Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

As the convoy rumbled through the dark industrial area, Kohta was practically bouncing in his seat, his excitement was palpable. His voice broke through the relative quiet in the truck, filled with an energy that bordered on manic.

"Dude! Did you see the way you took Takashi apart?!" Kohta exclaimed, practically bouncing in his seat. "You were like, BAM! KRAK! And he's just flopping around like a rag doll! Oh man, where did you learn to fight like that?"

Guldrin, leaning back against the truck's interior, exhaled a plume of smoke from his cigar and rolled his eyes. "Not from some anime, if that's what you're thinking," he said, his tone dismissive, but amused.

"But seriously, man!" Kohta continued, undeterred. "You've got to teach me. I mean, I've got the shooting part down, but up close? I would have been toast against someone like Takashi, let alone someone like you… I mean, you didn't just beat him; you humiliated him!"

"Kohta…" Saya said sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Do you really have to glorify it? He's supposed to be your friend, or at least, he was."

"Friend?!" Kohta shot back, his voice rising in indignation. "That guy abandoned us because he said Guldrin and Shiro were too uncaring, and he joined Shido! He tried to poach Rei, and he had the nerve to act like he was some noble hero after everything. This time, Shido wanted to steal Saeko… No way am I gonna feel sorry for him! Besides, it was like watching an action movie. Except real. And better! Oh, the blood, the broken bones, the anger!"

Shiro, sitting quietly near the back, exchanged a glance with Saeko, whose expression remained calm but tinged with amusement. The younger girl smiled faintly, her bow resting across her lap. "It was… impressive," Shiro admitted softly, though her voice lacked Kohta's sheer enthusiasm, she was still fuming about how Takashi had acted and didn't have any emotion to spare to show any kind of joy for what occurred.

Saeko, her katana laid carefully at her side, and tilted her head slightly. "There's merit in what Kohta is saying. Knowing how to fight when you can't rely on firearms is crucial in a world like this. Especially when resources are finite." Her lips curved into a subtle smirk. "But it's not a lesson everyone survives."

Kohta's face lit up at her words, his fist pumping. "Exactly! See? Even Saeko thinks it's a good idea!" He turned to Guldrin, his eyes practically sparkling. "Come on, teach me! I'll do whatever it takes. Seriously, I'll even start doing pushups or whatever. Just… please?"

Guldrin gave him a sidelong glance, the cigar shifting between his teeth as he mulled it over. After a moment, he let out a small grunt of annoyance. "Fine," he said gruffly. "But I'm not going easy on you, and if you cry or give up, that's on you. This isn't a damn game, and I don't have time for slackers."

Kohta practically exploded with joy, clapping his hands together. "Yes! Yes! I won't let you down! I'll do anything! Just wait, you're gonna make me into a badass!"

Saya groaned audibly, burying her face in her hands. "Oh great. As if he wasn't already insufferable with his guns, now he's going to start punching things."

"Better to have him prepared," Saeko said, her tone matter-of-fact. "A capable fighter is an asset in any group. Besides…" She cast a brief, amused glance at Guldrin. "I'm curious to see how hard he pushes Kohta."

"Oh, I'll push him all right," Guldrin muttered, leaning back with a smirk. "Let's see how long his enthusiasm lasts when he's bruised, broken, and exhausted."

The truck jolted slightly as they hit a pothole, prompting Shiro to steady her bow. She looked out the window, her gaze scanning the dimly lit streets. "We're close, right? The warehouse should be just ahead."

Guldrin nodded, stubbing out his cigar in the ashtray mounted on the dash. "Yeah. Once we're there, we unload, set up defenses, and get some rest. It's been a long day, and tomorrow's gonna be even longer. You said the perimeter hasn't been breached, right?" Shiro nodded, her laptop sitting in her lap as she checked the feeds.

Kohta, still brimming with excitement, leaned forward eagerly. "So, when do we start the training? Tomorrow morning? Or should we do some basics tonight? I've got a ton of adrenaline right now, I could totally go a few rounds!"

"Tonight?" Guldrin raised an eyebrow, giving Kohta a withering look. "Kohta, you'd be dead in under five minutes. Rest first. You'll need it."

Saeko chuckled softly as Kohta slumped back in his seat with a pout. "Patience," she said, her voice almost teasing. "You'll have plenty of time to regret asking for this."

"Not helping," Kohta grumbled, though his grin betrayed his excitement.

