Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 39: Monster Slayers.

Chapter 39: Monster Slayers.

As they emerged into the bright sunlight, Scarlett’s eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the desolate landscape of ruins and twisted remnants of buildings. The world before them lay in stark contrast to the relative safety they’d left behind.

Ethan led the way, his every sense heightened as he moved cautiously over broken ground, his posture tense. "Stay sharp," he murmured, his voice low but urgent. "Monsters could be lurking anywhere once we leave this area."

"Yes, they’re everywhere," Garvin added, his expression deadly serious. "East, west, north, and south, this whole region is crawling with them. We’ve got to be on high alert the moment we step outside the church’s perimeter."

Scarlett, Louise, and Rose nodded, a shared sense of resolve uniting them.

The five formed a line, with Ethan at the front. He was not only their guide but also powerful in the group, with unique abilities granted by the system. Behind him was Garvin, followed by Rose and Louise, while Scarlett took the rear, watchful and ready, her own powers preparing her for whatever might come from behind.

They moved in tense silence, broken only by the crunch of gravel beneath their boots and, from somewhere far off, the distant roars of lurking monsters.

After walking for an hour, the group finally stumbled against a small forest and continue walking.

"Here we are, the monster base Garvin and I found," Ethan finally said, barely above a whisper stopping the others from walking. He then crouched low behind a bush, the others following his lead and doing the same.

Before them stretched an horror scene, a landscape littered with the remains of human bodies, torn apart, gnawed, or left to rot, with debris strewn across the blood-soaked earth. The air was thick with a stench of decay, burnt plastic, and ash that turned the stomach. Smoke drifted through the area, making visibility difficult, though Scarlett and Ethan’s heightened senses let them pierce the haze.

Rose reached into her pack and pulled out a mask, quickly slipping it over her nose and mouth. She looked over at Louise, who had his hand clamped over his face, struggling to endure the foul odor.

"Did you bring an extra?" he whispered, his voice strained.

"Just mine," she replied apologetically, her voice muffled. Louise gave her a frustrated look but held back any complaint.

Ethan quietly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small packet of masks, handing them to the others. Louise’s face brightened with relief as he slipped one on, as did Garvin, who gave Ethan a grateful nod.

"My nose was about to give up," Louise muttered, heaving a relieved sigh.

Scarlett took one as well, slipping it on before returning her gaze to the unsettling scene before them.

"Aren’t monsters supposed to be prowling the streets here?" Louise asked in a low voice, his eyes darting over the eerie emptiness. "Why’s it so... quiet?"

"It’s strange," Ethan murmured, scanning the surroundings with wary eyes. "When Garvin and I were last here, this place was teeming with them, and there were people fleeing in every direction. But now..." He trailed off, his brow furrowing. "Where did they all go?"

"It looks like there was a fierce battle here," Scarlett observed, moving forward from the cover of the bushes. She moved before the group could stop her, her eyes sharp as she began to examine the ground and bodies.

"What is she doing? Has she lost her mind?" Louise exclaimed under his breath, exasperation tightening his features. "I swear, I’ll never understand women!"

The others quickly followed Scarlett, stepping cautiously as they approached the bodies strewn across the ground. Some were horribly mutilated, but others seemed eerily intact.

"They’re shot!" Scarlett called softly, crouching beside one of the intact bodies.

"Shot?" The word hit Ethan with a jolt as he processed what she was saying.

"The Axe Squad..." Scarlett and Ethan murmured together, their eyes wide with realization.

"Damn it! They’ve already been here," Rose spat, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "They tore apart the mall we were staying in before, they’re ruthless."

Ethan shook his head, tension rippling across his face. "I thought this area was only dangerous because of the monsters. I didn’t think the Axe Squad would cross the river and come here."

"There’s no mistaking it," Rose said grimly, crouching to examine some tracks on the ground. "They killed these people, maybe even took monsters and those infected by them. But why? What are they really after? I still don’t get it."

"Victor is the boss of the axe squad. He’s an animal in human skin," Ethan replied through clenched teeth, his jaw tightening with barely contained anger.

"You know his name?" Rose asked, her curiosity piqued. But Scarlett shook her head slightly at Ethan, cautioning him against revealing too much.

