The Void Stalker was a predator, through and through. Its glowing eyes darted between the longsword wielder—_Glowstick Knight,_ I decided—and the dagger wielder, _Stabby McStabface._ The creature’s low snarl reverberated through the air, making the hair on the back of my neck stand at attention.
Claire didn’t flinch. Gerald, on the other hand, looked like he was two seconds away from wetting himself. “Is it... is it going to attack us?”
“It’s considering its options,” I muttered, not taking my eyes off the beast. “We’re just the discount snacks in this buffet of nightmares.”
Before Gerald could respond, the Void Stalker moved. It lunged at Glowstick Knight, its claws leaving gouges in the glowing ground. The longsword wielder met the attack head-on, mana flaring along his blade as he parried with a shower of sparks. He countered with a downward slash, the arc of mana searing into the Void Stalker’s flank.
**[Skill Used: Cleave. Damage: -20 HP to Void Stalker.]**
The creature roared, the sound shaking the air. It wasn’t just pain—it was rage. And it was smarter than I gave it credit for. It leapt back, its glowing eyes narrowing as it assessed its new wounds.
Stabby McStabface didn’t wait for an invitation. She darted forward, her twin daggers gleaming. With an almost acrobatic grace, she flipped over the Void Stalker’s back, planting a glowing trap on the ground beneath it.
**[Trap Activated: Explosive Burst. Damage: -30 HP. Area of Effect: +3m Radius.]**
The blast rocked the battlefield, the shockwave forcing me to stumble back a step. The Void Stalker reeled, smoke curling off its singed fur. But it wasn’t done. With a snarl, it lashed out, using its tail like a whip to knock Stabby off her feet.
**[Critical Hit: Void Stalker to Ally 2. HP -25.]**
“Uh, maybe we should help,” Gerald stammered, his voice high and strained.
“Oh, sure,” I said, hefting my chair leg. “Let me just charge into the fray with my mighty weapon of splintered doom.”
“Stay focused,” Claire snapped, her eyes fixed on the battle. “Barry, Ned—get her through that door. Ethan, cover them.”
“Cover them? With what? My sparkling personality?” I grumbled, but I stepped in front of the group anyway, gripping my chair leg like it was Excalibur.
The Void Stalker wasn’t letting up. It darted forward, its claws digging into the ground as it launched itself at Glowstick Knight. The swordsman deflected the blow with a spin, his mana blade carving a glowing arc in the air. But the Void Stalker was faster than it looked. It pivoted mid-air, its claws raking across the knight’s shoulder.
**[Skill Used: Apex Predator. Buff Activated: +15% Speed when Wounded.]**
The longsword wielder staggered, his HP bar dipping slightly. But he didn’t falter. With a shout, he brought his blade down in a heavy swing, the mana-infused strike cutting deep into the Void Stalker’s side.
**[Skill Used: Mana Blade Strike. Damage: -25 HP to Void Stalker.]**
The Void Stalker shrieked, a piercing sound that made my teeth ache. But it wasn’t retreating. Not yet.
“Uh, guys?” Barry called from behind me. “We’ve got company.”
I turned, and my stomach dropped. The goblins we’d forgotten about—because of course we had—were inching closer, their beady eyes glinting with hunger.
“Oh, come on!” I shouted. “Can’t we have one apocalypse problem at a time?”
The Void Stalker roared again, this time louder, and something in the goblins’ posture shifted. They froze, their gazes flicking toward the snarling beast, as if considering whether the fresh meat in front of them was worth the risk.
For once, I agreed with them. The Void Stalker was terrifying enough to give even monsters second thoughts.
“We need to move,” Claire said, her tone sharp. “Now.”
Barry and Ned hauled the rookie toward the exit, their movements hurried but careful. Claire gestured for Gerald and me to follow, her eyes flicking back to the battle one last time. The newcomers weren’t winning, not exactly, but they weren’t losing either. It was a stalemate, one built on sheer stubbornness and skill.
