Chapter 24 - Forming the Official Dungeon Squad

Garret, Shiva, and Betty drove back with only a few zombie encounters here and there. They were happy with the haul and Garrett was able to share some of his life stories with them while they did the same. Having a good laugh at a story with Hicks and another soldier.

Their date ended on an interesting note.

Garrett continued the story after checking in with the two guards at the garage gate, "...And so Hicks was seen running out of her room while screaming bloody murder as he said, 'When she asked 'do you wrestle?' I didn't think she meant it literally!?' and we learned from his date that she suplexed him onto the bed and had him in a reverse shrimp hold to see how skilled he was in combat. She was a fighter who wanted a strong boyfriend... Maybe that's why she was single..."

Betty and Shiva were howling with laughter as Shiva exclaimed, "Hahahahah! My sister is the same way! So many suitors go unconscious at the end of her dates! Dad and Mom are worried she will never find a good man!"

Betty giggles and says, "Yes I know a friend from my world who is the same. Though HE says it's so hard to find a man willing to discover how feminine I can be for them in a relationship! Doesn't help that he is more ripped than most gigants in my world! Hahahah!"

Garrett asks what a gigant is and she explains that it is a 9ft+ humanoid with grey toned skin and natural tribal markings that are present from birth over their face and torso.

As they parked and waited for his squad and the volunteers to come and help them unload supplies Garrett realized something, "So I have the stat system and store system. Do you two have anything?"

Shiva and Betty nod and explain that they have the stat system, but no store system, they can only grow based on the mutant stat gains, and any stat crystals Garrett is willing to share with them. Otherwise they are stuck with their summoned stats as they are. He nods in understanding as they see the moving squad come over and help unload all the food, drinks, and useful furniture and linens they were able to grab.

Before the people help though everyone is in awe of the two new huge additions to the camp that Garrett brought back with him. Needless to say, everyone had questions for them and him.

Before they could bombard them though Garrett held up his hand and said, "Hold it! We have perishables this time for supplies, so help us unload them all and we can then work towards the questions later tonight. Right now we have a job to do, so let's get it done and then all the questions will be answered! Understood?"

Everyone there nodded and got to work. Hicks was in geek heaven as he is a huge fantasy buff and seeing two amazing fantasy races with guns on their backs and modern and even advanced armor on them was nearly mind blowing for him. Marina was in awe at their size and strength and was hoping to catch up to them in stats when she asked if they were close to the Colonels abilities in their stats. When they said yes she was more determined than ever to grow faster and stronger.

With Tomoe she gave them a respectful nod and grunt of acknowledgement to their power and skill. She could sense that much from them thanks to her intuition and senses as a soldier who has seen combat. Mboto was looking and sizing them up seeing if he would have a chance to measure his skills against them in a spar and hopefully grow in ability thanks to this.

It took them no more than an hour of work but they were able to unload all the supplies into the city hall supply rooms. With that done a large dinner was prepared by the kitchen volunteers and the other civilians were all over the new arrivals in awe and some fear. Until Betty was cooing and playing with the children gently as she seemed like a natural mother to the rest of them. Shiva was a bit more intimidating but she had a more gruff caring aunt vibe to her that the children warmed up to during dinner preparations.

In the end everyone was smiling and happy at the new additions.

Soon the children were enjoying the movie files Garrett found at the movie theater and had some classics on from Pixar. While the adults asked the two new fighters questions and what the plan going forward is.

Garrett let them ask their questions about the girls, their names, experience, what kind of worlds they are from and everything. Mostly similar answers. Earth but the fantasy races evolved from ancient hidden tribes that reintegrated into modern day with a few decades of adjustment. it was really inspiring how the races even began to set up colonies in space and even reached beyond their solar system. Or at least they were beginning to before Garrett summoned them. They didn't mind, they wanted to branch out and help more people.

Saving thousands of survivors who are left from a zombie apocalypse? Why not?

It beats sitting in a barracks waiting for a mission!

