Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 120: Maybe The Pregnant Woman Was Wrong.

Chapter 120: Maybe The Pregnant Woman Was Wrong.

Scarlett smiled warmly at their loyalty. She chose not to mention the risk of memory loss as it wouldn’t help now. Her thoughts turned to the challenges ahead. She knew the journey would not be as grueling for her as it would be for her group, but she was determined to protect them and rescue the humans trapped below. Failure was not an option.

Without wasting time, Scarlett stepped forward, her expression resolute. She dipped her foot into the ominous pit, and the moment her toes touched its surface, an eerie ripple spread through the air. The pit, once invisible to everyone else, materialized in its entirety, revealing a black void of swirling shadows.

Her group gasped in unison, their wide, terror-filled eyes glued to Scarlett’s leg, which seemed to disappear into the darkness.

"There’s... really a pit?" whispered Garvin, his voice trembling.

Scarlett turned to them, her gaze calm but firm. "Let’s go. Now."

The group hesitated, fear rooting them in place. Then, one by one, they mirrored Scarlett’s actions, each cautiously dipping one foot into the pit. The cold, otherworldly energy sent shivers up their spines. When Scarlett dipped her second foot in, the group followed her lead, submerging themselves completely.

"Arrrrrrrrgh"...

The descent was instantaneous. Darkness engulfed them, complete and suffocating. The air grew frigid, and a strange, howling wind echoed around them. As they plummeted deeper, the group couldn’t hold back their screams. The sensation of falling seemingly endless pressed down at them.

Scarlett, however, remained silent, her mind focused. She activated her invisibility spell, a shimmering aura cloaking them all. If they encountered danger upon landing, the spell would grant them precious seconds to plan and react.

After what felt like an eternity, they hit the ground hard. The impact knocked the air from their lungs, their bodies colliding with rough, uneven surfaces. The sound of their landing reverberated through the abyss, followed by the low, guttural growls of unseen creatures.

"Argh... I think I broke my neck," Garvin groaned, his voice barely audible as he struggled to sit up. His hand fumbled over the debris beneath him, a mix of dirt, shattered bones, and decaying flesh.

"Quiet!" Scarlett hissed sharply, her voice a whisper that carried authority.

The group, trembling and aching, slowly gathered themselves. As they rose to their feet, their surroundings came into focus or what little could be seen in the dim, oppressive atmosphere.

They were in a cemetery.

Rows upon rows of headstones stretched out in every direction, their surfaces weathered and cracked. Thousands...no, millions of graves littered the landscape, each exuding an aura of death and despair. The air was thick with the stench of rot and decay that clung to their nostrils. Faint scratching, scuttling, and growling sounds echoed through the darkness, setting their nerves on edge.

Garvin’s gaze darted nervously toward movement in the distance. Hulking figures with jagged claws and glowing red eyes prowled between the tombstones. Flesh and blood dripped from their snarling mouths.

"We’re dead," Garvin muttered, swallowing hard. "We actually got dropped right in the middle of them. We’re so dead...."

"Shut it," Scarlett snapped, her voice a low, commanding whisper. "If they hear us, you’ll make that a reality."

The group stilled, fear coursing through their veins. Scarlett surveyed their surroundings, her expression unreadable.

"You’re all under my invisibility spell," she continued in a hushed tone. "As long as you stay quiet and move carefully, we’ll get out of here before it wears off."

Her voice softened slightly as she glanced at the distant edge of the cemetery. "This place... is this the only part of the pit?"

Ding!

{No, Host. Similar to the surface world of Eridoria above, the resting place of monsters is a vast domain. Beyond the cemetery lies an entire city filled with traps and dangers. The houses and structures you encounter are not what they seem; they serve as lures, designed to ensnare the unwary. In this realm, nothing is real, neither homes nor organizations. All serve the monsters.}

Scarlett’s lips thinned as determination replaced the momentary flicker of doubt in her eyes.

Her gaze swept over her trembling group. Though their faces were pale with fear especially Garvin’s.

"Let’s get out of here, guys," Scarlett declared, her voice calm but firm.

The group nodded in agreement, their expressions grim but determined.

