Lazy waved goodbye to the 3 guys working up the road to the Walmart. Turning around he looked over at the buses and decided what he should do first. Getting back on the bus they slept on he removed the turret and rebuilt it at the center of the bus. He removed all the seats, collecting some metal, and even his ammunition table. He used his hammer to build 4 beds along the left side of the bus and decided to make the right side the station side.
First he created a cooking station towards the front of the bus. Then he put the ammunition, repair and clothes stations further down all the way to the back. After having the clothes station build he went ahead to change his look. He kept the cargo shorts but crafted some combat boots and combat vest. Looking through the tab he also created a mask. Just a faceless mask with a reflection.
After somewhat looking like his old character he needed to work on the outside of the bus.
Starting with the bus furthest away he started to dismantle it for metal. After dismantling 4 buses he started to enhance their mobile base. He added reinforced armor to the outside, a metal plow to the front and for fun a catapult on the back of the bus. It wasn't practical but could launch something super far away. He noticed you couldn't really aim with it but figured it would come in handy some where.
After setting up the bus, he wanted to check out his old school.
Walking in the doors to the main building he walked down a hallway with doors to classrooms on either side. Looking in and seeing Shakespearean quotes on some of the walls he figured it was the English hall. He walked out of it to the main room, the cafeteria. It's been years since he's been back the surrealness hit him. So many lmemories. It felt like two life times ago. He sat down at one of the lunch tables and just started to day dream.
Not much time lasted before he quickly refocused himself. Knowing where he was he left the cafeteria, passed a few more subject halls going to the science hall. Turning down the hall he heard something move. He quickly stopped and crouched down.
{Fuck this isn't good. If it's an enemy I'm kinda screwed. I can't do as much damage as the other guys. Well expect for Grimm. I hope it's nothing or else I have to run back to the bus or call someone to help me. I need to prove I can work on my own}
Lazy gathered his courage and started to head to a classroom.
{ I just need to take my time and get to the geology classroom. Hopefully I'm able to find the ten gems I need.}
As he got closer to the classroom he could hear glass fall to the ground shattering. The sound came from the class opposite from the one he needed to get too.
{Damnit Power. Thought you guys said this place was cleared.}
Not wanting to draw the attention of whatever made that noise he slowly pushed open the door to the room.
CREEEK
{fuck}
He quickly slide along the ground trying to get behind the door. Inside the room desks were flipped on their sides and upside down. He could see some of the display cases have already been opened and something shining within one. On the teachers desk covered in dust he could see one of the clear gem stones he needs.
Waiting behind the door felt king eternity. He waiting for a couple minutes before slowly getting up and creeping his way to the desk. While passing the door he noticed an electrical being standing in the hallway looking down the hall. It looks like a tornado made out of electricity.
Electric Elemental
Lv 14 Hp 275 Mana 340
{Are you fucking kidding me?!}
He snuck along the wall trying his best to hide. Reaching the teachers desk he grabbed the gem and examined it. It was indeed what he was looking for. He pocketed it before slowly walking over to grab the rest. Passing the door again the Elemental was gone. Lazy wasn't sure if he should be worried or relived. Checking the cases he could only find 8 clear gems stones.
{Damnit! Just need one more}
As he started to walk towards the door to leave the room he heard a humming noise coming closer and closer to him. He ran to the teachers desk hiding behind it. With some holes in the desk he was able to see the door yo the room. Startling him a blue electric hand grabbed the side of the doorframe almost pulling itself in the room. It glanced around before bending down picking something up. Another clear gem.
{ How am I supposed to steal that?!}
While hiding under the desk a message from Swift popped up scarring him. He bumped his head on the desk. Immediately replying to the message not telling him about the situation.
He peered through the hole in the desk noticing the elemental floating every closer to him. Seeing no other option; lazy immediately stood up holding his hand back to launch and Arcane Blast at the monster.
It looked at him with an expressionless face and blinked. Or whatever you can count as blinking for an elemental. It didn't attack but watched lazy has he started to take steps closer to the wall trying to circle it to the door. Just floating there waiting and watching him. As soon as he reached the doorframe he wanted to try something.
Reaching into his inventory he pulled out a clear gem in one hand and pointed to it. Then pointing to the gem in the hands of the elemental and then back at him. The elemental raised its hand in a gesture of handing it to lazy. When Lazy took a step forward the gem shot out with an electrical bolt hitting him in the chest and sending him flying into the wall on the other side.
From one attack his health was reduced by a third. He picked up the last gem piece and started sprinting back to the bus. The elemental was slowly following him as he ran. No matter how fast he ran, whenever he looked back the elemental was always a couple steps behind him. Bursting through the doors to the buses he slammed the doors shut trying to stall for time. While climbing onto his bus the doors exploded outward with a burst of electricity followed by the elemental floating out.
He ran to the crafting table and made the Arcane heart. It was a baseball sized oblong crystal gem. Finally holding it, he had no idea how to use it. Running off the bus the elemental lost track of him and was looking around. He sprinted towards it holding the Arcane Heart out. The elemental was floating there watching as he ran closer. As soon as he got within 5ft of it an arc of lightning shot out of the elemental sucking it into the crystal. As fast as lighting (pun intended) the element vanished into the crystal.
A female voice echoed in Lazys head.
{Where am I? What is this place? Why did you hurt me?}
Lazy was stunned. Looking at the crystal he could see it's now blue eyes looking at him. Inside the crystal was a blue black smoke with random bolts of lighting cracking within. It was now an Electric Arcane Heart.
{why would you do this} the voice repeated.
{Ummm….I'm sorry? I thought you were trying to kill me? You even lunched me across the hallway hurting me}
{I was curious about you and gave you the rock like you asked. I never attacked you.}
Lazy realized the misunderstanding and felt guilty for trapping this creature in the Arcane Heart. Making it worse he realized he has no idea how to free it. While pondering what to do he got a message from Power saying they are coming back and need the entire group for a surprise. He replied saying Swift is also on the way back with a surprise as well.
{Look I'm sorry I trapped you in this. I honestly have no idea how to get you out.}
The voice was silent and looking down he could no longer see any eyes.
{ I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?}
The eyes opened back up looking directly at him.
{Give me a body} it said in a demanding voice.
Lazy was taken a back.
{ A body? Mine?}
{No! Build me a body. Your race call them Golems. My race calls them Idols. I want a body}
{I can not make a golem body for you just yet. I'm not strong enough, but I promise to make one. What will you do once you have a body?}
The voice was silent again.
{Okay then. What should I call you?}
{Astap}
{Well Astap I'm LazyLockHeart but everyone calls me Lazy. I hope we can become friends}
{No.} Astap paused {I need to rest.}
The eyes in the crystal vanished.
{Hello?}
Lazy waited a few minutes without a response.
{okay then. I'll just carry the crystal and hopefully it talks to me again.}
As he tied the crystal to his side he could see swift coming down the road riding a baby DinoGator. His eyes widened.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!" He yelled to Swift. "YOU EVEN LEVELED UP SO MUCH!"
Swift just gave a look of pride and had the dino strut around showing off. While circling Lazy the two noticed the other members walking up and Nitro looking worse for ware. As they got closer The two noticed the skull that nitro was holding and Tantrum glared at him.
Both parties were in awe of one another. Swift and Lazy were shocked to see Nitro in such a state and the other three were a finished by Swift now having a pet. Lazy thought about showing off Astap but then decided against it. The bus modification should be enough of a shock.