Speed Is King

Immediately, Elliot leapt at the wiggling cocoon and slashed the spider silk that was keeping it hanging in the air.

SLASH!

Bam.

“OMPH!” A muffled female cry of pain could be heard when the cocoon hit the ground.

SLASH!

Elliot cut open the silk easily and ripped the cocoon open with his claws.

As the cocoon was peeled back, it revealed a dishevelled but still outrageously beautiful teenage girl in casual wear and completely covered in disgusting slime.

“KYAHH!” She squealed out in relief. “Tha- KYAAAHH!!”

She squealed out once more, this time in panic when she saw Elliot’s ferocious Primal Feline Warrior form which was twice as big and ferocious as a tiger.

Elliot immediately reverted to his human form and raised his hands slightly up to show that he was unarmed and had no intention of harming her.

“Hey hey, don’t worry! I am here to save you. I am here to SAVE YOU!” Elliot said loudly.

“How-how did you’¦ What are you??” She cried out in fear. But she wasn’t panicking as badly as before.

“I gained superpowers and can turn into powerful beasts. I’ll tell you more about it later. Now, do you want to get out of here?” Elliot pointed at the cave exit with his thumb.

“YES! Yesyesyesyesyes please!” She scrambled her way out of the cocoon and tried to stand on shaky legs.

“I’ll turn into a big bear so that you can sit on my back and I can carry you out. Don’t be afraid okay?” Elliot said soothingly.

“O-Okay!” She said with her eyes opened wide. Slight traces of panic were already beginning to appear once more, but she was doing really well fighting it down and remaining in control.

Elliot turned into his Black Bear Warrior form and lowered his body to allow her to climb up.

With shaking hands, and barely any power in her legs, she somehow forced her way up Elliot’s back.

Once she was safely up on his back, Elliot slowly made his way out of the cave.

“Hey, the little Master found himself a mate! Good on you!” Brock shouted approvingly when he caught sight of Elliot trotting out of the cave with a beautiful human female on his back.

“Hmmm. Congratulations, Master.” Winter nodded as well. “You’re a strong human. Your offspring will be strong as well. I wish you all the very best in making them.”

“Baby masters come soon? Ellie like!” Ellie pranced around like a little pony.

Rex merely yawned and made herself comfortable on top of Winter. For some reason, Rex and Winter had formed a strange master-disciple sort of relationship, but with none of the respect that a disciple shows a master, and none of the discipline that a master demands of a disciple.

“Be nice guys, she has just gone through a harrowing ordeal, and is terrified.” Elliot growled a warning in his mind.

“Of course we’ll be nice. She is our future mistress!” Brock proclaimed.

Elliot ignored his words and gently lowered himself to let the girl get down from his back.

“Are these giant beasts human beings like you as well?” She whispered loudly as she gripped Elliot’s neck fur tightly and refused to get down.

“All of you, go hide behind some trees! Now!” Elliot finally instructed his beasts.

Grunting and snorting, Brock slowly lumbered behind a small tree which barely covered even a tenth of his giant frame, and sat down. He looked at Elliot and the girl on his back lazily before looking away in feigned disinterest.

Winter simply slinked away and disappeared from their sight.

Apparently, the trick worked because the girl slowly made her way down from Elliot’s back. Elliot immediately reverted to his human form so that he could talk to her.

“They’re all my tamed beasts. Don’t worry, they’re here to protect us from the other monsters.” Elliot told her reassuringly.

“I-I see. That’s really good.” She nodded with growing enthusiasm.

“What’s your name?” Elliot asked her.

“My name is Camelia. Camelia Green.” She said.

“Camelia Green’¦ Sounds familiar. Anyway, my name is Elliot Musk. That big fat bear over there that’s doing a really crappy job hiding is called Brock. He’ll be your ride today. Hey Brock, come over and make friends with Emily!” Elliot called out. “Winter! Ellie! Rex! Come on out as well.”

To her credit, Camelia didn’t panic and tremble when the giant beasts made their way towards her and sniffed at her in a friendly manner. She even petted Ellie’s head several times!

“Are you from the village over there?” Elliot pointed in the general direction of the village he came from.

“Yes. My family, they’¦” Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her loved ones. But she quickly gritted her teeth and brought her emotions under control.

“Let’s go back and take a look.” Elliot said with great empathy. “If nothing else, at least you’ll get closure.”

Camelia looked at Elliot gratefully and nodded.

“There are still many spiders, three more Brood Mothers and a possible Spider’¦ I don’t know what it is called. Big Brood Mother? Yeah, there’s probably a Big Brood Mother still alive. It’ll be a horrible fight. Do you want to stay here or come with us?” Elliot asked.

“With you. I’m going with you.” Camelia immediately replied.

“Okay, here. Wear this armor, this Stealth Communicator, and take these laser guns. You’ll be placed on Brock, your job is to shoot at as many spiders as you can using these laser guns, alright?” Elliot told her.

“Laser guns? Good! I am a pretty good shot!” Camelia’s eyes brightened visibly at the sight of the guns.

Elliot raised one eyebrow questioningly.

“Wait a minute. Camelia Green’¦” Suddenly, Elliot recalled why her name sounded so familiar.

In the first iteration, Camelia Green once made headlines in the Apocalypse Survivor Weekly Update!