[02:16:03]
The gym was quiet for once, and everyone seemed to breathe a little easier in the lull before the storm. Avi leaned back against the wall, catching his breath and taking in the room. Ken sat nearby, fiddling with a snack he must've stashed earlier, his gaze occasionally shifting over to Avi and Emily with an almost parental watchfulness. If Avi had to bet, Ken would've just run straight to wherever the enemies will be coming from and block it with his unusually large body.
Emily exhaled sharply, leaning against Avi's shoulder. "Think this will get any easier?" she asked quietly.
Avi shrugged. "I mean, it's like gym class on extra-hard mode, right? How much worse could it get?" He offered a half-smile, knowing full well she could feel his own anxiety simmering beneath the surface.
Ken chimed in with a grin that softened his usually imposing frame. "You know, even if we're only running on fumes and adrenaline, we've still got each other. And, Em, I'll protect you and Avi, please don't get yourself in any more trouble. Just stick close."
Avi rolled his eyes, nudging Ken with a smirk. "Stop it dad, you're embarrassing me in front of my friends."
Ken gave a modest shrug. "You know it. You're lucky I'm so soft on you two."
With less than an hour left, Ryan, Mia, and Sophia joined the group to discuss final positions. Avi shared only brief nods and a few words with them, saving most of his jokes for the battle that has yet to come. But as everyone prepared to get into position, the weight of what was coming settled over them.
"Alright," He grinned at Ken, who gave a reassuring nod before the sound of shuffling feet filled the hall.
The countdown ticked on, and, though no one said it, they all knew this would be one of the longest fights they'd faced yet.
[00:37:13]
[00:12:04]
[00:01:48]
[00:00:01]
[The first wave begun! Goodluck and survive players!]
After the announcement of the system, the sound of the attack reached us before we saw them—eerie croaks that sent chills down my spine. We were outside the gym now, facing the vast open ground that led to the main entrance. The gym had been our stronghold, where the civilians were resting, but it was time to defend the outer perimeter.
I adjusted the grip on my makeshift weapon, a jagged metal rod, and took a deep breath. The weight of the situation was starting to settle in.
"You good, Avi?" Ken asked, his voice a bit too calm given the circumstances.
I shot him a grin, though I could feel the tension in my shoulders. "Yeah, just a bit of jitters, you know? Nothing a good ol' fashioned frog-stomping can't fix."
Ken gave me a look that was part concern, part amusement. "Just... stay focused, alright? I've got your back."
Before I could reply, dozens of loud croaks broke through the air, and from the brush came the first wave:
[lvl 1 Imp]
They were ugly—grotesque little creatures that looked like horned frogs with spindly, way-too-long arms and legs. They hopped toward us with disturbing speed, their massive mouths gaping wide. They were small, not more than the size of a four-year-old, but with the speed and ferocity of wild animals.
"Here they come!" Ryan yelled, pointing in their direction. He was already in position, ready to direct us. "Take them out before they swarm the line!"
Ken stepped forward, holding a scrap of metal from a nearby wreckage—an improvised shield. He braced himself, blocking the first wave of imps that came his way, knocking them back with powerful thrusts of his shield. His every move was defensive, protecting our front and pushing them back, leading the other defenders of the group.
"Hold steady, Avi!" Ken called out, his voice steady despite the chaos. "We need to keep them from getting too close!"
I nodded, though my heart was racing. I wasn't sure what to do. My hands were shaking as I clutched my metal rod like a lifeline, but it felt more like a toy in my hands than a weapon.
One of the imps darted forward, its slimy skin glistening in the dim light. I swung my rod at it, but the damn thing was too fast, darting just out of reach. It cackled, a high-pitched sound that made my skin crawl.
"Get a hold of yourself, Avi!" Ryan shouted from the side, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Position! Cover Ken's left!"
"Right! Got it!" I muttered to myself, more to calm my nerves than anything.
I tried to maneuver into position, but an imp came at me again, darting between my legs with a speed that should have been impossible for its bulky frame. My attempt to strike it with the rod ended with me hitting the air. The creature laughed, dodging effortlessly. I could feel my frustration building—every swing was just a miss.
"Come on, come on!" I muttered, panicking now. "I'm just trying to—"
Another imp lunged toward me, and I stumbled back, completely unprepared. It was like facing a wild child on steroids, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take.
In the middle of the chaos, I heard Ken shouting my name. "Avi, another one!"
I swung around just in time to see a different imp charging at me from the side. I wasn't fast enough to react. It came at me with its long arms outstretched. I dodged at the last second, barely missing its claws, but my foot caught on a piece of rubble. I fell backward, my rod flying out of my hand.
The imp rushed forward, its mouth opening wide in a predatory grin.
"Great," I muttered, hitting the ground with a thud. "I swear I'm gonna hate frogs after this."
And then, out of nowhere, something clicked.
I felt an intense rush as my vision blurred. The world slowed down as I did my best to push myself up, grabbing the metal rod from the ground in one smooth motion. Without thinking, I jabbed it forward just as the imp lunged. The force of the strike made a pipe-shaped hole in its body, making it flop uselessly on the ground.
Before I could register what happened, my body was already in motion, darting around another imp that was coming at Ken. My instincts were working faster than I could control at the same time my vision is blurring even faster, and I found myself moving like I'd done it a thousand times before—striking, dodging, moving fluidly as if the battle had become second nature.
"Finally!" I exclaimed under my voice, exhilaration rushing through me. "Take that, you little—"
I swung my rod down hard onto another imp's head, sending it crumpling to the ground. But the feeling of triumph was short-lived. I could barely keep my balance, my body feeling heavy and weak. My vision was dimming.
In the midst of the battle, I caught a glimpse of Ken's worried face, and then... nothing.