As they moved through the cemetery, they made sure not to make a sound. The monsters were everywhere, their glowing eyes scanning the darkness for prey. The cemetery served as the primary feeding ground for these creatures, a trap for survivors who were dropped into the pit. The monsters relished the easy meals, only venturing into the city beyond to hunt those who managed to escape the graveyard’s clutches.

Scarlett led the way, her invisibility spell cloaking them in a protective veil. She navigated the maze of gravestones and mausoleums with sharp focus, her eyes darting constantly to assess their surroundings.

Garvin, however, couldn’t muster the same bravery. His hands trembled as he kept his eyes squeezed shut, unwilling to look at the horrors lurking around them. It was as if he lost his bravery the moment he decended into this pit.

"Feels like I’m stuck in the worst kind of horror movie," he muttered under his breath, his voice trembling.

As they walked, Scarlett noticed something peculiar about the gravestones. They weren’t just ordinary markers, they were adorned with strange, glowing symbols that seemed to pulsate with an unsettling energy.

"What’s with the symbols?" Kato whispered, his observant nature prompting him to speak up. His quiet inquiry drew the others’ attention to the gravestones.

Ding!

{The symbols indicate the type of monster buried beneath each grave, their rank, and their origin. By reading the marks, you can also learn who they were on Earth and the circumstances of their deaths.}

Scarlett relayed the information in a hushed tone. "The symbols show the type of monster you’re dealing with, their rank, and their origin. They also reveal who they were when they were still alive and how they died."

Larry nodded in understanding. "The monsters used to be humans afterall."

As they pressed on, the group also notice an unsettling order to the cemetery. The graves weren’t placed at random; the area was meticulously organized into sections. Each section had its own unique theme and design.

Some areas were dedicated to specific types of monsters, with gravestones engraved with depictions of monsters. Other sections appeared to honor the victims of those monsters, bearing names and dates of their demise. The eerie precision made the cemetery feel less like a graveyard and more like a archive of death.

Finally, the group reached the edge of the cemetery and stepped onto an isolated street. The air was different , colder, heavier, and unnervingly silent. The darkness was so absolute that even the outlines of nearby buildings were barely discernible.

"Damn!" Ethan exclaimed, breaking the silence. He heaved a sigh of frustration, wiping the sweat from his brow. "It looked like morning in the cemetery, but out here, it’s pitch black. I can barely make out anything." He glanced up. "At least there’s some moonlight to guide us. This world’s a mystery."

Larry moved closer to Scarlett, whispering into her ear. "Are you sure there are people trapped down here? Or did we make a terrible mistake? Maybe they’re hiding in those houses." He gestured nervously at the looming, shadowy structures. "If they are, we should hurry and save them. I’ve got a bad feeling about this place. Feels like we’re all going to die here."

Scarlett’s gaze remained steady as she activated her shimmering map. The faint, glowing projection showed the layout of their surroundings. "Don’t even think about running into those buildings," she said firmly. "They’re traps, nothing more than bait for the monsters. And yes, there are people here. They wouldn’t be wandering the streets, they’re in hiding, protected by others with abilities like ours."

Kato crossed his arms, his voice laced with frustration. "We could’ve just killed the monsters in the cemetery," he muttered. "But I guess saving people comes first. Once that’s done, we’ll deal with the rest of these creatures."

Scarlett nodded, her crimson eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. "Let’s go," she said, her tone resolute.

The group trudged down the empty street, their steps echoing faintly in the silence. Scarlett’s glowing eyes served as their only source of light, cutting through the oppressive darkness.

After what felt like hours, Scarlett suddenly stopped, raising a hand to signal the group. Exhaustion was written all over their faces, their breaths heavy from the unrelenting journey.

"For how long are we going to keep walking?" Larry asked, his frustration boiling over. He doubled over, panting heavily. "There’s not a single soul here, not even monsters! I think we made a mistake coming down here."

Kato exhaled sharply, his arms dropping to his sides. "Maybe the pregnant woman was wrong. There might not be anyone down here after all. Maybe all we needed to do was kill those monsters in the cemetery and leave."