Chương 129: Flying Blades and Pot Lids

Under Vince's command, Zoe controlled the two severed spearheads, weaving them through the wreckage of the sedan like sewing needles. Though the blades occasionally caught on the vehicle's reinforcement beams, her previous experience allowed her to rip them free with ease. Watching Zoe grow increasingly proficient with these custom-made Flying Blades, Vince nodded in approval. Each blade weighed less than five pounds; her Energy consumption remained stable and well within acceptable limits.

"How's the feedback?" Vince asked, standing behind her. He watched the two streaks of silver zip back and forth, effortlessly punching through the car's sheet metal without a single chip on the edges.

"So sharp! And they look badass!" Zoe chirped, recalling the blades back to her hands, her eyes sparkling.

"They're much lighter than before, but because of the aerodynamic shape, the lethality hasn't dropped at all!"

"Then they're yours," Vince said plainly, seeing her excitement. He then glanced at his own Unnamed spear and added, "You should probably give them a name."

"Thanks, Dage! A name? How about Twin Poles?"

"Let's... avoid anything that sounds like a dirty pun, shall we?"

"Then let's just go with Flying Blades!"

"Solid choice." Vince gave a thumbs-up.

"You can set them to a high-speed spin for a 'buzzsaw' effect, or place them back-to-back to create a defensive 'Death Fan.' I'll leave the specific combat tactics for you to figure out." By finalizing Zoe's signature weapon, the team's overall DPS had taken a significant leap. The next step was equipping the rest of them. Vince planned to issue everyone a "budget version" of the Unnamed spear.

His own spear was a heavy-duty, solid alloy construction, but the others didn't have the raw Strength to wield something like that yet. Especially Cody, who was still essentially a "civilian." A fifteen-pound spear was too cumbersome for him, and Vince had no intention of letting him face Mutant Zombies head-on just yet. Still, a weapon was a necessity. Vince had Hank weld the remaining spearheads onto standard steel pipes, producing four "Budget Unnamed Spears."

"Whoa! There's one for me too?" Zoe asked, surprised to see a secondary polearm in her kit.

"Of course. There's another surprise coming later; you're our main heavy-hitter, after all," Vince said, ruffling her hair. Everyone was revitalized by their new gear. Even Cody was grinning from ear to ear; even if he couldn't master the heavy spear immediately, having it was a symbol of Vince's trust. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Vince... can I have Hank make me another standard pipe?" Cody approached him, his gaze resolute.

"The one with the spearhead is still a bit heavy for me. But don't worry—I'll train hard. I'll earn the right to wield that spear soon!"

"Sure. Listen up, everyone... if you have specific gear requirements, talk to Hank. We're all on the same team, don't be shy."

"Exactly, exactly," Hank chimed in, wiping sweat from his brow. Sensing the shift in hierarchy, he was quick to show his loyalty.

"We're all family here."

"Then Hank, help me cut another radiator pipe. Not too long—about five feet," Cody requested. He wanted it shorter so it would be easier to maneuver within the tight confines of his dumpster-defense and to save on stamina during long fights.

"The supermarket has some pre-cut pipes. Go grab one, and I'll trim it for you," Hank replied. He had exhausted his current supply. Ever since Ben learned where Vince got his raw materials, he had organized the survivors to strip the old radiator pipes from the nearby street-facing buildings. To find more, they'd have to head deeper into the residential blocks or check the supermarket's warehouse.

"Go ahead and grab it from the store," Vince told Cody.

"I'd like mine shortened too..." Seth added quietly. Though he wasn't as expressive as the others, the way he hugged the spearhead-equipped iron spear to his chest proved he was obsessed with the new weapon. The spears were originally standard length, but with the added weight of the new heads, the balance was off for some. Since Claire and Zoe had higher HP and Strength but were shorter in stature, their weapons needed ergonomic adjustments as well.

A few minutes later, the modified spears were back in their hands. Cody returned from the supermarket with a fresh pipe, accompanied by Ben.

"You guys must be exhausted. Let's eat," Ben said, waving a plastic bag.

"Flatbread with meat filling."

"Oh man, it smells amazing!" Zoe was the first to bolt over. She hadn't had a real meal all day; the scent of hot food made her mouth water instantly. The others weren't much better. Being Awakened meant higher power but also a much faster metabolic rate. Despite their snacks, their stomachs were growling. Cody handed his spear to Hank and lowered the RV's side panel to use as a makeshift dining table.

"Claire, come with me..." Vince stuffed a corner of bread into his mouth and pulled Claire into the clinic while the others were busy wolfing down their food.

"Ta-da! Take a look!" Vince picked up a "shield" from the clinic table.

"Wait—!" Claire looked at him, then lightly punched his shoulder with her oil-stained hand, laughing.

"You put so much effort into Zoe's weapons, and you're trying to pawn off a pot lid on me?" What Vince was holding was indeed the matching lid to the iron pot that had been smashed earlier that day—twenty inches in diameter, stainless steel. Unfortunately, other than the handle on the front, it looked nothing like a tactical shield. Claire knew Vince wouldn't just give her a kitchen utensil. She looked at him with amusement, waiting to see what "magic trick" he had up his sleeve.

Seeing the anticipation in his audience, Vince willed a black circular badge into his hand. Vince's ability to pull strange items out of thin air like a robotic cat no longer shocked Claire; she just watched with wide, curious eyes. Under her gaze, Vince pressed the badge against the center of the pot lid... Claire froze. Even though she had braced herself for something "unrealistic," the moment the two objects touched, she realized her imagination was still far too limited.

In an instant, the pot lid seemed to lose its physical form, dissolving into a shimmering, translucent haze of blue energy. Even after Vince pulled his hand away, the energy remained suspended in the air, vibrating as if contained by an invisible field. Claire stared, not even daring to breathe, terrified that a stray sigh might blow the blue glow away.

"What... what is this?" Claire's eyes darted between Vince and the hovering light. The scene defied all logic.

"The shield I promised you."