Chef in the Apocalypse

Chapter 58: The brain is also a muscle

The group gathered around Colin, their faces etched with concern as they worked together to free their friend from his subterranean prison. The weight of the dirt and debris that had buried him made the task arduous, and it required the combined strength of everyone to carefully extract him from the ground.

Jackie’s tears flowed freely as they exposed Colin’s still form. Her trembling hands gently cradled his head, her voice quivering as she kept asking, “Is he okay? Is he breathing?” The sight of his motionless body stirred a deep fear within her.

Lianna wasted no time, her healing magic enveloping Colin in a warm, soothing aura. The faint light of her magic cast delicate shadows on his features as she worked diligently to mend any injuries he might have sustained during the ordeal. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she poured her energy into the healing process.

Jayce knelt beside Colin, his fingers gently checking for a pulse. The tension in the air was palpable as the group awaited his assessment. When Jayce’s eyes met Jackie’s, he offered a reassuring nod. “He’s alive,” he confirmed, a mixture of relief and exhaustion in his voice. “Just unconscious and exhausted.”

Lianna’s magic worked wonders, its healing touch gradually coaxing Colin back to consciousness. As his eyelids fluttered and his chest rose and fell with steady breaths, a collective sigh of relief swept through the group. Jackie’s tears shifted from those of worry to those of gratitude.

Colin’s eyes opened, his vision initially hazy before it focused on the faces surrounding him. He managed a weak smile, his voice a raspy whisper. “Hey guys… what did I miss?” His attempt at humor elicited a mixture of laughter and choked sobs from his friends.

Jayce slipped away from the heartwarming scene between Jackie and Colin, giving them the space they needed to reunite. He walked wearily back to the ice wall, his body aching with exhaustion. He sank against it, feeling the coolness seeping through his clothes, and let out a long sigh. The battle was over, and for now, they were safe.

As he rested against the ice, his mind began to replay the events that had transpired. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Colin, in his own ingenious way, had managed to outsmart the dire situation. It wasn’t that Jayce hadn’t noticed Colin’s absence during the chaos; it was that he had assumed the worst. But now, the truth had come to light.

Colin had exploited his abilities to the fullest. His taunt, enhanced by his Epic shield, had drawn the attention of the berserk wolves. The Immovable wall effect, combined with the shield’s durability, had allowed him to create a protective barrier while buried beneath the ground. A shield that couldn’t be moved and a strategic burial had given the party the time they desperately needed.

Jayce marveled at Colin’s quick thinking and resourcefulness. It was a plan only Colin could have come up with, using his skills and wits to his advantage. The smile on Jayce’s face grew, a mixture of admiration and relief. Thankfully, he had used the clues to guess what had happened, otherwise the big man could have suffocated if he did not regain consciousness in time.

The exhaustion that had gripped Jayce seemed to fade as he contemplated the power of their teamwork that had ultimately secured their victory. A warm light began to diffuse through the horizon, the sun’s gentle rays spilling over the surroundings like a soothing balm.

Lifting his head, Jayce met Colin’s eyes. Colin’s head was nestled comfortably in Jackie’s lap, and the look they exchanged conveyed a deep bond forged through their shared trials. In that unspoken moment, their trust and gratitude were palpable. With a playful spark in his eye, Colin managed to send Jayce a wink and a thumbs-up, a silent acknowledgment of their triumph together.

Jayce chuckled and shook his head, a mixture of relief and amusement bubbling within him. The turbulent events of the past hour had taken a toll on him, both physically and emotionally. Resting his head against the cool surface of the ice wall, he closed his eyes. ’A brief nap won’t hurt,’ he thought, allowing the fatigue to finally catch up with him.

Soft snores escaped Jayce’s lips, a lighthearted sound that brought smiles to the faces of his companions. Their laughter rippled through the air, carrying with it a sense of camaraderie that had only grown stronger through their shared challenges.

As they sat together, basking in the emerging warmth of the morning sun, they knew that apologies were due once Jayce awoke. Each had their own reasons for expressing regret. Yet, amidst the laughter and relief, there was an unspoken understanding that their bonds had held firm, allowing them to emerge victorious. The return of Colin, coupled with their hard-fought triumph, had united them in a way that even the most dire of circumstances couldn’t shatter.

***

Jayce’s consciousness slipped away, plunging him into an abyss of darkness. In this surreal realm, shadows danced and coiled, enveloping his senses. Panic fluttered within him, and his heart raced as he grappled with the disorienting sensations, feeling like a lone wanderer in an abyss of nothingness.

But then, the darkness shifted. Jayce found himself no longer lost in the void, but rather seated in what appeared to be an auditorium, nestled among a row of empty seats. He blinked in bewilderment, trying to comprehend his surroundings. His body felt constrained, as if held in place by an invisible force, allowing only the slightest movement of his head.

As confusion painted his features, he surveyed the scene. The vacant seats beside him created an eerie emptiness, and the atmosphere felt heavy with an unspoken anticipation. Yet, his attention was soon drawn to the figures that materialized in the seats nearby. They were shrouded in mist, their features obscured, but their energy radiated a frantic sense of urgency.

Although Jayce couldn’t discern their identities, the palpable panic that emanated from them was impossible to ignore. It was as though they, like him, were entrapped in this perplexing realm. Despite his best efforts, his voice remained trapped within, rendering his attempts at communication futile.

He had experienced something similar, back when Rubick had summoned him and the supporters to the hall at that time. Back then he had announced the World Quest, could it be that he had gathered them once more because Jayce had completed it?

With his body immobilized, Jayce had no choice but to remain seated and wait for the star of the show to arrive.

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