Apocalypse: Building And Hoarding My Way Through.
Chapter 77: You couldn’t Even Digest Animals.

Chapter 77: You couldn’t Even Digest Animals.

Kato’s smirk faltered for a fleeting moment but quickly returned, masking any emotion with an unreadable expression. "We’ll see then, Scarlett. We’ll see. I wonder how long you’ll last," he said, his voice laced with a dangerous undertone.

His piercing gaze remained locked on Scarlett, who was clutching her chest in pain.

Didn’t the system say I wouldn’t be easily killed by others? Then why does it hurt this much? Scarlett questioned internally, her thoughts spiraling.

Almost instantly, a holographic screen materialized before her eyes, visible only to her.

Ding!

{You and other chosen members who are half human and half monster like you are classified as SS rank. Until you ascend to SSS rank, others with an SS ranked as you can still inflict injury upon you but wouldn’t be able to kill you except it’s time for the third system to show itself.}

{Remember, attaining the third system with the SSS-ranked skill will require you to undergo death once again. The nature of this death is uncertain, but it will be far more excruciating than the second death you experienced.}

Scarlett’s stomach twisted at the reminder, but her thoughts were interrupted by Kato’s voice.

"Are you going to eat now, or would you prefer returning to the prison to feed on the survivors?" Kato’s tone was casual, but his words were a deliberate provocation. "It may not be human blood and flesh, but this deer’s flesh and blood should help you recover from your current pain." He paused, his smirk widening as he added.

"And... I apologize for harming you, Scarlett. I knew you could regenerate quickly and wouldn’t die. That’s the only reason I dared to harm you like that. If it had been any of the other chosen ones clinging to their humanity like you are, they would have been long dead by now."

Scarlett’s gaze remained on Kato for a moment, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly as though weighing his words. Then, without responding, she turned her attention to the remaining body parts of the deer lying a few feet away.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and sank her razor-sharp fangs into the carcass, tearing through flesh and bone with unnerving ease. The sound of ripping meat filled the air as she devoured the limb hungrily, her body trembling as though starved.

Kato chuckled, the smirk never leaving his face. "Calm down, Scarlett. It’s not running away." His voice carried a mocking edge, and he folded his arms across his chest, watching her with unblinking eyes. "We should head back to the prison soon, before the others wake up and start wondering where we’ve gone."

Scarlett ignored him and continued to consume the flesh, her hunger taking over. But just as quickly as the satisfaction of eating came, it was replaced by a violent rejection.

Her body convulsed, and she began vomiting everything she had just consumed. The raw flesh hit the ground in a sickening splatter, and she gasped for air, her entire body trembling.

Kato let out a derisive scoff, shaking his head. "Damn. You couldn’t even digest an animal? And you’re supposed to digest humans? How pathetic," he said, his tone dripping with scorn as he watched her struggle to regain her composure.

Scarlett didn’t dignify his words with a response. Instead, she summoned her water element, using it to cleanse the blood from her lips and wash away the bitter taste lingering in her mouth. As she stabilized her breathing and realigned her energy, her thoughts turned inward once more.

Garvin and Ethan plan to deceive Kato, hoping to kill him if he ever dares attack any humans. But their plan is foolish. If they challenge him, they’ll only meet their end. I’m the Queen of Monsters for a reason. That’s why I’m still standing while others fall. If Kato harms them, there’ll be no saving them. I’ll wait until I attain the SSS-ranked skill through the system... and then everything will change.

_____

After several minutes, Scarlett and Kato finally began their trek back to the prison. The cold night air carried the faint stench of blood on the wind as they walked in silence.

When they stepped inside the dilapidated building, they were immediately met with a dozen questioning gazes. The survivors, who had woken during their absence, sat huddled together in the dim light. Fear and suspicion were evident in their wide eyes as they took in Scarlett’s bloodied face and the predatory glint in Kato’s eyes.

"Where have you been, Scarlett? You scared the hell outta us," Garvin exclaimed as he strode toward her. Without waiting for a response, he pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if letting go meant she might slip away forever.

"We woke up only to find you and Kato gone," Larry said, his voice tinged with both confusion and concern. His sharp eyes scanned Scarlett and Kato, quickly zeroing in on the bloodstains that marred their clothes. "And... what happened to your clothes?"

"What else could it be? They’ve been out slaying monsters, haven’t they?" Maya interjected, raising a skeptical eyebrow. She glanced between the two, clearly searching for confirmation of her assumption.

Ethan, however, stepped forward, his expression serious as his gaze lingered on the blood. "Since when do monsters have blood like this?" he asked, his voice calm but probing. "We’ve fought plenty of them before, and their blood doesn’t look like this and let’s not forget the smell. Monster blood reeks."

He moved closer to Kato, who stood unbothered, his smirk firmly in place. Ethan reached out, swiping a finger across one of the stains. He rubbed the blood between his fingers, examining it intently. "This isn’t monster blood. It’s either human or animal," he concluded, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. His eyes locked onto Kato’s with unwavering intensity. "So, tell me... did you kill another human? Is that why Scarlett confronted you?"

The tension in the room thickened, the air almost crackling with unease as every pair of eyes turned to Kato and Ethan, waiting for an answer.

Scarlett finally broke the silence, her voice cutting through the oppressive atmosphere like a blade. "Can you all stop with the questions already?" she said sharply, her words drawing everyone’s attention. She met their gazes one by one, her tone steady as she continued, "Kato and I are half-human and half-monster. We killed a deer to satisfy our hunger. That’s all."

Garvin, still holding her tightly, leaned back just enough to study her face. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his concern evident.

"I was," Scarlett replied with a faint smile, her tone light but carrying a hint of exasperation. "But I’m not so sure anymore if you keep holding me like this."

Embarrassed, Garvin quickly released her, clearing his throat as a faint blush crept up his cheeks.

The other survivors, however, were far less at ease. Their eyes widened in shock, the implications of Scarlett’s words settling over them like a heavy cloud. None of them had noticed when Scarlett and Kato had slipped away earlier, their deep sleep shielding them from the pair’s absence. But now, the chilling truth was undeniable: if Scarlett and Kato had lost control of their hunger, it wouldn’t have been a deer they fed on.

"What if they can’t control themselves next time?" one of the survivors murmured, her voice barely audible but trembling with fear. "I can’t believe I forgot... there are monsters among us."

"We really should lock them up," another survivor suggested, his voice louder and more resolute. "There are still two other chosen members who can get food for everyone. Why the hell do we even need these two around?"

Kato’s smirk widened into something darker, his eyes glinting with malice as he turned to the man who had spoken. "It’s like you’re really tired of living, isn’t it?" Kato said, his voice low and menacing. He took a slow step toward the man, his tone dripping with mockery. "How about I eat you right now? Then you can turn into one of those senseless monsters out there."

The man paled, his bravado crumbling under the weight of Kato’s words. The entire room fell into a terrified silence, no one daring to speak or even move.

Kato let out a cold, menacing laugh, the sound echoing through the tense air. "That’s what I thought," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. Without another word, he turned and strode toward his room, his laughter lingering even as he disappeared from view.

Larry clapped his hands together in an attempt to break the tension. "Alright, everyone. Go back to bed," he said, his voice louder than necessary.

But his attempt to assert control was met with angry glares from the survivors. None of them dared to shut their eyes after what they had learned tonight.

Meanwhile, Garvin gently took Scarlett’s hand, leading her away from the group and toward her room. Once inside, he helped her settle onto the bed, his movements careful and deliberate.

"You should take a shower and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long journey," Garvin said softly. He turned to leave but stopped when Scarlett reached out and grabbed his hand