Chapter 6 — The Fall of the City
The sun had not yet risen when the sky turned red. The streets, taken over by chaos, were burning with flames and screams. From where we were, on the seventh floor of the building, we could hear the sound of cars colliding, alarms going off and, above all, the inhuman grunts that announced the end of civilization.
The nightmare had begun earlier than expected.
My heart weighed with confirmation: even if we went back in time, the apocalypse could not be avoided. But perhaps it could be controlled.
The apartment was in controlled chaos. My parents, Isabela, Gabriel, Amanda, Lucas and Rafaela were scared, but alive. The barricades held, for now.
"We can't stand still," I said, my voice low, firm. "We need to find your parents. Your siblings, your friends. If there's time."
Everyone looked at me, hesitant. Rafaela, her eyes filled with tears, shook her head.
— But… what if they already…?
— Don't think like that — I interrupted. — We only stop when there's no chance. Got it?
They nodded reluctantly. They knew I was right, even if fear tried to dominate them.
The system was active in the background, updating my capabilities, monitoring my points, but no one needed to know. That was my advantage, my secret.
The first mission was clear: to get better weapons.
The Search for Weapons
We left at dawn. The building was infested on some floors, so we went down the emergency stairs, in silence, treading carefully. Every creak, every breath, seemed like an invitation to death.
In the parking lot, mutilated bodies and dried blood. I grabbed the reinforced pocketknife attached to my waist, while Gabriel held an iron bar. The rest carried improvised knives.
But we knew: we wouldn't last long with that.
The town's hunting store was three blocks away. With luck, it would still be intact.
We advanced through the streets. The city was unrecognizable. Buildings in flames, overturned cars, corpses devoured on the sidewalks. In every alley, staggering, hungry shadows.
It was at the intersection that the first confrontation began.
Five zombies, greenish skin, empty eyes, drooling mouths.
"Stay behind me," I ordered.
I advanced. The first one fell with a stab in the eye. The second one, I slit his throat, but he kept going until I crushed his skull with a kick.
🎯 Internal Notification:
Zombies Eliminated: 2
XP: +30
Red Crystal obtained
I ignored the system. There was no time. Gabriel faced another, knocking him down with the iron bar, Amanda screamed as she saw the blood splatter.
We finished quickly. Hearts racing, hands shaking, but alive.
The Hunting Store
The store was semi-intact. Doors broken down, but few signs of looting.
Inside, I found what I needed: military knives, a rescue axe, light vests, tactical flashlights. And most importantly: a 12-gauge shotgun hidden under the counter, with five cartridges.
"Let's divide up the equipment," I said. "Everyone takes something. Protection is a priority."
I distributed the weapons, instructed them on basic use. Gabriel got the shotgun, Amanda got a hunting knife, Lucas got the axe. I took two knives and a reinforced baton.
We left better prepared, but we knew: the real challenge was just beginning.
Rescuing the Parents
First destination: Gabriel's parents' house. A neighborhood ten minutes away.
The road was a battlefield. Blocked streets, hungry hordes, fires.
"This way," I said, taking shortcuts, avoiding direct confrontations.
We arrived at the house: the gate was half-open, the main door destroyed.
My stomach churned. Gabriel ran ahead, I entered right behind.
The living room was in disarray, blood on the floor. A low moan came from the bedroom.
We found his parents alive, injured, but conscious. His mother was crying, his father with a cut on his arm.
"We'll get you out of here," I promised.
We quickly organized the escape. The way back was tense, but we managed it. We left the two of them in the apartment, reinforced the barricades, and set off again.
Amanda's house
Amanda was shaking, but she held firm.
Her house was close to the center. The worst-case scenario. Hordes and more hordes. We could only advance through the alleys, silently.
What I saw there I would never forget.
Buildings collapsed, bodies piled up, a woman dragged by zombies… horror permeated every corner.
Finally, we arrived. The door of the house was barricaded from the inside. We knocked, called out.
Amanda's mother opened it, tears streaming down her face. Her father, armed with a bat, was nervous.
I explained quickly. There was no time. We grabbed the essentials and left.
On the way back, a group of zombies surrounded us.
Second Confrontation — Evolution
They were fast, mutated, different from the first. Dark skin, eyes glowing red.
"Watch out!" I shouted.
The system issued internal alerts:
Mutant Zombie — Class 1
More resistance, more speed.
I advanced. One of them attacked me, I dodged, struck its neck. It didn't fall. I finished with a stab to the skull.
Gabriel fired, Amanda struggled not to freeze.
"Behind you!"
— Lucas shouted.
I swung the bat, crushing another zombie. Blood and guts everywhere.
🎯 Internal Notification:
Mutant Zombies Eliminated: 2
XP: +60
Special Drop: Weapon Fragment
I picked up the fragment, the system absorbed it. I felt a slight wave of energy run through my body. Stronger. Faster.
But the group needed me. I ignored the technical details. We ended the confrontation, dragging Amanda's parents to the shelter.
The Official Fall of the City
Back at the apartment, we saw chaos take over. The news stopped. The radios went silent. The city fell.
I looked out the window. Military helicopters flew overhead, shooting. Zombies advanced like an endless sea. Hell had begun.
Gabriel, covered in blood, sat next to me.
—What now?
—Now… we survived.
My mind was racing: next missions, reinforcing the shelter, finding other survivors. My ex-girlfriend… she was in the city too. I couldn't leave her behind.
But first, I needed better weapons, to evolve, to master the system in silence. No one would ever know.
The fall of the city was just the beginning.