"That was… crazy," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow. She had underestimated just how terrifying guns could be. They were loud, fast, and powerful. If her shield were any weaker, they would be little more than Swiss cheese by now.
‘I need to train my Barrier Constructor talent more.’ She mentally noted. Physical strength was great, but it had its limits; it was only useful in a melee.
For a moment, the three of them just sat there, absorbing the reality of their escape.
“We owe our escape to you, Sera,” Anders murmured gratefully. “Your barrier held up against those bullets. That was... unbelievable.”
Sera weakly waved him off, “I didn’t know it’d be able to block them either.”
“...”
Anders paled at those words and decided to keep his mouth shut. It was probably better that he didn’t know that beforehand, anyway.
Zayzal sighed and looked at the rearview mirror, “We should keep moving. They might dispatch vehicles to pursue us.”
The SUV engine revved once more, its headlights piercing the dark, silent roads of Germany. The night was still young, and their journey was far from over. Anders continued down the backroads, nervous that the situation here was the same as it was in Denmark.
Hours passed, and the first light of dawn began to appear on the horizon. The exhaustion was evident on each of their faces. They needed to rest, recoup, and plan their next move. Germany was vast, and though they had crossed the border, their challenges were far from over.
Once the sun peeked over the horizon, casting an orange glow over the land, they pulled into Hamburg, Germany.
They didn’t see any monsters on the way here, but Anders was actively avoiding any sort of confrontation with pretty much anything that moved. It was also incredibly dark out, so even if there were monsters, they wouldn’t be able to see them.
Surprisingly, the closer they got to Hamburg, the more active things were. People were on the roads driving, walking around, shopping, and more.
Anders slowed down to get a good look at everything and allowed Zayzal to inspect the area.
As they ventured further into Hamburg, the outskirts of the city revealed a juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary.
At first glance, people were out and about, which was a comforting sight. Families were seen chatting, and children played catch in open spaces. But instead of the familiar bustling shopping centers, makeshift markets had sprung up, occupying parking lots and wide streets.
Tents and stalls, assembled from materials ranging from tarpaulins to wooden planks, stood in rows. A closer look showed that these weren't ordinary markets. Instead of boutique clothing or electronic gadgets, these stalls were selling survival gear. There were knives of various sizes, all kinds of weapons, ropes, water purifiers, canned food, and more.
The most striking change in this new barter system was the currency. Cash seemed to have lost its value. Instead, vendors bartered with essential items for gold and silver coins, or one could barter. There were even stalls dedicated to weighing and assessing the value of precious metals.
"Society's adapting," Zayzal murmured, observing a trade where a man exchanged a gold necklace for a sturdy-looking backpack filled with supplies and a well-made machete.
Anders’s eyes widened as he noticed a booth where a young woman was demonstrating how to use a crossbow. Families huddled around her, listening intently to every word. "It's like a medieval fair... but for survival."
As they continued to drive through the makeshift market, the road opened up, leading them towards what was supposed to be Hamburg Airport. But instead of a sprawling complex of terminals, runways, and airplanes, there was a vast, gaping void.
The airport had been swallowed by a colossal sinkhole, almost 2 kilometers in diameter and so deep that they couldn't see its bottom. The edges were jagged, with remnants of structures teetering precariously, threatening to plunge into the abyss. Security barriers had been set up around the perimeter, with warning signs in multiple languages indicating the danger.
People had gathered around the sinkhole to either look or pray. A makeshift memorial had been erected, with photos, candles, and flowers for those who might have been lost when the sinkhole appeared.
Anders brought the SUV to a stop, allowing them to take in the enormity of the disaster. The sheer scale was overwhelming.
They walked out of the car near the edge of the hole, but all they saw was black. It almost looked like some omnipotent entity just erased this section of the Earth.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“Verdammt.” Anders couldn’t help but curse in German. “Did this also happen because of the descent of mana?”
“Ja!” A nearby middle-aged man with balding brown hair but nice muscles spoke up. “Happened less zan a vek ago ven ze apawcalypse schtarted.(Happened less than a week ago when the apocalypse started.)”
Suddenly, they heard a weird gurgling noise coming from the sinkhole. Peering over the edge, they saw a small green creature that looked very similar to a goblin climbing out.
BOOM!
A gunshot rang through the air, penetrating the creature’s skull and causing it to fall into the abyss.
Zayzal and the others looked over across the sinkhole to see a man in a military uniform holding a rifle. The man scanned the hole for a few seconds before he shrugged and put the gun down, returning to his patrol.
Everyone else wasn’t even surprised and kept going about their daily lives.
“...Is that normal?” Anders asked the middle-aged man.
“Ja. Monsters appear around here often. The military came in and is helping to keep things in order.”
“Are they the ones behind those shops opening up downtown?”