“Go!” Claire barked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
We stumbled through the dimly lit corridor, the sounds of battle fading behind us. My lungs burned, and each step felt like I was wading through molasses, but the thought of sticking around for round two with the Void Stalker was motivation enough. The air inside was stale, oppressive, and carried an eerie stillness. It was almost a relief—until the System chimed in.
**[Regeneration Update: STA +1/min. Modifier: Resting.]**
Great. At this rate, I might fully recover sometime next Christmas.
Barry and Ned were half-carrying the Rookie—braided hair plastered to her sweat-soaked face—down the hall. Her makeshift bandage was already soaked through, and every soft groan she made added an extra layer of urgency. Claire was at the front, her sharp gaze scanning every shadow. Gerald hovered behind me, hands fidgeting like he was trying to wrestle an invisible ghost.
“You think the Void Stalker’s done with them yet?” Gerald whispered, glancing back toward the chaos we’d just left behind.
“I think it’s done when it’s full,” I muttered. “And I, for one, am not volunteering to be dessert.”
The exit door loomed ahead, its battered surface a promise of something worse waiting on the other side. Claire shoved it open, and the world beyond hit us like a slap to the face.
Seattle was gone. Or rather, it had been ripped apart and put back together by someone who thought sanity was overrated. The streets were cracked open like overripe fruit, glowing veins of blue mana spilling out like the city’s lifeblood. Twisted spires of melted buildings jutted toward the emerald-green sky, which churned with rolling clouds and arcs of jagged lightning. The air hummed with energy, thick and oppressive, pressing down like a physical weight.
It was breathtaking in the way a venomous snake is beautiful—just before it bites you.
“Well,” I said, dragging my gaze across the jagged landscape. “Guess we found the VIP section of hell.”
Barry snorted, but no one else laughed. Typical.
Claire’s expression was tight, her focus darting between every shadow and flicker of movement. Barry and Ned exchanged uneasy glances, their grips tightening on the Rookie. Gerald, predictably, lingered at my shoulder, his eyes wide and unblinking.
The silence was deafening. No birds. No distant car horns. Just the low, eerie hum of mana veins and the occasional crackle of lightning. And then, as if summoned by our collective dread, came the monsters.
They emerged from the shadows, at first little more than flickers at the edge of my vision. Goblins—half a dozen of them—slunk into view, their green skin glinting in the unnatural glow. Each carried a makeshift weapon: rusted blades, jagged clubs, one even wielding what looked disturbingly like a sharpened rib.
A low growl rumbled ahead, and two dog-like creatures padded into view. Their oversized jaws bristled with needle-sharp teeth, and their glowing eyes locked onto us with unnerving intelligence. The goblins hesitated, their gazes flicking toward the building we’d just escaped.
“They’re scared of it,” Claire murmured, her tone low. Her gaze stayed fixed on the distant sounds of the Void Stalker’s battle. “Smart.”
“Oh, good,” I said. “Maybe they’ll stay scared while we—oh, I don’t know—leave very, very quietly?”
**[Environmental Alert: Mana-Rich Zone Detected. Effects: Increased Danger. Movement Speed -5%. Stamina Drain Active.]**
A red bar flickered in the corner of my vision, slowly ticking down. _Because of course it is._
“We need to move,” Claire said, her voice steely. “Now.”
The goblins edged closer, their initial fear waning as they noticed us lingering. One of the dogs sniffed the air, its lips peeling back in a slow, deliberate snarl.
I hefted my chair leg—a splintered relic of better times—and plastered on a grin. “Anyone else feel like they’ve overstayed their welcome?”
We didn’t wait for a vote. Claire led the way, Barry and Ned dragging the Rookie between them. Gerald stumbled along behind me, his breaths coming in sharp, panicked bursts. The door slammed behind us, sealing out the hellscape beyond—or so I hoped. The silence that followed wasn’t comforting. It was fragile, like a thin glass sheet balancing on the edge of a table.
Then the scratching started.
It was soft at first, almost tentative. Then it turned to hammering, claws raking across the door with a purpose that made my stomach churn.
“Did they...follow us?” Gerald whispered, his voice trembling.
