As Jasper and Emily ventured into the desolate and ruined streets, the worry in their eyes became more evident. The once vibrant and bustling city was now a scene of destruction and heart-wrenching chaos. Buildings were reduced to smoldering rubble, cars lay smashed in the streets, and the bodies of fallen citizens were a grim reminder of the horror that had been unleashed.

The agonizing cries of those fighting for their lives echoed in the air, mingling with the fierce roars of the beasts lurking in the shadows. Death was omnipresent, lurking around every corner, and the scent of blood permeated the air.

For Jasper, accustomed to facing dangers and horrors in his life, this scene surpassed anything he had experienced before. The chaos and devastation were overwhelming, and his heart filled with deep sorrow for the lives lost and the suffering that surrounded every step they took.

Jasper clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth as he ran, feeling powerless in the face of such widespread destruction. Hopelessness threatened to overtake his spirit, but he refused to succumb to it. His determination clung to a fragile thread of hope, fueled by the need to reach the shelter and find a way to confront the beasts that had turned the city into a hellish nightmare.

As they made their way through the empty streets, the sounds of screams and roars slowly faded behind them, but the scenes of death and destruction remained etched in their minds. Mutilated bodies and collapsed structures were silent witnesses to the brutality of the beasts.

Time seemed to stand still as their determination mingled with fear. Each step was a battle between life and death, between hopelessness and hope. But despite it all, they did not stop. Determination and courage propelled them forward, knowing that each step brought them closer to the shelter, where they would find safety.

In the distance, Jasper could see two towering pillars rising against the darkness. Their whiteness stood out in contrast to the prevailing darkness, emitting a faint light that guided them. Instinctively, Jasper knew that those pillars were the refuge Tom and Emily had spoken of. Before he could say anything, Emily took his arm and pulled him towards her, hiding them both behind some rubble.

Surprise registered in Jasper's eyes at Emily's action, but before he could utter a word, she covered his mouth and pointed with her other hand forward. Following her finger, Jasper could see that she was pointing to an area in front of the shelter, but he couldn't make out anything in the darkness.

Then he directed his gaze to the ground and saw it: a small seemingly insignificant mound. At first glance, it appeared unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, he noticed how the mound moved ever so slightly, as if it were breathing.

"What you see there is a serpent beast," Emily whispered cautiously, her voice filled with caution. "Because they lack great strength and have poor eyesight, they hunt in that manner, using vibrations to navigate."

Jasper kept his gaze fixed on the creature, cautious and assessing the situation. "What do we do now? The shelter is right behind... Is there any other path we can take?" he whispered, never taking his eyes off the beast.

Emily responded in a low voice, "There are other paths, but they are quite far from here..."

"And they could also be guarded by other beasts," Jasper added, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Jasper felt increasingly trapped in the situation. They couldn't stay still and wait for the creature to move. However, a glimmer of hope ignited within him as he remembered the presence of the system.

"Hello? Are you still there?" Jasper whispered softly, addressing the system. Although he had heard the voice before, he was still unsure if it was real or a product of his imagination.

[Greetings, user.]

"Incredible...you're real," Jasper said in awe. Fortunately, Emily was so focused on the serpent that she didn't overhear their conversation.

"I have to speak even more quietly... the last thing I want is for Emily to think I'm crazy," Jasper thought, aware of the importance of maintaining his sanity in front of his companion.

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[There's no need to speak aloud. Just thinking it is sufficient.]

"Understood... now that I know you're real, can you help me avoid that beast?" Jasper thought with determination.

[At the moment, you don't have enough strength to confront that creature. You need to gather more magical data to fully unlock my functions," the system replied.]

"Damn it, that doesn't help me at all... but at least tell me how I can gather that data," Jasper said, frustrated.

[Simply come into contact with magical phenomena, beings, or objects. Merely being exposed to them will allow me to collect data.]

"Could you just collect data from the beasts... There are many of them in the town right now," Jasper suggested.

[It's impossible because most of my functions are locked. My range of analysis is very limited, and my current range is restricted to what comes into direct contact with your body.]

