With his eyes bloodshot, the guard with the megaphone earlier yelled at his comrade with a shotgun. "Bernard! Fire at it now! We have got to get it's attention!" Commanded the guard. Oh God, please give the children strength to survive their injuries. Thought the guard as he looked at the monster killing all the students that made a run to the gates. Before the monster could hook another student with its legs, the guard, with a shotgun, fired a shot that hit it right on the legs that were about to hook the student. Reducing a large part of the leg where joints could be located to a pink mist. With a blood-gurgling scream, the monster didn't stop itself in time. And had its wounded leg smash hard on where the student should've been. Breaking it in the process with another blood-gurgling screech,the monster stood up with difficulty after one of it's main legs became too injured to put weight on.

Seeing his attacks have some effects, Bernard, the guard with the shotgun, yelled at his comrade. "Jerry! Jerry! Don't fire at its body! Its legs, Jerry!" As he shouted this, Bernard aimed down his sights and fired at the now-charging monster, however, unlike last time. His luck didn't prevail; instead of hitting the legs, Bernard entirely missed with the pellets of the buckshot hitting the body of the monster, some hitting inside the slit covered by spikes, others to the ball of flesh on its end. Hearing his friend's words, Jerry, with his pistol, aimed at the wounded legs and started firing. Most of his shots hitting the body instead, with the others missing entirely. Seeing the monster get closer, Jerry decided to move out of it's charge while reloading. His back turned, fully expecting his friend to follow along and avoid the monster's charge, but as he reloaded with his back at the scene,. Jerry heard the monster's blood-gurgling screech and Bernard firing his fourth shot.

Exactly as he turned back to fight the monster again, what he saw surprised him, as instead of getting away from the monster's path of charge,. Bernard chose to meet him head-on while aiming down his sights and doing what could be called a mag-dump equivalent with a shotgun. In Bernard's brazen act of glory, Jerry looked at the monster, with hope in his eyes that the monster had died or was at least severely damaged. Seeing the monster take another step after Bernard's hail Mary action, Jerry nearly lost hope as the monster closed in on Bernard. But before it could take another, it stumbled down as one of its hind legs broke in a snap after the weight bearing down on it. With high morale, Jerry, after Bernard Mag dumped his newly reloaded pistol on the main legs up front of the now-lying monster after its failed attempt to rush at them,.

Seeing his comrade fire his gun at the monster, Bernard, in high spirits, reloaded his shotgun. Ignoring the monster staring directly at him from several meters in front, Bernard quickly finished reloading. Aiming at the monster's head as if executing a dog, however, before he could fire his gun, the once-wavy spikes on top of the monster's head came down on its crash, becoming alive again. Surprised at this development, Bernard's eyes opened wide. Just as he was about to fire, the wavy spikes, like those to officers earlier, came flying, half of them flying straight at Bernard, killing him instantly, all of the spikes going through his whole body, from head to toe. Bernard was covered with small holes, and with the spikes going through him, they embedded themselves in the parking lot. While the other half decided to fly all around the parking lot, hitting the buses, walls, and buildings. Killing several and wounding dozens of students—all of these happening in only a few seconds. Jerry, who wasn't that far off from the monster, out of luck only had a spike pierce through his shoulder before embedding itself in the concrete. Seeing his comrades' gruesome deaths and hearing all the crying and screaming students in a state of shock, Jerry could only look around himself while holding his bleeding wound.

Witnessing all of these from behind his car, Raphael, now with a pistol in his hand, looked at his shaking hand. I can't do it… I can't do it. Five grown men died from that monster… and besides! I'm just a kid; I can't do it. I can't do it… I have to escape. I- I hav- as Raphael had these thoughts that dissuaded him from dying foolishly. On the corner of his eyes, he found Sir Reggie, a teacher of his, making a run for it in a sedan on the corner of the parking lot. Seeing him get on, all the next thing Raphael knew was that he heard a loud war cry come from the car. "... Die you hellspawn!!" And just like that, he heard a loud crash, in a daze from what he heard. Raphael merely looked down at his hands. Inspired by what he saw, Raphael decided to look behind his car, now with conviction in his eyes from the bravery he saw. But as he looked back, expecting a dead monster with a car over its dead body,. What met him instead was a scene of pure gore, the monster somehow healed, with all its legs back in place. Two of its main legs now ashen black, and one of those main legs went through the car roof of Sir Reggie. The covered walkway near the gate, all the way outside the campus, was littered with bodies.