“Gee, I don’t know, Gerald,” I said, pressing my shoulder against the door. “Let’s ask them. Hey, monsters, are you out there trying to kill us?”
The low growl that followed wasn’t exactly a denial.
Barry and Ned moved quickly, shoving desks and chairs against the door with all the urgency of men who knew their lives depended on it. Claire stood at the center of the chaos, barking commands like she’d been waiting for the apocalypse just to boss people around.
“Push harder, Barry! Ned, wedge that filing cabinet tighter!” Her voice was sharp, unyielding.
Gerald hovered near the wall, wringing his hands so hard I thought they might snap off. “Is this—” he stammered, “is this going to work?”
“Oh, sure,” I muttered, leaning my shoulder into a desk to brace the barricade. “If by ‘work,’ you mean ‘buy us thirty seconds to panic before we die.’”
The System chimed in, dripping with its usual unhelpful enthusiasm.
**[System Alert: Hostile Entities Approaching. Threat Level: Moderate.]**
“Moderate?!” I hissed, glaring at the notification. “What’s _high?_ A kaiju juggling meteors? A Void Stalker riding a dragon?”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
**[System Response: Moderate Threat = Manageable. For competent users.]**
My eyebrows shot up. _Was that shade? Did my own System just roast me?_
Claire ignored my tirade, her eyes locked on the barricade like she could will it to hold. “Less talking, more bracing! Barry, get another chair—now!”
The door shuddered under another blow, the wood creaking ominously. A guttural goblin shriek pierced the air, too close for comfort.
“We can’t just sit here!” Gerald burst out suddenly, his voice cracking. His wide eyes flicked between us and the groaning barricade. “We—we have to do something! They’re going to get in!”
I opened my mouth for a sarcastic retort, but the look in his eyes stopped me. It wasn’t just fear. There was guilt in there, frustration, and something I didn’t usually associate with Gerald: determination.
“You...what? Want to distract them? Play decoy?” I gestured at the door. “They’re not going to be distracted, Gerald. They’re going to _eat you._”
His face flushed, but he didn’t back down. “We can’t just wait for them to break through!”
Claire’s sharp voice cut through the rising panic. “Gerald, no one’s leaving. We stay together.”
“But we have to—”
“Enough!” she snapped. “Hold the line or get out of the way.”
The scratching at the door turned to hammering, each blow rattling the makeshift barricade. Gerald flinched but didn’t back down. “We need a plan!” he insisted, his voice rising. “Do _you_ have one, Ethan?”
“Oh, sure,” I said, throwing my hands up. “How about we wait for the Void Stalker to finish its snack inside and hope it comes back out for dessert?”
Claire shot me a withering glare. “Not helping.”
Sweat dripped down my neck as I shoved another desk into the barricade. “This going to hold?” Barry panted, wedging a chair into place.
“If we’re lucky?” I grunted. “Maybe long enough for the goblins to realize they left the stove on.”
Barry blinked. “Do goblins even—”
“Focus!” Claire barked, cutting him off. “Less talking, more bracing.”
The wood splintered under another blow, tiny shards scattering onto the floor. The hammering grew more rhythmic, more deliberate. The goblins were coordinating now, their guttural cries synchronizing into something disturbingly purposeful.
“You know,” I said, smirking despite the tension in my chest, “they’re getting really good at teamwork. Should we start worrying about a goblin HR department next?”
Gerald slammed his hands down on the desk, his face pale but resolute. “Will you shut up for once? This isn’t funny!”
The room fell silent, save for the relentless pounding at the door. Even Claire looked momentarily startled. Gerald’s voice cracked as he continued, “If we don’t hold this, they’re getting in. And then what? What’s your brilliant plan then, huh?”
For a second, I didn’t have a snarky comeback. Then the System chimed again.
**[System Update: Door Integrity at 47%. Structural Failure Imminent.]**
“Oh, good,” I muttered. “Because I _definitely_ needed more anxiety right now.”
The hammering turned into a deafening crash, the barricade shuddering as claws raked against the wood. Splinters flew into the air like shrapnel, and Rookie whimpered softly from her corner.
