As more sunlight streamed into the tunnel, signaling an exit, the group rushed forward, only to be met with a horrifying sight. Monsters roamed the city, their hulking forms towering over the bloodied streets littered with human remains. Distant, anguished screams echoed, filling the air with the sounds of suffering.
Scarlett's eyes locked onto a monstrous figure that resembled a hulk, though far more bigger. Its head, an unnaturally joined of five human-sized heads,adorned with multiple eyes, and a massive mouth with razor-sharp teeth.
The creature wreck havoc to buildings, tearing them apart and snatching up humans with it's eight-centimeter-long and thick tongue snaked into their bodies, sucking out their blood until it dropped them, skeletal and lifeless.
To the group horror, the lifeless skeletons began to move, rising to their feet and turned into version of the very monster that had killed them.
"Holy Mary mother of Jesus, please save us!" The black haired man uttered, his voice shaking with fear.
The pungent stench of decay and rot assaulted the group's senses, forcing them to cover their noses. Scarlett, though drenched in blood, gently tucked the infant she was carrying into her gown, resting the baby on her bare chest for warmth.
"We're screwed," Rose muttered, her voice trembling as her eyes stayed fixed on the monsters roaming the streets. Their snarling and deafening growls filled the air. "We don't have any weapons. We're going to die here!"
Scarlett held the baby tightly, her heart pounding as she felt the child's faint, rapid breaths. The baby seemed weaker, perhaps too exhausted to even cry, or perhaps she sensed the danger around them.
The black-haired man, casting a worried look at the baby, whispered, "She's probably too weak to cry now. She hasn't been fed since birth."
"Shh, it's okay," Scarlett murmured, trying to soothe the child, though her voice quivered with fear. "We'll figure something out. We have to." She scanned the horrific streets, desperate for any glimmer of hope amid the chaos.
Rose's voice wavered, "How are we supposed to survive this? Those things…they're everywhere!" She pointed at the multiplying monsters, which now included the reanimated skeletons joining the chaos.
The black-haired man cleared his throat, attempting to sound calm. "First, we need shelter. Somewhere safe where we can regroup and come up with a plan."
"But where do we go?" Scarlett's voice was tight with panic as she clutched the baby close.
"Anywhere but here!" Rose responded sharply. "Our goal right now isn't to fight; it's to get as far away as we can. We have no weapons, and even if we did, facing them would be suicide. We'd just be their next meal."
The others nodded, though beneath their determination, fear clung heavily to their faces.
Scarlett's thoughts raced. There's no way I can fight these monsters with just my elemental skills...not something this size. Using them now would be a death sentence.
A metallic ding echoed in her mind, and an unexpected message appeared
{Host, do not underestimate the power of the three elements within you. Now that the monster apocalypse has begun, you can access these skills freely, though you must keep the purpose of your mission secret. You may use your powers to fight monsters, and others will see your abilities, but you cannot reveal your knowledge of the world's circumstances.}
{Fire – For destruction, passion, energy. It can burn, melt, or purify. Associated with heat, light, and warmth. Can be used for offense, defense, or transformation.}
{Water – For healing, adaptability, and fluidity. It cleanses, soothes, and protects. Associated with emotions, intuition, and change. Used for healing, purification, or manipulation.}
{Earth – For stability, strength, and foundation. It creates, shapes, and fortifies. Associated with structure, endurance, and physicality. Used for defense or construction.}
I can try that…later, Scarlett thought, swallowing hard as she looked back at the monstrous creature. It hadn't noticed their group yet, but dread prickled her skin.
"Let's go quietly. The moment it sees us, we run," Rose instructed, her tone firm and serious. The others nodded in agreement, although fear was plain on their faces.
I'll use the elements if I have to, Scarlett thought, fear knotting her stomach. But not now..
They began to move quietly, grateful to stay unnoticed until they managed to cross the street. But then, Matthew, the black-haired man accidentally kicked an empty can. The sound echoed sharply, and the monsters heads snapped toward them. Their multi-eyed gaze fell on the group as their tongues darted out, tasting the air. With a guttural roar, they charged.
"Oh God," Rose gasped, eyes wide. "It's seen us! This is why I hate every guy named Matthew...you're all idiots!" she yelled at him as he froze, trembling.
Scarlett clutched the baby to her chest. "Run!" she screamed, and the group broke into a sprint, weaving between abandoned cars and scattered debris. Behind them, the monsters thundered in pursuit, their footsteps shaking the ground beneath them.
The beast lashed out their tongues, snaring several fleeing people, draining them of blood before discarding their lifeless forms, which soon rose, undead and monstrous.
"We're so screwed!" Scarlett yelled, pushing herself to run faster. She spotted a bus and ducked inside, hoping for shelter but one of the monster had seen her. It quickly charged forwaed, picked up the bus and threw it across the road. Scarlett and the baby tumbled within, trapped in a chaos of shattered glass and twisted metal.
Scarlett's head spun as the bus crashed, her ears ringing from the impact. She struggled to free herself, shielding the baby as best she could. The monster's roar rumbled through the streets, shaking the very ground.
Rose's voice called out through the wreckage. "Hey! We have to get out of here, now!"
Scarlett spotted Rose and Matthew outside, struggling to pry open a twisted door. Summoning all her strength, she pushed against the debris, creating a small opening just big enough to crawl through. Matthew reached in, helping her and the baby to safety.
"We need to keep moving," Scarlett whispered, glancing back at the approaching monster.
As they resumed running, Scarlett felt a sudden warmth flooding through her body. She remembered the words of the system. Fire is used for destruction, passion, energy. It can burn, melt, or purify.
With newfound resolve, she concentrated, channeling her inner power. Flames burst from her hands, lighting up the street with a blinding brilliance.
"Woah!" Scarlett exclaimed, visibly shocked at her own powers.
The monster halted, momentarily blinded by the fierce blaze.
"Keep running!" Scarlett shouted, giving the group precious seconds to escape down a nearby alleyway. The beast's furious roar reverberated behind them.
They ducked into the alley, and Scarlett slumped against a wall, exhausted. The baby lay limp in her arms, her skin pale from lack of food.
Matthew, although still panting for breath heavily stared at Scarlett, wide-eyed. "How did you…do that?"
Scarlett shook her head, too drained to respond, her gaze turning to the baby, who whimpered softly, her throat raw from crying.
"We need to find shelter," Rose urged, her voice tinged with desperation, her gaze fixed on Scarlett. "We'll figure out how you did that later but that your power could save us." Her gaze then drifted to a mall which was just at the other side of the street. "We should go in there. Maybe we can find supplies for the baby, clothes, even food."
"But what if it's crawling with monsters?" Matthew replied, crossing himself nervously. "It's a thirty-story building…no way it's empty."
Rose glared at him, frustration breaking through her fear. "Do you have a better idea? The others are dead; it's just us. If you want to give up, go ahead and stay here and the monsters would find you in no time."
Scarlett nodded, determination hardening in her gaze. "We need to leave here soon before the monsters notice us."
Rose nodded in agreement as she swallowed hard as well as Matthew who kept on doing the cross sign on his chest. The trio gazes were fixed on the mall which loomed ahead, it's shattered entrance gaping open but still intact enough to offer hope. Their hearts were filled with fear and terror at the constant growling sounds of monsters.