"I know only his name," he answered, swallowing hard, his voice heavy with anger. "And trust me, that’s more than enough."

Scarlett’s gaze softened as she looked around, her heart sinking. "We were too late. These people... they’re gone."

The reality of the situation weighed on her, a tear slipping down her cheek as she thought of all the innocent lives that had been taken. She shuddered, not only at the death here but at the thought that these people are also dead on Earth.

"Could they find the church?" Scarlett suddenly asked, her eyes widen open in shock as she stood up from the body, her gaze fixed on Ethan.

Ethan shook his head firmly. "The church is protected. It’s fortified and has guards armed to the teeth. If anything happens, they’ll be ready."

But Scarlett couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. She closed her eyes, summoning a mental map, and scanned the church grounds in her mind. She could see Mrs. Anderson carrying Hope, while Golden and Jaden played nearby, carefree in her arms. A small, relieved smile appeared on Scarlett’s face as she confirmed everyone’s safety.

"Can you let me know if there’s any danger system." Scarlett said in her mind.

{Yes host. Danger notification on.}

Scarlett eyes widen open in shock as the danger notification sign turned from red to green. "So I could even program the system.?"

Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a sudden chime in her mind.

{Danger, host. Monsters are nearby.}

The system’s warning sent a jolt of fear through her. She strained her senses and caught the faint growls and shuffling of something or somethings closing in on their position.

Just then, Ethan came to a halt, tilting his head as if listening. "Did you hear that?" he whispered.

Rose’s face paled. "What is it?"

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. "Monsters. Some stayed hidden after the Axe Squad attack. They can probably smell us."

"Probably or that know we’re here." Garvin chimed in with a serious expression.

Louise cursed, cocking his gun. "Great. As if the day couldn’t get any worse."

In silent agreement, the group fanned out, forming a tight defensive circle, each preparing for the inevitable clash. Scarlett’s hands glowed with a fire as she summoned her powers, every nerve on high alert.

And then, like a storm crashing down, the monsters emerged from the ruins, their twisted forms lunging toward them with clawed limbs and jagged teeth.

Ethan yelled, "Attack!" His fire element flared to life, and he launched a volley of fireballs at the charging creatures, the flames swallowing them in an inferno.

Rose and Louise fired, their bullets tearing through the monsters’ thick hides. Garvin swung his sword, flames trailing behind it as he attacked, wielding both sword and gun with fierce precision.

Scarlett released a wave of fire that pushed the monsters back, her flames slashing through the air like a blazing blade. She locked eyes with Ethan. "We need to focus on the big one!" she shouted.

Ethan nodded, sending a bolt of fire that struck the largest monster square in the chest, causing it to falter. Scarlett seized the moment, unleashing a concentrated blast that struck the behemoth’s head, and together, she and Ethan took it down, beheading the creature in a single, devastating strike.

With a loud chime, the system registered their victory.

{+500 experience. +2000 gold coins.}

Scarlett smiled "We get the same rewards if we work together!"

"I guess so." Ethan replied.

The group fought as one, back to back, Scarlett and Ethan using their powers to clear swathes of monsters, while the others unleashed a steady rain of bullets. Yet for every monster they felled, more seemed to emerge from the shadows, drawn by the noise and scent of blood.

{+600 experience. +2000 gold coins. +6000 silver coins.}

"We’re practically monster-slayers by now!" Louise shouted, laughing as he reloaded his gun. "We’re unstoppable!"

Garvin glanced nervously at Scarlett between attacks. She met his gaze, her worry evident, and turned her thoughts inward. "System, alert me the moment Garvin is about to be attacked," she commanded silently.

{Affirmative, host. I will warn you of any immediate threats to him.}

After what felt like an eternity, the monsters lay dead around them, their twisted bodies scattered across the ground, filling the air with an unbearable stench. Rose lowered her gun, panting heavily. "We did it... We make a great team."

"Absolutely!" Louise laughed, exhaustion and triumph in his voice. "Let’s raid the west next."

"Yeah we should leave here before we due from these terrible smell. The masks doesn’t seem to be working anymore" Rose added.

The others nodded in agreement and just as they began to regroup, Scarlett’s system chimed again.

Ding!

{Alert. The Axe Squad is moving toward the church. Danger imminent.}