Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 118: I’ve Got A Plan.

Chapter 118: I’ve Got A Plan.

As the group ventured deeper into the forest, they stumbled upon a narrow dirt path. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Scarlett led the way, her senses heightened as she navigated the winding path. Her crimson eyes glowed softly, and the map before her shimmered, revealing the areas free of danger and those teeming with threats.

"For how long are we going to keep walking?" Larry finally asked, his voice laced with frustration. His exhausted expression matched his tone. "Fine, we said we wouldn’t bring the bus we bought yesterday since there’s nowhere to drive it with all the survivors lying around on the forest floor. But now we’re far from them. Wouldn’t it be better to just get another bus?"

"And where exactly are we going, Scarlett?" Kato chimed in, his brows furrowed as he scanned the surroundings. "This area is monster-free, and I can’t help but think the places with monsters are far from here. So yeah, I agree with Larry. We’re going to need another bus, a war bus."

Scarlett paused momentarily, turning to face the group. Her glowing red eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. "To be honest, there are several locations overrun by monsters," she said, her tone calm but firm. "We can only handle them one step at a time. About twenty miles from here, we’ll reach an area crawling with them. And you know what that means...danger. A lot of people are trapped there, unable to escape."

"Damn," Garvin muttered under his breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he glanced around at the others. "We’re only five in number. Sure, four of you have powers, but still..."

"There’s not going to be a problem," Scarlett interjected, her voice steady. "I can control monsters. And I guess Maya and Louise will have to stay by themselves these coming days. Thank goodness there’s enough food and other necessities to sustain them."

The group froze, their eyes widening in disbelief but they still nodded their head in understanding to the part of Louise and Maya.

"You can control monsters now?" Garvin asked, his tone a mix of astonishment and skepticism. "That’s... good, I guess. But still..."

"Yes, I can," Scarlett confirmed, cutting him off before he could finish. "Although controlling them is easy for me , but you guys are different and they’re definitely going to attack you all. And although I can control monsters, there’s still a disadvantage as when I attack them, they would retaliate because they’ll be confused about whether I’m truly their queen. Their queen isn’t supposed to attack them but protect them instead so me attacking them would make them confused. But don’t worry, I’ve got a plan."

Ethan, who had been silent up to this point, raised an eyebrow. His expression was doubtful. "A plan? What plan do we need again? Scarlett, I thought we’re just attacking few monsters like three or four but now it sounds like we’re going to be dealing thousands...no, millions of monsters out there. Thinking about walking straight into their midst is already making my skin crawl. We barely escaped Austin’s organization, and now we’re heading into more danger? This is insane if you would ask me."

Scarlett didn’t waver. Her eyes remained fixed on the path ahead, her resolve unwavering. "Yes, we’re going to be facing thousands of maybe more numbers of monsters. It’s risky, yes. But people’s lives are in danger. We can’t just ignore that."

Kato let out a heavy sigh, crossing his arms over his chest. "What kind of plan do you have then, Scarlett?"

A faint smile curled Scarlett’s lips, enigmatic and almost playful. "You’ll see when we get there. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. Or maybe I’ll tell you before we even set foot in the building where the monsters are."

"We can do this guys!" Scarlett concluded, with a warm smile, her gaze fixed on her group who nodded their heads in response. "Let’s go then."

The group although fear still lingers in their heart nodded their heads in agreement. Together, they continued along the winding path, their progress marked only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.

After several hours of walking without stopping or resting, Scarlett finally stopped, glancing back at the group. "Fine," she said, relenting. "We’ll get another bus. But this time, it’ll be a war bus."

The group watched as Scarlett made the arrangements. Soon, a massive, heavily armored bus appeared before them, its exterior reinforced with steel plating and mounted with machine guns. It was a fortress on wheels, probably capable of handling the challenges ahead.

"Well," Larry said, his exhaustion momentarily replaced with awe, "this is more like it."

Scarlett smirked, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Now let’s see how far this will take us."

Without wasting much time, the group quickly boarded the bus.