“We’re running out of time!” Barry said, his voice strained as he pushed against the wobbling desk.
Claire’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “Hold the line. No one panics. We’re getting through this.”
The door cracked with a sound like a gunshot, and for a moment, the room fell silent, save for the goblins’ rhythmic pounding. The faint light spilling through the widening gaps illuminated the sweat on Barry’s brow and the panic in Gerald’s eyes.
“Any brilliant plans now?” Claire snapped, her voice tight as she shoved another filing cabinet into the barricade.
“Yeah,” I said, gripping the splintered chair leg tighter. “Pray they choke on the furniture.”
**[System Alert: Door Integrity 30%.]**
_Fantastic._ The red bar in my peripheral vision blinked like an annoying timer counting down to disaster. “Claire, I’m starting to think your plan needs a little...sprucing up.”
“Less sarcasm, more muscle!” she hissed, shoving her weight into the desk.
“Right, because we’re definitely going to win this by out-benching goblins,” I muttered, adding my weight to the barricade. “Barry, is Rookie still conscious?”
Barry adjusted his grip on the rookie, her head lolling against his shoulder. “Barely. This zone’s sucking the life out of her.”
A low growl rumbled from beyond the door, deeper and more guttural than the goblins’ shrieks. The pounding stopped for a moment, replaced by a scratchy snarl that sent a chill racing down my spine.
**[Enemy: Dire Hellhound (Level 4, Uncommon)]**
**HP:** **150/150**
**Threat Level:** **High**
**Description:** **Mana-infused predator. Commands lower-tier creatures. Prioritizes coordinated pack attacks.**
“Oh, perfect,” I said, glancing at the System notification. “It brought the family.”
**[System Response: High Threat Detected. Suggest: Evacuate.]**
“Evacuate where?!” I hissed at the text. “You want me to just flap my arms and fly?”
The door exploded inward, splinters flying like shrapnel. A goblin darted through first, its jagged club raised. Before I could react, Claire drove the broken leg of a chair into its chest with precision that would’ve made Stabby McStabface proud.
**[Enemy: Goblin Raider (Level 2, Common)]**
**HP:** **0/50**
**Threat Level:** **Negligible**
**Description:** **Low-level scavenger. Weak but dangerous in groups.**
Claire didn’t waste a second, kicking the corpse aside. “Ethan, Barry—keep them back! Gerald, stop panicking and grab something sharp!”
The next goblin lunged through the opening, followed by two more. Barry swung a metal chair, catching one across the jaw with a sickening crunch, while I jabbed at the second with my makeshift weapon. The chair leg struck true—mostly because the goblin hadn’t figured out dodging was a thing—but it didn’t go down easily.
**[Enemy: Goblin Grunt (Level 3, Common)]**
**HP:** **20/70**
**Threat Level:** **Low**
**Description:** **Aggressive scavenger. Prefers overwhelming numbers to strategy.**
The grunt hissed, swiping at me with a rusted dagger. I jumped back, narrowly avoiding a tetanus sponsorship. “These guys just keep getting uglier, don’t they?”
Barry grunted in response, slamming his chair into another goblin. “Less commentary, more killing!”
The Dire Hellhound loomed in the doorway, its eyes glowing with an eerie crimson light. The smaller hounds flanked it, their lips curling back to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth.
**[Enemy: Hellhound Pup (Level 3, Common)]**
**HP:** **50/50**
**Threat Level:** **Moderate**
**Description:** **Faster than adult counterparts but less durable.**
One of the pups darted forward, aiming for Barry’s exposed side. “Watch out!” I shouted, swinging my chair leg. It clipped the hound, knocking it sideways into the desk, but it scrambled back to its feet with a snarl.
**[Skill Used: Counter Swipe. Damage: -10 HP to Hellhound Pup.]**
The Void Stalker’s battle against Glowstick Knight and Stabby McStabface raged in the background. The knight parried a brutal swipe from the Stalker’s claws, his glowing blade trailing arcs of mana as he countered with a series of precise strikes. The air vibrated with each clash, the walls groaning under the force.
