As they stepped out, Jasper witnessed a chaotic scene: people running in all directions, their faces distorted by fear. He had no idea what was happening or who those witches everyone feared were.

"What the hell is going on?" exclaimed Jasper, struggling to keep up with Tom amidst the turmoil.

"I'll explain everything once we're in a safe place," replied Tom, his vigilant eyes scanning the streets for signs of danger.

Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the ground beneath their feet. They both instinctively turned around and horrified, gazed upon a gigantic creature towering over a building, its jaws filled with sharp teeth gleaming in the strange, flickering light.

"They have arrived," whispered Tom gravely.

Jasper's heart began to pound in his chest as he watched the creature's bright yellow eyes. Fear took hold of him, coursing through his body like an electric current.

"Jasper, run!" exclaimed Emily, gripping his arm and pulling him forcefully as she hurried into the street.

Jasper's mind was in a whirlwind of confusion. He didn't understand what was happening. If it weren't for the screams and Emily's hand firmly holding his arm, he would have believed it all to be an illusion.

Suddenly, there was a deafening crash that shook the ground beneath their feet, echoing in the oppressive air. Jasper turned his head and saw a gigantic, monstrous-looking creature with its enormous arms thrashing wildly, destroying everything in its path. The thunderous sound of collapsing buildings and the crunch of shattered stone filled the air, creating a terrifying cacophony. He could see the building he had been in before reduced to rubble, raising a cloud of dust and debris in its wake.

If it hadn't been for Emily grabbing him and pulling him aside, he would have been crushed. Jasper's heart was pounding in his chest as they ran for their lives, feeling the weight of panic with every beat. He had never encountered anything like this before, and terror gripped him with each step.

After what felt like an eternity of running, through chaos and confusion, they finally managed to find refuge in a narrow, dark alleyway. The air became suffocating, saturated with the acrid smell of smoke and dust swirling through the city. The sound of distant screams and roars blended into a deafening tumult, enveloping them in a symphony of terror.

Upon entering the alley, Tom quickly checked on Emily and Jasper, ensuring they were unharmed. The faint glow from distant explosions and the flickering of damaged signs gave the place a ghostly, distorted appearance, adding an additional layer of anguish to the scene.

"What the hell was all that?" gasped Jasper, his voice trembling with exhaustion and anxiety. The chaos of the city had been overwhelming, with the roar of fire and desperate screams reverberating through the streets.

Tom's face was grim as he tried to explain, his voice laden with concern and frustration. "Those creatures are magical beasts. They were created and controlled by the witches... I didn't think they would attack this city. We're in grave danger."

The rapid beats of their accelerated hearts mingled with the tense air as the group clung to the hope of finding a safe place amidst the nightmare that had unfolded around them.

"Witches?... I don't understand any of this... Why didn't you tell me anything about this!?... I could have died... we could have died..." Jasper's frustration was palpable in his voice, filled with resentment and worry.

Tom, with a regretful expression on his face, let out a deep sigh. "I... I'm sorry I didn't tell you. When you told me you had no memories, I thought it would be best to let you enjoy the town. I didn't want your first experience to be facing the horrors that exist in this world. I'm sorry, I should have told you earlier," he said with a tone filled with remorse, as his eyes met Jasper's.

Tom's response left Jasper surprised. He could see in his face an attitude that felt familiar, like a reflection of himself in the past.

In his world, Jasper had to carry out many questionable actions to find food and medicine for himself and his sister. Every time he returned battered or injured, he would lie to his sister to hide the harsh reality of the world they lived in. Although he always hated having to do it, he preferred that to his sister knowing the cruelty of the world and the suffering that surrounded him. Understanding that internal struggle made him feel a connection with Tom in that moment, an empathy that transcended words.

Jasper looked at Tom with a glimmer of understanding in his tired eyes. "I understand why you did it, Tom. You did what you thought was best for me. I just hope we can find a way to face all of this together," he sincerely expressed, leaving behind resentment and making room for trust.

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Tom let out a sigh of relief, grateful for Jasper's understanding. Emily, who had been silent until now, spoke with a trembling voice, "What are we going to do now?"

Tom's expression turned serious again. "You both have to leave the town and head to the refuge at the salt pillars. I'm going back to the town to see if I can help the wounded."

Emily's face paled at the idea of Tom going alone. "But it's too dangerous! I can't let you go alone!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with concern.

Tom turned to Emily with a determined look. "I know it's risky, but someone has to do it. Jasper needs to be taken to the refuge, and I can't leave him alone. Besides, you're the only one I would trust with this," he said firmly.

