Around twenty people grabbed knives and searched the supermarket but found nothing.
"They might have gone to alert their groups," said Rargnes.
The leader nodded in agreement and ordered the group to block the doors. They then split into smaller groups and searched every part of the supermarket while another group watched at the entrance.
Rargnes, paired with Ecrof, paid close attention to his surroundings, constantly switching his focus between what he saw and heard. Suddenly, he turned around. A package had fallen and brushed against some shelves. Stress levels rose as he looked down the aisle, only to quickly retreat, fearful of an incoming arrow.
There was nothing there. Strange occurrences started happening more frequently as Rargnes focused harder on them. Had they always been there? He wondered.
While searching, he heard another noise and turned around, interrupting Ecrof.
"Did you hear something?" asked Ecrof.
Rargnes shot him a look that seemed to say, "Why are you talking so loud?!"
His eyes caught sight of something thirty meters away where an object was slowly falling. Was it just because he was so concentrated?
Instead, he focused on his ears, feeling energy build up inside him like a thick layer of glue.
It dawned on him that he must have whispered earlier when Ecrof spoke. He hadn't felt this before during any previous apocalypse. Was it due to training daily? Or a passive synchronization with inner energy?
If only he could capture a goblin and ask it to teach him.
As they headed back towards the door, everyone gathered together.
"Nothing over here."
Everyone shook their heads.
"What do we do now?" asked Rargnes. "We'll run out of food eventually if we stay in this supermarket."
"It doesn't seem wise to face our enemies in unfamiliar territory. At least in the supermarket, we have time," replied the leader.
Yes, time, but what good is it if not used wisely?
"But what about electricity and water supply? How can they still function without military support or civilization nearby?"
"We'll figure it out when the time comes," came the response.
Rargnes stared at the makeshift barrier blocking the door.
'We're marching straight towards death.'
Why did he inherit such power? Any religious person would be better suited for it. If they believed in souls, they could sacrifice bodies serving as vehicles to move forward.
Rargnes blinked and refocused on the background behind the barricaded windows. Outside, a cloud of dust swirled larger and larger, covering buildings facing the supermarket.
Rargnes stepped back and yelled, "Shall we get going?" to his group, acting nonchalantly.
Ecrof: "Wait, we'll catch up!"
"Come on, don't worry, they left already," said Rargnes confidently.
Dust particles stopped midair outside, then charged toward the supermarket, shattering glass and penetrating guards' bodies.
'Dammit!'
Rargnes grew pale and ran backward. Behind him, screams filled the air. As he glanced back at the fleeing sounds, he noticed Sengrar following closely behind while the rest of the group was restrained by men in armor from his first apocalypse.
"This way!" He shouted behind a shelf. Sengrar followed suit. Rargnes pulled out his pistol, stuck his head out, aimed using his gun's scope, and fired off the entire clip.
Cries echoed in response.
He turned around and saw that Sengrar had already begun running away. He followed, trying to reload his revolver with shaking hands. Inexperience caused him to drop his ammo. He stuffed his gun into his coat pocket, zipped it up, and continued running.
Both panting heavily, they hid behind cover.
"There's an emergency exit over there," pointed out Sengrar.
"Where?" asked Rargnes, unzipping his jacket. His gun fell to the ground. He picked it up and loaded new bullets.
"Over there," Sengrar repeated, pointing again.
"And then where do we go?"
He finished loading his revolver.
"Don't know yet, let's just go," answered Sengrar breathlessly.
They rushed towards the emergency exits, along with countless others pushing in the same direction, filling up the staircase. While descending, Rargnes called out,
"Help me block the door!"
No one responded except for distant cries coming from below. Looking downward, Rargnes saw goblins surrounding the escape route.
"Sengrar!"
He approached and helped block the doorway. Then, Rargnes took out his bag, spilling out knives, saying, "Take these! There's worse behind! We need to kill those goblins!"