The fireworks continued to burst into the night skies, brightly illuminating in vibrant colors. Suddenly, sparks of electricity started to crackle in cities all around the world.
Masked by the explosions of the fireworks, cracks started to appear, breaking the fabrics of reality as they grew bigger. An intense and powerful vortex appeared from the fissures, sucking everything around them.
Nearby cars, light posts, and even the buildings crumpled under the weight of the vortex, being pulled into the cracks as they grew larger. Abruptly, the cracks began emitting a bright purple light as the spiraling vortex took shape, and a pulsating portal appeared in their place.
Goblins, Kobolds, Giant Spiders, Slimes, and other fantastical creatures began to emerge from the portals. Initially, people gathered to investigate, thinking it was a surprise show established by the city.
However, when the monsters lurched forward, attacking the onlookers, they elicited screams of fear, and panic started to ensue as the people began running away.
Back at the Gateway Park, Samael looked at his watch: 12:02:45 AM, 01, 01, 3003.
"It's time." He muttered, turning to look at his mother, "Mom, I need you to get up and run back to the parked car and enter the shelter."
"What was that, sweetie?" Mrs. Sanada asked, not hearing her son as she continued to watch the fireworks.
"Mom!" Sam shouted, jumping to his feet, "You need to run to the shelter, now!!"
"What? Why?" She asked incredulously, staring at her son in disbelief, "What about the show?"
"Forget about it!" Samael yelled, "You need to go now!"
"But... What about you?" She asked, furrowing her brow as she started to feel anxious.
"Just trust me, I will be there! But you need to go now! Get there and take everything out of the car and bring it with you into the shelter, now go!!" Sam explained before turning around and running off to warn his friends and their families.
Mrs. Sanada's eyes widened in shock as she watched her son run off, a past glimpse of her husband running away in his military uniform flashing before her eyes, dread welling up inside her.
She attempted to call out for him, but no words escaped her lips, her outreached hand falling to the ground. After her dumbfoundedness ended, she grabbed the bottom of her dress and ran out of the park.
Samael quickly ran through the park, approaching his friends and their families, and explained that something terrible was happening and everyone needed to run to the nearby bunker for safety.
"I think that's everyone..." He muttered to himself, hiding behind a tree as he watched Isaac and his dad escorting his mother away.
"Tch!" He clicked his tongue as he tried to pull up his Ability Window, but nothing occurred.
He quickly made his way through the park, running as fast as he could, making his way to the other entrance. His heart pounded in his ears, and his body was covered in sweat, but through gritted teeth, he continued to run.
When he reached the other side of the lake and could see the exit, he turned to the still waters and sighed, walking into it. Even if he wasn't covered in sweat, monsters had a highly sensitive sense of smell and proceeded to wash himself off in the cold water.
He reached into the soft mud and began covering his entire body, stepping out of the water and repeating the process multiple times until he was satisfied he had completely erased his scent.
He turned back to the entrance, running as his feet squelched with each step, causing him to groan in frustration. He kicked off his shoes and pulled his socks off, returning to the lake and covering his feet in the mud before exiting the park.
Screams and pleas for help rang out repeatedly before being silenced permanently, replaced with sounds of tearing flesh and bones breaking as the monsters feasted.
Having been a porter for over a decade, Sam had extensive experience hiding from the monsters, and despite not having his awakened body, his mind still retained the movements.
He darted between buildings, checking his surroundings constantly as he dipped in and out of alleyways as he made his way forward. He struggled with his decision but knew he wouldn't have a chance better than this to catch a glimpse of the Zodiacs.
The fourteen Hunters were blessed with unimaginable powers based on the twelve western zodiac signs. They were the ones who ventured into the portals and closed them the first time and were the ones responsible for establishing the Hunter's Association.
He continued to sneak through the city, hiding from the monsters and waiting for them to pass before he made his way toward the sounds of gunfire and cannon fire.
He dipped into an alley and dashed down it quickly, stopping as he came to a halt, his eyes widening in shock as he saw a goblin haunched over a corpse.
Its sharp nails dug into the man's stomach as it ripped out his entrails and eagerly ate. Sam cautiously stepped away, accidentally knocking an empty soda can as it clanked against the concrete.
He gritted his teeth, scrunching his face as he turned to see the can, cursing inwardly at his rookie mistake. The goblin turned its green head, snarling at the young man as blood dripped from its jaw.
It screeched loudly, stepping forward and throwing both arms at Samael as he slowly retreated. The goblin ran ahead, lunging toward him, missing as the young man dived behind a nearby dumpster.
He quickly ran around the massive trash bin and, using the wheels, pushed it with all his might at the goblin, knocking it over and pinning it to the ground underneath the dumpster.
Sam instantly started looking around for a makeshift weapon to use, finding nothing. The goblin howled loudly as it thrashed underneath the dumpster, unable to free itself.
"Tch!" He clicked his tongue in frustration. He ran over to a nearby pipe and grabbed it, gritting his teeth, and using his foot, pulled on it with all its might.
He strained every muscle in his body as he continued to pull, shutting his eyes tightly as he groaned loudly. He pulled with all his might before exclaiming as he stumbled backward, the rusted pipe finally separated from the wall.
He sighed in relief, panting heavily as he approached the goblin and glared down at it. The beast started clawing at him, thrashing as it attempted to defend itself, but its short arms couldn't reach the young man as he raised the pipe above his head.
Sam proceeded to bash the goblin's head, repeatedly raising it above his head with each blow. He roared at the monster, not stopping until it completely vanished into black smoke, and he struck the concrete.
He turned around and fell to the ground, resting his back against the dumpster as he panted heavily, adrenaline coursing through his body as he tried to calm his body down.
Suddenly, a window appeared before him.
╔══You're already off to a great start! Congratulations on defeating your first monster! Please wait as we calculate your position and determine your starting ability...══╝