Emily nodded, her eyes showing concern and admiration for Tom. "Just promise me you'll be careful," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I will," Tom replied with a reassuring smile.

Tom stepped away from the group and took off his jacket, revealing an intricate web of scars crisscrossing his arms, like a map of past battles. Two enigmatic tattoos adorned his shoulders, emitting a faint and mysterious glow. Jasper raised an eyebrow in surprise, but before he could say anything, Tom threw the jacket on the ground and placed his right hand on it.

"Transform," Tom commanded in a whisper charged with power, and Jasper watched in awe as the tattoo on his right shoulder came to life, sliding down his arm and merging with the jacket. The ink seemed to have a will of its own, moving with a hypnotic elegance until the outer layer transformed into a sleek black case.

Jasper's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the contents of the briefcase. Inside were several firearms, both small and large knives, but there was something else as well. Jasper noticed numerous compartments inside the suitcase, revealing a variety of fabric bags with engraved runes, vials of glowing liquid, and a multitude of strange devices he had never seen before. It was clear that the briefcase held not only weapons but also hidden treasures and valuable magical artifacts...

[Magic Detected...]

[Performing quick analysis... analysis cannot be completed as data is insufficient... user is recommended to gather data to unlock all system functions]

A mechanical voice sounded in Jasper's head, interrupting his thoughts.

"What is this... who said that... why do I hear you in my head?" Jasper whispered as he held his head.

[I am the System...]

[You can hear me because when you died, I was fused with you... I do not have enough data to know the reason... user is recommended to collect data]

The same robotic voice replied in Jasper's mind.

Emily, seeing Jasper in a state of confusion, quickly approached him.

"Are you okay, Jasper? You look pale," Emily asked with concern.

Jasper turned to look at her as he thought about what had just happened. He didn't know how to respond to Emily; in his world, it was common to see people driven mad by traumatic situations. He knew of many who heard voices in their heads.

Jasper feared that Emily or Tom would think he had gone mad because of the situation. The current situation was critical enough for him to have to worry about himself, so trying to smile a little, he replied, "It's nothing... I just felt a bit dizzy," Jasper said.

"I... see," Emily responded with doubt on her face.

While Emily spoke with Jasper, Tom took out several objects from the briefcase. He pulled out four black pistols that resembled .45 caliber revolvers but with a thicker-than-normal barrel that split into two. He stored them in holsters on his legs and sides, along with several knives that he placed in holsters on his back. As he continued, he strategically placed other objects in various pockets and compartments.

Once he finished, he closed the briefcase and slung it over his back.

Tom turned around and noticed Emily with a worried expression and Jasper with a hand on his head. Surprised, he opened his mouth to ask what was happening, but a roar echoed near the alley entrance.

"We don't have time..." Tom said as he approached Emily and Jasper, who were looking toward the alley entrance.

"Emily, you know the plan. Go to the salt pillar shelters. It's the only place where the witches can't enter... Take this too; it'll help you in case you need to defend yourself," Tom said as he handed her one of the revolvers.

"And you, Jasper, take this," he added, handing him a small vial of red liquid.

Jasper continued processing everything he saw - "Tom, what am I going to do with this?"

"This is blessed blood. It's harmless to humans but highly poisonous to beasts," explained Tom.

As Jasper took the small vial, he heard the voice in his head again.

[Strange substance detected... Initiating analysis...]

[Highly concentrated chemical compound... Created from human and animal blood, also contains magical particles... Initiating magic analysis... Analysis failed, it is recommended to gather more magical data to unlock all system functions.]

While Jasper listened to the System, he noticed that a set of letters and numbers appeared on the vial, indicating the chemical and molecular composition of the liquid.

"It's as if I can see the molecular composition of this... Incredible," thought Jasper as he examined the vial.

While Jasper inspected the vial, Tom intervened, saying, "Use it only as a last resort. Even though it's just a bottle, its contents will kill only the beast that receives it, but its poison will keep the others away for a while... Now it's time for you to go... The beasts are approaching," Tom commented as he turned towards the alley entrance.

"Alright... Thank you for helping me, Tom... I'll wait for you at the shelter," Jasper responded with tension and concern in his voice.

"Survive, Tom... I won't forgive you if you die," said Emily.

Tom turned slightly and gave them a smile. "We'll meet again... Now go," Tom said.

Jasper and Emily nodded their heads and started running in the opposite direction. Tom watched them for a few seconds as they moved away and then let out a sigh.

"Alright, time to get started," Tom affirmed with determination before running towards the alley entrance.