Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 137: This Is A Trap, No Doubt.

Chapter 137: This Is A Trap, No Doubt.

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

The group charged forward into the pandemonium. The sounds of gunfire, inhuman screeches, and the panicked screams of fleeing humans filled the air, creating an almost deafening symphony of destruction. Scarlett led the assault with unwavering determination.

Their first target was a cluster of monsters ripping into a crowd of terrified civilians. Scarlett surged ahead, her fire element blazing with lethal intensity. She unleashed a wave of flames that incinerated the nearest creatures, their disfigured forms collapsing as acrid smoke and dark, viscous fluids filled the air. One by one, the monsters dropped, their deaths a small but significant reprieve for the innocent.

Ryder, Kato, and Ethan followed suit, unleashing their own elemental powers in synchronized precision. Ryder wielded his power with ruthless efficiency, sending arcs of lightning to pierce through rows of monsters. Kato’s earth-shattering blows sent shockwaves that toppled enemies in clusters, while Ethan’s icy precision froze their targets mid-lunge, leaving them brittle and defenseless. Together, they cut a swath through the chaos, momentarily saving civilians before they could succumb to the monsters’ claws.

But the group wasn’t alone in the fight. Other chosen members, each wielding unique elemental powers, fought valiantly alongside them but some were been attacked by the gun men who kept shooting.

Amid the carnage, Kato’s deep voice boomed, breaking through the tumult. "Be careful!" His warning was punctuated by a devastating blow that sent debris and monsters flying.

Kato didn’t stop there. Through their mental link, he reached out to Scarlett, his tone laced with unease. "Did you see that? Being an ordinary S-ranked chosen is practically a death sentence out here. If they were SS-ranked like us, they might stand a chance. Our heightened senses and reflexes give us just enough edge to detect danger and avoid those damn bullets."

Scarlett’s response was immediate, sharp, and unyielding. "You and I both know that we can scent S-ranked chosen members. And the scent we picked up when we arrived hasn’t changed, which means they’re still alive. Although some had sustained injuries, but they’re still alive . They’re being smart, rotating their elemental powers with firearms to avoid drawing attention to themselves."

"Victor can’t scent them either unless they reveal themselves." Scarlett continued, her focus never wavering as she spoke, her fire element taking out another wave of monsters. Between her bursts of flame, she seamlessly switched to her firearm, conserving her energy while taking down targets with lethal precision.

She wasn’t just fighting monsters; she was managing the battlefield. Scarlett knew she had a responsibility not only to herself but to her group. She was their leader, and they followed her every move. Her two-system advantage made her almost untouchable in this chaos as well as being the queen of monsters, but the same couldn’t be said for the others. If she faltered, so would they. Besides, she could control monsters and just wipe them out in a swift, but the same can’t be said about the guards shooting guns.

Kato pressed on, unwilling to let the conversation drop. "True, but if these chosen members were SS-ranked, Victor wouldn’t be able to take them down so easily."

Scarlett didn’t dignify him with another response. Instead, she slammed the mental link shut, blocking him out. His words were distractions, and distractions could get them all killed...not her actually but other chosen members as well as lots of survivors.

Her thoughts shifted to the true enemy. Victor isn’t here. His soldiers are doing the dirty work. Her crimson eyes gleamed as she activated her enhanced vision, scanning the battlefield. Amid the chaos, she spotted them...groups of soldiers stationed at strategic points, firing indiscriminately. They wore uniforms of varying colors: blue, red, and other distinct hues. It wasn’t just Victor’s men out here; other factions were involved, each with their own agenda.

Without hesitation, Scarlett activated her teleportation ability, vanishing from her group and reappearing behind one of the soldiers. Before he could react, she engulfed him in flames, his screams cut short as he crumpled. She moved swiftly, teleporting from one target to the next, leaving a trail of scorched bodies in her wake. She was a blur of crimson and fire, eliminating soldiers with surgical precision.

By the time she was done, only five soldiers remained, each representing different factions. Instead of killing them, Scarlett knocked them unconscious and cloaked their bodies in her invisibility field.

Meanwhile, her team continued the fight against the monsters. Without the soldiers’ gunfire thinning their ranks, the battle shifted in their favor. The remaining monsters, though still a threat, were no match for Scarlett’s group. One by one, they were cut down until none remained.

As the dust settled, Ryder lowered his weapon, his expression one of confusion. "What the hell just happened?" he asked, glancing around. "Where are the soldiers shooting at us. Were they waiting for us to finish off the monsters? Or did they just give up?"

Kato’s eyes narrowed, his expression calculating. "Scarlett took care of them. She’s been using her teleportation skill to take out the soldiers from behind. That’s why we’re not getting shot at anymore."

