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Chapter 23 - The Two-Block Dash

The steel gate screeched its final complaint and locked into its highest position, revealing a world painted in shades of gray and rust. The morning light was weak, filtered through a hazy, dust-choked sky. The street that had been a chaotic warzone the day before was now a static, silent graveyard. Overturned cars and shattered glass littered the pavement, and a dark, rust-colored stain marked the spot where Kai had fought the Scuttlers. The silence was more unnerving than the shrieks of the night.

"Stay close. Move fast," Kai whispered, his voice a low command. He stepped out onto the broken asphalt, shield raised, saber in hand. The cold morning air bit at his exposed skin.

Ben and Elara followed, their eyes wide, scanning every shadow and ruined storefront. Ben clutched the heavy flashlight like a club, his knuckles white, while Elara kept her tire iron held tight against her chest.

High above, circling like prehistoric vultures, were the Harriers. They were too high to be an immediate threat, but their silhouettes against the gray sky were a constant, menacing reminder of why they couldn't stay on the surface.

"The post office is that way," Ben breathed, pointing a shaky finger down the street to the east. "We need to stay on this side, use the storefronts for cover."

They began to move, a tight, fearful unit. They half-ran, half-crouched, darting from the cover of a burned-out delivery truck to the recessed doorway of a looted jewelry store. Every gust of wind rattling a loose piece of metal sounded like a monster's approach. Kai led the way, his eyes constantly moving, using his Observe skill on every dark alley and suspicious shadow. Mostly, the system returned nothing, but the constant focus was mentally draining.

They were halfway down the first block when Elara gasped and pulled them to a stop. She pointed towards the far end of the street. A lone Gutter Scuttler was methodically smashing its way into a pharmacy, its powerful forelegs shattering the reinforced glass with loud cracks that echoed in the quiet air. It hadn't noticed them.

"Don't stop," Kai ordered, his voice barely audible. He pushed them forward, away from the creature, their feet crunching softly on the debris-strewn sidewalk.

They reached the corner and peered around it. The second block was worse. A massive, purple Rift crack, larger than the one outside the shop, pulsed lazily in the middle of the road. The air around it shimmered, and the sickly sweet smell of ozone was strong here. They gave it a wide berth, pressing themselves against the cold brick of the buildings.

Finally, they saw it: the alley behind the old post office. It was a narrow gap between two buildings, choked with overflowing dumpsters and refuse. It smelled foul, but it was their goal.

"In here," Ben urged, and they slipped into the shadows of the alley.

The maintenance entrance was exactly where the schematics said it would be: a heavy, circular steel hatch set into the grimy concrete, its surface covered in rust. A recessed T-bar served as the handle.

"Okay, together," Kai said, sheathing his saber so he could get a better grip. He and Ben grabbed the T-bar, planting their feet. "On three. One... two... three!"

They heaved, their muscles straining. The hatch didn't move. It was rusted shut.

"Again!" Kai grunted.

They pulled again, their feet slipping on the slick ground. The hatch groaned, a loud, metallic shriek of protest that seemed deafeningly loud in the alley. It moved, barely an inch.

A sharp, chittering sound answered the noise from the far end of the alley.

Blocking their exit, a Gutter Scuttler crawled out from behind a dumpster, drawn by the sound. It was smaller than the ones Kai had fought before, its chitin a paler shade, but its mandibles were just as sharp.

[Gutter Scuttler (Scout)]

[Level: 1]

"Elara, Ben, get the hatch!" Kai yelled, drawing his saber. "Don't stop, no matter what!"

He didn't wait for a reply. He charged the creature, needing to end this fast and quiet. The Scuttler was young and reckless, lunging at him with a clumsy, head-on attack. Kai didn't bother with a fancy parry. He slammed his shield into the side of the creature's head, the impact jarring his arm. The monster stumbled, disoriented for a critical second.

It was all the time he needed. He reversed his grip on the saber and plunged it down into the soft joint where the Scuttler's head met its body. The F-Rank skill wasn't just about technique; it was about instinct. It guided his hand to the weakest point.

The monster went limp without a sound, dissolving into blue particles before it even hit the ground, leaving a tiny, flickering core.

[You have slain a Level 1 Gutter Scuttler (Scout).]

[XP Gained: 15]

[XP: 215/600]

Behind him, with a final, agonizing groan, the hatch scraped open. Ben and Elara stared at him, their faces a mixture of terror and awe.

"Go!" Kai yelled, grabbing the monster core and absorbing it instantly for another 5 XP.

Elara and Ben didn't hesitate, scrambling down the iron ladder set into the wall of the shaft. The darkness below smelled of damp earth and decay. Kai followed, pausing only to hook his fingers into the rim of the heavy hatch. With a final grunt of effort, he pulled it shut over their heads.

The sliver of gray morning light vanished, plunging them into absolute, suffocating blackness. The sounds of the ruined city above faded away, replaced by the dripping of water and the frantic, echoing sound of their own breathing.

They were underground.

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