Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 136: One Mistake, And It’s Game Over.

Chapter 136: One Mistake, And It’s Game Over.

"And you’d better get used to it," the red-haired woman said, her voice low and serious. "Out here, it’s not just about surviving the monsters. It’s about surviving the humans who’ve become worse than monsters." She crossed her arms, her piercing gaze locking onto him.

After a brief silence, she added, "Anyways, I’m Georgia."

The man beside her, expression hardened as he gave a nod. "And I’m Noah , but just call me Scorpion. I prefer to be called that." His voice carried an air of authority. He glanced at Garvin and continued, "You should try to relax for now. By sunset, we’ll be out of this desert."

"I wouldn’t want us to get caught here. You’d do well to remember one thing, no one is above death here. Not you, not me, not anyone. You don’t know if you’ll be the next to go, but that doesn’t mean you just sit and wait for it. Fight for your survival. So, tell me....are you any good with a gun?" He concluded.

Garvin didn’t respond. His thoughts were clouded, fragments of memory flickering in his mind. He tried desperately to remember how he’d ended up injured, how he’d gotten separated from his team, but the harder he tried, the more the answers eluded him.

"The monsters," Georgia interjected, her tone sharp, pulling Garvin back to the moment. "The only way to kill them is to shoot them in the head. No matter how powerful they are, a shot to the head will put them down. But it’s easier said than done. It takes skill to land a headshot, especially when you’re up against those things." She tilted her head toward Scorpion. "He’s a soldier, a damn good one. Learning from someone like him could keep you alive longer. And even if you’re destined to die out here, at least you can take a few of those monsters down with you before you go. Call it a small victory."

Garvin heaved a heavy sigh, his thoughts once again drifting away. His mind wandered to Scarlett and the others. Were they still alive? Were they safe?

’Are they still at the cave?’ he thought, his heart sinking. ’Probably not, not if what these two are saying is true. Victor and some other organizations are back in action.

Scorpion’s voice cut through Garvin’s thoughts. "Anyway, you’re not in any shape to be learning anything right now. Get some rest. By the time you wake up, the sedative should have worked its magic, and I’ll teach you the basics before we move out."

Garvin frowned, confusion flashing across his face. "Sedative? When did I...." Before he could finish the question, his eyelids grew heavy, and darkness quickly enveloped him.

_________

Back at the mountains, Scarlett, Kato, Ryder, and Ethan had just arrived at the base. The vast land before them stretched out as far as the eye could see, barren and lifeless. The eerie silence hung in the air, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind.

Kato was the first to speak, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Are you sure this is the way Hunter went with the others?"

Ethan nodded confidently. "Of course."

"The car’s been gone for hours now. They wouldn’t have stopped here. This place is still too close to the forest. They know Maya would slaughter them if she caught them here. They’ve probably made it to the city by now." Scarlett added and heaved a heavy sigh.

The fact that she was still alive means that Garvin is still alive, hence if he’s still alive, then the other survivors should be alive too.

Ryder chimed in, his tone practical. "If they’ve already reached the city, we can’t keep walking on foot. We’ll need a ride."

Without hesitation, Scarlett made the arrangements, purchasing a bus for the group. They piled in, Kato taking the wheel. The vehicle roared to life and sped off toward the city.

As they drove, Scarlett’s sharp senses caught something unsettling. The strong metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mixed with the acrid stench of decay. Gunfire and explosions echoed faintly in the distance, growing louder as they neared the city.

Scarlett’s expression darkened. She clenched her fists, her mind racing. "The city’s always been a bloodbath," she thought. "It’s where the monsters are most concentrated not until Victor starts hunting them. But this... this is different. This smell, these sounds....it’s worse."

She glanced out the window, her thoughts filled with some of the survivors whom she knew are skilled . She’d always believed they could hold their own, that they didn’t need saving especially when the city isn’t flocking with much monsters like it used to. But now, with the overpowering stench of death and the thunder of relentless violence, doubt crept into her mind.

Kato’s voice pulled her back. "What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet." He glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his own expression tight with worry. "To be honest, I can smell it too. The blood, the smoke...it’s thick. And the noise... it sounds like danger."

"Danger?" Ethan asked from the backseat, his eyes wide with confusion. "And what exactly are you guys smelling and hearing? Are you trying to say you can pick up Hunter’s scent and the survivors’ scent from here?"

