The factory lay behind them, a desolate monument to their struggle. The faint rays of dawn broke through the overcast sky, casting an eerie glow over the wasteland. The group moved in silence, each member lost in their own thoughts. The battle with the Crimson Sentinel had been a harsh reminder of the dangers lurking in this apocalyptic world. Evan trudged at the rear, his crowbar slung over his shoulder. The weight of his exhaustion was almost as heavy as the system's buzzing presence in his mind.

“Skill Upgrade Available: Energy Infusion (Level 3).” “New Objective: Investigate the Source of Anomalous Energy.”

The message lingered in his vision before fading, leaving behind a growing unease. The system had been quiet since their victory, as if processing something. Evan couldn’t shake the feeling that their battle in the factory was just the beginning.

Claire slowed her pace until she was walking beside him. Her face was drawn, the fatigue of their ordeal evident in her eyes. “You okay?” she asked, her tone softer than usual. Evan nodded, though the ache in his body told a different story. “Yeah. Just tired.” Claire gave him a knowing look. “We all are. But we can’t afford to slow down. Not until we find somewhere safe to rest.”

Evan glanced at the others. Jake’s shoulders sagged under the weight of his gear, Kara leaned heavily on her rifle, and Lila’s usually sharp eyes were dulled with exhaustion. They were all running on fumes.

“Do you think there’s more of those… things out there?” Evan asked, breaking the silence.

Claire hesitated, then nodded. “Probably. The factory was just one piece of the puzzle. Whatever’s happening in this world, it’s bigger than we thought.”

Hours passed as they trekked through the wasteland. The ruins of a city loomed in the distance, its crumbling skyscrapers silhouetted against the gray sky. “Think it’s worth checking out?” Jake asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

Claire studied the skyline, her expression unreadable. “Could be supplies. Maybe even survivors.”

“Or another death trap,” Kara muttered under her breath.

Evan felt a strange pull toward the city, the system buzzing faintly as they drew closer. It wasn’t a directive, but a subtle nudge, as if urging him forward.

“We should at least scout the outskirts,” Evan suggested. “If it’s dangerous, we can turn back.”

Claire nodded, her decision made. “Alright. But we stick together. No one goes off alone.”

The city was eerily quiet as they approached, the silence broken only by the occasional creak of metal or the distant echo of crumbling debris. The streets were littered with abandoned vehicles and remnants of a life long gone.

Evan’s eyes were drawn to graffiti scrawled across a nearby wall: “Beware the Shadows.”

“What do you think that means?” Lila asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Jake snorted. “Probably just some paranoid warning. Or someone trying to scare off looters.”

Evan wasn’t so sure. The words carried an ominous weight, as if they were more than just a warning—they were a promise.

The group moved cautiously through the streets, their weapons at the ready. They passed collapsed buildings and shattered windows, the signs of a once-thriving city now reduced to rubble.

“Over here,” Claire called, gesturing toward a partially intact convenience store.

The group followed, stepping inside the dimly lit space. Shelves lay overturned, their contents long gone, but a quick search turned up a few scattered supplies—cans of food, a dusty first-aid kit, and a few bottles of water. “Better than nothing,” Kara said, stuffing the supplies into her pack.

Evan felt the system buzz again, more insistently this time. His gaze was drawn to the back of the store, where a broken door led to a dark hallway. “There’s something back there,” he said, his voice low. Claire frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know,” Evan admitted. “Just… a feeling.”

Claire studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Let’s check it out. But stay sharp.”

The hallway was narrow and dark, the air thick with the smell of mildew and decay. At the end of the corridor, they found another door, partially ajar. Claire pushed it open cautiously, revealing a small room cluttered with papers and strange devices. The walls were covered in maps and diagrams, their surfaces marked with erratic lines and notes scrawled in an unfamiliar script.

“What is this place?” Jake asked, stepping inside.

Lila picked up one of the papers, her brow furrowing as she studied it. “It looks like… research. But on what?”

Evan’s attention was drawn to a device on the table—a small, spherical object emitting a faint blue glow. The system buzzed urgently as he approached it.

“New Item Detected: Anomalous Core Fragment.” “Analysis in Progress...”

“What did you find?” Claire asked, moving to his side. Evan hesitated, then held up the device. “I think this might be important.”

Before Claire could respond, a low, guttural growl echoed from the hallway.

The group spun around, weapons raised as shadows began to shift in the dim light. Figures emerged from the darkness, their forms twisted and unnatural. Their eyes glowed faintly, and their movements were erratic, almost jerky. “Shit,” Jake muttered, raising his pistol.

Claire barked orders, her voice sharp and commanding. “Form up! Don’t let them surround us!”

The creatures lunged, their claws flashing in the faint light. Evan swung his crowbar, the system guiding his movements as he struck one of the creatures in the head. It collapsed with a shriek, but more swarmed in to take its place.

“Kara, cover the rear!” Claire shouted, firing her crossbow.

“I’m trying!” Kara yelled, her rifle blazing as she held the creatures at bay.

Evan activated the system’s Energy Infusion skill, his crowbar glowing faintly as he fought. The enhanced strikes cut through the creatures’ tough hides, but the relentless assault was overwhelming. “We need to get out of here!” Lila shouted, her voice tinged with panic. “Hold the line!” Claire commanded, her eyes scanning for an opening.

Evan’s mind raced as he fought, the system buzzing insistently. It was feeding him something—a strategy, a solution.

“New Skill Activation: Area Disruption.”

Without fully understanding what he was doing, Evan slammed his crowbar into the ground. A shockwave of energy rippled outward, knocking the creatures back and giving the group a moment of breathing room.

“Move!” Claire shouted, leading the charge back down the hallway.

The group burst out of the store, the creatures’ shrieks echoing behind them. They didn’t stop running until they were several blocks away, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. “What the hell were those things?” Jake demanded, his hands trembling.

“Hunters,” Claire said grimly. “I’ve heard of them before. They’re fast, and they don’t stop until they kill you—or you kill them.”

Evan’s grip tightened on the Anomalous Core Fragment in his hand. The system buzzed faintly, its presence a constant reminder of the power he now wielded—and the dangers it attracted. “This world keeps getting worse,” Kara muttered, wiping sweat from her brow.

Claire nodded, her expression hard. “And we have to get stronger if we’re going to survive it.”

The group exchanged weary looks before moving on, the ruins of Grayfall fading into the distance as they continued their journey into the unknown.