Ethan’s eyes widened in awe. "Woah! That’s... impressive. Damn, I’d almost forgotten we’ve got an actual leader among us. For a second there, I thought we were all screwed." He let out a shaky breath, still clutching his weapon tightly. "I was already wondering how the hell we’d take out those bastards shooting at us. Thought my number was up."

The sound of civilians still running for their lives echoed around them, their cries mingling with the faint groans of dying monsters. Other S-ranked chosen members could be seen moving through the chaos, their expressions a mix of relief and wariness as they noticed the sudden absence of gunfire. They didn’t linger, though. They knew better than to trust the silence. Instead, they focused on shepherding survivors away from the battlefield, their movements hurried and efficient.

Kato, Ethan, and Ryder remained hidden under Scarlett’s invisibility skill, watching from the shadows. This was no time to form alliances with the other chosen, even those who shared their rank. Scarlett was their leader. an SSS rank, the highest and rarest and their mission was clear. Saving people now would only be a temporary victory. The real solution was to dismantle the organizations controlling the apocalypse. To do that, they needed to locate the bases of every boss and eliminate them. The faster they did this, the safer the world would be for survivors.

Scarlett reappeared a few moments later, her form materializing out of thin air. Her invisibility still cloaked her group, shielding them from prying eyes. She stood in the center of the group, five burly men in tow. Each wore distinct uniforms that marked them as soldiers from different organizations. Scarlett’s expression was grim as she spoke. "These five represent five different organizations. But make no mistake, they’re just pawns in a much larger game. Victor and the other leaders are still out there, pulling the strings. And they won’t stop until he achieves his goal."

Kato stepped forward, his gaze locking onto one of the soldiers whose uniform bore Victor’s insignia, boldly emblazoned on his chest. A smirk spread across Kato’s face as he crouched in front of the man. "Let’s start with you," he said, his tone casual but laced with menace. "Where’s your boss’s base?"

The soldier didn’t hesitate. His hand dipped into his pocket, retrieving a folded piece of paper, which he handed to Kato without a word. Kato took it, unfolding the map and studying it closely. His smirk grew. "Well, that was easy," he muttered.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, his arms crossed. "You handed that over a little too quickly. What’s your boss planning? Is he expecting us?" His tone was sharp, his annoyance barely concealed.

The soldier’s deep voice rumbled as he replied, his gaze fixed on Scarlett. "He’s expecting you."

Ryder, standing to the side, pointed to the other four soldiers, his eyes narrowing. "And what about you? Hand over your maps too. We need all the information we can get."

The four men exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. They said nothing, their silence stretching on.

Ryder’s frustration boiled over. "Are you deaf? You’re in our hands now. Death is the only thing waiting for you if you don’t cooperate. Start talking!" His voice was filled with barely restrained anger as he stepped forward, grabbing one of the men by the collar. He yanked the soldier’s head back, prying his mouth open as if to intimidate him into speaking but froze when he saw the empty space where the man’s tongue should have been.

"What the hell...?" Ryder muttered, his shock evident.

Ethan’s brow furrowed at Ryder’s sudden change in demeanor. "What’s wrong?" he asked, stepping closer.

Ryder didn’t answer. Instead, he moved to the next soldier, forcing his mouth open. His stomach churned as he confirmed his suspicions. "They don’t have tongues," he said finally, his voice hollow. "None of them do except for Victor’s soldier."

Scarlett’s gaze hardened, her crimson eyes flickering with anger.

Before anyone could respond, a soft, rhythmic beeping sound filled the air. Scarlett’s head snapped up, her senses on high alert. "Get back!" she shouted to her group who moved away from the soldiers immediately.

The soldiers’ heads exploded in unison, the beeping reaching a crescendo just before the detonation. Blood and fragments of bone splattered across the street, painting the ground in horror patterns. The lifeless bodies crumpled to the ground, leaving only silence in their wake.

Ethan staggered back, his knees giving out as he dropped to the ground. "Holy shit!" he yelled, his voice trembling.

Scarlett let out a heavy sigh, wiping blood from her face with the back of her hand. "It’s clear now," she said, her tone cold and resolute. "Victor wants us to know about his organization. He’s baiting us. But the other leaders? They’re smarter. They don’t want us anywhere near their bases but I bet they got other plans though."

Her eyes flicked to Kato, who still held the map Victor’s soldier had given them. She snatched it from his hands, unfolding it and studying the contents. "This is a trap no doubt," she said bluntly. "Anyways, soldiers are still out there, killing humans. We need a plan."

Kato folded his arms across his chest, a smug grin spreading across his eyes scanned the bodies of the dead soldiers.