The discovery of the monster's core was a remarkable find. Everyone's eyes sparkled as we admired the pearl like substance.

"Remarkable, I didn't know they had stuff like this inside them." Said Mr. Swayden.

Everyone replied in agreement to what he said.

"Let's just hurry up and get back to the village." Said Analu.

"Yea there we can properly examine this thing and reap the other parts." Said Mr. Swayden. He then continued, "Think about what this could mean for our colony," he said with a smile. "A sustainable energy source, perhaps?"

"As fascinating as it is, we should get going. This is uncharted territory, and we don't know what else is lurking around" said Analu.

"Yes let's get going everyone," replied John.

We then all left. We tried to find anything left over from our dead comrades but we couldn't find anything. So we headed home.

After successfully bringing its enormous body back to the village, transported using a wooden cart, pulled by a horse, a convenient mode of transport that they had developed for inter-village journeys, we started to cut open the monster body.

The under belly was a little harder than a pig's skin but the outer top layer was very rigid. The feet were as sharp as razor. It was a miracle how we had avoided getting hit by this sharp area of the spider.

Though we could only estimate the monster's weight at around 800 pounds due to its immense size, it didn't deter our excitement. The core itself was a thing of beauty, and we knew it held significant potential for various purposes.

Questions danced around in my head as to what we could use this to do. The core was beaming with energy. "Does this mean we will have electricity again seeing that energy can be transferred from one state to another. I was thrilled. However, this wasn't mine to keep.

As a result, Mr. Swayden decided to store it because he believed it could be exchanged or even prove essential in the future. The other heads of the village decided this was a wise decision.

In this world, where mutations seemed to offer unique benefits, acquiring monster parts has become a wise practice over the few months. Everyone we encountered so far had already embraced this notion. Even the plants had greater use than before.

However This find was the most remarkable so far. I wonder what extraordinary minerals are waiting for us to uncover. I felt like I was in a new world waiting to discover what it has to offer.

Throughout our quest, my primary concern was to ensure Analu's safety, although she appeared more than capable of looking after herself. I couldn't help but feel and know that she was the one taking care of me, rather than the other way around. My entire team took care of me. I was a complete failure for the majority of our mission. I continued to dwell in my negative thoughts but I was interrupted.

"Hey there," Analu said, breaking me out of my deep thoughts. She knew exactly that I was analyzing everything that happened and even blaming myself for freezing up when I was needed the most.

"Hey there," I replied, trying to keep my composure.

"I'm sorry about... you know... messing up. I just froze. That's not like me. I'm usually the one to forget about a terrible situation and just act on it trying to find the best results," I explained as I scratched my head, feeling a bit vulnerable.

It's unusual for me; I've never before been witness to such a multitude of lives extinguished at once. Yet, I've encountered a few instances of death since the world underwent its transformation. So, I would venture to say I possess some familiarity with the matter. Nevertheless, all of us were immobilized by the event," Analu consoled me, her empathy evident.

"I wasn't aware. Can you tell me what transpired?" I inquired. "When it all unfolded, we woke up within this vicinity. The sounds of people in agonizing pain and distress filled the air. Although the specifics eluded us, we grasped that a catastrophe had occurred, and we found ourselves in an unfamiliar landscape," Analu recounted.

"After several days, I caught sight of a scene that resonated deeply, the view from the mountainside down. The way the sun descended the hill at dawn, it held a familiarity I could never forget. I used to share those moments with my mother during my childhood. That's how I realized we were still in Old Harbour," she revealed.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"What's the story behind naming it 'Clare House Village'?" I probed. Her countenance shifted slightly at my question. Tears welled up in her eyes, yet she managed to restrain them with a faint smile.

She proceeded to describe how her mother had made a courageous sacrifice a week after the disaster, valiantly confronting and engaging a few of the attacking monsters. It was during this encounter that they discovered their unique abilities. Her mother disrupted the air with a resounding boom as she diverted the monsters' attention away from the group of frightened adults and children.

"The creatures took her. I watched as blood spilled from her mouth while they carried her away. In the distance, it seemed she was still battling, until she fell. Surviving such a fall was impossible. For weeks after, we scoured that area, but found no trace," she recounted solemnly.

