Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 165: You Have Found The Safe Haven.

Chapter 165: You Have Found The Safe Haven.

They followed closely, their only thought now being escape at all costs.

As they emerged from the organization’s underground stronghold, the leaders were greeted by blinding sunlight. Yet, none of them spared a second to question how the night had suddenly turned to day. Panic gripped them, overriding reason, and they all sprinted towards their parked cars scattered far from the building, thanks to Kato’s strict refusal to allow vehicles near his organization’s perimeter.

Scarlett and Garvin stood amidst the chaos, watching with a mixture of amusement and disdain as the once-mighty leaders fled in a desperate scramble. Without hesitation, the two unleashed a devastating attack, combining their three elemental powers into a single, earth-shattering strike. The force sent the stationed guards crashing to the ground, unconscious in an instant.

Scarlett smirked as she observed the fleeing figures. "They have no idea what’s coming," she remarked, her voice laced with dark amusement. "They really believe I’ll free them?"

Garvin let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation. "Oh, they’ll find out soon enough," he said, his tone dripping with menace.

Scarlett turned to him, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "So, what’s your plan? You said you’re going to show me."

Garvin’s lips curled into a smirk as he watched their targets run for their lives. "Treat this as a hunting ground," he said, his voice smooth and brimming with sadistic excitement. He tilted his head toward the leaders. "And those motherfuckers? They’re the prey."

Without another word, he accessed Scarlett system, now a shared interface. He instantly materialized an AK-47 in his hands. He ran his fingers over the sleek weapon, his smirk widening. "I want to see them run in terror while I take them down, one by one."

Scarlett let out an amused chuckle, summoning her own firearm through the system. "Sounds fun," she said, cocking the gun effortlessly. "But remember, we’re not killing them all. The heavenly blast will take care of the rest. We let divine judgment sort the irredeemable from the ones who still have a chance."

Garvin gave an exaggerated sigh, though his smirk remained. "Fair enough," he said, raising his gun. "As long as I get to enjoy the chase."

With that, they both opened fire, the sharp crack of bullets slicing through the air as they targeted the fleeing organization leaders. One by one, bodies collapsed, lifeless, until half of the leaders lay sprawled across the ground. Only a handful remained, running with every ounce of strength they could muster.

Scarlett and Garvin lifted their gazes toward the sky, an eerie silence settling over them. Then, in perfect unison, they whispered:

"The Heavenly Blast is about to begin."

At that very moment, the earth trembled violently beneath them. The once-bright sunlight vanished in an instant, replaced by an abyss of darkness. The ground split apart without warning, gaping cracks forming beneath their feet as if the world itself had reached its breaking point.

A deafening explosion followed, a cataclysmic roar. The apocalypse had reached its peak, and now, everything was unraveling.

Scarlett barely had time to react before the ground gave way beneath her. A split second later, she and Garvin were swallowed whole, plunging into the abyss as debris and fire rained down around them.

_________________

A golden-haired figure lay motionless on the soft earth, her breath shallow but steady. Beside her, another figure, a man with disheveled, burnt-brown hair remained equally still.

Slowly, their eyelids fluttered.

Then, with a sharp inhale, their eyes snapped open.

Scarlett and Garvin sat up simultaneously, their movements tense as they scanned their surroundings. What they saw left them utterly bewildered.

Lush greenery stretched endlessly before them, bathed in the soft golden glow of morning sunlight. Vibrant flowers bloomed in every direction, their petals swaying in the breeze. A serene river glistened nearby, its waters reflecting the clear blue sky. Birds flitted about, singing sweet melodies, songs that felt entirely foreign after the chaos they had just endured.

Garvin was the first to speak, his voice filled with concern as he reached out, resting a firm hand on Scarlett’s shoulder. His sharp gaze locked onto hers.

"Are you okay?"

Scarlett blinked a few times before nodding. "Yeah," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of confusion in her mind.

Garvin let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Good."

She tilted her head slightly, studying his expression. "Are you okay too?"

Garvin gave a brief nod, but his eyes still darting around, scanning their unfamiliar surroundings.

Scarlett frowned, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Where are we?" she whispered.

Garvin shook his head. "I don’t know," he admitted, his voice low. "But this definitely isn’t the apocalypse world."

They both rose to their feet, brushing dirt and debris from their clothes. As Scarlett’s sharp eyes scanned the land, something unusual caught her attention.