The truck finally rolled to a stop in front of the warehouse, its exterior looming large and imposing against the night sky. The convoy followed close behind, headlights casting long shadows across the gravel lot. As Guldrin stepped out, he surveyed the area, his sharp gaze scanning for any potential threats.

"Everyone out," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet. "Let's secure this place and get set up. No slacking."

The others filed out, their movements tired but focused. Kohta, however, practically bounced on his feet, already imagining the brutal training sessions ahead. As they began unloading supplies, his voice could still be heard chattering excitedly about techniques and strategies, much to Saya's increasing irritation.

Guldrin shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "He's gonna regret it," he muttered to himself. "But hey, at least he's got guts." Kohta rushed to the door and tried to open it, much to Shiro and Guldrin's amusement.

"That won't work… I would be surprised if anything you have on hand could open that door… Shiro, want to show him how to open it?" Guldrin chuckled and Shiro nodded, bounding over to the door, placing her palm on a jutted-out pillar, causing a panel to open.

"Let's see…" Shiro poked multiple spots before a mini-keyboard opened. Covering the keyboard, she entered the passcode, a string of characters and digits 30 or so long, so long Guldrin had no way of remembering it and had to add his own hidden entrance to bypass the need for the code.

*Hisss* 

The door blew out air as the door depressurized and began to slide open, "Okay, we have three warehouses, there is an underground tunnel leading to them, but the outside has been locked down, yes we can enter through the outside, but it is more trouble than it is worth… So, If you wish to enter the other warehouses, then ask Shiro or me… As for the rest, it is open to be explored, if the door doesn't open, you don't have permission. Ask and be told whether you can enter or not."

The group exchanged glances as the warehouse door slid open, revealing a dimly lit interior lined with rows of steel shelves stacked high with crates. The faint hum of the ventilation system echoed through the space, giving it an oddly sterile yet foreboding atmosphere. Yuriko took a step forward, her sharp eyes scanning the interior with a mixture of curiosity and approval.

"Well-organized," she remarked. "Efficient use of space. This will do nicely."

Kohta, still brimming with energy, couldn't resist dashing in ahead of everyone else. He darted down one of the aisles, his footsteps echoing loudly. "Whoa! This place is huge! It's like something out of a spy movie!" His voice carried back to the group, eliciting a groan from Saya.

"Can someone leash him before he gets lost or breaks something important?" Saya muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

Shiro, unfazed, stepped into the warehouse with a small smile. "There's nothing here he can break. Most of the equipment is either locked down or too durable for him to damage without tools." She glanced toward Guldrin, who had just lit another blunt. "Unless you want to scare him straight."

"I'm not wasting energy on that," Guldrin replied, taking a drag. "Let him tire himself out. He'll crash sooner or later."

Saeko chuckled softly as she followed the others inside, her katana held loosely at her side. "Kohta's enthusiasm is refreshing, if nothing else. Though I admit, I'm curious about how much he'll regret asking for training."

Yuriko's group began unloading supplies, working with an efficiency that spoke of experience. The crates contained essentials, food, water, medical supplies, and ammunition. While the others carried boxes to their designated areas, Shizuka and Maki made their way toward the infirmary, the first carrying a small first-aid kit and a clipboard.

"I'll make sure everything in the infirmary is operational," Shizuka said cheerfully, her voice light despite the long day. "Maki, would you mind assisting with a quick inventory? I want to know exactly what we have and what we might need."

Maki nodded, her expression serious. "Of course. It's best to prepare now before any emergencies arise."

As the two disappeared into the infirmary, Shiro busied herself at a terminal near the entrance. Her fingers danced over the keyboard as she accessed the warehouse's internal systems. Screens flickered to life, displaying surveillance feeds, inventory lists, and a map of the facility.

"Security systems are online," she announced. "No breaches detected. All cameras are functional, and the perimeter is secure. We will however need to replace the solar panels tonight, the EMP fried them, and we are running on backup power at the moment… I might be able to fix the fried ones, but don't hold your breath…"

"Good," Guldrin said, exhaling smoke. "The last thing we need is a surprise while we're trying to settle in. Everyone, find a spot and make yourselves comfortable. But don't get too cozy. We might need to move again if things go south. As for the panels… I can work on that throughout the night… I was wondering why you want to shield this place as well as you did, I guess you had an idea about this happening." Shiro just nodded and kept working on her terminal.

Yuriko, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. "This place is impressive. It's clear you've put a lot of thought into securing it. But I have to ask, how did you manage to set all this up? And why?"

