Chapter 39: 39 Discount Menace
The ground rumbled, pounding in Zoe's chest like a giant's heartbeat, each tremor unsettling the air around them.
Dust spiraled from cracks in the linoleum, curling like smoke as the tension thickened.
Below, the gaping void churned, shadows swirling as something massive coiled with predatory grace, an ancient serpent poised to strike.
A presence pressed against her, vast and suffocating, as though the shard itself were alive and watching.
Zoe tightened her grip on her staff, her knuckles whitened as she braced against the shard's pull.
The loud crack of shifting stone shattered the uneasy stillness, and the edges of the void buckled.
A chunk of ground heaved upward, groaning as it rose.
The team staggered, struggling to hold their footing.
The ground heaved and groaned as it rose, forming an uneven platform large enough to hold them as they braced for what was coming.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Zanden
Zanden Hey everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share some of the changes and updates I've made to Snack Powered Mage recently. You might notice that the writing style feels a bit different—leaner, sharper, and (hopefully!) even more immersive. I've been working on tightening up the prose while still keeping all the humor, chaos, and snark that makes Zoe's journey so fun.
The big focus has been on improving pacing without losing the quirky details that make the Zoeverse unique. You'll see more of Zoe's internal thoughts popping up, helping you feel her sarcasm and reluctance up close. The shard scenes are a bit more vivid too, with richer descriptions and more focus on how each character reacts in those bizarre moments.
I hope you enjoy these changes as much as I've enjoyed making them! My goal is to keep you all right there with Zoe and the team—feeling the tension, laughing at the absurdity, and snacking along the way.
Thanks for all your support. It means the world to me that you're on this ride with us!
Not going on break YAY!
I figured out what was going on & I am creeping ahead. Thanks!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone