Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 42: Bloodlines Of Power.

Chapter 42: Bloodlines Of Power.

Deep within the heart of the decaying city, hidden behind layers of rubble and ruin, lay the Axe Squad’s base. A fortress forged from twisted metal and crumbling concrete. The entire structure exuded an aura of terror.

The entrance, a massive steel door engraved with the Axe Squad’s chilling insignia, a snarling, axe-wielding skull – slid open with an ear-splitting screech. Behind it lay a dimly lit corridor lined with rusted pipes, the flickering of fluorescent lights casting unsettling shadows that danced across the walls. Armed guards in black uniforms, each wielding rifles, ushered the captured survivors forward in a grim, single-file line.

The air was thick and oppressive with smoke, sweat, and blood. The sharp smell of decay lingered in every breath. Echoes of tormented growls and snarls reverberated through the space, originating from monstrous creatures caged along the walls. Their cries sent chills down the spines of the survivors, whose wide, terrified eyes darted around, searching for hope where none could be found.

Victor sat on his throne with an air of sinister majesty. On either side of him were two women dressed provocatively: one in ebony, the other in ivory, their roles clearly ornamental. The guards shoved the trembling survivors into a line before the throne, their faces streaked with tears. Golden clutched little Hope to her chest, her silent sobs shaking her frail frame, while Jaden, his shoulders slumped in despair, wiped at his own tears.

"The church raid was successful, sir," one of the black-clad guards reported, bowing low before Victor. His voice echoed through the cavernous room. "We captured several dozen survivors, including children."

Victor’s lips twisted into a grin, his dark eyes gleaming with malevolent glee. "Excellent," he said, his voice smooth yet laced with venom. "Prepare the newest batch for processing. They will make fine additions to our pack."

Without hesitation, the guards dragged the survivors toward a cluster of rusted cages, throwing them inside like cattle. Golden and Jaden, along with ten others, were shoved into a single cage at the center. Surrounding them were the cages of monsters, their feral growls and guttural snarls filling the air with dread. Hope whimpered softly, her face buried in Golden’s chest as the oppressive atmosphere threatened to crush their spirits.

Victor’s attention turned to the massive screen behind him, his eyes fixating on the map. The markers indicating his squads’ locations glimmered like bloodstains against the darkened cityscape.

"This entire city will be mine," Victor murmured, his voice a mix of madness and cold calculation. His gaze shifted to the caged monsters, watching as their blood was drained into tubes to be experimented with. Near the monsters, human captives screamed in agony as they were injected with the tainted blood, their bodies convulsing as the transformation into monsters began.

A scientist in a white lab coat approached Victor, holding a syringe filled with the dark, viscous blood of a monster. "It is ready," the scientist announced, his voice tinged with both excitement and fear.

Victor rose from his throne. "Do it," he commanded.

The guards moved swiftly, chaining Victor’s limbs to steel restraints bolted into the ground just like they always did. They worked quickly, knowing full well the risks involved. The scientist stepped forward, trembling slightly as he injected the syringe into Victor’s arm.

The effect was immediate. Victor roared in pain, his veins turning black as the monstrous blood coursed through him. His eyes glowed crimson, his vision consumed by a haze of red. A deep, guttural growl escaped his lips as his body convulsed, but somehow, he managed to suppress the overwhelming urge to kill everyone in the room. This isn’t the first time he was injected hence he is getting used to the feeling.

Suddenly, Victor’s mind was invaded by the voice of his system, cold and robotic yet strangely omnipresent:

{Host is still a half human and half monster. To achieve full dominance over all monsters, you must locate and claim the Queen of Monsters. Only by becoming one with her can you reach SSS rank and complete your ascension.}

Victor’s bloodshot eyes widened. "The Queen of Monsters?" he repeated, his voice a mix of intrigue and frustration as he struggled to steady his breathing.

{Yes, Host. Out of all the chosen ones, she is the only female. As a male, your union with her will unlock unparalleled power. The male who claims the Queen gains dominion over all monsters.}

Victor clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in rage. "How do I find her?"

{Chosen individuals can recognize one another. When you meet her, you will know.}

Victor let out a low, guttural laugh, his madness bubbling to the surface. "Fine, then. I’ll find her. I’ll make her mine." He threw his head back, laughing maniacally, his voice echoing throughout the fortress.

______________

Meanwhile, far away from the city, the rain poured mercilessly over Scarlett and her group. Their clothes clung to their soaked bodies as they trudged through the dense forest. Exhaustion weighed heavily on their faces, their steps slow and uncertain.

"Where are we even going?" Rose asked, her voice trembling with frustration and sorrow. Her eyes were still haunted by the body of the people they buried. "Are we just going to wander aimlessly forever?"

Ethan, walking ahead, stopped to glance back at her. His expression was grim, his voice heavy with resignation. "Once we’re clear of the church’s vicinity, we’ll face even worse threats, ferocious monsters. We need to be strong, or we’ll end up as their food. If we die here, there’ll be no one left to save the children."

Scarlett halted abruptly, and turned to face Ethan. Her blue eyes burned with determination despite the tears streaking her face. "As long as they’re breathing, I won’t stop moving. We’ll keep fighting, keep killing monsters, and keep searching for them."

Rose wiped at her face, her voice breaking as she said, "But where do we go, Scarlett? Are we just going to keep walking forever? Don’t we need a plan?"

Scarlett shook her head. "No. We don’t stop. We don’t settle. The Axe Squad doesn’t rest, they raid and kill relentlessly. If we keep moving, if we’re in the right place at the right time, we’ll intercept them. We’ll follow their trail back to their base and end this."

Ethan stepped closer, his face grim but resolute. "Scarlett’s right. We can’t afford to rest. Victor and his squad are bleeding humanity dry. If we stop, everyone will die. If we keep moving, we might have a chance to fight back."

There are others like me and Ethan in this world. We’re not alone. Victor also has this same power but he’s not using it to save humanity." Scarlett revealed.

Rose’s expression darkened. "Victor has powers like yours? No wonder he’s so dangerous. That monster has been planning humanity’s downfall from the start."

Scarlett’s jaw tightened. "That’s why we’ll need to find the others, build our strength, and take him down."