**[Enemy: Void Stalker (Level 6, Rare)]**
**HP:** **130/200**
**Threat Level:** **Extreme**
**Description:** **Predator of mana-rich zones. Adapts quickly to combat patterns. Avoid prolonged engagement.**
The dagger wielder moved like a shadow, her twin blades flashing as she targeted the creature’s exposed flanks. One dagger slipped between its ribs, eliciting a guttural snarl from the Stalker.
**[Skill Used: Precision Strike. Damage: -15 HP to Void Stalker.]**
“Holy crap, did you see that?” Gerald blurted, his eyes wide as he clutched a broken piece of wood like it was Excalibur.
“Focus, Gerald!” Claire snapped. “We have our own problems.”
The Dire Hellhound leapt over the barricade, its massive jaws snapping inches from my face. I stumbled back, swinging wildly. The chair leg connected with its side, but it might as well have been a mosquito bite.
**[Skill Used: Wild Swing. Damage: -5 HP to Dire Hellhound.]**
“Great,” I muttered, dodging another lunge. “Anyone got a rocket launcher?”
Barry tackled one of the smaller hounds, struggling to keep its snapping jaws at bay. “A little help here!”
Gerald, to his credit, didn’t hesitate. He drove his improvised weapon into the pup’s side with a yell, the force knocking it off Barry. The look on his face was equal parts terror and disbelief.
**[Critical Hit: Improvised Weapon. Damage: -20 HP to Hellhound Pup.]**
“Nice shot!” I called, dodging another goblin. “See, Gerald? You’re a natural.”
The barricade was all but gone, and the remaining goblins poured in, their shrieks echoing off the walls. Claire stood at the center, her makeshift spear flashing as she held the line. “Keep fighting! We can’t let them—”
Her voice cut off as the Void Stalker roared, its voice a terrible, bone-shaking sound. It leapt back from the dagger wielder, its glowing eyes locking on the broken doorway and, by extension, us.
“Oh no,” I muttered, gripping my weapon tighter. “It’s coming this way.”
The System chimed, its tone painfully matter-of-fact.
**[System Update: Void Stalker. Target Shift Detected.]**
The Void Stalker’s charge was a thing of nightmares. It tore through the goblins in its path, scattering them like leaves caught in a gale. Behind it, Glowstick Knight’s blade flared to life, illuminating his face with grim determination. “Stay back!” he shouted, his voice a command that cut through the chaos.
Stabby McStabface darted after him, her twin daggers glinting in the eerie light. The Void Stalker, undeterred, hurtled toward the doorframe—and us.
“Brace!” Claire’s voice was sharp, filled with the kind of authority that made you obey first and question later.
I didn’t need to be told twice. Every muscle in my body screamed as I planted my feet, the chair leg gripped so tightly it felt like an extension of my arm. The monstrous predator loomed closer, its claws raking across the remnants of the barricade.
The doorframe shattered under its bulk, and for a moment, I was sure this was it. _Game over. Thanks for playing._
**[System Alert: New Entrants Detected. Chaos Multiplier Active.]**
“Well, that’s new,” I muttered, barely hearing myself over the cacophony. The System’s cheerful tone only added to the madness.
As if on cue, the rest of the monsters made their dramatic entrance. The goblins poured through the gaps like green, snarling water, their scavenged weapons gleaming with a feral hunger.
**[Enemy: Goblin Raider (Level 2, Common)]**
**HP:** **40/40**
**Threat Level:** **Negligible**
**Description:** **Follows larger threats. Excellent at outnumbering prey.**
**[Enemy: Goblin Brute (Level 3, Common)]**
**HP:** **70/70**
**Threat Level:** **Low**
**Description:** **Larger than average. Smarter? No. Harder to kill? Yes.**
Before I could fully process the goblin squad, the first of the hellhounds slinked through the gap. Smaller than the Dire Hellhound, but no less terrifying, its jaws snapped at the air like it was testing its bite radius.
