Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

(Bonus Chapter Due to Power Stones, Thank You to all who support my work! Special Thanks to all who have given me reviews. Thank you, your support keeps me going.)

Guldrin paced the room, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts. The decision weighed heavily on him, not because he doubted Shiro's ability to survive, but because he feared what exposure to this kind of world might do to her. Shiro had always been resourceful, unyielding, and fiercely loyal, but this world was unlike anything they had ever faced before. Emily's playful tone interrupted his thoughts, her tail flicking against his cheek. 'Don't keep her waiting too long, Guldrin. She's not the type to handle suspense well. You know how she gets when she thinks you're doubting her.' This confused Guldrin, but Emily quickly explained,

'The system has already offered her the choice to bond with you by becoming a companion. Before you complain, the system couldn't have activated this feature had you not wanted it. Even if you don't specify it, the system is connected to your soul and know what you want, apparently, better than you do or are willing to admit.'

Guldrin was shocked, so even if he didn't ask for it, Shiro already knew about everything. He didn't know how to feel about it, but it was nice not having to think about how to explain the situation to her. Though, he was pretty sure he was in for a lecture about hiding the system from her. 'I assume she agreed?' Guldrin just got a deadpan from Emily in response. He felt like she was looking at an idiot.

He sighed, opening the door to find Shiro standing there, her arms crossed, clearly ready for whatever was coming next. She met his eyes with a mixture of determination and anticipation. "I assume you've been deciding whether or not to bring me," she said, her voice steady but edged with frustration. "Let me save you the trouble, I'm going. If I understand correctly, we are married on a cosmic scale. I have no idea why that is possible, but I welcome it nonetheless." She nodded to herself, "How could a good wife allow her husband to run off to an anime world to pick up waifus. Yes, I know this world, even if I only watched half of it, and yes you will find girls you will like."

Guldrin opened his mouth to protest, but Shiro stepped closer, her eyes unwavering. "You said it yourself once, Guldrin. We're stronger together. Don't think for a second I'd let you walk into something like this alone. We WILL face it together. Emily…" She paused and looked at the cat, "She told me, you will have multiple wives and that I can't change it since… I am the second anyway…" Her eyes gleamed, "But that DOESN'T mean you can pick up every girl you like." Guldrin was so confused but just nodded his head, something told him he shouldn't argue if he wanted to survive this.

Emily chuckled softly, leaping onto Shiro's shoulder this time. "Well, looks like that's settled. The system's been waiting for you to confirm, and frankly, so have I. Let's get this show on the road." This was the first time since he awoke on this world that he heard Emily speak aloud.

Guldrin was shocked, filled with questions but knew this wasn't the time. He only hesitated a moment before opening the system interface and selecting Shiro as his companion to accompany him. It was a shock to see her name in the companion list, and even more of a shock to see she had the Toretto family name, along with the other hidden last name. Shaking his head, he focused on the screen as it confirmed, and a soft chime echoed the choice, followed by a new notification.

"Companion Shiro has been registered. As part of the agreement, both parties must accept the Eternal Bond to finalize."

"I thought you said she already agreed?" Guldrin asked his feline companion. 

"She did, but there is still a confirmation point, both of you must agree before each other with no hesitation and of your own freewill. She is already bound to you, but this is a formality for the system to bond to her. So you both could deny it, but that won't change anything. The only reason to confirm this is for her to gain the system as you have.

Shiro raised an eyebrow at the text, then looked at Guldrin with a smirk. "Eternal Bond, huh? Sounds a little... dramatic. I already agreed once, but this seems more… Permanent and binding; is there anything else I am missing, or is it all the same as before?"

Emily grinned mischievously. "Oh, it's nothing major. Just a lifelong pact ensuring absolute loyalty, shared growth, and, well... let's call it a permanent partnership, all what you know, but this way the system will bond with you as it has with Guldrin."

Shiro didn't flinch, her smirk deepening. "Fine by me. Guldrin? You in, or are you going to leave me hanging?"

Guldrin nodded, his voice firm. "I'm in. Always."

The screen lit up, and a wave of warmth washed over both of them as the bond was sealed. The system's voice chimed softly in their minds.

"Eternal Bond established. Strength, resilience, and skills will now grow in tandem with the shared experience. Companions are linked through a shared life force. Proceed to the next stage."

Shiro wasted no time diving into the system interface that materialized before her. A faint blue glow emanated from the translucent panels as she swiped through the options with an ease that could only come from years of gaming. Her analytical gaze flickered over the menus, her mind already working through the possibilities.

"This is... amazing," Shiro muttered, her voice laced with excitement. "Stats, inventory management, and skills; this is just like a cross between an RPG and a survival game! But it's real." She wore a slight dangerous smile on her face, her thoughts spiraling with possibilities.

Emily leaped from Guldrin and perched on her shoulder, her tail curling around Shiro's neck like a scarf. "Told you it'd be right up your alley. Just don't get lost in the menus. We've got a world to prepare for, and it's not exactly forgiving."

Shiro ignored the teasing, her fingers gliding through the interface. Her first stop was her stats page. The screen displayed her basic attributes: Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Agility, Intelligence, Charisma, Luck, and magic. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"These are solid," she said. "Not amazing, but decent enough for a starting point. And I can already see where I'd want to invest points. Intelligence and Endurance, for sure. Agility might be worth boosting, too, given the world we're heading into. But that will be for later, as of now I don't have free points to assign."

Her gaze shifted to the skills, hers were empty, save for (Hacking lvl 1) "Guldrin, you'll probably be on the front lines," Shiro mused, glancing at him. "I'll focus on support. Stealth and crafting will be key. If this world is anything like the anime, we're going to need weapons, medical supplies, and a way to stay unnoticed. I assume I can unlock skills by doing certain actions or some other unlocking method."

Guldrin watched her work with a mixture of admiration and amusement. "I knew you'd handle this well, but you're already thinking ten steps ahead. I shouldn't be surprised." He shook his head and admired her focused determination. His habitual habit of reaching for a cigar driving him nuts when there was none.

"Of course," Shiro replied with a grin. "This is my element. Now, let's see about the inventory."

She opened her inventory screen, the spacious grid waiting to be filled. Her eyes gleamed as she began rifling through the supplies in their garage and home, her mind cataloging what they'd need.

"First things first, basic survival gear," Shiro said, her voice taking on the authoritative tone of someone who'd played countless survival games. She grabbed a heavy-duty backpack, stuffing it with essentials: a first-aid kit, canned food, water bottles, a compact sleeping bag, and a portable camping stove. Each item disappeared into the inventory with a satisfying ding. 

"Next, weapons and tools." She grabbed a lightweight crowbar, a hunting knife, and a compact hatchet, placing them in designated slots. Her fingers hovered over a sleek compound bow hanging on the wall.

"Can I bring this?" she asked, glancing at Guldrin.

Guldrin looked at the bow and remembered when Mia got it for a Christmas present, sadly Guldrin was beyond bad at using it, but Shiro, she took to it like second nature. "You're a better shot than I am with it. Just make sure to grab enough arrows."

She did, adding a few quivers to her inventory. The weight calculations on the screen adjusted automatically, showing her how much room and weight capacity she had left.

"Now, some non-essentials that could come in handy." Shiro grabbed duct tape, paracord, a multitool, a solar charger, and a handful of glow sticks. Random spare parts, used wires and anything else that could be needed to get a car up and running. She even threw in a deck of cards, and a chess board. "We'll need something to keep morale up, too," she said with a wink. The solar charger will allow them to have power even if the grid goes down, even if it isn't much power. They can use it to charge a phone, flashlights, and any other small electronic devices. 

As she worked, Shiro's eyes lit on a small pouch of seeds tucked into a drawer from when Mia tried to get her hooked on making a garden. She hesitated, then added it to her inventory. "Might seem silly, but planting something, even if it's just herbs, could make a big difference in the long run."

Emily chuckled. "Thinking like a true survivalist. You're going to be the MVP of this team."

Shiro smirked. "Was there ever any doubt?"

With her initial inventory prepared, Shiro turned her attention back to the system interface. The glowing menus seemed to pulse, as if alive, responding to her every thought. Her fingers hovered over the options as she opened the "Skills" tab, her eyes gleaming with the kind of excitement she reserved for new game expansions or first-time boss fights.

The menu displayed a single skill: (Hacking - Lvl 1), which puzzled her at first until she realized it must have been unlocked due to her real-life abilities. Her lips curled into a sly smile. "Hacking, huh? Guess the system really does know me. This could come in handy if the anime world's technology is anything like ours, less, or even more advanced. HOTD didn't showcase much of it, but there's always room for surprises."

She clicked into the skill description and found additional context:

Hacking - Lvl 1:

Ability to manipulate simple electronic systems through computers, laptops, phones, or other proxies. Evolves into higher-tier abilities as proficiency increases. Gains synergy with Intelligence attribute.

Shiro's mind raced. If she could level this up, it might give her an edge over others in the group and world, whether it was accessing information, disabling traps, or even commandeering equipment. "I'll need to focus on Intelligence and practice it whenever I get the chance. If HOTD's world has secure doors or alarms in critical places, this could be the difference between life and death." Her mind raced with potential uses as she looked over the next section.

Scouting Perks and Passives

Next, she dove into the available skills she could unlock through use or points. Her eyes scanned titles like Stealth, Improvised Crafting, and Tactician's Insight, but one caught her attention immediately: Survivor's Instinct.

Survivor's Instinct - Passive Skill:

Heightens perception of threats, including detecting hidden dangers and evaluating safe zones. Unlocks with repeated survival activities or investing points.

"That one," Shiro muttered. "That's a must. If HOTD plays out anything like the anime, the group's biggest problem isn't just the zombies, it's the human element. Looters, rival factions, betrayals... I'm not about to let anything catch us off guard."

