Chapter 10: The Storm Approaches
The horizon burned with dark energy. The storm that Arin had noticed after the ruins had now spread across the skies, churning with ominous power that made the air hum and the ground vibrate. From this storm, mysterious forces were gathering—factions, monsters, and rogue warriors, all drawn to the legendary scraps that Arin now possessed.
Arin stood on a hill overlooking the battlefield. His army of scavengers, misfits, and allied students had grown in size and strength. Shards of metal, stone, and debris spun around him like loyal soldiers, responding to his every thought.
"Everyone ready?" he asked. His team nodded. Lyra, Taro, and Mina stood at his side, each empowered by the legendary scraps he had collected.
"This isn't just about scraps anymore," Arin said. "It's about survival… and showing the world what it means to underestimate the Trash King."
The Battlefield
Below, rival factions had gathered—rogue scavengers, mercenary mages, and elite warriors who had trained their entire lives to dominate. They looked at Arin's army with contempt, expecting an easy victory.
Kael approached from the rival side, now part of a faction aligned against Arin. "You really think this will work?" he sneered. "You're a scavenger leading a ragtag army. You'll fall here, Arin."
Arin smiled faintly. "Ragtag? Maybe. But trash is never weak when it's in the right hands."
The storm above them pulsed, sending cracks of dark energy down into the battlefield. Strange creatures—shadows of the storm itself—emerged, attacking indiscriminately. This was no longer just a battle between humans—it was a test from the world itself.
Arin's Strategy
Instead of charging blindly, Arin surveyed the battlefield. Every piece of debris, every fallen tree, and broken structure became part of his strategy.
Shards formed walls and traps, funneling enemies into tight spots.
Scraps of metal and stone became autonomous weapons, striking with precision.
Broken carts and barrels exploded in controlled bursts, turning the battlefield into a maze.
The rogue factions were powerful, but Arin's army moved like a single unit, each member empowered by his leadership and the legendary scraps' passive enhancements.
Legendary Scrap Awakening
As the battle raged, the Heart of the First Scavenger pulsed violently. Arin reached down and touched it, feeling a surge of energy unlike anything before.
Passive power unlocked… Global Scavenger Mastery.
The shards spun faster, larger, and more intelligent. Even the storm seemed to respond, bending weak currents of energy toward Arin's control. Broken debris became weapons, barriers, and traps without conscious effort. Arin felt unstoppable.
Turning the Tide
Kael tried to lead a direct assault, but every attack was anticipated. The battlefield had become Arin's domain. Using scraps from the environment, he redirected attacks, trapped enemies, and even absorbed stray energy from the storm to power his shards further.
Within hours, the rival factions were in disarray. Kael fell back, panting, eyes wide with disbelief. "How… how is this possible?!"
Arin's army advanced methodically, leaving no one behind, turning trash into strategy and strategy into victory.
Foreshadowing the World-Level Threat
As the last of the rival forces fled, Arin looked to the storm. The energy pulses were not random—they were signals, as if something far greater was awakening. A voice, faint but chilling, echoed in his mind:
"The collector of scraps… the Trash King… your rise will bring balance… or destruction. Choose wisely."
Arin clenched his fist. "Then I choose to control it… all of it. I won't let the world's potential go to waste."
The shards around him shimmered, brighter than ever, forming a halo of absolute command. The battlefield was quiet now, but Arin knew this was only the beginning.
The Trash King had won the first world-level battle, but a far greater war—one that could change the fate of civilizations—was waiting beyond the storm.