As Arlo read the contents on the screen, he could feel his blood run cold, his breaths coming in short, fearful gasps.

Meanwhile, Serena frantically tried to call Sylvia, her fingers trembling as she dialed the number. But no matter how many times she tried, the call went straight to voicemail, each unanswered ring heightening her anxiety.

"Arlo, she's not picking up…!" Serena said, her voice quivering with dread. "Arlo—"

As she turned to check on him, Serena's eyes widened in shock. Arlo was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the door stood wide open, swinging as if someone had rushed out in a desperate hurry.

Arlo sprinted outside, his heart pounding in his chest. After ensuring that there were no bystanders or cameras in the vicinity, he called out to his companion.

"Vielle!"

In that instant, a hand fell upon his shoulder, and Vielle's invisible figure became visible beside him. He could finally see her, realizing that she had been flying alongside him the entire time.

"You don't have to say anything, I understand," Vielle reassured him, her voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. "Will we be going by cab this time?"

Arlo shook his head, determination flashing in his eyes. "No, we're flying there. Can you keep the invisibility spell active while flying us there?"

"Yeah, that's easy. Just make sure we stay in physical contact with one another."

She raised her staff up into the air, and a shimmering purple magic circle manifested beneath their feet.

The magic circle activated, and they rocketed up into the skies at breathtaking speeds. They soared higher and higher, until they could not only see the entire central city of London but also the fallen ruins that lay beyond its borders in the far distance.

As they flew, Vielle's keen vampiric sight picked up on a detail she hadn't noticed before. The further they moved from the city's center, the more broken down and war-torn the landscape became. It was as if a great battle had ravaged the outskirts, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

Despite her curiosity, Vielle chose not to comment on the desolate scenery. They had far more pressing matters at hand, and every second counted.

With Arlo providing directions, they hurtled through the sky, their destination clear: Central London's Shopping Centre.

As they soared through the air, Vielle turned to Arlo, her voice tinged with confusion.

"Hey, Arlo… If a gate just opened, is there really a need to be so alarmed? Didn't you explain to me that gates opening were normal and that they weren't dangerous until a Labyrinth Plague Outbreak occurred?"

Labyrinth Plague Outbreaks. It was a phenomenon that would occur if a Labyrinth was not cleared within a week of appearing, and it had been the reason most of the major cities in the world had fallen.

If a Labyrinth remained uncleared for too long, the monsters within would pour out like a plague, wreaking havoc and destruction on a scale depending on the rank of the gate.

"Yeah… if it just opened, it wouldn't normally be dangerous," Arlo muttered. "However, this isn't a normal situation… a Labyrinth Plague Outbreak is definitely happening right now."

Vielle's brow furrowed, her curiosity piqued. "What makes you so sure?"

Arlo's gaze remained fixed on the screen hovering below him as they hurtled towards their destination.

[New Emergency Quest Unlocked.]

[Emergency Quest: Labyrinth Outbreak Plague!]

[Objective: Your loved one is in grave danger! A Labyrinth has formed and unleashed a horde of monsters, spreading chaos through the Central Shopping Centre. Time is running out, you must save them before it is too late!]

He tightened his grip on Vielle's hand, a sense of unease washing over him. "I can't tell you how... but I'm sure of it."

Vielle glanced at him before focusing her attention back on the path ahead, her mind whirling with thoughts.

'A mage's emotional state greatly affects their magic power output. When under extreme emotional stress, it can spiral out of control.' Her gaze shifted to Arlo's grimoire, a flicker of concern in her eyes. 'When that happens, the magic power is often unleashed all at once into the surroundings.'

She narrowed her eyes, her thoughts growing more troubled as they approached their destination in the distance.

'The supply of magic power in his grimoire... despite all the time I've spent with him, I still can't see the bottom of it. It's almost endless. If that power ever rampages and goes out of control, released into the environment... I said the area at the time, but I fear the entire city might be wiped off the map.'

With that final, chilling thought, Vielle found herself hoping desperately that nothing bad had happened to the one Arlo sought to save. Not only for his sake, but for the sake of everyone around him.

-

The sound of screams echoed throughout the shopping center, a mixture of terror and despair. People ran in every direction, panicking as they tried to escape the nightmare unfolding before their eyes.

Grotesque figures, their forms twisted and malformed, attacked the fleeing shoppers. They scaled the walls with unnatural agility, striking at anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path. Bodies piled up from left and right, the monsters devouring everything in their sight with a ravenous hunger.