The bus roared to life, its engine growling like a wild animal. As it lurched forward, the group braced themselves, their anticipation growing with each passing second. The wind whipped through the windows as they sped down the deserted highway, filling the air with a sense of exhilaration and purpose.

Before long, the skies darkened, and a heavy rain began to fall, hammering the earth with relentless force. It fell like war drums, drowning the forest in its relentless rhythm, drenching everything in sight.

"I swear, the monster battle this time is going to be a hectic one," Garvin murmured under his breath. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as he increased the speed of the bus. Despite his focus, he couldn’t resist stealing glances at Scarlett through the rearview mirror.

The rain pounded against the bus’s reinforced metal exterior, creating a deafening roar. The windshield wipers worked furiously, barely keeping up with the downpour. Inside, the group clung to their seats, their knuckles white as they braced themselves against the bus’s occasional jerks and bumps.

Scarlett remained calm as she sat by the window, her eyes glowing faintly as she stared into the stormy morning. Her mind was focused entirely on the task ahead. She could sense them, the monsters gathering in the distance, their dark presence spreading like a heavy fog over the horizon.

"Everyone, get ready. We’re getting close," Scarlett called out after three hours of steady driving, her voice cutting through the noise of the rain. "Be prepared."

The group exchanged determined nods, their expressions tense but resolute. They checked their weapons, adjusting their gear in preparation for the battle to come.

Just as Garvin finally made a turn at the left according to Scarlett directions, her voice suddenly rang out sharply. "Stop the bus!"

Garvin hit the brakes hard, bringing the massive vehicle to a screeching halt. The force threw everyone forward, causing a few gasps and curses to escape their lips.

"Damn it, Garvin!" Ethan exclaimed, his voice tinged with both anger and exasperation as he clutched the back of his seat, panting. "You’re going to kill us before the monsters even get the chance!"

Scarlett ignored his complaint, her attention fixed outside. "We’ve arrived," she announced, her voice raised to be heard over the the heavy rain and rolling thunder.

The group raised their heads, following Scarlett’s gaze. Before them stood a towering building, its silhouette stark against the dark sky. The word "STADIUM" loomed across its entrance in bold, blood-red letters. The sight of it sent a chill down their spines.

"What the hell...?" Kato muttered, trailing off as his eyes narrowed at the ominous structure. "So there are no monsters outside the surrounding area? They’re all inside?"

"You can’t say that for sure," Scarlett replied, her tone even and calm. "Remember, monsters vary in behavior and characteristics. That’s why we need to stay cautious. But my map shows no immediate threats outside. Inside, though, that’s where they’re gathered. This is it. This is where we’ll face them."

Ethan, curiosity flickering in his eyes, stepped closer. "Scarlett, you keep talking about this plan. What exactly is it? We need assurance, something solid. I’ve already used up two of my lives. I’m not ready to gamble with my third."

Scarlett turned to him, her expression serious. "The plan is simple but critical. I’ll use my powers to gather the monsters in one place. But I won’t kill them alone. You all need to fight too, to earn your coins and grow stronger. We’ll attack together. However, let me be clear: once we start, there’s no turning back. We must kill every single one. If even one escapes, it could put us in danger...especially me."

She paused, her glowing eyes locking onto each of them. "The monsters see me as their queen, but any attempt to harm them will be seen as betrayal. If we fail to finish them off, they’ll turn on me first. So when we fight, we fight to the end."

The group exchanged uneasy glances before nodding. Scarlett’s tone left no room for argument.

"So, we sneak into the stadium," Scarlett continued, her voice sharp with authority. "My map will guide us to where they’re hiding. You’ll take cover while I gather them together. Once they’re all in one place, we strike."

"Damn," Ethan muttered under his breath, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "This is insane."

"It’s necessary," Scarlett countered, her voice firm. "Now, let’s move."

The rain drenched them to the bone as they stepped out of the bus, but they didn’t falter. With weapons in hand and their bags strapped to their backs, they approached the stadium. Scarlett raised her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, the massive doors swung open silently, revealing a dark and ominous interior.

"Let’s move out," Scarlett ordered, her voice low and deadly.

Without hesitation, the group followed her inside, their footsteps echoing softly in the cavernous space.