With horror in his face at all the dead bodies and the now-healed monster, from all the chaos, Raphael just blankly looked at it all. Rise on the same side of the car, with Raphael discreetly looking at the monster but hearing something move from his side. Rise, with fear, hurriedly looked to Raphael, where he found him just standing, blankly staring at the monster. Flabbergasted by this, he hurriedly brought him down again. "Raphael! Are you crazy?! Were you trying to kill yourself, you fool?!" With a crazed look, Rise looked down at Raphael while holding his shoulders, following Raphael's gaze. There, he found Raphael's hands trembling while holding a gun. Seeing this, Rise's eyes widened. "No, Raphael… Don't, don't do what you're thinking off…" said Rise while kneeling in front of Raphael as he stared at his friends trembling hands that held the gun.

Staring straight up at Rise's eyes, Raphael uttered it with a weak voice. "I have to try at least…" he said, appalled at what he heard. "Try?! Try what?! To die?! Dohero,be a hero, Raphael! You saw what I saw, their pistols were no match! Even if you manage to make a run for the shotgun… the monster will still regenerate…" Rise retorted at his friend. Staring at Rise's eye's, Raphael, with a new look in his eyes. Decided to slip through and shove Rise back, in a moment, Raphael ran to the monster. "Don't!! Raphael!" Rise shouted while seeing his friend make a run for it. But before Rise could properly process what to do, Daitch, who was further behind them, hiding behind Ben's car, also came running out of the parking lot. Heading straight to the corpse of the guard, Bernard, who held the shotgun. Seeing his other friend go for it, whether out of foolishness, bravery, or camaraderie, he decided to follow behind Daitch, but instead of Bernard, he headed for the corpse of a police officer. With Raphael's foolhardy decision, the trio of friends, either from their own survival instinct or a false sense of responsibility, made the decision to form another Hail Mary attempt at taking the monster down.

Ben, witnessing all of this unfold from behind his truck, couldn't help but be inspired by the heroic but somewhat foolish actions of the trio. Moved by three's bravery, Ben stood up from his spot, ready to make a run for it. But as he stood up, the monster removed its blackened leg from Sir Reggie's now scrapped car. With its legs free, it turned to the three students running straight at it. Ben, looking at the monster's head, felt its presence bear down on him for a second. Sweating bullets after the monster's head turned to him only for a second, Ben fell down on his butt; the spark extinguished as fast as it came. Urging his body behind his truck again, Ben, still with fear present on his face, leaned on his truck. I'm sorry you three… I can't do it, but I hope you three can… While thinking of his own weakness and praying for the trios success.

Stopping a distance from the now free'd monster that looked directly at him, Raphael in turmoil aimed at the human shaped head. I only have a pistol with three magazines… I shouldn't have done this, this was stupid… fucking stupid… what am I sacrificing myself for?! Raphael despite the turmoil in his head, started to fire straight at the monster's head. Now getting the full attention of the monster, he made a run for a building even if the monster didn't give chase yet. As he reloaded his gun, "Shoot the bleeding ball of flesh on its end!!" he heard a shout amidst the panicking students. Ignoring the advice Raphael turned back again ready for round 2, but as he looked up at the charging monster's head, he saw the previous bullet holes he had made gone, as if it was never even there. Seeing his shots do no damage at the monster, Raphael decided to follow the advice of the one who shouted from the chaotic crowd. Hitting 2 shots from the 5 he sent, he saw the monster's reaction despite of his own horrible aim. Now knowing that the fleshy thing at the monsters end was its weakness, Raphael with his remaining bullets in his mags fired at it and only half hitting their desired target.