Kato smirked and glanced back at him through the rearview mirror, his grin laced with sarcasm. "We’re almost at the city, Ethan. Just wait till we get there, and then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about." He pressed harder on the gas, the car’s engine roaring as it picked up speed.

The group fell into silence as the city loomed closer on the horizon. After what felt like an hour, the car suddenly jolted violently. A deafening crash rang out as something with immense strength struck it, sending the vehicle flipping into the air. It somersaulted multiple times before coming to a stop, landing upside down with all four tires pointing to the sky.

The air was thick with a putrid stench, a mix of rotting flesh, fresh blood, and the unmistakable odor of monsters.

Ethan winced, covering his nose with his hand as he gagged. "I thought Victor captured most of the monsters for his useless experiments. How the hell is the stench of monsters this strong? It wasn’t like this before we left the city." He struggled to push himself out of the bus window. However, the moment his head poked out, he immediately pulled it back in, panting for air as panic overtook him.

"Monsters... they’re everywhere," Ethan whispered, his voice trembling as his wide eyes darted around in terror.

A sharp chime rang in Scarlett’s head.

Ding!

{Chosen members that have diverted from the original goal have started killing humans. The apocalypse world may be wiped out before you can build a safe haven.}

Scarlett’s expression darkened, her jaw tightening in frustration. The system’s words stirred an anger deep within her. ’This is exactly what the creator of this apocalypse wanted,’ she thought bitterly. ’They’re probably thrilled to watch everything fall apart.’

Her thoughts briefly drifted to Hunter. She could still pick up the faint scent of several chosen members nearby, but she wasn’t certain if Hunter was among them. Hunter was S-ranked, just like the others she could sense, but the chaotic scent of blood and monsters muddied everything.

Snapping herself back to reality, Scarlett took charge. "We don’t have time to waste." She activated her invisibility skill, shrouding the group in a transparent veil. "Even though this spell covers everyone, we still need to move carefully. We don’t want to get caught or crushed before we can regroup."

They quickly squeezed themselves out of the overturned bus, narrowly avoiding being stepped on by an enormous monster. Staying low, the group crouched beside the wreckage, their eyes fixed on the chaos around them.

The scene was horrifying. Monsters rampaged through the streets, tearing into fleeing humans and turning them into the undead. Gunfire erupted from all directions, walls, rooftops, and the ground as those still alive desperately fought to hold their ground. Blood pooled in the streets, the air thick with screams and the sound of destruction.

"This is hell," Ryder muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. His hands trembled as he gripped his weapon. "If this is where Hunter took the survivors, then they’re as good as dead."

Kato’s voice cut through the chaos, calm but firm. "You’d better stay focused. A single bullet to the head, and it’s over, especially if you’re on your third system. If I were you, I’d be vigilant. One mistake, and it’s game over."

Ethan swallowed hard, his body trembling. "What should we do? We can’t just stay out here then, it’s too dangerous." His eyes darted around, finally landing on a dilapidated building nearby. "What about there? That restaurant... can we hide inside? It doesn’t look like much, but it might give us some cover."

Scarlett shook her head, her gaze locked on the humans still running for their lives. "We’re not here to hide," she said firmly.

She turned to the group, her tone sharp but resolute. "Be careful, just as Kato said. Even though the invisibility spell covers us, it won’t stop a bullet from killing you if you’re on your third system. Move carefully, keep your head down, and stay alert."

Ryder hesitated, then asked, "What about Hunter? Can you sense him? Is he dead?" His voice carried a mix of hope and desperation.

Scarlett’s expression softened, but only slightly. "Let’s focus on surviving first. We’ll talk about Hunter later. If he’s trapped in a monster’s domain, I won’t be able to sense him from here. That doesn’t mean he’s dead, it just means I can’t say for sure." She paused before adding, "Now, let’s get to work. There are still humans out there who need us."

The group exchanged nods, determination replacing their earlier fear. Scarlett quickly purchased guns for everyone, handing them out along with extra ammunition. They loaded their weapons and adjusted their packs, bracing themselves for the fight.

Scarlett’s voice cut through the chaos one last time. "Stay sharp. Stay together. And kill those motherfuckers!"