**[Enemy: Hellhound Pup (Level 3, Common)]**
**HP:** **50/50**
**Threat Level:** **Moderate**
**Description:** **Faster than full-grown hellhounds. Unpredictable.**
Barry let out a colorful curse, barely dodging the creature as it lunged at him. Its claws scraped against the floor, leaving deep gouges that made my stomach churn.
“Ethan!” Claire barked. “Focus on the smaller ones! Don’t let them overwhelm us!”
“Smaller?” I parried a goblin’s club with my chair leg, the impact jarring my arms. “You mean the ones that only mostly kill us instead of definitely?”
A flash of fur and fangs drew my attention to the doorway, where the Dire Hellhound emerged. Its eyes glowed with predatory cunning as it growled low and deep, the sound reverberating through my chest like distant thunder.
**[Enemy: Dire Hellhound (Level 4, Uncommon)]**
**HP:** **150/150**
**Threat Level:** **High**
**Description:** **Leads coordinated attacks. Hunts with precision.**
“Oh, wonderful,” I said, sidestepping another goblin. “It brought the boss.”
The Void Stalker roared, leaping toward Glowstick Knight with terrifying speed. The knight raised his blade just in time, the impact sending sparks flying as metal met claw. He grunted, his feet sliding back from the force.
**[Skill Used: Mana Blade Strike. Damage: -20 HP to Void Stalker.]**
The creature snarled, twisting away from his follow-up strike. Stabby McStabface darted in from the side, her daggers flashing as she targeted its exposed ribs.
**[Skill Used: Shadow Slice. Damage: -15 HP to Void Stalker.]**
I barely had time to appreciate their coordination before a goblin lunged at me. I swung wildly, the chair leg connecting with its skull with a sickening thud.
**[Critical Hit: Goblin Raider. Damage: -40 HP.]**
“Nice!” Barry shouted, swinging a chair like he was trying to win a home-run derby. His hit sent another goblin sprawling, but the Hellhound Pup was already lunging for his exposed side.
“Barry, move!” I yelled, slamming my makeshift weapon into the pup mid-air. It yelped, landing in a heap before scrambling to its feet.
**[Skill Used: Wild Bash. Damage: -10 HP to Hellhound Pup.]**
The Void Stalker shifted tactics. It slammed its tail into the ground, the force creating a shockwave that knocked both of its opponents back. The dagger wielder rolled to her feet, her breathing labored, while the knight staggered, his blade glowing brighter as he prepared for another strike.
**[Enemy Buff: Apex Predator. +15% Damage when wounded.]**
“Claire, I’m starting to think we’re the least important people in this apocalypse,” I muttered, watching as another green lightning bolt split the sky, striking dangerously close.
“Ethan,” she said, her voice sharp, “watch your flank!”
I turned just in time to see the Dire Hellhound bearing down on me, its jaws wide and eyes alight with malice. My stomach dropped, and for a split second, I froze.
_Move, you idiot._
I dove to the side, the creature’s teeth snapping shut inches from where my head had been. My heart hammered as I scrambled to my feet, gripping my chair leg like it might actually help.
Glowstick Knight roared, charging the Void Stalker with his blade held high. The creature pivoted, its claws aiming for his exposed side. Stabby McStabface threw another explosive at its feet, the detonation staggering it just enough for the knight’s strike to land.
**[Trap Activated: Mana Burst. Damage: -30 HP.]**
The Void Stalker stumbled, its HP bar dipping dangerously low. For a moment, I dared to hope.
Then the Dire Hellhound howled, and the remaining goblins surged forward like a tidal wave. I swung at anything that moved, the chaos consuming everything but the immediate need to survive.
“Keep fighting!” Claire shouted, her voice barely audible over the din. “We can’t let them—”
Her words were drowned out as the Void Stalker roared, its glowing eyes locking onto us. It leapt back, its movements impossibly fast for something so wounded. Its gaze was terrifyingly focused.
“Oh no,” I said, gripping my weapon tighter. “I think it just decided we’re next.”
The System chimed, its tone both mocking and resigned.
**[System Update: Void Stalker. Target Priority Shift Detected. Trouble loves you, doesn't it?]**
And then it lunged.