Running to the side to avoid the charge of the monster, he saw it crash to the front of the building. Unable to stop itself from the momentum it built up, he reloaded his pistol, ready to unload his newly reloaded gun. 1 extra mag left and it's all over… Despite this thought, Raphael aimed at the monsters fleshy end. But before he could fire, he heard another shot not too far from him. With wide eyes Raphael saw a leg joint of the monster explode in a red mist, instantly detaching the rest of the leg from the body. Surprised, he looked to his right, where he saw Daitch, a split second after his first shot fired another. Again with another red mist a leg was shot off, this time Daitch detached the long front legs with an ashen black body. Looking at the monster again, assured that someone was with him, another gunshot from his left entered his ears. This time it was Rise, firing haphazardly like an amateur, aiming for nothing but at the figure of the monster, his shots landing at the monsters head, legs and body.

Ignoring the blood curling screeches of the monster, Raphael grinned at himself from the new company. As he took aim and fired at the now downed monster due to the imbalance, Raphael, Rise, and Daitch had an easy picking at the monsters. But before Raphael and the rest could fire another shot, the monster showed its near instantaneous ability and in a blink of an eye regenerated it's lost limbs. After healing itself the monster screeched which disoriented its three attackers, getting up from the now ruined face of the building, the monster ducked its head, showing the few dozen remaining wavy spikes of hair left. Raphael, on his butt from the desperate attack of the monster, saw everything. It's that thing behind him! It's the reason for the instant healing! Despite knowing of the reason Raphael could do nothing. With terror written on his face, and with resignation, he held out his left hand while closing his eyes, as if trying to ignore his and his friends' inevitable doom.

But after a couple of seconds no pain entering his mind, and his mind tiring all of a sudden, Raphael opened his eyes again. Only to see that the hair-like spikes that were supposed to kill himself and his friends, stopped only a few meters in front of them, suspended mid air. Stopped by a large thin transparent parabolic film, with cracks on its surface where the spikes pierced through. With bated breaths Raphael brought down his left hands, and as he brought it down so did the transparent shield disappear and all the spikes brought down. Rise and Daitch, surprised at the unknown miracles that saved them, made a run to help Raphael up. Bringing Raphael up, Daitch immediately ordered as the three went running behind sir Reggies now scrapped car. "It's head. We have to destroy it for it to stop regenerating." Said Daitch while taking a glance inside the ruined car, Daitchs' eyes widened as he found only an unconscious Sir Reggie, with his head bleeding on the steering wheel. Not waiting for his friends answers, Daitch immediately slammed open the car doors, breaking it in the process. And immediately pulled the unconscious man to the ground. Seeing Daitchs' abrupt action, Rise and Raphael became surprised. As Sir Reggie hit the ground, Rise bent down to check his pulse. "He's alive!" Shouted Rise with excitement.

Hearing this, Daitch and Raphael exclaimed in relief. "That's good, that's good! Rise, I want you to take Sir Reggie to the others in the walkway." Said Daitch, while turning his back to Rise and looking at the monster, which started to slowly make its way over to them. "What?! But Sir Reggie is just unconscious, and the monsters still alive, if we-" Before Rise could finish his words, Daitch cut him off. "Somebody has to take Sir Reggie out of here before that thing charges at us." Daitch said while pointing at the monster slowly making its way. Unable to counter what Daitch said, Rise could only nod and had Sir Reggie up his shoulders and ran away from the fight to the now somewhat orderly students in the walkway. As he ran through the parking lot Rise heard the monsters screech, and thumping, looking behind him, he saw the monster slowly gain momentum.

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With Rise and the unconscious Sir Reggie make their way to safety, Daitch turned to Raphael. "Raf, the head aim for the head, with all its spikes gone we'll blow that piece of shits head to pieces." Said Daitch while checking the remaining bullets on the shotgun. "No, shoot that ball of flesh on its end, that's the reason for its regeneration. Then we'll take care of the monster." Said Raphael as he cocked the remaining magazine. "If you say so, but if all comes to shove, I want you to use that shield or barrier something." Responded Daitch after the monster screeched.

