Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 30: A Queen Among All Monsters.

Chapter 30: A Queen Among All Monsters.

Garvin stared, his face pale with shock. "Knocked you out?!" he repeated, his voice cracking with disbelief. "But how could the monster take your form?"

Ding!

{The monster’s ability to mimic a host’s form is attributed to its advanced shapeshifting capabilities.}

{Type: Parasitic Shapeshifter

Classification: High-Risk Entity

Abilities: Advanced Mimicry: can replicate appearance, voice, and even powers of targets; Regeneration: rapidly heals from injuries; Parasitic Infection: worms can infect hosts, transforming them into monsters.}

I thought I was immune to these monsters. Is it really possible for them to take my form? Scarlett wondered, her thoughts racing.

{Although the host is immune but your rank is still low. You can’t control other monsters yet, nor can you fully control your monster form to change between human and monster at will.}

Monster form at will? Wait...am I monster? Scarlett asked in her mind, her face filled with shock. Although she has been struggling with urge to suck blood, kill, struggling with her vision suddenly turning red but she never believed she’s a monster. Even though the system might have mentioned it before, she still chose not to believe it.

{You’re half monster and human host. A queen among all monsters. You have a mind of your own. You’re different from other monsters. You haven’t activated your monstrous form yet though.}

"Oh, I see," Scarlett murmured aloud, her eyes still widen open in shock and terror. She turned her gaze to Garvin and the others, who were all staring at her intently. She walked over to him and gently stroked Hope’s head, the child still sleeping soundly in his arms. "Let’s get out of here. We can do the questions and answers session later," she declared, her eyes filled with resolve.

The others nodded in silent agreement as Scarlett solemnly laid Mary’s lifeless body on the floor. She then poured water using her water element over Mr and Mrs Anderson, waking them up, their faces filled with shock but the moment their gaze fell on Scarlett, their expression got slightly relieved and even the pain they experienced on their backs when the monster threw them against the wall seem to have dissapeared but they couldn’t control their tears which began to roll down their cheeks as their gaze kept drifting off to Mary lifeless body.

"It’s okay. Let’s get out of here before she turns." Scarlett uttered while the Anderson’s nodded in agreement.

The group exited the mall, leaving Mary behind, her body now prey for the relentless worms that had begun to feast on her.

____________

Outside the mall, Rose huddled with the two children behind a crumbling wall, their faces pale with terror as they watched monsters prowling, their foul breath hanging thick in the air.

"You’re finally back!" Rose gasped quietly when she saw Scarlett and the others emerge. "I was starting to think... maybe you weren’t coming back." Her eyes moved anxiously over the group, counting each survivor before realizing someone was missing. "Where’s Mary? Didn’t she come with you? Was she too scared?"

Louise scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh yeah, now you’re asking about her. Let me just say this, I’m not starting any fights right now, but you’d better explain why you knocked Scarlett out back there!" His voice dripped with frustration as he added, "Selfish."

"You...!"

"Enough, both of you," Scarlett cut in sharply, her gaze fixed on the monsters nearby. "Argue all you want once we’re safe. But right now, if you don’t keep quiet, they’ll spot us."

Garvin leaned in, his voice low and questioning. "So, what’s the plan? How do we get past those things?"

Scarlett took a deep breath, looking each person in the eye with a steely expression. "Listen. I can get us a vehicle, but these monsters aren’t just going to stand by and watch us drive away. We’ll have to fight, so be ready. If you want to survive, use everything you’ve got. They’re strong, and there are at least ten of them out there."

The group tightened their grips on their weapons, glancing nervously at one another.

How many coins do I have, system? Scarlett asked internally.

Ding!

{Calculating host coins...}

{Host has a total of 16,500 gold coins and 500 silver coins}

Good. I don’t need a list of options, just one vehicle that can get us out of here. It should be fully fueled.

Ding!

{Vehicle Selection Complete}

{Vehicle: Modified Armored SUV}

{Type: Combat Vehicle. Armor: Reinforced Steel Plating. Weapons: Mounted Machine Guns. Fuel Capacity: Full Tank (500 miles range). Seats: 10}

With a low rumble, the armored SUV materialized before them, glistening in the dim light. Scarlett scanned the vehicle, nodding approvingly as the others stared in awe, their eyes wide.

She turned to the group. "Alright, everyone, let’s move! Who here can drive well? I... I’ve never driven myself."

Garvin chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I remember. Even though you had a car back on Earth, you always had a driver, or you’d just call a cab when they weren’t around." He sighed. "I’ll drive."

Everyone quickly piled into the SUV, not interested in Garvin’s narration. Scarlett carefully passed Hope to Mrs. Anderson to hold, knowing she’d need her hands free to fight. Garvin took the driver’s seat, his gaze locked on the open exit ahead.

"Everyone ready?" he asked, his hands gripping the wheel.

The group responded with nods, weapons at the ready. The children sat tightly in the middle with the Andersons, while Rose and Louise took the backseat windows.

"Hold on!" Garvin shouted, slamming down on the accelerator. The SUV lurched forward, tires screeching as they sped toward the exit.

The monstrous growls filled the air, mixing with the screeching of tires as the monsters converged on the vehicle. Garvin maneuvered skillfully, swerving to avoid their swipes and lunges.

"Hold steady!" Scarlett shouted, positioning herself with the mounted machine gun. She unleashed a hail of fire, sending flaming rounds into the advancing creatures. Fireballs erupted from her hands, engulfing several monsters that had ventured too close, and she directed flames toward the mall, setting the building ablaze.

From the backseat, Rose and Louise leaned out their windows, firing at the creatures with grim determination. The Andersons and the two children cowered in the middle, covering their heads and ears from the deafening chaos, their bodies shaking as the monsters continued their relentless assault.

"Die, you monsters!" Rose screamed as she kept firing, but her cries turned into a strangled shout as a monstrous claw gripped her hair, yanking her head against the window with enough force to crack the glass and send blood trickling down her face.

"Get away you motherfucker!" Louise shouted, aiming his gun at the monster’s hand and firing, but the bullets seemed to barely faze it.

Scarlett glanced back, her eyes blazing as she launched a fireball, severing the creature’s arm and freeing Rose from its grip. "Stay alert!" she warned, throwing more fireballs at the beasts clinging to the SUV.

The mall was now fully engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing into the sky as the monsters’ roars filled the air. Garvin swerved and accelerated, the reinforced armor holding against the relentless assault.

"We’re almost clear!" Garvin yelled as he guided the SUV out of the compound but more monsters appeared, emerging from the shadows and hurling themselves at the vehicle, trying to overturn it.

"Keep firing!" Scarlett ordered, her voice unwavering as she hurled fire in every direction, incinerating monster after monster. The group continued their barrage, Rose and Louise firing with renewed determination as Garvin expertly maneuvered the SUV.

As the SUV broke through the last group of monsters, it sped down the deserted highway, leaving the burning mall and the creatures behind. The group breathed a collective sigh of relief, easing back into their seats as the tension began to drain from their bodies.

"We did it!" Rose yelled happily followed by laughter which the others joined in except for Scarlett and Garvin whose gaze remained fixed on the road.

But their reprieve was short-lived as a massive arm swung out from the right hand side, smashing into the side of the SUV and flinging it off course. The vehicle veered wildly, tipping sideways and rolling over repeatedly before plummeting into a river. The world spun chaotically as they crashed through the water’s surface, and icy river water poured in, quickly filling the cabin.