Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 174: I’ll Sacrifice Myself.

Chapter 174: I’ll Sacrifice Myself.

"Her blood is the key to the Permanent Safe Haven door. Her death is the key."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence, silencing the group. Scarlett’s face remained impassive, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of pain.

Garvin was the first to break the silence, his voice laced with fury and desperation. "No way. We’re not sacrificing her. That’s bullshit!"

Louise chuckled, his expression amused as his cold gaze swept over the group. "There is no other way. The system was designed to ensure that the Monster Queen pays the ultimate price for her betrayal."

Scarlett flinched at the word. Betrayal? No, that was wrong. The real betrayal was the system itself.

Garvin stepped forward, shoving Louise hard. "You’re full of shit! You’ve never been truthful, and now that your whole system is crumbling, you want to drag Scarlett down with you?!"

Ethan stepped forward, his face burning with anger. "Scarlett is not going anywhere. I don’t care if the apocalypse end anymore but one thing I know is that Scarlett isn’t sacrificing herself."

Louise barely stumbled, his smirk never faltering. "Believe whatever you want. The fact remains, she belongs to this world now. She was created by it, shaped by it. That is...being a monster queen. Her death is the final offering."

Ryder’s jaw tightened as he stepped up beside Garvin. "We won’t do it. You’re just a machine, Louise. And machines can be hacked. If the system was programmed to demand a sacrifice, then we’ll override it."

Louise sighed, shaking his head. "You can’t hack the system. I am the system. I cannot be overridden. The only way to open the door is for the Monster Queen to die or perhaps you all want to die? Well that’s better too."

A murmur spread through the crowd. Then, a voice rose above the rest, loud, desperate, and filled with conviction.

"Sacrifice her!"

More voices joined in.

"She has to die!"

"So many of us have already died! One more won’t make a difference!"

Garvin’s eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to face them. "What the hell is wrong with you people?!" His voice was raw with fury. "How could you even suggest that?! You’d rather kill her than fight for a real solution? You’d rather throw away the only person who has kept you alive?"

Ethan face palmed himself. "What do we expect? We’re dealing with humans afterall, ungrateful creatures. If not because we don’t want humanity to perish, what’s there with ruling monsters in this apocalypse world and giving them humans to eat?"

A man in the crowd sneered. "If she truly cared about us, she’d sacrifice herself. She’s not the only one who has lost people. She’s not the only one who has suffered."

"Kill her."

Yelled the others, chatting loudly.

Garvin’s hands clenched into fists, his entire body trembling with rage. He turned to Scarlett, grabbing her hand. "Screw this. We’re leaving. Let them stay here and rot if that’s what they want."

But before he could pull her away, Scarlett wrenched her hand free.

"Scarlett?" Garvin’s voice softened, his anger momentarily replaced with concern. He reached for her again, but she took another step back.

His brows furrowed. "Don’t tell me you’re considering their words? Don’t listen to them, okay? We’ll find another way. There’s always another way."

Ethan stepped forward, his voice steady but urgent. "Exactly, Scarlett. The system is trying to make you feel guilty, but none of this is your fault. You’re not just a survivor, you’re our savior."

He cradled Little Hope in his arms, the baby sleeping soundly despite the tension thickening the air. Jade had passed the infant to him moments ago, and now, her tiny presence seemed like the only pure thing left in this crumbling world.

Scarlett’s gaze flickered to the child, then back to the crowd, these people who had once looked at her with hope, now glaring at her with expectation.

She swallowed hard.

What was she supposed to do?

"I don’t want you to die, Scarlett."

Jaden’s small voice broke through the heavy silence. He clung to the edge of Scarlett’s skirt, his wide, tear-filled eyes searching her face for reassurance. "Promise me you won’t listen to the system. It’s cunning, you know. We all have to leave this apocalypse world together."

Scarlett smiled softly, placing a gentle hand on his head before carefully prying his fingers from her skirt. She turned to face Louise, her expression hardening.

"It’s my body that’s evil," she said firmly. "My face, my flesh, my very existence, those are what make me the Demon Queen, not my heart or soul. My heart has never been evil."

Louise tilted his head, an amused glint in his eyes. "And what exactly are you trying to imply?"

Scarlett inhaled deeply. "I’m just stating facts. Anyways I’ll sacrifice myself."