Understanding the meaning behind Daitchs' words Raphael could only nod and mutter. "I can try." With the monster now in charge at them the two hurriedly moved to the sides to avoid the charging monster as it crashed into the ruined car. Making their way behind, the fallen monster, Daitch, stumbled as he ran near one of the monster's legs, after avoiding it from swiping at him. Raphael, the first one to make it behind the monster's back with no problem, aimed at the bleeding ball of flesh. And fired, as his first shot landed along with the rest, a nightmare inducing screech kept coming out, and with every hole made to the ball of flesh. It kept leaking more and more red liquid, emptying all his ammo, and just in time. Daitch arrived just in time and fired a single shot from the shotgun, the single buckshot blew a large hole on the ball of flesh that seemed to dry it out as the ball if flesh became paler and paler from the liquid draining.

Unable to get up in time the monster could only have its head turned to the two while the last red liquid from the back of the monster bled out. And soon enough it stopped moving, and it's once open slits where blood dripped from the people it killed, closed. Relieved at this, Raphael with a wheeze dropped to the ground all while laughing like a maniac We did it! AHAHAHAHAHA! With such thoughts Raphael cheered at their accomplishments while making dust angels on the parking ground. The people hiding behind the walkways, buses, buildings, and those who made it out the campus looked at where the fight unfolded and saw Raphael having the time of his life. Seeing such a monster that killed dozens laying down as if dead made every single person looking at its corpse cheer. All those that witnessed the chaos and deaths the monster caused cheered louder for its death than an arena of tens of thousands, while most cheered, there were others in complete despair, others crying over the corpses of their dead or dying friends. While the wounded guard, Jerry, ignored all the cheers and only looked at the corpses of his friend Bernard, the police, and all the students mutilated by the monster. Sir Paule, with his best efforts, provided any aid to the wounded and coordinated everyone that survived, from students that helped to the government units.

Seeing all the cheering from the walkway, Daitch could only chuckle at the butterfly effect of Raphael's lunacy. Taking his time to take in the atmosphere, Daitch then cocked the last remaining shell on the shotgun, and made his way closer to the face of the monster, as if trying to execute the already dead monster. Seeing his friend making his way to the front of the monster, Raphael stood up and walked a distance away from Daitch, ready at whatever he'd do. Still with a grin and euphoria from their victory, Raphael with a toothy smile looked at Daitch aim for the monster's head. With his look of excitement soon replaced as he saw the monsters front blackened leg of the monster go up into the air, ready to kill Daitch. With a split second to act, Raphael put his right hand out. You o'Lord are my strength and my shield; in you my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to you Lord. With scriptures, Raphael could only pray that the shield that saved them earlier was his doing. Looking at the leg closing the distance, there Raphael noticed a transparent ripple appear between the fast approaching leg and the standing Daitch. After making contact with the barrier, it only stopped the leg of the monster for a few seconds, as the weak barrier broke like glass, a crack in the air sounded. Hearing the crack from the barrier that broke Daitch fired the shotgun, execution style on the monsters head, after the shot he quickly turned his head sideways to the walkway where people still cheered. Despite his best efforts to dodge the leg, the sharp leg managed to give him a wound on his cheeks.

With the surprise of the monster still alive, and the wound he received, Daitch, now with bated breaths stared at the now truly dead monster as it no longer moved or regenerated the wound from the shotgun. Seeing his friend fall on his ass, Raphael ran to check on him. "You good?! You're good!! AHAHAHA you even got a fucking scar you can be proud about! Fucking hell that barrier was useless though." Exclaimed Raphael while shaking Daitch. "Nah Raf, it gave me enough time. Thank you my guy, I mean it…" Daitch said otherwise as he thanked Raphael with all his heart. Receiving the gratitude with silence, Raphael nodded and helped Daitch up where they looked at all the damage and deaths the monster caused. The patrol car flipped by the monster, the 2 police pierced to death by the monster in the cars vicinity, the other 2 police officers mangled corpses in different parts of the parking lot. The hole littered corpse of Bernar, and the saddest of all, the dozens of students that were killed by the gate, outside the gate, and those in the walkway, along with all the wounded overwhelmed the two.

