[Chapter 7. Bloodbath]

  The slaughter was a symphony of chaos and carnage. Iris moved through the barn like a whirlwind of fur and fury, her claws flashing in the dim light, her jaws snapping and tearing. Meanwhile the Drone was on its way to another barn, just across the wide path. It broke through one of the ceiling windows, and started its assault on the helpless animals inside. The kill notifications rolled through the corner of his eye.

  She was a force of nature, a predator unleashed in a pen of prey. Her movements were a blur of motion, a dance of death. She was a killing machine, and she was enjoying every moment of it. He watched the notifications scroll past, a grim counter to the lives being extinguished. He felt a strange mix of pride and revulsion, a dark satisfaction at the power he wielded. The Drone had found a Pig pen with 200 pigs in it and started to cull them, with every shot another pig died.

  The experience was pouring in now, a steady stream of power that was both exhilarating and terrifying. He was getting stronger, one dead animal at a time. The Drone continued its work, a silent, efficient killer in the darkness.

  The notifications became a blur, a constant stream of green text.

  He could feel the experience coursing through him, a tangible warmth that spread through his body. He was getting stronger, faster, more deadly. The world outside the car was a distant memory, a faded painting compared to the vibrant, bloody reality of the farm. The Drone had now moved to the chicken coops, a flurry of feathers and death.

  The experience was a drug, and he was getting addicted. He wanted more, needed more. He was a predator.

  He closed his eyes, letting the feeling wash over him, a grim smile playing on his lips.

  The notifications continued, a constant, rhythmic pulse of death and reward. He was no longer just a man; he was a predator, a master of destruction, and this was his hunting ground.

  He could hear the distant sounds of the massacre, the panicked bleating of the animals, the wet, tearing sounds of Iris's attacks. It was a brutal, bloody business, but it was necessary. It was the price of survival.

  The drone and Iris, an unstoppable duo of death and destruction, a testament to the power he now wielded.

  He opened his eyes, the world around him seeming sharper, more vibrant. He could feel the new stat point, a tangible resource that he could allocate to further enhance his abilities. The notifications for the kills continued to roll in, a constant, affirming reminder of his growing strength.

  He knew that this was just the beginning. The world was changing, and he was changing with it. He was no longer just a man playing a game; he was a player in a much larger, much deadlier game, and he was determined to win.

  The drone hovered near the entrance of the barn, its blue lens fixed on the door, waiting for the next command.

  He looked at the drone, a tool of destruction, a weapon of his will. He then looked at the barn, a scene of unspeakable carnage, a testament to the brutality of this new world. He send the Drone to the next horde of Animals, to continue its designation.

  `Kill everything except Iris.′

  After each Level Up he wrote down his stats, the needed Exp to Level Up, everything of worth. Understanding is the most important resource,

  `Knowledge is power after all.′

  Searanox was now at 1,622/2,500 Exp. The Drone continued its work, a tireless, merciless killing machine. The experience was a river, and he was standing in the middle of it, letting it wash over him. He felt a surge of power, and he was just getting started. The Drone had cleared out the pig pen, and was now moving on to the next one, its blue lens glowing with an unholy light.

  Searanox's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his body tense with a mix of exhilaration and a strange, primal pride. The stream of notifications was a constant, addictive rhythm in the corner of his vision.

  He wasn't just watching a massacre; he was conducting it. Every kill, every point of experience, was a direct result of his will, his command. The power was intoxicating, a heady brew that washed away the last vestiges of his mundane life. He was Searanox, a Progenitor, one of the master of this new, brutal world.

  After what felt like an eternity of carnage, the notifications finally slowed, then stopped. The small Notebook slipped into his pocket, after he was done noting everything of worth. The drone hovered in the now-silent barn, its lens reflecting the gory scene. Iris emerged from the darkness, her fur matted with blood, her claws slick and red. She walked towards the car, her movements still fluid, but with a new, weary grace. She stopped in front of the passenger door, her amber eyes meeting Searanox's.

  "It is done, Searanox."

  she said, her voice a low, rumbling purr.

  "They are all dead."

  Searanox nodded, his eyes scanning her blood-soaked form. He didn't feel disgust or horror, only a strange sense of satisfaction. The Drone vanished into a cloud of blue sparkling embers.

  "Get in Iris, I'm also out of TP. You may want to sit on this..."

  He pulled a roll of Trash-bags from the backseat, and handed them to her.