“Ja. People need to protect themselves.”
“Why are you guys so calm about this?” Zayzal chimed in and asked. This man and everyone else was way too nonchalant about everything.
The middle-aged man looked at him and raised his eyebrow.
Zayzal was quite tall and athletic. He wasn’t exactly muscular, but his physique was amazing. The spear on his back that was covered in dried blood also gave him a more rugged look.
“German people strong!” The middle-aged man smiled while flexing his arms. “Little bit of monster is nothing. We’ve been through worse. Still here today.”
Zayzal had nothing to say against that and could only smile wryly. ‘I guess he’s not wrong.’
“You look strong too. Bet you’ve killed monsters.” The middle-aged man said before he glanced behind Zayzal at Sera. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw her as if he had just spotted a rare creature. He couldn’t believe the size and musculature of the woman! “She look stronger than you, boy. Better step it up.”
Sera burst out laughing while Zayzal’s smile left his face. “Hahaha! That’s what I’ve been telling him!” She walked over and gave the man a fist bump. The two seemed to immediately hit it off.
Both Zayzal and Anders scowled and resolved themselves that they would get stronger than this brutish Viking.
The four of them kept chatting, learning more about what’s happened to Germany over the last few days, sharing stories, and more.
Eventually, the middle-aged man had to leave, so he gave them a nod and walked away. They never did catch his name.
“What an… interesting man,” Zayzal muttered.
“That’s German hospitality for you!” Anders laughed, not minding the stranger’s stoicism.
“Let’s go check out the market! We should probably stock up on supplies, upgrade some of our weapons, and look for a way to fill up the car with gas.” Sera interjected, looking particularly excited about the weapon upgrades.
The two men nodded. So, they hopped in the car and drove off to the nearest market.
Anders carefully navigated the SUV through the makeshift streets of the market. The once orderly roads of Hamburg had been transformed into a sprawling maze of stalls, with people haggling, bartering, and displaying their goods. The vibrant energy of the marketplace was a stark contrast to the somber mood at the sinkhole.
The trio parked at a distance and proceeded on foot, making their way through the crowded lanes. Sera’s eyes darted around, assessing the different stalls and their offerings. The diverse range of survival gear available was both impressive and concerning.
Stopping at a weapons stall, Sera's eyes lit up upon seeing a vast array of polearms, from spears to halberds. "Anders, take your pick," she gestured at the assortment.
Anders browsed with a careful eye before selecting a sleek spear with an intricately designed steel tip. He gave it a few experimental thrusts and twirls, appreciating the balance and weight.
Next to the spears, a variety of crossbows were displayed. After testing a few, Anders settled on a sturdy-looking crossbow with a simple reload mechanism. The vendor also threw in a quiver of steel-tipped bolts as part of the deal.
As they moved on, Zayzal's [Pathfinder] talent started tingling, leading him to a hidden stall in a corner. He didn’t even know that it was activated as he merely picked a random direction and walked.
There, an old man showcased an array of beautifully crafted spears.
Zayzal was drawn to a Damascus steel blade with a dark wooden pole wrapped in black leather. The balance was perfect, and its sharp edge gleamed menacingly. Without a second thought, he traded a few gemstones from their dungeon loot for it.
Sera, on the other hand, was in search of a new shield. Spotting a craftsman specializing in protective gear, she approached and was presented with a selection of shields. After some deliberation, she chose a large, round metal shield reinforced with steel bands.
It was extremely heavy for a normal person, but for her, it was perfect.
The next stalls they visited offered knives of various sizes. They each picked a couple, ensuring they had tools for both combat and daily use. The vendor seemed particularly pleased as they traded a handful of gold coins for the blades.
Armor and clothing were next. They found a stall selling lightweight, durable vests with metal inlays, providing protection without sacrificing mobility. Along with these, they picked up sturdy boots and cloaks to shield against the elements.
Their shopping spree continued with them securing new backpacks, food, water filters, lightweight tents, and sleeping bags that easily fit into their packs. Each transaction saw them parting with a portion of their accumulated treasures, but the value they received in return was undeniable.
Towards the end of their expedition, Zayzal's [Pathfinder] talent once again guided them to an inconspicuous stall where an old woman was selling what seemed like ordinary trinkets.
However, Zayzal was drawn to a small star pendant that emitted a faint glow not visible to the naked eye. Intrigued and trusting his instincts, Zayzal traded a few more gems for it.
By the time their shopping spree came to an end, the sun was nearing its descent. The trio, loaded with their new acquisitions, made their way back to their SUV, preparing to set out once again on their journey.
"What a day," Anders remarked, securing the last of their purchases in the trunk.
"Indeed," Zayzal agreed, admiring his new pendant. “Now, let’s find someplace to rest.”
Everyone immediately agreed, so they hopped in the car and set off.