With a sigh Raphael made his way to the direction of a corpse of a police officer, seeing this Daitch asked a question. "Raf? Where are you going?" Turning to Daitch, Raphael responded in a solemn voice. "To make them more comfortable, Daitch…" With these words, Raphael came close to the corpse and moved the body laying on its side, as gently as possible made the brave man lay on his back, and hands on his chest. After doing this, Raphael knelt by corpse, made the sign of the cross and muttered a quick prayer before moving on to the other brave men that sacrificed their lives for them. Seeing Raphael pay the least respects to the ones who gave their lives for them, Daitch could only sigh and ponder on how to rest of the world would deal of all that happened. Haaa… if it took six, no. Nine people to take that monster down… and with deaths in the dozens, ho- how can everyone survive from this? Is my mom okay? Is my family okay? With these thoughts Daitch, with his head down, silently walked to the walkway where others tended to the wounded. And arriving there, he received the cheers, gratitudes and admiration of people who came across him, feeling good about himself, Daitch walked with confidence looking for someone. But as he saw the dead, and the wounded moaning and crying from the pain, Daitchs' head turned to the floor again, ignoring everyone's congratulations.

With a tired sigh Daitch walked behind a large flower pot and sat down, the faces of the dead, the difficulties of the wounded still present. But as he sat in complete trance ignoring the noise, he felt a warm towel touch his wounded face, surprised he immediately grabbed the hands, but before he could process who it was. A voice entered his ears, "You look tired Daitch, here let me help you." Said a short woman, not minding Daitchs' grasp on her wrists, with wide eyes Daitch immediately let go. "Ah Maxine! I'm really sorry I-" But before he could finish Maxine cut her off. "Shh shh, I know I know. Just let me take care of you." Assured Maxine as she put the warm towel on his face, wiping off the dried blood and dust. "Maxine… I- I think you should take care of the seriously wounded instead of me, it's just a sc-'' Daitch said, embarrassed at trying to deny her help, but before he could finish Maxine again cut her off. "Ta ta ta ta! Just let me treat you che, it's the least I could do to the one who risked his life. And besides, sir Paule asked me to." Hearing this, Daitch, with a blush resigned to fate and let Maxine clean his face.

"Rest well in heaven mister… you've earned it well for giving your life for us." Muttered Raphael with a sigh as he got up on his feet. Sighing as he looked at Bernard's corpse, looking away from the vomit inducing body. Raphael spotted several students with cloths', wooden pallets and boards. Amongst them he spotted Sir Paule and Sir Kian, their hands and clothes ripped and bloodied, hair disheveled, and overall looking much different from their once sharp look. Seeing them, Raphael smiled, happy that at least the teachers he respected and liked lived. With a wave of his hand, Raphael decided to meet the teachers accompanied by their entourage. Meeting the group with a smile, Raphael decided to be the icebreaker. "Sir Paule, Kian! Glad to see both of my favorite teachers are doing well!" Seeing the energy of Raphael, small smiles appeared on the haggard faces on both of the teachers. "It's good that you survived too Raph. What you did was stupid, risking yourselves like that. However if it weren't for you, Daitchs', and Rise's foolish actions…. Everyone would be dead, thank you Raph." Sir Paule said with a smile on his face, as he patted Raphael's shoulder as a sign of gratitude. "What Paule said was true Raph, if it weren't for you three, more students and Reggie would've lost their lives." Added Sir Kian as he gave Raphael a bottle of water.

Accepting it with full gratitude, Raphael drank from the bottle, finishing the water in one go, Raphael accepted their thanks with a smile. "Now what do we do Sirs? Just me but I think it's better to leave the campus grounds now, instead of waiting for the incoming authorities." Said Raphael signaling for their delicate situation. "No one's coming. In 30 minute's time after giving first aid to the wounded and the least amount of respect we can for the dead." Said Sir Kian solemnly, hinting Raphael at their current situation. "What do you mean by that?" Asked Raphael with a serious tone. "Signals have been cut off, landlines still work however things are chaotic. There isn't enough transports they can spare to send here. We think the situation is as if not much worse in the wider world." Now sensing the gravity of their situation, Raphael could only worry. "Is that so… well with our situation I ought to help, goodbye for now Sirs." Said Raphael with a wave, cutting their conversation short, the two teachers went and also bid their goodbyes. "Again, thank you Raph." Said sir Paule. "Take a rest Raph, you deserve it." Sir Kian added while he patted Raphael's shoulders as he left.

