As Asher and his newfound companion stepped out of the gas station, she was filled with curiosity about the floating shield and body armor, the very same that had previously ensnared her.

"Excuse me, sir, what is that?"

"Hmm? Oh, that's the skill I acquired from the first trial. Don't worry, it won't harm you."

The Animate Guardian skill manifested as a spectral entity, invisible to all except its summoner. To others, it appeared as floating pieces of equipment. Currently, since the guardian possessed only a chest plate and a shield, that was all others could see. But as the guardian acquired more equipment over time, its appearance would evolve, making it seem more like a fully armored individual rather than a disembodied spirit.

'I'll have to unsummon it in public settings. For now, I'll keep it active until we're in a safer place.' Asher mused. He was wary about revealing his abilities too soon, unsure of how people might react in the world's current tumultuous state.

"But sir, where exactly are we headed?"

"That... is an excellent question." Asher realized that, despite being in the know, he was uncertain about their next move. The world had clearly been overrun by monsters. Yet, he pondered, had the government reacted promptly? Had they established safe zones for survivors? Were there other challengers like him who had returned and were now banding together to confront these looming threats? Choosing to return wasn't mandatory, implying that there were probably others who opted to stay and continue with the trials.

"For now, let's make our way to the nearest police station. If I recall correctly, it's about a half-hour walk from here."

"That sounds like a good plan, mister! The police station should be a safe. They'll surely protect us."

"... I certainly hope so."

As they navigated the ruins of their city, a sense of unease gnawed at Asher. They had been walking for about ten minutes, yet there was no sign of any other humans or even monsters. Something was off, and he needed to figure it out quickly before it came back to haunt him.

"Mister! Look over there!"

"What? Oh no, the way is blocked."

They had reached the midway point of their journey, and to get to the police station, they needed to cross a bridge. But it had been shattered, leaving behind a gaping chasm that plummeted to the highway below.

"How are we supposed to make it there now?"

"Hmm... If my memory serves me right, there's a subway station nearby. The tunnel should lead us to the other side. It might take us a bit longer to get there, but at this moment, it's our only viable route."

With no other options available, Asher and Sarah redirected their path towards the subway station. Like before, they were met with eerie silence, encountering neither monsters nor humans. This unsettling quiet gnawed at Asher; he felt in his bones that something wasn't right. And soon, he discovered why.

Thud-thud.

Suddenly, an overwhelming sensation gripped both Asher and Sarah. Their hearts raced as if trying to burst free from their chests, mimicking the rapid drumming of panic. Gasping for air, they crumpled to the ground, their lungs struggling to keep pace with their racing hearts. Sweat drenched them, and the color drained from their faces, leaving them pale and ghostly.

"M-Mister..."

"W-Why is this happening..."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Their eyes darted around uncontrollably, pupils dilated with terror. An oppressive sense of dread weighed them down, sapping their strength. Every fiber of their being screamed danger, urging them to find shelter, warning them that the end was near.

A suffocating aura engulfs you. You've been afflicted with the status ailment, 'Extreme Fear'

A suffocating aura engulfs you. You've been afflicted with the status ailment, 'Oppression'.

A suffocating aura engulfs you. You've been afflicted with the status ailment, 'Degrading Mind'.

You are suffering from obsessive mental trauma, resulting in a loss of 5% of your maximum health every second.

https://i.imgur.com/7NJbqHa.png [https://i.imgur.com/7NJbqHa.png]

https://i.imgur.com/Gm73cja.png [https://i.imgur.com/Gm73cja.png]

The abrupt and inexplicable event left Asher reeling. He felt trapped, suffocated, and on the brink of demise, all without knowing the cause or the entity responsible for this harrowing state. But as a shadow crept over him, hinting at the source, he mustered all his strength to tilt his head upward. The sight that met his eyes was straight out of legends and tales—something many fantasized about.

Hovering above them was the epitome of mythical power and majesty: a dragon. Known in stories as the king of beasts, the sovereign of mana, and the ultimate challenge for many gamers. Its mere presence was enough to induce the crippling state Asher and Sarah found themselves in. Yet, the dragon seemed oblivious to them, merely passing by without a second glance.

As it continued on its path, the debilitating effects it had unwittingly imposed on them began to fade. The entire ordeal had lasted less than ten seconds, but the mere proximity to such a creature had nearly killed them.

https://i.imgur.com/8utZz84.png [https://i.imgur.com/8utZz84.png]

Cough, Cough.

Unable to withstand the brunt of the psychological trauma, Sarah began to cough up blood. Given her probable initial health points, around the same as Asher when he began his journey, this reaction wasn't unexpected. Since she hadn't progressed in the Tower of Awakening, she was likely still at level 1, without any skills or abilities to mitigate the damage she'd endured.

Without a moment's hesitation, Asher rushed to her side and activated his Soulful Restoration skill, mending her wounds and rejuvenating her vitality.

"Thank you..." Sarah whispered, her voice quivering from the residual fear. She wiped away tears, each one a testament to the terror she had just experienced.

Asher, with his arm securely around Sarah, guided her into an empty nearby building, providing them some semblance of shelter as they tried to recover from the overwhelming encounter.

"M-Mister... is this the end of the world? How can we ever stand against such a creature? I'm... I'm terrified," Sarah's voice trembled, her eyes searching Asher's for any hint of reassurance.

"..." Asher found himself at a loss for words. It was undeniable that the Earth faced a danger like never before. To call it the apocalypse might not even be an exaggeration. The appearance of such a formidable creature at such an early stage was perplexing. He had, in some ways, been treating his experiences in the Tower of Awakening like a game. The thrill of acquiring new powers, skills, and items, combined with the game-like system window, had made it easy to forget the grim reality.

But now, the gravity of their situation was unavoidable. That creature's mere presence was a testament to the scale of the threat they faced. The absence of other monsters in the vicinity now made sense to Asher. They probably steered clear to avoid incurring the wrath of the dominant force in the region—the dragon. Its mere presence had likely established an unspoken territory, one that other creatures instinctively respected and feared.

Could such a beast even be defeated? Even at maximum level, Asher doubted his ability to confront it. Was it a raid boss? How powerful would one need to be to challenge it? Was this the monster responsible for the city's destruction? Were there more like it? Or even worse, were there beings far more powerful than this dragon?

A flood of questions and concerns surged through Asher's mind, but for now, he needed to stay strong, both for Sarah and for the uncertain journey ahead.

Asher took a deep breath, steadying himself. He looked into Sarah's frightened eyes and said with a determined voice, "I don't have all the answers, Sarah. But right now, our best option is to keep moving. We'll find clarity along the way."

"...Mm!"