Noah pushed through the makeshift camp, stepping into a scene of chaos barely held together.
The camp was nothing more than a cluster of ragged tents, strung together with fraying ropes, each one sagging under the weight of neglect. Despite the early hour, people were moving around with a nervous energy, their inexperience painfully evident in their shaky hands and unsure steps.
A few sat by sputtering fires, trying to stay warm, while others attempted to mend torn clothing or sharpen rusted weapons.
Near one of the tents, a young man sat cradling his arm, his face pale from the pain of an untreated wound. A woman beside him tried, and failed, to bandage the injury, her hands trembling too much to tie a proper knot. Others passed by with vacant expressions, clearly unused to the horrors they'd recently faced.
Noah slipped through the camp quietly, unnoticed by the others. It wasn't that he sought to avoid them, but more that he had nothing to say. There were no words for the despair these people felt, only actions.
Reaching the tent where Yong Nam-joon waited, he stepped inside without hesitation.
"How did the mission go, kid?" Nam-joon asked, his voice calm but with an edge of anticipation.
"Good. I wiped them out. Also, I found a boat moored at the pier. We can use it to reach the island."
"Nice work."
Nam-joon nodded, standing up as he signaled to the others nearby. It was time to move out.
Without further words, the two of them left the camp, gathering their small team as they prepared for what came next.
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The boat docked in front of Sea Shore, a small seaside restaurant whose flickering neon sign barely clung to life. The shattered windows told of long-abandoned lives, giving the group a grim preview of what awaited them in the city. The air felt thick with the weight of things left unsaid and undone.
"Stay close," Yong Nam-joon commanded, his voice snapping everyone out of their daze.
The group, inexperienced but determined, followed closely behind. Their footsteps echoed on the cold, cracked pavement, the silence of the town nearly suffocating. It was as though time itself had stopped here—no sounds of life, just the cold wind sweeping through the empty streets, and the looming ruins of what once was.
"Do you think they evacuated when it all went down?" a young girl whispered.
"I doubt it…" a man, older and worn, replied, scanning the deserted landscape.
"They've made their lair inside the Nautical Museum," Yong Nam-joon said, eyes narrowing.
"That's where we're headed if we're going to take this place back."
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The group moved quietly down City Island Avenue, their breaths fogging in the cool morning air. The path was lined with dead trees, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal hands. The stillness of the place felt oppressive, almost as if the city itself was watching them.
A few minutes later, they turned left onto Fordham Street. It didn't take long for the grim reality of the situation to make itself known. Bodies—dozens of them—lay scattered across the road, their limbs twisted in unnatural angles, broken beyond recognition. The stench of rot hit Noah like a wave, mixing with the cold morning air, making it hard to breathe.
Animals wandered freely among the dead, gnawing on what little remained of their former owners. Noah glanced at Emily as she turned away, one hand covering her mouth in a desperate attempt to keep from vomiting.
"Something's watching us," Noah said quietly, his voice flat.
As if on cue, the animals froze, their heads snapping up before they scattered into the shadows.
*Auuuhhh*
A long, eerie howl echoed through the empty streets, and then it appeared.
A hulking creature, something that might have once been a bear, but now twisted into something far more grotesque, stood on a nearby rooftop. It leaped down, using balconies as crude steps, landing heavily in front of the group. Its black fur was matted with blood and grime, and its jaws gaped open to reveal yellowed, rotting teeth. A sickly smell of decayed flesh clung to it.
"That's the Alpha! AHAHAHA! So you're just gonna come out and meet us, huh?!"
Yong Nam-joon laughed, already preparing himself for battle.
*Ouuurgh!*
Another, deeper howl rumbled through the air, and the streets began to fill with more creatures—hulking, wolf-like beasts, each one towering over a normal wolf, their eyes gleaming with savage intent.
"And here I was hoping for a one-on-one! AHAHAH!"
The pack moved in, surrounding Noah and his companions, leaving them no exit.
*Auuuhhh!*
The Alpha let out a third howl, and a wolf lunged at Yong Nam-joon.
Nam-joon barely moved. His legs shifted slightly, one knee bent forward as his arms rose in a calm, almost relaxed guard. As the wolf came within reach, Nam-joon's body tensed for an instant, his focus locking onto a specific point: the wolf's eye. His arm shot forward, swift and precise, his fingers extended like a spearhead.
With brutal efficiency, his hand pierced the creature's eye socket, sinking deep into the skull. The beast let out a half-formed yelp before collapsing, its body twitching as Nam-joon twisted his arm and pulled his bloodied hand free.
The lifeless body of the wolf crumpled at his feet.
Another creature darted toward him from the side, but this time Nam-joon's fist came down in a hammer-like blow, crushing its skull into the pavement with such force that shards of bone and concrete flew in all directions.
"Oooooooooooooooowhoo!!"
The Alpha's howl pierced the air again, and this time the entire pack charged.
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Fighting him now would be suicide...
Noah thought as he cut through another wolf with ease.
But that won't be the case for long.
He moved with fluid grace, weaving between the attacking creatures, his scythe flashing in the dim light. One wolf lunged at him, but he skewered it with his weapon, then swung its limp body into another, using the momentum to slice both apart.
Mana Vision!
The world around him sharpened as he activated the Skill, his senses expanding as he felt every presence nearby. Three wolves jumped at him from behind, but time seemed to slow. They floated mid-air in Noah's enhanced vision.
In one smooth motion, he spun, cleaving through the wolves before they even touched the ground.
I didn't realize Mana Vision would be this powerful...
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MANA VISION [EX] - A rare sixth sense that allows the user to perceive everything around them by channeling mana into their surroundings.
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While Noah had managed to stem the flow of enemies, his companions weren't faring as well. Many struggled to hold their own, and the sheer number of attackers was beginning to overwhelm them.
I either reveal my hand now, or let this become another massacre...
Noah hesitated for only a moment. He knew showing his full strength could have consequences, but what point was there in holding back if it meant losing everyone?
Alright... release!