Chapter 3: The End of the City
Astro didn't remember how he got away.
One moment, he was standing over the corpse of the monster, hands shaking, heart pounding. The next, his legs were moving on their own, carrying him through the burning ruins of his city.
His arm ached, his lungs burned, but he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
The City's Collapse All around him, civilization was dying.
Buildings crumbled under their own weight, their foundations shattered. Fires raged unchecked, smoke twisting into the sky. Car alarms and distant screams filled the air, blending into an unending chorus of chaos.
And the monsters were everywhere.
Skittering across rooftops, lurking in alleys, dragging the unfortunate into the shadows. Hunting. Killing. Tearing apart everything that was once familiar.
Astro ran.
Keep moving. Don't stop. Find safety.
His foot caught on something, and he stumbled. His knees hit the cracked pavement, pain jolting up his legs. He was exhausted. His muscles screamed for rest.
But then—
[SYSTEM ALERT]
A hollow chime rang in his head, sending a strange vibration through his skull. Words—glowing and unfamiliar—appeared before his eyes.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
Congratulations! You have slain: Lesser Reaver.
XP Gained: 150
You have leveled up!
Astro froze.
What…?
The words floated in the air, clear as day, yet no one else could see them. They were inside his mind.
His heartbeat quickened. This wasn't normal.
Before he could make sense of it, more text scrolled into existence.
Level Up!
+5 Strength
+3 Agility
+10 Stamina
Skill Unlocked: Combat Instinct (Passive)
Then, just as quickly as they appeared, the words vanished.
Astro sat there, stunned, his breathing uneven.
I just… leveled up?
This didn't make sense. This was real life, not a game. There were no "stats" or "skills" in the real world. But… he felt different. The exhaustion that had been dragging him down eased, the soreness in his limbs faded just enough for him to move again.
Somehow, in this nightmare of a world, he had gained a system.
But why?
He didn't have time to think about it.
A low growl echoed behind him.
His head snapped up.
One of the creatures had noticed him.
The Convenience Store
Astro pushed himself up and ran again.
His stamina felt different now. Before, his legs were failing him—now, he could push further. Faster. It wasn't a huge change, but it was enough.
He turned a corner and spotted a shattered convenience store. The doors were broken, the glass scattered across the floor. He rushed inside, maneuvering past overturned shelves and broken displays.
Panting, he crouched behind a fallen rack of canned goods.
His hands were still shaking. The metal rod in his grip was slick with black blood.
He had fought.
He had survived.
But he wasn't safe.
A sudden thud from the back of the store made him freeze.
Footsteps.
Slow. Heavy. Not human.
His breath hitched. Not again.
Astro tightened his grip on the rod, his fingers slick with sweat.
Then—
"Shh. Don't move."
Astro stiffened.
A person?
Before he could react, a hand grabbed his wrist, pulling him lower behind the shelves.
A boy, maybe a year older than him, crouched beside him. Dark hair. A jagged scar over one eye. He wore torn clothes and held a combat knife in a steady grip.
His eyes were sharp. Dangerous.
"If you move, we're dead," the stranger whispered.
Astro's mind raced.
Another survivor.
He wasn't alone.
Before he could process it, the creature inside the store sniffed the air.
A heavy, wet inhale.
Astro held his breath.
Hiding from Death
The monster moved slowly between the aisles.
It was different from the one he had killed. This one was larger, its limbs thicker, its exoskeleton a dull gray instead of black. Its six eyes glowed dimly in the dark.
Each step it took sent vibrations through the floor.
Astro's pulse pounded in his ears.
He could hear his own heartbeat, feel the sweat trickling down his neck. If the creature heard them, if it looked down and saw them—
They'd be dead.
The stranger beside him slowly lifted a finger to his lips. Stay quiet. Stay still.
Astro forced himself to breathe as softly as possible.
The creature's claws scraped against the floor, its movements slow and deliberate. It was hunting.
It passed right in front of their hiding spot.
For a terrifying moment, Astro swore its eyes met his.
The creature sniffed the air again—then let out a low, guttural growl.
Then it moved on.
Astro didn't dare to move. He stayed frozen, even as the footsteps grew fainter.
Only when the monster exited the store, disappearing into the ruins outside, did he finally exhale.
Silence.
The stranger lowered his knife.
"Close one." His voice was calm, but there was tension in his eyes.
Astro swallowed hard. His hands were still trembling.
"Who are you?" he finally asked.
The boy looked at him for a long moment.
Then, he smirked.
"The guy who just saved your ass."
Astro let out a shaky breath.
"Thanks."
The boy shrugged.
"Don't mention it. But you owe me."
Astro managed a weak chuckle.
For the first time since the world had collapsed, he wasn't alone.
But the city was still falling.
And this was only the beginning.