Chapter 261: Beast Trucks.

Later in the day, Zyra and a few others decided to go and see the best location to put the factories. Hunter shared that he knew the best spot that was not so far from the valley. Rather than squeezing inside, it was better to expand outward.

Following his suggestion, Zyra led the small group down a series of winding, forgotten corridors deep inside the shelter. Eventually, they stopped in front of an iron door covered in a layer of thin dust. She pressed her hand against the scanner, and with a heavy clank, the door rolled upward.

Achilles blinked, staring into the brightly lit, cavernous space hidden behind the wall. "A garage? You’re telling me there was a whole garage down here this entire time? We have cars!" He scratched the back of his neck, letting out a dry laugh. "This shelter keeps surprising me at every single turn. What, are you going to pull a plane out of your pocket next?"

Zyra just smiled and glanced at him, "Oh! I just might do that."

Secretly, her heart was beating a little fast. The system had gifted her four Beast Trucks a while back, but with everything going on, she hadn’t actually come down to see them with her own eyes yet.

As the dust settled, the light caught the dark metal of the first vehicle.

"Oh, wow_" Zyra muttered, her eyes wide. It was the first time she was actually seeing the vehicles. The machine parked in the center of the garage was an absolute monster. It looked like an armored fortress on huge, spiky all-terrain wheels, but the front of the truck was the real shocker. The entire grill was shaped like the skull of a terrifying metal dragon, complete with glowing red-light sensors for eyes. Big, hydraulic steel jaws flared out from the front bumper, lined with sharp, rotating diamond-tipped teeth meant to instantly chew up fallen trees, rocks, or any foolish beasts that blocked the path.

"I have never seen a car like this. It looks like a beast that is ready to eat us. Are we sure it is not a real beast?" Bianca mentioned, pushing Achilles towards its jaws.

He shoved her away, eyeing Bianca and the truck suspiciously. Elfy’s eyes glowed a little as she looked at the truck. "This vehicle runs on high-grade technology that is not of this world. It’s got a lightweight gravity distorter so a vehicle this heavy doesn’t sink into swampy ground, and an X- shield that can repel beast attacks, bullets and other attacks."

[Whatever Elfy Scorpion said is true.] Beauty’s voice chimed in Zyra’s head.

Achilles walked over to the side door, pulling it open. "Well, if the outside looks like a scary dragon, the inside must be_ wait, what is this?"

Everyone peeked inside. The front cabin had basic, functional leather seats for human passengers. But behind a thick reinforced glass partition was a sprawling rear compartment specifically designed for beasts. The beast seats were ridiculous_ plush, memory-foam heating pads covered in soft velvet, complete with automated back-scratchers and individual temperature controls.

"Are you kidding me?" Achilles threw his hands up in disbelief. "Their seats are nicer than the couches in my living room back at home! Why do the beasts get king-sized orthopedic luxury while we get standard leather?"

Zyra burst out laughing, her previous tension melting away as she patted his shoulder. "Because beasts take a priority at this shelter Achilles, you should be used to that by now." These cars were called beast trucks. Of course, the beasts got the best seats. By now, she had become accustomed to this.

Hunter laughed and urged the teams to get in. "Let’s not waste time. Zyra has training after our trip outside."

Bullet rubbed his hands together with a grin and climbed straight into the second truck. A chance to sit in a truck like this was one any man could kill for.

Elfy slid smoothly into the driver’s seat of the lead truck_ the one carrying Zyra and Hunter. Hunter stood right outside the open driver’s door, looking at her with a doubtful squint. He was not very confident in her driving skills at all.

"Look, Eggfy, maybe I should drive," Hunter insisted, gesturing toward the steering wheel. "I’ve got years of experience with heavy armor. Just hop over."

Elfy didn’t even look at him, her hands firmly gripping the wheel as she adjusted her rear-view mirror. "Orrakuns! My name is Elfy not Eggfy and the only person I trust with mother master’s life in this world is me. Move your legs, you’re blocking the door."

Hunter made a ridiculous face, mocking her voice under his breath with dramatic hand gestures. ’The only person I trust is me!’

Zyra couldn’t hold back a laugh at his childish mimicry, Elfy was bringing out his childish side. She gently motioned to Hunter, giving him a soft nod. "Let it be, Hunter. Let her drive. I am confident in her skills."

Hunter sighed, rolling his eyes, but finally gave up and climbed into the passenger seat.

Once everyone was buckled in, Zyra gave Beauty the command. "Beauty, open the exit."

[Yes host]

A sharp, high-pitched beeping sound echoed through the high ceilings of the hidden garage. Deep within the wall ahead, heavy gears groaned, and a big boulder_ seamlessly disguised as part of the natural cavern floor_ slid sideways with a heavy rumble, revealing the open terrain outside.

"How many openings does this place have?" Hunter asked Zyra.

Zyra shrugged and patted his hand.

In the second truck, Achilles stared through the windshield as the secret door disappeared. "I’ll be damned," he muttered to Bullet.

From the padded beast compartment behind them, Simba, Bullet’s partner in crime usually, leaned his large head over the partition, sniffing the air. "Boss," Simba grunted softly, "I know you told us not to ask questions_ but how did the Young Madam make all this possible? This shelter, alien trucks, sliding rock doors?"

Achilles winced loudly, turning around to slap his palm against the seatback as a stern warning. "You don’t need to know how," Achilles replied, giving Simba and Bullet a sharp look before his tone softened with quiet conviction. "All you need to know is that as long as Zyra is safe and healthy, we’re all going to live good, comfortable lives. She’s the real boss around here. Her safety is our number one priority, got it?"

Bullet nodded solemnly, and Simba let out a low rumble of agreement. "Yes, Boss!" they chorused together.

With a heavy hum of power, the beast trucks rolled out into the wild.