Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 123: Garvin!!!

Chapter 123: Garvin!!!

Scarlett stood at the heart of the city. The oppressive growls of monsters echoed through the air as they could feel Scarlett presence, not when she’s not under her invisibility spell too.

"What skills do I have again, System?" Scarlett muttered, her voice steady but low. Her expression was unreadable, her determined gaze fixed ahead.

Ding!

Loading host information...

STATS:

Name: Scarlett Jerkins

Species: Human, Monster

Spirit: 100

Physical: 100

Agility: 100

Defense: 100

Health: 100

Intelligence: 100

SKILLS:

Affinity: Water, Fire, Earth

Title: Queen of Monsters

Overall Rank: SSS

{New powers awakened with your SSS rank.}

{ Monster Manipulation: Host can now summon and control various monster species to aid in combat or other tasks. Communicate with monsters, understanding their thoughts and emotions. Enhance their abilities to make them stronger and more resilient.}

{ Enhanced Physical Traits: Host possesses extraordinary strength, speed, agility, and durability. Regenerative abilities allow rapid healing from injuries. Adaptation to extreme environments such as high temperatures, toxic gases, or crushing pressures.}

{Energy Manipulation: Host can use magical energy to cast powerful spells, physical energy to enhance abilities or unleash energy blasts, and life force energy to heal or drain life from others.}

{Shapeshifting: Host can transform into various monster forms with unique abilities or into human/creature forms to adapt to situations.}

{Dual Systems Integration: Due to the host causing her own death, Echo 3 has merged with Echo 2. All resources from Echo 2 are intact, granting the host full access to both systems, summonable at will.}

Scarlett’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Good," she murmured under her breath.

Just as she was about to ask how to control monsters, the system shimmered into view above her. Its interface flickered, displaying words in a strange, ancient language. The glowing red text pulsed with an otherworldly light, demanding her attention.

Scarlett didn’t hesitate. Although the words were foreign, they resonated with her deeply. To her surprise, she read them fluently. Each syllable rolled off her tongue like she had spoken this language her entire life.

With every word pronounced, the air grew heavier, and the monsters’ growls transformed into pained, guttural wails. Scarlett could feel the power within the words coursing through her veins, sharp and electric. She realized these were the same words engraved on the gravestones of monsters she had encountered at the cemetery.

Her ears rang painfully as the growls intensified, a dissonance so severe it felt like her eardrums might burst. Gritting her teeth, she willed herself to adapt and she did. The sound no longer overwhelmed her, though she couldn’t help but wonder if her group would endure the same. If not, she would be forced to face the monsters alone.

The tremors in the earth grew more violent. Cracks snaked across the ground as the first monsters arrived.

Towering creatures with long, spindly limbs and bulbous, pulsating torsos emerged, their eyeless faces tilting toward her. Behind them came swarms of small, rodent-like beasts with razor-sharp claws and jagged teeth.

One by one, the monsters surrounded Scarlett. Then, as if bound by some invisible force, they dropped to their knees. Their heads lowered in unison, their actions unmistakable: they were bowing to their queen.

The System screen shifted, displaying detailed information about each monster. Scarlett skimmed the data, committing it to memory before turning her focus back to the growing crowd. Her crimson eyes gleamed, glowing brighter with every passing second. A strange new power surged through her, a connection to every monster present. She could feel their strength, their instincts, even their fragmented emotions.

Her body began to shift involuntarily. Open sores and wounds appeared across her skin, and her form transformed into a zombie-like creature driven by an insatiable hunger for flesh. But Scarlett held on, clutching her sanity and reining in the transformation with sheer willpower. She has just thought of transforming into one of the monsters before her and she did immediately.

The once-static structures of the city began transform too as buildings turned into monstrous forms with jagged edges and horror features. Now, every creature and structure in the vicinity knelt before her.

Scarlett raised her hands, her voice clear and commanding. "Rise."

The monsters obeyed immediately, their massive forms standing tall as they awaited her next order. Their minds were open to her now, their voices filling her thoughts in a chaotic chorus. They spoke as one, their message simple and unwavering:

Give us your command, Queen. We exist to serve you.

Meanwhile, Kato, Larry, Ethan, Hunter, Ryder, and even Garvin who lacked any powers were crouched in a dense thicket of bushes, their eyes fixed on Scarlett. They all recognized her, despite the transformation she had undergone. They had been there when it happened, and even now, her monstrous form didn’t erase her identity from their minds.

"Unbelievable," Ryder muttered, his voice filled with awe and a hint of dread. His wide eyes reflected the chaos before them. "She can actually control these monsters... These motherfuckers listen to her. This is going to be one hell of a bloody fight." He exhaled sharply, swallowing hard as his gaze darted around the gathering monsters. "We’re lucky they haven’t spread this far. Imagine trying to hide in this forest if they had."