Garrett had no reply and just shrugged at that in agreement. he then went on to explain the plan, "Alright so we are sitting better now. We have lots more supplies. Two new allies who can help me clear dungeons. And we have some challenging ones that will give us the points we need to improve ourselves and the base. One problem, even with Shiva and Betty, we can't clear a Nightmare mode on our own. We could... but it would take us an hour easily per dungeon. We need to be quicker and more efficient. I was struggling against the bosses of a nearby Hard dungeon. And they nearly escaped into the outside. If they did... they might have evolved into Alphas an draised their own legions to attack us here."

Concerned murmurs and side discussions erupted from the survivors. But was silenced by a loud yell from Tomoe, "Quiet! The Colonel isn't finished!"

She nodded at Garrett to continue. With a grateful nod he looks at the survivors and goes, "Indeed. We stopped them. Without Shiva and Betty it would have been bad. I might not be here. But I am. So we can rest easy knowing we are all here and alive still. But this has been a wake up call. I can't be the lone ranger out there anymore. I need my squad with me. So I must ask. Anyone want to join us in exterminating the dungeons of zombies out there? There is no shame if you want to stay here and protect the base. We are only taking volunteers."

The murmurs stop as people look around cautiously. Some looked like they would be quickly decided against it. It wasn't until a full minute was up and Garrett figured he would need to dive into the dungeons on his own with only Shiva and Betty as his backup, when the first hand rose.

He grinned as he saw a sheepish looking Hicks raising said hand, "Sorry I waited a while before volunteering sir. I wanted to give others a chance. But since no one did. I'll be willing to dive head first into danger with you. Count on me and my skills to be by you!"

Garrett nodded with pride before noticing a blushing Marina looking at Hicks and quickly raising her hand as well, "I'll be going too! I'm not letting this showboat get himself killed out there!"

Hicks sputters as Shiva laughs at it and goes, "Good job young one! I'll be counting on your skills with a rifle out there! I was told about your kill count during this whole situation by Garrett! I'm going to enjoy having you watching our backs out there!" With one more hearty laugh she shakes Marinas hand roughly and nearly sends the poor girl sprawling to the ground.

Betty shakes her head in amusement as Tomoe and Mboto raise their hands next.

Mboto simply says, "I'm not going to be cooped up sir. I am a soldier. And I have my pride as a defender of the innocent to uphold." Garrett nods in respect and turns to Tomoe.

The stern female soldier simply nods and says, "Same. I'm not about to become a pampered garrison trooper. I'll be out in the front lines with you like always sir. Just like our last mission togther. We are with you no matter what!"

Betty gives Tomoe a forearm shake which the smaller woman gladly returns. While being shaken up quite well thanks to their height differences.

Garrett nods and turns towards the remaining people in the meeting. "In the mean time those with experience or those who are still training using the new rooms to help yourself improve. Continue to do so! We will be gone in the morning and be back every evening at 7pm. No later! We won't risk losing this base to zombie attacks if we happen to stay overnight somewhere. Count on it. In the mean time train! Grow! Improve! We are doing this to survive people! We will make it through this! Are you with us?!"

A resounding cheer explodes from the room as those who were nervous or guilty of staying behind now understood that he doesn't hold it against them. In fact he is celebrating their decision to ensure their base is protected and ready against other threats.

With that reminder and the reigniting of their fighting spirit the people make plans among themselves for who will be using what room to improve themselves over the course of the next few days.

Garrett opens up his base menu and purchases a few more upgrades to ensure they are taken care of while they are gone.

After all his squad mates will be getting plenty of stat boosts soon.

He grins as he is eyeing another Hard ranked dungeon nearby and just imagining how many mutants and Variants are there for them to harvest for stats.

Current stats of Garret Grimsborne (Super Human):

Str- 536

Agi- 523

Sta- 508

Int- 284

Sense- 286

Store points - 514,830 -300,000 base upgrades = 214,830

Companions:

Shiva Orc Captain

Betty Minotaur Sergeant

Upgrades to base:

Training room lvl 2: For every two hours spent training inside you gain +2 str and Sta to a maximum of 4 points in each stat daily. Maximum stat affected is up to 100. Once user has exceeded 100 then the stat will no longer grow in that room. For next Max stat please purchase to level 3. Cost for upgrade: 200k

Shooting range = Agility

Medical room = intelligence and Sense

(Please see authors note for voting details)