With a smile and a wave, Raphael separated from his teachers and jogged to his car, picking up all the magazines he dropped on the way. Arriving at the corner where the cars were left alone, Raphael spotted Ben in his truck alone. Seeing his classmate sitting motionless at the driver's seat, Raphael decided to go around the vehicle and knocked on the driver's side window. With the sudden knock, Ben looking down at something, motionless, became surprised. With a jolt Ben looked at his window, and saw Raphael waving at him, seeing this, Ben brought the window down. "Eyy Ben! It's safe out here, the monster's dead." Announced Raphael with eyes squinted at Ben. "Ah! Really? That's…" Seeing how Raphael looked at him, Ben paused. "...Great. I- I'm sorry for not helping you three earlier." Sensing it becoming awkward, Ben decided to say his apologies, his voice laden with guilt. With wide eyes, and confusion, Raphael answered back. "Geez you don't have to be so guilty about it Ben, it was my decision that I made out of impulse. If you ask those two they'd say the same, so don't be to hung up on that, if you want to help you can move your truck there and help the others. It was our actions alone, if we die we aren't haunting anyone, remember that." Seeing his words have some effect, Raphael left Ben alone. "Welp… better hurry up my guy, 30 minutes and we'll be leaving." Raphael said as he left Ben alone.

Deciding to leave Ben alone, Raphael went inside his own car. Once inside he opened the center console, revealing 2 boxes of ammo for his gun, taking one out, he dug deeper inside the console, revealing a keypad phone with long adjustable signal antennas, along with a cord. With the two items, Raphael opened his car door and aimed the antennas straight at the sky, away from where he could see the growing and glowing rift in the sky. Opening the satellite phone, he went through his messages, which contained messages and missed calls only from half an hour ago from his uncle and father. Deciding to ignore them for now, he went straight to his uncle's contact and called him. After only a few seconds of ringing, his uncle on the other end answered. "Hello? Raphael? Did you make it to a shelter?" His uncle asked with concern. "Yeah, no, I don't know if you'll believe me, but some kind of monster crashed inside the campus and killing dozens, thankfully, we killed it." Answered Raphael, trying to sound believable. "Are you fine? Are you good?" Hearing what his nephew said, and without a doubt in his voice, the man asked the situation of his nephew. Sensing the sincerity in his uncle's voice, Raphael became relieved. "Yeah I'm good, we killed it without a scratch on our face. Besides me how are you there uncle? How's grandma Chona and grandma Rosey?" Responded Raphael more relaxed than before."We're fine they're fine, right now we're following soldiers to a shelter, the whole suburbs have been evacuated. The capital, and the cities surrounding it are in complete chaos, there were helicopters flying in, there were fires from the skyscrapers. And some mist from the sea is rolling in, I even saw a large winged animal circling the top of buildings from my rear view mirror. The internet is down, there's no signal, and everything is in complete chaos right now Raphael… so that's why I'm not doubting what you said about a monster, now, I want you as fast as possible. Get to the nearest shelter, if you're wondering, your dad, mom, and brother are fine, give them a call when you're in a safe place." Said his uncle in a hurry. Feeling the urgency, Raphael did his best to remember everything that his uncle said, and say goodbye. "Alright, alright, I'll take note. Stay safe out there, uncle. And say hi to Grandma Chona and Rosey for me."

"You too, Raph, I won't forget to, bye." With a quick goodbye, his uncle cut the call. Now that the bigger picture became clearer in his head, urgency started to enter Raphael's mind. With quick movements, he quickly got in his car again. With the doors closed, he immediately went and reloaded all his magazines. After that, he got out of his car, went to the back, and checked what he had with him. With his car back doors open, Raphael took note of the large first aid box, a box of tools, a fire extinguisher, and nothing more than a bag full of his clothes. Haaaa… no food, no water… but at least I can protect and fix myself up, then there's probably a week's worth of clean clothes… Now with everything worthy of note, in his mind, Raphael closed the back doors, went back inside, and drove parallel to the walkway, glancing at all the dead bodies laid to bear on the pavement, covered only by clothes.