"Damn... what can I do? I have no way to gather the magical data I need. And the longer I stay hidden here, the greater the danger becomes," Jasper thought, growing increasingly desperate.

Lost in his thoughts, Jasper's gaze drifted towards a scene in the distance that chilled his blood. Two children, confused and unaware of the danger surrounding them, were running directly towards the beast. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized the grave situation.

Without wasting a second, Jasper rose from his hiding place and lunged forward with determination.

"Stop! It's dangerous! Step back!" Jasper shouted with all his might, trying to get the attention of the children and warn them of the imminent danger approaching.

The children came to a sudden halt and turned towards Jasper, but unfortunately, it was already too late. The thunderous footsteps of the children and Jasper's desperate scream had alerted the beast, which emerged from its hiding place with a terrifying presence.

Jasper's eyes widened in horror as he beheld the chilling creature. Its scaly, grayish, slimy skin was covered in pus-filled and putrefying spots. Each scale, monstrously large, exceeded the size of a human hand and seemed to writhe as if they had a life of their own.

The serpent's head was monstrous, with piercing white eyes that oozed malevolence. Its forked tongue, of a sinister crimson hue, flickered rapidly in the air, capturing the scents of desperation and fear.

The beast's fangs were true colossi, sharp as deadly blades. Each one of them was long enough to pierce a man's body with a single strike, standing threateningly, thirsty for blood and eager to sink into the flesh of its victims.

Upon witnessing the horror before them, the children fell to the ground, consumed by panic, their voices filled with terror echoing in the air. Jasper, still far from them, knew he wouldn't reach them in time.

However, in a moment of clarity, he remembered the bottle of poison that Tom had given him. Without thinking twice, he pulled the bottle out of his jacket and, with a desperate motion, threw it towards the serpent. But fate seemed to conspire against him as the beast moved erratically, and the bottle hit the ground instead of reaching its target.

Even so, as the bottle shattered, a dense, red cloud spread

through the surrounding area. A horrible roar escaped the beast's throat as it began to writhe and thrash in a frenzy of pain. Thick vapor rose from its body, as if the red smoke were melting its rotten flesh. The beast emitted guttural screams, writhing in indescribable torment.

Jasper, along with Emily, seized the opportunity amidst the chaos and rushed towards the children. They traversed the air tainted by the poison, skillfully dodging the frenzied movements of the monstrous serpent. Adrenaline propelled them to run faster, their hearts racing as they approached the children trapped on the ground.

Emily stepped forward and with a firm hand helped the children to their feet, while Jasper kept his gaze fixed on the agonizing beast. As they got closer, the nauseating smell of the poison grew stronger, filling their lungs with its putrid stench.

Finally, they reached the children, who sobbed and trembled in fear. Jasper took one of them in his arms and lifted them up, while Emily cradled the other in her protective hands.

"Quick, we have to get away from here!" Jasper exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency. The four of them embarked on a desperate sprint towards the shelter, leaving the writhing beast behind, in its agonizing throes.

As they ran, Jasper looked back and beheld the imposing beast writhing on the ground with small spasms. Although it appeared to still be breathing, it was too injured to continue moving. However, to Jasper's horror, he could see other beasts quickly approaching them, drawn by the serpent's roar.

Fortunately, they were already in front of the shelter, but to Jasper's surprise, being in front meant there were only two pillars side by side, with a gap of about 8 meters between them. But that was it, there was nothing else behind, and Jasper's mind filled with questions. Had Emily made a mistake about the location? If so, they were doomed, as the beasts were rapidly closing in.

But when Emily noticed the hesitation in Jasper's eyes, she grabbed his arm and pulled him towards her. Jasper was surprised by Emily's unexpected action, but before he could say anything, he opened his mouth in astonishment as he saw Emily's body start to fade between the pillars and, seconds later, his own body followed suit.

Jasper felt as if something gelatinous was passing through his entire body, and when it was over, his eyes widened as he beheld the landscape unfolding before him.

[A barrier has been detected... Gathering information... An increase in magical energy has been detected in the environment... More information is required to determine its origin.]

"Incredible," Jasper said with great amazement.