[00:00:00]
The timer hit zero, and the world fell eerily silent. It was a heavy, suffocating stillness that stretched across the land, an unnatural calm that made the air feel thicker. For the ordinary folk, it was unbearable, the fear of the unknown pressing down like an invisible weight. Some stood frozen, praying this was a cruel fluke, while others whispered desperate prayers, clutching onto faint hopes that nothing would happen, but life is always a clown playing tricks.
Then, like the start of a nightmare, a thunderous roar shattered the silence. It echoed through the forest, a guttural sound of primal rage that seemed both distant and dangerously close. The earth seemed to tremble with its intensity, and another message flashed before the eyes of every human on Earth:
[The Apocalypse has begun. Survive.]
The words hung on their faces as the red countdown in the sky slowly vanished into thin air, a little word of the system as a form of encouragement to humanity. Fear gripped the hearts of all who saw it.
Viktor bolted through the empty streets of Verdantra, his feet pounding against the cobblestone as he pushed himself further into the city. He needed to put as much distance as possible between himself and the looming danger emanating from the forested island. The city once bustling with life, even at this late hours, was eerily deserted. Not a single soul was in sight, and the flickering streetlights did little to push back the oppressive darkness.
He clenched his fists, refusing to entertain the thought that the city might truly be empty. It was too terrifying to consider. Instead, he set his sights on the city square, hoping to find other players who come up with something like a plan to go against the impending battle or whether it was to escape or mount some form of defense.
As he approached the market square, a sense of unease settled over him. The usually lively area was utterly silent. No vendors shouting about their wares, no late night traders haggling overprices. Even the faint hum of streetlights seemed muted. Shadows stretched across the square, and Viktor found himself constantly glancing over his shoulder, his nerves on edge.
At the far end of the street, a noise broke the silence. It was faint but unmistakable, the sound of something rummaging. Viktor slowed his pace. The noise was coming from a nearby convenience store, its glass doors slightly opened. He approached carefully, his footsteps as light as he could manage.
Pushing the door open, the faint chime of a bell rang out. The sound seemed to echo endlessly in the quiet, making Viktor withhold his breath. The rustling inside stopped abruptly. His breath caught as he stepped inside, scanning the dimly lit aisles. The store was a mess, shelves knocked over, goods scattered across the floor. His hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword as he edged closer to the source of the noise.
From around a corner, another figure emerged, equally cautious. They locked eyes, and for a tense moment, both drew their weapons. Viktor's grip tightened as the stranger, a young man with sharp features and a confident stance, spoke.
"Who are you?" they both demanded simultaneously.
Before either could respond further, a blood-curdling scream pierced the night, cutting through the tension like a blade. The stranger, Luca, as Viktor would soon learn, muttered a curse under his breath. "Damn, I've gone too far," he said, turning and bolting out of the store.
Viktor hesitated only for a moment before following, his instincts screaming at him to stay close. The two raced through the streets, the scream still echoing in their ears. As they neared the source of the sound, the ground beneath their feet began to vibrate, a low rumble that grew stronger with each step.
They skidded to a halt as a group of four figures came into view. Two women, a man, and a small girl were sprinting toward them, their faces masks of terror. Behind them, the source of the vibrations revealed itself: a high-grade orc, its massive frame illuminated by the faint moonlight. It was an ugly creature, towering and muscular, with blood-red eyes that burned with fury. It let out a deafening roar as it barreled toward the fleeing group.
Luca didn't hesitate. He drew his sword in one fluid motion and sprinted toward the orc, shouting back at Viktor. "Get them out of here!"
Viktor's body moved before his mind could process the command. He surged forward, reaching the group just as the orc closed the distance. The ground shook violently with each of its steps. Without thinking, Viktor scooped up the little girl, raising her onto his shoulder as he shouted to the others. "Run! Don't stop!"
The group sprinted down the darkened street, Viktor leading the way as the orc roared behind them. Its fury was palpable, a primal force that seemed to radiate from its very being. Viktor risked a glance over his shoulder and saw Luca standing his ground, sword raised as the monstrous creature bore down on him.
Just as they thought they were gaining ground, a massive battleaxe agrogash, a weapon notorious for its devastating power, whistled through the air. It struck the ground with a resounding thud, sending a shockwave that knocked Viktor and the others off their feet. One of the women, an archer named Arya, let out a strangled cry as the axe's force hit her directly, throwing her several feet into the air before she crashed to the ground, motionless.
Viktor's ears rang as he scrambled to his feet, still clutching the little girl. The man and the other woman were already up, their faces pale with fear but determined. "We have to move!" Viktor shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
The orc was closing in fast, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Luca's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"I'll hold it off! Go!"
Viktor hesitated for a moment, torn between staying to help and ensuring the others' safety. But the little girl in his arms reminded him of his priority. With a grunt of effort, he turned and ran, leading the remaining two survivors toward the faint light of a distant alley.
Behind them, the high orc makes a run to get his axe, which went just a bit of a distance from where he was. Viktor and the other survivor saw him approaching, completely ignoring Luca to get the axe and make a run for it, as they were able to get just out of reach from the agrogash. The orc getting the agrogash.
Luca engaged the orc as it turned around almost instinctively, using the agrogash to block the strike in a brutal clash. Retracting back, he pushed forward as his sword flashed in the dim light as he dodged the creature's massive swings, his movements precise and calculated. The orc roared in frustration, its bloodlust growing with each missed strike.
"Just a little longer," Viktor muttered to himself as he sprinted forward. But his hope was short-lived. Another roar echoed through the city, this one deeper and more menacing than the orc's. Viktor's heart sank as he realized the horrifying truth: there were more.
The group stumbled into a narrow alley, their breaths ragged. Viktor set the little girl down gently, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The man, a mage named Rian Aryn's lover, spoke between gasps. "What… what do we do now?"
Aryn…she… She is gone, rian muttered;
"We fight," Viktor said, his voice firm despite the fear gnawing at him. "We hold out until we find an opening. Or we die trying." he just recited how they encouraged themselves back in his military years.
As if on cue, another monstrous figure emerged right from the darkness coming from the left of the city. This one was smaller than the high orc but still looking menacing almost like they were holding something that belonged to it, as it swung the tree trunk, ironically the one Viktor used to sleep at the island. It let out a piercing roar again as it lunged toward them, using the trunk to hit away whatever came in his path between him and them, trying to get his prey.
Viktor drew his blade, his body moving. The first clash sent out an echoic sound which made them all share a stair. As he parried the creature's attack, his muscles strained against its unnatural strength. Rian stepped forward, his hands glowing with arcane energy as he launched a freezing skill at the creature, forcing it to retreat temporarily.
The fight was chaotic and brutal, almost as if the little orc was trying to delay the fight waiting for something, each second feeling like an eternity. Viktor's blade danced through the air, meeting the trunk and flesh alike. Rian's spells lit up the alley, their brilliance a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded them. The woman, a healer named Elira, worked frantically to keep them alive. Her magic mended wounds as quickly as they were inflicted and healed the little girl that was injured from small shards of stones that came on her during the chase on her foot.
After multiple exchanges that went on:
Finally, with a final, desperate strike, Viktor drove his sword deep into the creature's chest as rian was able to immobilize him. It let out a final, guttural cry before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into ash. Viktor staggered back, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
"Is everyone okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
The others nodded, though their faces were pale and drawn. The little girl clung to Elira, her small frame trembling.
From the distance, another roar echoed, a chilling reminder that their fight was far from over.
"We need to keep moving," Viktor said, sheathing his sword.
The system binging a message up for him
[You have slayed a low orc]
[Reward: little amount of exp].