The skill was locked for now, but the system highlighted a list of actions that could contribute to unlocking it: scouting, observing enemy behavior, and consistently avoiding dangers. "Looks like I'll need to stay sharp. Good thing, observation is my forte."

Returning to her inventory, Shiro tapped on the "Equipment" which expanded into the "Loadout Management" option, which allowed her to arrange her gear for quick access. She grouped her weapons: crowbar, hunting knife, alongside the extendable baton as her secondary, and assigned the bow as her primary.

"Okay," she murmured, "so the bow's range compensates for my smaller stature. I'll need to keep the melee weapons handy for when we're cornered."

Shiro's face scrunched in thought. "But that's not enough. We'll need firearms eventually, but in HOTD's chaotic start, they'll be scarce, loud, and draw more trouble than they're worth. Still..." She tapped a note to remind herself: prioritize finding silencers and a solid handgun. Guldrin handed her the S&W but made sure to point out the lack of a silencer, keeping the H&K MK 23 for himself.

"Emily," Shiro asked, glancing at the feline perched on her shoulder, "are there any ways to temporarily boost stats? Like consumables or buffs?"

Emily yawned, her sharp teeth glinting. "There are. Potions and food buffs can enhance specific attributes for a short time. They'll show up in the crafting menu if you gather the right materials."

"Good to know." Shiro grinned, her mind already turning toward foraging opportunities.

As she finalized her preparations, Shiro remembered one critical element: the group dynamics in HOTD. They were entering a volatile world where alliances were tenuous and tensions ran high. Navigating that would require not just strength but social finesse. Not to mention the female population, looking like they came right out of a hentai. She paused and touched her own smaller chest and frowned, 'Useless fat, don't need it.' She nodded to herself and kept looking through the system.

She opened the "Charisma" section and scrolled through potential perks. Most were locked, but one stood out:

Negotiator's Edge - Passive Skill:

Improves odds of persuading NPCs (Non-System holders.) and calming conflicts within groups. Synergizes with Charisma and Luck. Unlocks through repeated actions of negotiation, conflict resolution, and successful trades.

"Huh," she mused. "That could be useful. If I can keep the group from imploding, we'll have a much better chance of surviving."

A notification flashed:

New Sub-Skill Unlocked: Team Synergy

Boosts effectiveness of group tasks when working together. Grows with continued leadership actions. Unlocked by planning, preparing, and envisioning the best way to survive as a group, (Other conditions hidden).

Shiro's eyes widened. "Looks like the system already knows I'll be the brains of this operation."

Bonded Companion Perks

Satisfied with her individual setup, Shiro examined the "Bond Perks" section. Because she and Guldrin were linked through the Eternal Bond, they shared a range of enhancements:

Shared Experience: All XP gains are multiplied and distributed evenly between companions.

Life Link: If one falls unconscious, the other gains a temporary boost to all stats to aid in their rescue. If one dies, the other will enter into a weakened state indefinitely, or until revived, (Reviving will take an immense struggle and resources, skills could be applicable) 

Synchronized Combat: Fighting together grants increased damage and reaction speed.

Shiro raised an eyebrow, impressed. "These are... actually kind of overpowered. As long as we work as a team, nothing should be able to stop us."

Guldrin chuckled, watching her enthusiasm. "You're more hyped about this than I am."

"Of course I am," she shot back. "You're used to this kind of thing. For me, this is the ultimate IRL gaming experience."

"I guess, but life and death battles are nothing to scoff at… One mistake, that is all it takes. Making an enemy who survives, it could end everything… I won't make that mistake, I will be brutal and accept the title of Villain if I must, but I will keep mine safe." A fierce determination burned inside his soul, he wouldn't be kind and lose his precious people, he would be ruthless and keep everyone safe, even if he must lose a part of himself in the process.

As Shiro finished prepping, the system chimed softly.

All preparations complete. Commencing transfer to designated world: High school of the Dead X–Over. Brace for disorientation.

Shiro adjusted the straps on her gear, her grin widening. "Let's do this."

Guldrin looked at her, a mixture of pride and worry in his expression. "Stick close to me, Shiro. This isn't a game. People die in this world."

She met his gaze, her eyes blazing with determination. "I know. That's why I'll do everything I can to make sure we don't."

Holding her close, they both looked at Mia and Letty one last time. Mia was sitting in a rocking chair, reading a book, and Letty was drinking a bear as she talked on the phone is hushed tones; most likely talking to Brian again. With a final glance at his Chevelle, he shook his head and decided it would be best to leave it here, at least till they secured a safe base.

"I have no idea how long it will be before we come back. But I pledge now that we won't die, we can't, it would shatter our family. Mia would lose all she has, and Mom, I have no idea what it would do to her, the only reason she hasn't done something dangerous is because she has to take care of us."

"You are right, we must survive." Shiro nodded her head and stared at them as the room lit up.

With that, the room around them dissolved in a swirl of light and shadow. The air felt heavy, thick with anticipation and the distant, ominous sounds of chaos.

"Welcome to the world of apocalypse," Emily purred, perched on Guldrin's shoulder now.

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