Animals.

A group of goats wandered lazily near the riverbank, while cows grazed peacefully a short distance away. A few dogs trotted by, entirely unbothered by their presence.

Scarlett’s breath hitched.

She rubbed her eyes, half-expecting the vision before her to disappear like a cruel illusion.

But it remained.

"This... isn’t possible," she muttered under her breath. "Did we...." She hesitated, her voice faltering before she could finish the thought. Then, finally, she forced herself to say it. "Did we get transmigrated to another world again?!"

Garvin let out a short, humorless chuckle, placing his hands on his waist. "You should say something now, system. And if this is a dream..." He exhaled. "I really don’t want to wake up."

Scarlett turned to him, eyes widening slightly in realization. She let out a breath of relief. At least she wouldn’t have to waste time explaining the system to him. Whatever had happened, the system had granted him the knowledge necessary to keep up.

Just then, a faint chime rang in their ears, and a translucent holographic screen materialized before them.

{Congratulations, host. You have found the Safe Haven.}

Scarlett and Garvin froze.

Then, in perfect unison, they shouted....

"Safe Haven?!"

A moment of stunned silence followed before they turned toward each other, eyes wide with disbelief. And then, as the realization sank in, joy erupted in their expressions.

Scarlett let out an elated laugh as Garvin grabbed her by the waist, spinning her around before pulling her into a tight embrace. They giggled like children, happiness radiating off them in waves.

They had done it.

They had found a way out of the apocalypse.

After a few moments, Scarlett pulled back slightly, her face still alight with happiness. "How did we end up here?" she asked. "Did this happen because we eradicated all the corrupted chosen members? Is that what led us to the Safe Haven?"

She paused before adding, "And what about the apocalypse world? It felt like it was being torn apart before we left. Are the other survivors safe? Or did we make a terrible mistake?"

The system responded instantly.

{Everyone in the apocalypse world is safe, host. Now that you have found the Safe Haven, the chaos has come to an end. The Heavenly Blast only targeted those corrupted leaders who had sealed their fate. They are no more.}

Scarlett exhaled, her shoulders relaxing.

{As for how you found the Safe Haven... it is due to your combined efforts.}

Garvin arched an eyebrow. "Our effort?" he repeated, frowning. "We didn’t really do anything. That’s why we’re asking if we found the Safe Haven just because we eliminated the corrupted leaders."

A soft chime echoed in the air.

{Oh, but you did, hosts.}

A brief pause.

{You both came together as one. That opened the pathway to the Safe Haven.}

Scarlett and Garvin exchanged confused glances.

And then....

Ding!

{Your sexual intercourse is what unlocked the Safe Haven.}

Silence.

Scarlett and Garvin swallowed hard.

Their faces turned bright red.

Garvin let out a strangled cough, while Scarlett instinctively covered her face with her hands.

{Now that you are here, you will need to begin building a city for the remaining chosen members. You can use the resources you have and those that will be acquired by others who join you.}

Scarlett quickly regained her composure, trying to push past her embarrassment. "Okay, fine," she said, exhaling. "I’m glad we found the Safe Haven. But how do we return here if we leave? And how do we bring the survivors here?"

Garvin, still red-faced, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that’s important. We need to know how to travel between both worlds. What’s the name of this safe haven as I guess that will make it possible to travel between the two world."

{That is simple, host. To leave, you only need to think about returning to the apocalypse world, and you will be transported there immediately. You can try it now if you want as it’ll come to pass. I know you’ve been trying it in your mind before all to bo avail and that’s because I’m not done explaining things to you. However...}

Scarlett’s stomach twisted at the pause.

{To return to the Safe Haven, you must come together again.}

Scarlett frowned. "Come together?"

{Yes. You must become intimate once more. Your union is the key to the Safe Haven.}

Silence.

A long, heavy silence.

And then....

"WHAT?!"

Scarlett and Garvin shouted at the same time, their voices carrying across the open field as their faces burned with renewed embarrassment.

Scarlett groaned, burying her face in her hands. "You’re telling me we have to do... that... every single time just to get back here?!"

{Yes. Your previous union granted you access for three days. After that, you will need to renew your ’visa’ by engaging in intimacy once again.}

Garvin ran a hand through his hair, still in utter disbelief. "So, you’re telling us that if we want to bring survivors here, we have to..."

{Yes.}