Apocalypse Baby

Alex turned his attention back to Freya, who stood perfectly still, her breaths shallow and her face pale with terror. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

Despite her fear, she was still holding her position.

Impressive, considering what she was facing.

"Well," Alex muttered under his breath, "guess I'd better join as well."

Without a second thought, he stepped forward, heading straight toward the starting line.

Freya's eyes widened as she caught sight of him approaching, disbelief flickering across her face. Alex didn't stop, didn't even acknowledge her shock.

As he raised his leg to cross the line into the trial's madness, one of the beast's glowing eyes snapped toward him.

It moved fast—unnaturally fast—and Alex stopped wondering what the beast's reaction was about.

The creature was enormous, resembling some kind of orangutan demon with thick, corded muscles and glowing, malevolent eyes.

Its gaze was intense, radiating an aura of death.

But Alex was calm and unbothered. by the immense pressure.

Sure the beast was scary, but... it was not Kraken-level scary.

Freya exhaled sharply, relief flooding through her body.

Though she was still under unbearable pressure, she felt at ease a little.

With him here, her chances of making it out alive had just increased.@@novelbin@@

She now had an opportunity to make it out to the finish line.

But...she frowned feeling conflicted.

The new player would end up being stuck in this hellish game if she made it out.

Her mind churned.

What should I do?

Freya's eyes darted between Alex and the beast.

Should I trick him into helping me? Make him draw the beast's focus so I can escape?

No.

He would eventually realize both of them can't escape this.

Her throat tightened at the thought.

It wasn't like she hadn't seen others do the same thing to survive, but this time it was different.

The guilt crept in, worming its way into her conscience.

And she hated herself for even considering the idea.

Why?... Is it so wrong to use someone else if it means I live? Wouldn't anyone else do the same to me if they had the chance?

Her fists clenched.

She hated feeling like this—weak, trapped, unsure of herself.

She stole a glance at Alex, who had stopped to read the rules written on the wall.

But then she saw Alex begin to walk towards the starting line, lifting his leg to cross the line.

And Freya froze.

Her stomach twisted into a knot.

Did he not read the rules? Did he really understand what he was walking into?

One of Baranga's menacing eyes locked onto Alex and panic surged in her chest.

Before she could think it through, she yelled:

"Stop!"

Alex froze mid-step, his foot hovering inches above the ground.

Freya's voice sliced through the tense air, loud and frantic.

"Are you dumb? Didn't you read the rules? You'll get incinerated!"

Alex turned his head toward her, his sharp gaze meeting hers.

He didn't understand the anger behind her words.

How else was he supposed to move forward without doing this? There was simply no point in thinking much about it.

Alex exhaled and began to speak, his tone measured:

"You need two or more people to take turns distracting the beast. That's how you're supposed to survive this trial, right?"

Freya hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.

"Yes... that's how it works."

Alex raised a brow, his expression unreadable.

"But there's a catch, isn't there?"

Freya opened her mouth to respond, but he finished her thought for her.

"One of them has to be a sacrificial pawn," he said, his voice dropping a notch. "And if I step past this line, that's exactly what I'll become, isn't it?"

Her throat tightened, but she nodded.

"That's right," Freya muttered under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper.

He wasn't dumb after all.

He'd grasped the cruelty of the game almost instantly—just like Dorion had before him.

Alex didn't miss a beat, his tone cutting and direct.

"In that case, there's no way you can escape without someone else, yet you told me to stop. That's not exactly smart, is it?"

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp. "Aren't the dumb one here, lady."

Freya's jaw tightened.

This bastard.

She wanted to snap back, but she didn't.

She knew he was right. If he wanted to live, stopping him wasn't logical.

But logic wasn't what mattered to Freya.

She clenched her fists, the weight of her decision settling heavily on her.

If being an idiot meant staying true to what she believed in, so be it.

She'd rather die for doing the right thing than survive by betraying her values.

"Maybe I am dumb. But I'd rather be that than become a monster." Freya said firmly.

Alex took in her word and was stunned.

And he stared at her remaining silent for a while.

Freya wondered what he was thinking about, but then his voice broke through her thoughts.

"Alright... I've made up my mind."

And before she could process his words, he took a deliberate step forward.

The moment his foot touched the ground, the beast's glowing eyes snapped toward him like twin spotlights, and with a low, guttural growl, the monster's massive frame shifted.

Appearing in front of Alex.

Its reaction this time was far more aggressive and intense.

Freya, now free from the crushing pressure of the beast's gaze, carefully glanced back over her shoulder.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she exclaimed:

"What are you doing?!"

Alex turned his head slightly, a cheeky grin spreading across his face.

He completely ignored the hulking creature looming over him, its hot breath steaming the cold air.

"I should be asking you that," he quipped casually.

Freya furrowed her brow, unable to wrap her head around his lack of fear.

There wasn't even the faintest trace of panic or anxiety in his voice.

Did he even understand the danger he was in?

Then Alex chuckled, an easy, almost playful sound.

His fiery eyes locked directly onto Baranga's glowing, menacing ones.

"Leap, missy," he said, his tone confident and almost teasing. "Don't worry about me. I don't intend to die."

Freya's heart pounded in her chest as she shook her head.

He didn't get it.

He's mistaken.

If Alex thought Baranga was just another monster to be dealt with, he was dead wrong.

The beast wasn't something you could overpower with raw strength.

Its attacks were swift—unforgiving.

She'd seen its flames consume players in an instant, leaving nothing but charred marks on the ground.

Baranga growled louder, its entire frame quaking with rage.

The air itself seemed to heat up as flames flickered at the edges of its enormous maw.

Freya swallowed hard, its reaction to Alex certainly was different.

But then Alex spoke again, his gaze unwavering as he stared the beast down.

"I told you not to worry, missy." His grin widened.

"This scary-looking orangutan is nothing but prey."