Rapid taps on the ground echoed as Calyx and Haze made their way through the city. What lay before them was almost unbelievable—The city, once a vibrant expanse of towering structures and bustling streets, now bore the scars of a recent catastrophe.
Crumbling skyscrapers loomed overhead, their jagged edges reaching toward the sky like broken monuments of a forgotten era. The remnants of shattered glass and twisted metal lay scattered on the streets below, a testament to the destructive force that had swept through.
Streets that once echoed with the hum of everyday life were now eerily silent, save for the occasional creaking of damaged buildings and the distant echoes of chaos. Abandoned vehicles, some overturned or burnt, lined the cracked pavement, frozen in positions that hinted at the panic that had ensued.
The once-gleaming facades of commercial buildings were marred with scorch marks, and the residue of ethereal energies that had left their mark. Advertisements boards, now broken and screen parts hanging loosely, dancing in the sporadic gusts of wind, their messages pixelated and unreadable.
The skyline, once a beacon of technological advancement, now resembled a fractured mosaic, with structural skeletons standing against the backdrop of a darkened sky. The sun, struggling to pierce through the haze, cast an apocalyptic glow on the wounded city.
They ran relentlessly towards the train station, hoping it would still be in service. However, their journey was far from straightforward, with monsters now roaming the streets.
Haze's keen senses allowed them to avoid unnecessary confrontations until they reached a point where they stood with their path blocked by half a dozen of these monsters.
"What now?" Haze asked as they both crouched behind a damaged car in the middle of the road.
"I'll have to try and kill them with air bullets," Calyx said.
"Yeah, they don't attack Quasars, right? You can just take them all out from here," Haze agreed.
"Well, this time it's not that simple. There's no one else to distract them like last time, so they'll be drawn to me if I attack. If they sense you, it's even worse," Calyx explained.
"It's just one clean thrust through their heart to kill them, right?" Haze asked, gripping the spear he held tightly.
"Yeah," Calyx replied, not taking his eyes off the monsters ahead.
"Then take out as many as you can. If some reach here, I'll help take care of it," Haze said, determined.
"Fine then, let's do it," Calyx said as he took aim at the hearts of the six monsters ahead. Wind began swirling as air gathered at the tips of his fingers, compressing. He released it—a powerful shot piercing through the heart of the monster in an instant, causing it to collapse to the ground with a roar.
Following the monster's collapse, just as Calyx had predicted, the remaining creatures immediately turned their attention to Calyx and Haze, approaching with speed. Now, Calyx needed to take out as many as he could before they reached them.
Steadying his hands and aiming for the approaching monster, he charged up another air bullet. This time, his target was moving, requiring more precision. He released it, piercing the heart of another monster and killing it. Despite this, four monsters remained, closing in rapidly.
"Engaging them at close range here will be too dangerous," Calyx thought to himself as he hopped over the car.
"What are you doing?" Haze asked as Calyx charged at the monsters.
"Wait there," Calyx instructed. Reaching one of the monsters, he propelled himself above the ground with a gust of wind, flipped over the creature, grabbed its head from behind with one hand, and pushed his foot into its back.
Placing his fingertips, already charged with an air bullet, right at the spot where the monster's heart was, he released it, killing the creature instantly. Calyx immediately began charging up another one.
The three remaining monsters paid no attention to Calyx as they rushed at Haze, who raised his spear, ready to defend himself. Calyx did not plan on letting it get to that.
Using kinetic resonance and wind boost, he launched at the monsters at full speed. Unsheathing the sword from his waist, he reached the closest monster in an instant, piercing its heart before going over its head. Using his momentum, he swept the legs of the other one.
Just before the last monster reached Haze, Calyx aimed his charged-up air bullet at its heart, killing it before it could attack Haze.
Calyx walked over to Haze, stepping over the corpse of the monster as the one he had swept the feet of began to rise from the floor.
"Borrow me that," Calyx said, gesturing for Haze to give him the spear.
Calyx grabbed the spear tightly before summoning all his strength to throw it at the last monster approaching them, piercing through its heart as it fell.
Walking over to the corpse, Calyx pulled the spear out and threw it back to Haze.
"Wow, you truly are something," Haze said, catching the spear.
"We were just really lucky this time," Calyx replied as he pulled out his sword from the monster.
"Let's go; we are close to the station," Calyx said, sheathing back the sword, receiving a nod from Haze as they resumed their journey to the train station.
They moved quickly and discreetly, carefully avoiding any more confrontations with the help of Haze, and minutes later, they arrived at their destination.
A once bustling hub of activity, now lay in an eerie silence, haunted by the remnants of a chaotic event. The air was heavy with a mix of tension and abandonment. Dim, flickering lights outlined the platform, casting long shadows that danced along the edges of the empty tracks.
The station's walls, previously adorned with schedules and vibrant advertisements, now bore scars of violence—cracked and scorched surfaces told a tale of a recent struggle. The echo of distant chaos lingered, making every footstep resonate through the desolate space
As Calyx and Haze descended the stairs to the platform, the air became colder, and a faint metallic scent lingered. The only sounds were their cautious footsteps.
They hopped over the toll gate, moving closer to the tracks, keeping their senses sharp and on alert. They hadn't seen anything yet, but they could feel it greatly—danger was lurking.
"When will the train get here?" Calyx asked, his gaze scanning the area.
"Any second now," Haze replied, also on alert.
Then, almost as if to justify their weariness, a sound echoed through the train—a low, piercing sound of attempted words unable to be spoken.
"What... The hell was that?" Calyx asked.