"I'm deeply sorry you had to endure that," I expressed in an attempt to console her. "But what kind of monster attacked her?" I asked. "They were like birds, their eerie cries reminiscent of something from a horror film. The terror they invoked was palpable when you heard them," she responded. "Terror doves," I remarked, and she swiftly turned her head. "Yes, that's what we've come to call them," she added.

As we spoke, I found myself drawn to her words. Her presence was comforting and her energy felt warm, almost indescribable. I knew deep down that I wanted her to be a part of my life going forward.

"Was I falling in love?" I wondered silently. "Or maybe... nooo. I'm okay. The thing is, was she in love with me? No, not at all. We've only been in this village for about four or five days now; she couldn't fall in love with me so quickly," I reasoned with myself.

We discussed the recent fight and how fortunate we were to have survived. Analu expressed her relief that neither I nor anyone else had been seriously harmed.

"I'm still very weak, though. I need to get stronger. We all need to get stronger," I admitted.

"There are strong monsters in our world now, but God or life or nature didn't leave us defenseless. We possess powers or magic or whatever it is that we can use to protect ourselves," I continued, realizing our potential.

"That's true, Rome. The world has changed, and now it's a matter of kill or be killed. More than ever, life demands us to be strong, and we will be," she affirmed with determination and a slight smile. She had seen hell so she was determined to survive.

As we spoke further, I couldn't help but feel a strong bond forming between us. The challenges ahead seemed less daunting with Analu by my side, and I cherished the connection we were building amidst the chaos of the changing world. She wasn't only good-looking and good with words but she was also a fighter.

"Hey, you two! We want to split the spoils of war among all of us. Let's head to the office," said Mr. Swayden enthusiastically.

We followed him to Mr. Raymond's office, where everyone who had taken part in defeating the giant monster, the leader of Redroase village, and Rob, who had assisted us, had already gathered.

Outside, the rest of the community had gathered as Mr. Raymond had chosen to make the announcement public, addressing everyone in the village.

As we stood there, facing the concerned and searching eyes of our fellow villagers, the anguish was palpable. People were desperately seeking their loved ones among us, hoping against hope that they had survived despite the signs suggesting otherwise.

Mr. Raymond began, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to each individual for their efforts. He acknowledged the collective work that led to the defeat of the horde of monsters, including the giant spider. Whether one had been on the battlefield or had assisted in the preparations, their contributions were valued and appreciated.

"Where's my dad...Where's my son...Where's Tim???"

The questions from the crowd started pouring in, as each person sought information about their missing family members. The emotional intensity rose, and tears filled the eyes of many, including Mr. Swayden, who struggled to maintain composure. With Mr. Raymond's support, he stepped forward and took charge, informing the crowd about the bravery and heroism displayed by their loved ones until the very end.

The news struck the crowd hard, and grief engulfed us all. The memories of the dying families and the horrors they faced resurfaced, bringing tears to our eyes and igniting a mix of anger and rage within us. My teammates shared the same emotions, and I could feel the weight of defeat pressing down on all of us. Amidst the sorrow, I couldn't help but feel a sense of ambivalence.

Mr. Swayden had honored the fallen as heroes, even though some had fled in fear—something I couldn't judge, having faced my own moments of fear.Despite the heavy heart and the feeling of defeat, I knew we had to gather our strength and resolve to carry on. The sacrifice of those who fought bravely deserved to be honored, and we needed to keep fighting to protect our home and prevent further tragedies.

He went on showing his gratitude. What called out to me in his speech was when he said we should share information we gather to help us grow as a village and as people and he was right. This way we can get stronger so that we don't repeat this mistake. So many people died this time. I don't ever want that to happen again.

"I heard you used a purple flame, Rome. Though not as large as your friend's over there, I must say it was quite impressive and effective," complimented Mr. Allen, the leader of Redrose Village.

"Well, I focused on making it smaller yet more powerful and faster. But it did drain a lot of energy from me," I responded.

"Thank you again for sharing that information. I'll put it to good use," Mr. Allen acknowledged.

I couldn't help but be curious about the plants they possessed, so I inquired further,

"How can we obtain some of those plants you guys have?"

"Well, in exchange for those potions you have, we could work out a fair trade. Does that sound like a good deal to you?" he proposed.

"Indeed," I agreed, considering the potential benefits of such an exchange. However, before finalizing anything, my team and I decided it was best to hold a meeting with our village. We wanted to ensure that any decision made would be in the best interest of our community.