Surviving the ruined city during nighttime allowed darkness to burrow into people's bodies.
The dark atmosphere transformed into a living entity which produced hidden sounds that made all breathing sound too loud.
A dim red rift spread a reddish light across the broken skyline. The previous night's fires had burnt out so smoke ascended as thin wisps which resembled the ethereal sighs of deceased beings.
Ethan occupied the corner of the abandoned pharmacy with his backpack on and his crowbar at the ready.
He devoted his entire day to scavenging and preparation as he created makeshift tools from his unusual power. He had intended to take a break before departing at dawn to continue his journey west.
But survival rarely respected plans.
The initial vibration started from beneath the floor.
The first vibrations felt like building sounds from a distance but they quickly intensified into deep regular rhythms.
Thud… thud… thud…
The building walls began to shake while cracked shelves released their loose dust.
Ethan became motionless while his entire body screamed for help. He moved to the edge of the broken window to observe the street.
The street presented only destroyed vehicles and dark areas when he looked at first. The ruins produced a massive creature that diverged from the typical insectoid swarm design. The creature walked with four massive legs that destroyed concrete into fine powder with each step.
The rock-like armor plating on its body displayed jagged edges while blue glows emanated from beneath its surface. Two curved horns protruded from the skull-like head of the creature and its deep growling breath caused glass in nearby structures to vibrate.
A loud guttural growl escaped its mouth and spread as thunder throughout the empty streets.
The creature let out a deafening roar after sniffing the air.
Ethan hid behind the counter, his heart racing loudly. Then…
DING!
~----~
[System Alert: Apex Predator Detected!]
[Estimated Lethality: 94]
~----~
Ninety four percent. Ethan's breath hitched. The system's measurement metric remained unclear to him but the 94 lethality rating of this beast made him extremely worried about the possible outcome.
The creature presented a threat that made survival nearly impossible even when Ethan tried to improvise.
The beast continued its approach as it dragged sparks from the broken pavement with its claws. The creature paused for a sniff before turning its massive head toward the pharmacy building.
Ethan whispered the words "no... no... no" silently to himself.
The beast let out a deep growling noise before starting its approach toward the building.
Ethan's panic tried to strangle him but his training from the past few days took control to make him follow the protocol of survival before any action.
He gripped the wheel with unsteady fingers.
DING!
~----~
[Critical Threat Detected… Improvisation Draw Activated]
…
He slammed his palm down.
…
[Improvised Gear: Sonic Decoy Module]
>A small device that emits high-frequency sound bursts to lure predators. Effective radius: 80 meters. Single use.
~----~
A crude metal disk appeared in his hand, glowing faintly.
Ethan swallowed hard, then glanced around as a plan slowly formed in his head. He crawled to a hole in the far wall, and tossed the module as far as he could into the collapsed parking lot across the street.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then…
BRRR!
The device whined sharply, sending piercing sonic waves echoing through the empty streets.
The predator stopped its movement when it heard the noise and turned its armored head toward the sound.
The decoy became its target as the predator roared before charging at it with destructive power that destroyed rubble in its path.
Ethan didn't waste a second. He sprinted through the pharmacy back door with rapid movements that avoided stumbling while he counted each step.
The ground began to shake violently when Ethan reached the narrow alley.
The decoy location collapsed into dust when the apex predator destroyed it. The predator let out wild roars while it used its claws to tear through stone as it searched for its next meal.
Ethan used the kinetic grapple launcher he had drawn earlier to reach the third story balcony and silently climbed onto the roof.
He crouched low and held his breath, his eyes never leaving the predator below.
The predator appeared enormous from this position because it measured at least twenty feet in length while its body resembled a fortified walking structure. The body of the creature displayed faint glowing fissures which pulsed with increased intensity because of nearby movement.
The beast would detect him instantly which would eliminate any possibility of fighting. The beast would destroy him before he could even close his eyes during the fight.
Ethan remained motionless for half an hour while he struggled to maintain his breathing.
The beast moved beneath him as it effortlessly destroyed cars and rubble. At one point, it smashed through a bus like tissue paper, tossing it aside with a flick of its horns. Only when the sonic decoy fully sputtered out and the predator wandered toward the city's industrial district did Ethan move again.
His body shook with adrenaline and exhaustion.
'So much for resting,' he thought in irony.
DING!
~----~
[Threat Evaded: Improvisation Points +3]
[Total IP: 12]
~----~
Twelve points. Enough to permanently keep something. Ethan wanted to collapse, but the encounter made one thing clear.
This city wasn't just crawling with swarms. It had apex predators, creatures powerful enough to demolish entire buildings. If one wandered this close tonight, there was no guarantee another wouldn't tomorrow.
Waiting for dawn wasn't safety, it was gambling with his life.
He opened the system menu, hovered over his potential permanent acquisitions.
~----~
*Field Ration Synthesizer (10 IP) – Food security.
*Kinetic Grapple Launcher (10 IP) – Mechanical device for mobility and escape.
…
The roar from earlier echoed faintly in the distance, as if mocking him. Ethan exhaled sharply and made his choice.
…
~----~
[Permanent Acquisition Confirmed: Kinetic Grapple Launcher]
>Tier 1 gear locked into inventory. Will no longer disassemble after uses. Can be upgraded with future IP.
~----~
'Upgraded huh?' Ethan stared at the system notification. 'So there are tiers. I wonder what the highest tier is'.
The crude device materialized solidly in his hands, now marked with faint blue lines of permanence. Ethan holstered it to his belt, tested its weight, and nodded to himself in satisfaction.
"Food I can scavenge," he whispered. "But if I can't move, I die".
With the apex predator still prowling somewhere in the distance, Ethan climbed higher across connected rooftops, moving westward under the moonlight.
Each grapple fired silently into ledges and crumbling towers, pulling him over alleyways swarming with chittering insects and streets littered with fresh carcasses.
Every shadow held danger. Every rooftop creak felt like a death sentence. Ethan now navigated instead of running blindly because he planned his routes and stayed on the surface where monsters found it difficult to track him.
The first light of dawn slowly illuminated the horizon after several hours.
Ethan stood at the peak of the western city's tallest structure to observe the damaged highway which would serve as his escape route.
The wilderness extended into the distance beyond the ruined overpasses until it disappeared into mist and ash. Somewhere past that, the government's quarantine zone waited.
He gripped the grapple launcher tightly, feeling its new permanence. His supplies were ready. His mind was as sharp as a blade.
It was time.
With one last look at the burning city he'd barely escaped, Ethan whispered to himself.
"No turning back now".
And as the first light of day pierced the red haze, he leapt to the next rooftop, moving west into the unknown.