The most powerful among the monsters were humanoid in shape, their bodies bulging with unnatural muscle. A piece of cloth covered their waists, while the skulls of creatures resembling a demonic deer, complete with twisted horns, adorned their heads.

These monstrous warriors carried an array of weapons crafted from gleaming steel, which they wielded as they hunted the humans. The air was filled with the sound of their guttural growls and ear-piercing shrieks which drowned out the cries of their victims.

Hidden within one of the rooms of the business offices where she worked, Sylvia trembled behind a desk, her heart pounding with fear. With her mouth covered, she stared at the closed door, her eyes wide with terror. The screams of her colleagues echoed from beyond the thin barrier.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." she repeated, her voice a broken whisper as she pressed her hands against her ears, desperate to block out the horrific sounds.

Despite her efforts, the screams still managed to pierce through, each one a painful reminder of the people she had worked with and grown to know. Helpless and trapped, Sylvia could do nothing but sit there, her body shaking with silent sobs as her colleagues were slaughtered just beyond the door.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

The screams eventually faded, replaced by an eerie silence that was broken only by the distant cries of those still trapped outside. Slowly, Sylvia lowered her hands from her ears, wondering if the monsters had finally moved on.

In that moment, the door to the room burst open, the force of the impact sending it flying across the room. It slammed into the desk, shattering Sylvia's only cover and leaving her exposed.

A large, muscular figure stepped into the room, its skin a sickly shade of dark purple. The skull of a deer, twisted and grotesque, covered its head, the empty eye sockets seeming to stare directly into Sylvia's soul. There was no mistaking it - this was one of the monsters that had been terrorizing the shopping center.

Sylvia's heart stopped, her breath caught in her throat as she stared up at the towering creature.

The monster's body was covered in blood, the crimson liquid dripping from its grotesque form. In one hand, it held a large battleaxe, the blade stained with the blood of its victims. In the other, it clutched the severed head of a worker, the lifeless eyes staring directly at Sylvia, as if accusing her of some unspoken crime.

Sylvia's heart sank, her blood running cold as the monster's red eyes bore into her from behind its skull mask. With slow, deliberate steps, it began to approach her, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

Every instinct in her body screamed at her to run, to flee from the approaching horror, but her legs refused to obey. Fear had paralyzed her, rendering her muscles useless as she sat there, helpless and trembling.

As the monster drew closer, the grim realization settled upon her like a suffocating weight. It was too late. She was going to die.

"N-No... I... I don't want to die..." she whispered, her voice quivering with terror. "I... I can't die... I can't leave them on their own..."

The faces of Arlo and Serena flashed through her mind, the thought of abandoning them to face this nightmarish world alone more painful than any physical wound.

Desperate, she began to crawl backwards, trying to put some distance between herself and the advancing monster. Her efforts were in vain, and she soon found herself backed against the wall, trapped with nowhere to run.

The monster seemed to relish in her fear, a cruel glint in its eyes as it raised its battleaxe high into the air, preparing to deliver the final blow.

"S-Somebody... please..." Sylvia whimpered, her eyes filled with despair and hopelessness. "Somebody please help me...!"

Her cries echoed in the empty room, unanswered. The only thing that awaited her was the monster's merciless axe. As the blade began its descent, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the inevitable.

Crash!

In that moment, the sound of something crashing into the room shattered the silence, followed by a resounding clang that reverberated off the walls.

Confused and startled, Sylvia's eyes snapped open, widening in disbelief at the sight before her. Standing between her and the monster was the back of a young man wearing an orange tracksuit, his hair and clothes billowing in the wind created by his sudden entrance.

A large, spherical yellow barrier had materialized in front of the young man, successfully blocking the monster's deadly swing.

"Ar...lo...?" Sylvia breathed, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at the familiar figure, hardly daring to believe her eyes.

Arlo slowly turned to face Sylvia, a smile on his face. "Yeah, looks like I made it on time..." His voice trailed off, and his smile faded as he noticed the condition she was in.

Her body was covered in injuries, cuts and scrapes painting parts of her business suit a vivid red.

Without saying a word, Arlo turned away from the monster and crouched down in front of Sylvia. "No, it looks like I was late. I'm sorry, Sylvia..."

"Arlo..." Sylvia repeated, her eyes welling up with tears. "Arlo... I was so scared... I didn't want to die..." The tears began to stream down her face, a mixture of fear and relief.

Seeing the condition she was in and the tears flowing out, something inside Arlo snapped.

"...It's fine now. Everything will be fine..." he muttered, stretching out his hand to gently pat her head, offering what comfort he could.