Guldrin's gaze flicked toward her, his expression unreadable. "Planning ahead. Our adoptive parent was a doomsday prepper… He bought these warehouses and was planning on using them to expand his import and export business, but being him, he wanted it to survive anything this world threw at it…"

Yuriko's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't press further. Instead, she turned her attention to Shiro. "And you? You're young, but you seem to have a knack for technology. Did you help with all of this?"

Shiro hesitated, glancing at Guldrin before responding. "I… helped optimize some systems. It's what I'm good at."

Yuriko's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "I see. Well, your skills are certainly valuable. I'll admit, I'm curious about your group. You're an unusual mix of personalities and abilities."

"Unusual's one way to put it," Saeko said with a faint smirk as she leaned against a nearby shelf. "But it works. We've survived this long, haven't we?"

Yuriko nodded thoughtfully. "True. And in times like these, survival is what matters most."

As the group continued to unload and organize their supplies, Kohta reappeared, panting but grinning from ear to ear. "Okay, this place is officially awesome! I even found a room that's perfect for target practice. It's got this thick metal wall, totally bulletproof!"

"Don't even think about firing your guns in here," Saya snapped, glaring at him. "The last thing we need is for you to damage something important or attract attention."

Kohta held up his hands defensively. "I wasn't going to! I was just saying it's a cool feature. Geez, lighten up, Saya."

"I'll lighten up when you stop acting like an overgrown child," she shot back.

Before their argument could escalate, Shizuka's voice called out from the infirmary. "Guldrin! Could you come here for a moment? I need to check your vitals."

Guldrin sighed, muttering something under his breath about meddling doctors, but he extinguished his cigar and made his way toward the infirmary. As he passed by Maki, who was sorting through medical supplies, she gave him a polite nod.

Inside, Shizuka gestured for him to sit on the examination table. "You've been pushing yourself hard lately," she said, her tone gently chiding. "Let me make sure you're not overdoing it."

"I'm fine," Guldrin grumbled, but he complied, sitting down and allowing her to check his blood pressure and pulse.

"Fine or not, you're still human," Shizuka replied, her cheerful demeanor tinged with genuine concern. "Even someone as tough as you needs to rest and take care of themselves."

Guldrin didn't respond, but he didn't protest further either. Shizuka took it as a small victory and continued her examination.

Shizuka began her routine examination with practiced precision. She checked Guldrin's vitals methodically, her gentle hands moving from one task to the next as if it were second nature. Her stethoscope pressed against his chest to listen to his heart and lungs, but as she listened, her brows furrowed slightly.

"That's... strange," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"What's strange?" Guldrin asked, his tone gruff but curious, though he didn't flinch from her touch.

Shizuka hesitated, forcing a smile to keep the mood light. "Oh, it's probably nothing. Your heart rate is strong, but it's... well, slightly irregular. Not in a bad way, it's just different. Have you always had an unusual rhythm?"

Guldrin shrugged. "Don't know. Don't really pay attention to that stuff. I've been through worse than whatever you're hearing."

Her curiosity piqued, and Shizuka decided to dig deeper. She wrapped the blood pressure cuff around his arm and inflated it, listening carefully as the gauge ticked down. Again, she noticed something odd. His readings were slightly lower than normal, but his outward appearance showed no signs of fatigue or weakness.

"Hmm," she mused, tilting her head. "Do you feel lightheaded or tired at all? Your blood pressure is a bit lower than average."

"No," he replied bluntly. "I feel fine, in fact, I feel great… Oddly energized and rearing to go."

She nodded, making a mental note. It wasn't alarming, but it was peculiar, and she couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was off. Moving on, she retrieved a small penlight and shined it into his eyes, observing how his pupils reacted.

"Your reflexes are good," she commented, though her mind lingered on the fact that his pupils seemed to adjust to the light slightly faster than normal, but what really caught her attention was the elongation of his pupils.

Finally, she decided to check his hands. She'd noticed earlier that his grip strength seemed unusually firm when he'd helped carry supplies, instead of carrying the average amount, he was able to carry way more than he should. Taking his hand in hers, she examined the callouses on his palms, signs of someone accustomed to hard labor. But there was something else, a faint, almost imperceptible glow emanating from under his skin near the veins.

"Guldrin," she said carefully, her voice soft but tinged with curiosity, "have you noticed anything... unusual about your body lately? Any changes you can't explain?"

