supplies.
They needed blankets, food, water, and a few other things. Luckily the bathroom was fully stocked, so there was no need to replenish it for now.
"Mark a couple mutated rats ahead!" Clye reminded him, as he was looking at a restaurant to the left of them.
Mark motioned for everyone to stop, pointing at the dog-sized, deformed rats ahead. They had mutated, growing long skinny arms with sharp claws, as well as long jagged teeth. Staring at the horrid creatures, he slowly circled around a pillar, doing his best to sneak up on them.
Unfortunately, once he approached he was detected. The rats gave their war cry and charged at him. Mark quickly used slash, immediately splitting one of the rats in half. The other came with the intent to sink his teeth into Mark's exposed neck. Luckily, Clye had his back and shot a mana bolt directly into the creature's open mouth.
*Scree!*
Reeling in pain, the creature was quickly subdued and put out of its misery.
"Behind you!" Mark heard a shout from one of the logistics team and immediately swung his sword behind him.
*Weehahh!*
A strange scream echoed out, as Mark, who felt no resistance, turned around to see a pile of apparition dust forming.
"Thanks... those bastards really like to sneak up on you." Mark smiled at the halfling man who gave the timely callout and bent over to collect the dust.
"Is there a use for it?" One of the others asked.
"I mean, maybe? I'm just collecting it cuz it might be in the future and it's easy to carry around." Mark shook the half full bottle that he kept in his backpack.
"An alchemist definitely might have a use for it." Another said, nodding his head.
Finishing up their business here, the group made their way to the restaurant and began collecting as much food and water as they could carry. They found some containers to carry more stuff, but they only had so many hands, so multiple trips were definitely needed.
"Don't overburden yourself, it could be a risk if we encounter something I can't handle." Mark reminded, after filling his backpack again.
Checking his status while he waited, Mark smiled. His Core Density had increased to nine percent, hopefully it would raise his spirit a point if it was anything like physique.
"All set." Someone walked over and told him.
Nodding, Mark stood up and prepared to leave, checking the surroundings first. Seeing it was all clear. Mark motioned forward and everyone headed out.
...
The following trips back and forth from the restaurant were relatively uneventful, worrying Mark immensely. It seemed that besides patrols, this area had already been divided up into the stronger monster's territories. Becoming somehow safer and more dangerous at the same time.
One wrong step and they would be swarmed by a group of monsters protecting their territory, but if they were careful, the could easily stock supplies.
Deciding to take full advantage of this, Mark and the others snuck their way to a shop that was stocked with knickknacks and travel goods like neck pillows, blankets, tooth brushes, tooth paste, etc.
After a day of hard work, Mark wiped his brows and smiled, looking at all they had accomplished. Despite everyone being so different, they came together, united in their goal of survival.