Meanwhile, the monster continued to attack the barrier, infuriated by the fact that it was being ignored. No matter how much it struck the barrier with its battleaxe, not a single scratch appeared on the shimmering surface.

"...Sylvia. Close your eyes... I don't want you to see this..." Arlo said softly, covering her eyes with his hand. "Open them when I tell you to, okay?"

Sylvia gave him a slight nod and did as he asked, closing her eyes. After confirming that they were shut, Arlo slowly turned his head to face the monster.

In that moment, a dark surge of magic power burst from the grimoire, filling the room. The air seemed to darken and grow heavier, as if the very atmosphere was responding to Arlo's fury. His expression twisted into one of pure rage, veins bulging on his neck and forehead as he channeled his power.

Sylvia kept her eyes shut, trembling from the residual fear. The sounds of Arlo's chanting were drowned out by the clangs of the monster's relentless assault on the barrier.

Each clang caused her to shiver, the echoes of the battle ringing in her ears. But still, she kept her eyes closed, choosing to trust in Arlo.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed throughout the room, causing Sylvia to jolt and her eyes to snap open involuntarily.

What she saw before her made her eyes widen in a mixture of awe and disbelief.

Arlo stood infront of Sylvia, his hand outstretched, the grimoire glowing with a bright green light. Before him was the monster, its figure frozen in place with a gaping hole in the center of its body. Through the hole, a blood-covered wall was visible, an indication of the immense power that had struck the creature, piercing both its flesh and the solid structure behind it.

Silently, the monster's weapon clattered to the floor, and its lifeless body followed suit, collapsing in a heap beside the discarded battleaxe. It lay there motionless, all traces of its previous ferocity extinguished.

[You have killed a Bonedread.]

[+15 Experience Points.]

Arlo, ignoring the notifications that flashed before his eyes, slowly turned around to check on Sylvia. His cold, icy gaze melted into a reassuring smile as he met her eyes.

"It's over now, don't worry," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm to her frayed nerves.

Seeing his familiar smile, Sylvia felt the tears well up once more, a wave of relief and disbelief washing over her.

"S-Sylvia, you're crying? D-Does it hurt anywhere?" Arlo asked, his words stumbling over each other as he crouched down to examine her injuries, concern etched onto his features.

As she watched him fuss over her, relief flooded through Sylvia's veins, the realization that it truly was Arlo kneeling before her sinking in.

"It... It really is you... Arlo..." she whispered, reaching out to grasp the fabric of his shirt, as if to anchor herself to the reality of his presence. "I'm sorry, Arlo... I wanted to apologize... for the way I acted this morning... I thought I'd never get the chance to say I'm sorry again... I'm sorry...!"

The tears flowed freely now, a release of all the fear, regret, and gratitude that had been building within her.

"It's fine... I should've thought about your feelings some more too..." Arlo responded, his voice gentle and understanding.

At his words, a smile graced Sylvia's lips, and with it, the last of her strength seemed to drain away. Her body went limp, and she collapsed, Arlo's quick reflexes the only thing saving her from hitting the ground.

"Sylvia?!" he cried out, panic lacing his voice as he cradled her in his arms.

As her eyes fluttered closed, Sylvia managed to whisper a final plea. "Arlo... please... save them... the people here..."

With those words, she surrendered to the welcome embrace of unconsciousness, her body going still in Arlo's grasp.

A sense of dread settled in the pit of Arlo's stomach as he quickly opened the grimoire, frantically searching for the page containing the healing spell. As he flipped through the pages, a familiar voice drifted past his ears.

"She lost consciousness from the stress. She's fine, don't worry," Vielle said, her body materializing in the air above them.

"But her injuries, I need to heal her—" Arlo began, his voice laced with urgency.

Vielle interrupted him, her tone reassuring. "I already cast a spell for that."

Beneath them, a bright yellow magic circle manifested, casting a golden light that enveloped Sylvia's unconscious form. As the light washed over her, the cuts and wounds that marred her skin began to fade and close, the magic mending her injuries with a gentle touch.

Seeing the healing process unfold before his eyes, Arlo let out a sigh of relief, a small weight lifting from his shoulders.

"Did you finish surveying the situation outside?" he asked, turning his attention back to Vielle.

The vampire girl nodded, her expression grim. "Yeah, I flew around for a bit. It's not looking good. Some of the hunters have arrived at the scene, but they're struggling to hold back the monsters. There are more on their way, but it looks like it's going to take a while until the stronger reinforcements arrive."