"Yeah, they all came from the cemetery," Kato replied, his tone measured but laced with tension. His sharp eyes never left Scarlett as she stood at the center of the growing horde. "The streets, the buildings, everything around her turned into monsters. From where Scarlett is to wherever they’re coming from must be completely overrun." He paused briefly, his brows furrowed. "When is she giving the signal? She knows we’re here, there’s no doubt she can scent us."

Hunter shifted uncomfortably, his face pale. "Are we really going to defeat these monsters? There are millions of them..." he whispered, his voice cracking slightly.

The others turned to him, their gazes sharp and unforgiving.

Larry was the first to respond, his voice steady but cold. "You can still go back to the others if you’re not brave enough for this. No one forced you to come. If you want to leave, now’s your chance."

Hunter swallowed hard, his throat dry. The weight of their stares made him regret his words. He said nothing more, keeping his focus on the scene before them. They were right, no one forced anyone.

Their attention snapped back to Scarlett as a shimmering invisibility spell enveloped them. They barely had time to register the shift before Scarlett appeared in front of them, her glowing red eyes burning with intensity.

"What are you doing here?" Scarlett demanded, her voice cold and tinged with frustration, her gaze hardened as it fell on Garvin. "You’re a normal human. This isn’t a battle you can fight without powers."

She turned her piercing stare to the others, her expression darkening. "Why did you let him come with you?"

Kato shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It’s not like we can make decisions for a grown man. He chose to come, so we let him. Besides, he’s been fighting with us for a while now. No point stopping him now."

"This isn’t a regular battle..." Scarlett began, only to be interrupted by Garvin.

"Forget about that," Garvin said firmly, his eyes unwavering as monster growls rose in confusion before tthem. The creatures were clearly disoriented by Scarlett’s sudden disappearance from their midst. "Let’s just focus on the monsters."

Scarlett’s expression softened for a brief moment as she addressed him. "Fine. But be careful, Garvin."

He nodded silently in response, and Scarlett’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned back to the others. "Let’s go," she ordered.

Without wasting another second, Scarlett vanished back into the throng of monsters. The group followed her lead, moving stealthily under the cover of the invisibility spell and soon, they began cutting through the monsters like silent reapers, their every move precise and deadly.

The battle quickly became a blur of violence and destruction. Scarlett, in her zombie-like form, moved with impossible speed and agility. Her razor-sharp claws tore through monster flesh with ease, while her fire and earth elements combined to unleash devastating explosions that obliterated everything in her path.

Kato, Larry, Ethan, Hunter, Ryder, and Garvin fought alongside her, their movements fluid and synchronized. The invisibility spell cloaked them, making it impossible for the monsters to detect their presence, and they used this advantage ruthlessly.

"Die you motherfuckers!" Ryder cursed under his breath as he slayed monsters like his life depends on it.

Well, it does.

Scarlett’s power seemed to grow with each monster that fell. She could feel their life force flowing into her, strengthening her with every kill.

Ding!

{Congratulations. Host is draining the life force of the monsters. By doing so, their powers and skills will be transferred to you.}

"Good," Scarlett muttered, her voice low but filled with grim satisfaction. Her hands ignited with fire as she hurled explosive elemental bombs at the advancing monsters, her eyes constantly flicking to Garvin to ensure his safety.

The monsters’ anguished growls filled the air. The stench of their liquefied remains made the group’s stomachs churn, but they pushed through, drenched in the monsters’ pungent fluids. They knew stopping midway would only mean death.

The group coordinated their attacks flawlessly, ensuring that no monster escaped. Their focus remained sharp, especially on the way that leads to the cemetery, cutting down any creature that tried to flee.

When the last wave of monsters loomed, Scarlett called out to the group. "Together! Now!"

The group gathered, combining their elemental powers into a colossal torrent of fire. The blazing inferno roared to life, consuming the remaining monsters in a devastating blast. The explosion rocked the area, knocking the group off their feet, but they didn’t care.

As the dust settled, they lay on the ground, their breaths ragged and bodies trembling. The battlefield was eerily silent, save for the crackle of fading flames. The last of the monsters had been vanquished, their remains dissipating into nothingness.

Scarlett rose first, her crimson eyes scanning the area. "It’s done," she said softly, her voice carrying an edge of relief. "We’ve cleared them out."

The others slowly got to their feet, exhausted but alive. Garvin gave Scarlett a tired smile. "Guess I managed to survive after all."

Scarlett sighed, shaking her head. "You’re lucky. Next time, think twice before jumping into something like this."

He grinned, wiping monster liquid off his face. "Noted."

But just then, he vomited a mouthful of blood which got Scarlett and the rest rushing towards him before he could hit the floor.

"Garvin!!!"

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