Guldrin's expression darkened slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing. "What are you getting at?"

Shizuka hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal without alarming him, or anyone else. "It's just that... there's a faint light under your skin. It's barely visible, but it's there. I feel these crystals that we all have used are changing us on a fundamental level.

He leaned back, crossing his arms. "Even if that crystal from earlier is changing me, I will keep using it. I used it to keep us alive, and would do it again without hesitation."

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of the crystals. Everyone had seen the effects of the mysterious artifact briefly, but no one had fully understood its nature. Could it be that the crystal had somehow altered him? If it altered him, did it change all of them? She pulled out a mirror and looked at her own appearance for the first time in a while and noticed her feline-like eyes, "Oh, cute…" She mumbled but put the mirror away and planned to run tests on herself after she finished with Guldrin.

"Do you mind if I run a couple of tests?" she asked, her tone gentle but insistent. "I just want to make sure you're okay."

Guldrin regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Fine. But don't make a big deal out of this."

Shizuka wasted no time. She pulled out a small lancet and a collection tube, explaining that she needed a blood sample. As she pricked his finger, she noticed something startling: his blood wasn't entirely red. It shimmered faintly, with streaks of a deep, glowing gold and black coursing through it.

Her breath caught in her throat. "This... this isn't normal."

"Figured that," Guldrin said dryly, watching her reaction with a mix of amusement and wariness. "What's it mean?"

"I... I'm not sure," Shizuka admitted, her voice trembling slightly as she placed the sample in a centrifuge to separate the components. "It could be something related to the crystal. Whatever it was, it wasn't ordinary. Maybe it's reacting to your physiology in ways we don't understand yet."

As the centrifuge spun, Shizuka reached for her tablet, pulling up a medical database to cross-reference his symptoms, or lack thereof. The blood sample finished spinning, and she carefully removed it, examining the separated layers. The plasma, instead of being the usual pale yellow, was tinged with a vibrant gold and black hue. How black could be vibrant stumped Shizuka, but that only fueled her interest.

"This is... incredible," she whispered. "Your body is adapting to something completely foreign. It's like your physiology is evolving."

"Evolving?" Guldrin repeated, his tone skeptical. "That's a fancy way of saying you don't know what's going on." All while he spoke, he remembered the system's words about ¼ evolutions being complete.

Shizuka smiled sheepishly. "You're not wrong. But I'd like to keep monitoring you and probably everyone else, just to see if there are any changes, or side effects."

Before Guldrin could respond, Saeko appeared in the doorway, her expression calm but curious. "Everything all right in here?"

Shizuka quickly straightened, masking her earlier astonishment. "Yes, everything's fine! Just a routine check-up."

Saeko's gaze shifted to Guldrin, her sharp eyes lingering on him for a moment longer than usual. "Good. We need to be at our best if we're going to survive. Let me know if there's anything we need to be concerned about. When you're done here, if you could come calm down our energetic otaku, it would be a great help, I am afraid he is going to injure himself." Guldrin nodded, "Sure, for now, sick Shiro on him, she won't allow him to be idle."

With that, she turned and left, leaving Shizuka and Guldrin alone again. Shizuka exhaled deeply, the tension in the room was palpable.

Shizuka hesitated, then placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just promise me you'll let me know if anything changes. Anything at all."

"Fine," he said, standing and stretching. "But don't expect me to sit around like a lab rat."

As he left the infirmary, Shizuka stared at the vial of shimmering blood in her hand, her mind racing. Whatever had happened to Guldrin, it was far beyond anything she'd ever encountered. And deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

Meanwhile, Yuriko finished directing her group to their assigned rooms. As she passed by Saya, she paused, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"You've chosen an interesting group to align yourself with," Yuriko said softly. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Saya bristled slightly but didn't pull away. "I do, Mother. They're… unconventional, but they're capable. And they've proven they'll do what it takes to survive."

Yuriko studied her daughter for a moment, then nodded. "Just remember to stay vigilant. Trust is a rare commodity these days."

"I know," Saya replied, her voice firm. "But sometimes, you have to take risks to move forward."

As the night wore on, the group settled into their new surroundings. The warehouse was far from luxurious, though it beat where they had been slumming it by leaps and bounds, it was secure, and for now, that was enough. Guldrin had come out and made Kohta run around the interior till he dropped from exhaustion, much to everyone's amusement and gratitude for the accompanying peace and quiet. Conversations quieted, and exhaustion began to set in.

(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)