A wave of shock rippled through Garvin, Ryder, Ethan, and Jaden, their faces twisting with disbelief.

"What the fuck are you saying?!" Garvin barked, stepping forward. "No. I told you, we are not doing this! Don’t let these bastards get in your head! There’s another way, we’ll figure it out together. We always did!"

Scarlett exhaled slowly, her eyes filled with an unshakable resolve. "There is no other way, Garvin. Unless you want to perish along with this world."

He clenched his fists, his breath unsteady. "Damn it, Scarlett, stop talking like that!"

Ignoring his outburst, Scarlett took a step closer and leaned in, whispering something into his ear.

Garvin’s eyes widened in shock. His initial surprise quickly shifted into fear, his jaw tightening as he stared at her. "You’re serious?" he whispered back, his voice barely audible.

She gave him a small nod, silently telling him to compose himself...to trust her.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "What’s going on? What are you two whispering?"

Garvin hesitated before exhaling sharply. "Scarlett has no choice but to go through with this."

Ethan and Ryder stiffened, the weight of the words hitting them like a hammer.

"Have you gone crazy too?" Ethan raised his eyebrows in confusion. "Is the system using some kind of spell right now on you two?"

"Nope." Louise replied with a wide smirk plastered on his face.

"Even if we refuse to activate the Heavenly Blast," Scarlett explained, "it will trigger on its own. The system is designed to collapse once the Safe Haven is completed. This world...the apocalypse itself is already crumbling. Staying here isn’t an option."

Louise smirked, folding his arms. "Smart. You figured it out." He tilted his head. "So, you still stand by your decision? You’re willing to die for them?"

Scarlett’s gaze didn’t waver. "Yes."

"This is crazy." Ryder groan, his body tensed up in frustration.

She stepped toward Ethan, gently brushing a hand over Hope’s soft curls. Then, leaning down, she exhaled against the baby’s lips, a breath unseen by the others.

Jaden burst into tears, gripping her skirt tightly once again. "No, please, Scarlett! Don’t die! Golden and I see you as our family! I don’t want to lose you!"

Ethan swallowed hard, his voice thick with emotion. "Scarlett, I get it. I understand why you think this is the only way and that’s because you care about the people but there has to be another solution. You don’t deserve this. None of us deserve this." He clenched his fists, his body trembling as he fought against the tears stinging his eyes.

Scarlett gave them all a soft but resolute smile. "I’m not doing this because I cared for the people alone. I got other reasons but trust me. I’ll see you all again."

Garvin’s heart clenched at those words. "Scarlett...."

"Please, just make it back to Earth safely."

With that, she turned away, walking toward the entrance of the Permanent Safe Haven.

"Grant me death now, System," she commanded.

Louise’s smirk deepened. "Just walk through the Safe Haven’s threshold. You’ll be met by Death’s Host." His voice lowered slightly, amusement flickering in his tone. "It was... interesting walking this world with you."

Scarlett didn’t respond. She took a deep breath, then stepped through the Safe Haven’s entrance.

The moment she crossed the threshold, a deafening explosion rocked the world. A blinding light swallowed the sky, and a powerful shockwave sent dust and debris flying.

Then....silence.

Louise’s voice echoed over the ruins. "Congratulations, everyone. The sacrifice has been made. You may now pass through the Safe Haven."

And with that, he vanished.

The remaining survivors wasted no time. Without a single glance back, they rushed toward the exit, desperate to escape.

But Garvin, Ryder, Ethan, and Jaden stood frozen in place, their eyes fixed on the now-empty threshold. Tears streamed silently down their faces, grief settling deep in their bones.

"She really sacrificed herself? She’s dead. " Ethan uttered with tears rolling down his cheeks.

As the last of the survivors disappeared, only the four of them remained, along with Hope, still fast asleep in Ethan’s arms.

Garvin wiped at his face roughly, his expression dark and unreadable. Then, he stepped closer to Ethan, carefully taking Hope from him.

"I really hope she’s right," he murmured to himself, staring down at the sleeping infant. "I really hope this goes according to plan... or I’ll never forgive myself."

A cold mechanical voice suddenly echoed around them.

{Everyone must evacuate immediately. The apocalypse world is set to collapse in five... four...}

Garvin, Ethan, Ryder, and Jaden exchanged one last glance before sprinting toward the exit.

They had no choice but to leave.

And Garvin hoped that Scarlett’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain.