Apocalypse Baby

While Alex battled the endless nightmare creatures at the starting area, things at the finish line were starting to get busy.

The first to land was Kato.

He had been right behind Alex, and now that he had arrived, the first thing he did was glare at him.

Alex, however, barely acknowledged him.

Kato's fists clenched. His teeth ground together. His anger was palpable.

Onigi, watching from nearby, said with a complicated look on his face..

"I see you're still burning with rage."

Kato ignored him and strode forward, his steps heavy with frustration.

"You told me to do whatever I want... so that's exactly what I'm going to do."

Onihi responded:

"Even if it leads to your death?"

Kato didn't respond.

More players soon arrived.

One after another, until their number totalled seven who made it to the finish line.

Five of them were Onigi's men.

Some of the ronin bruised, others bloodied, but none seemed to have suffered anything too serious.

Kyiv, a swordsman, arrived next.

His sleeve flared making his disability apparent.

He was missing an arm but he didn't seem to mind it as he proceeded to the entrance to the next trial.

Last came Xeno, an archer.

He clutched his face, his eyes wounded.

A nightmare bat had attacked him, and from the way he staggered, it was clear the damage was severe.

Onigi scanned the exhausted group wondering if that was everyone.

But then a figure appeared in the distance.

Still undergoing to trial.

It was Freya.

She moved swiftly, leaping from tile to tile, her breath ragged but controlled.

Around her, nightmare creatures swarmed, yet something was off.

The nightmare bats weren't attacking her.

The others stared in shock.

Whispers of confusion rippled through the group.

"Why aren't they attacking?" someone muttered.

Only a few bats hovered nearby, their eerie eyes locked onto her, but they did nothing.

Freya pushed forward, her legs burning with exhaustion.

Then, with a final leap, she landed beyond the finish line.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed, breathing heavily.

When she looked up, all eyes were on her.

Dozens of people stared their expressions a mix of confusion, suspicion, and unease.

A nervous shiver ran down her spine.

What if the ronin tried to kill her again?

No.

She doubted they would do that.

They were probably just stunned by the sight that the nightmare bats hadn't attacked.

It was simple.

From watching she had observed that the more mana you let out the more attracted the monsters are to you.

And when he had a skill that enabled you to concern yours, then you would be practically invisible.

The cracked tiles and the traps were the issues though.

Luckily she had made it.

She then rose to her feet.

Her gaze darted across the crowd, searching for someone.

Then, she found him.

And without hesitation, she began walking toward him.

Of course, he made it.

If there was anyone she was confident would make it, it was him.

She stepped forward, her breath still uneven from the trial.

As soon as she reached him, she asked,

"Why haven't you left yet?"

Alex, who had been sitting calmly, raised his head.

"I thought you would have left." She added.

Alex didn't respond only staring at her intently, and her heart skipped a beat.

A possibility crept into her mind.

"Don't tell me... were you waiting for me?"

The silence only made her thoughts spiral.

Her imagination ran wild.

Then, finally, Alex responded.

"I wasn't waiting for you."

For a brief second, relief mixed with disappointment.

But then he said something absurd.

"I was waiting for me."

Freya's brows furrowed in confusion.

Wait… What?! What the f*ck does that mean?!

She wanted to ask but he shook her head, deciding it wasn't worth figuring out.

That's when she noticed a movement towards the exit that led to the next trial.

A man limped forward.

His body was covered in scars, his arm missing.

He looked like he was barely holding on.

Freya's eyes locked onto him.

She recognized the man instantly.

The swordsman who had sacrificed his arm for a boot.

She had seen what the boot could do.

It let him float briefly, giving him a slight advantage.

But… it hadn't helped him completely.

The nightmare monsters still tore into him.

Yet, somehow, he had kept going.

His steps wobbled as he staggered toward the exit. His body weary and broken.

His face was hollow, like a man walking on the edge of sanity.

He had given everything.

Since the beginning, he has sacrificed, fought, and bled.

All for one reason.

To escape this cursed Nightmare.

To return to his daughter.

But then…

His trembling fingers stretched toward the exit.

Just inches away towards a step to freedom.

But...

Ding!

A notification appeared before his eyes.

Kyiv's body stiffened.

His eyes widened.

His breath caught in his throat.

Slowly, he read the message.

His face twisted in horror.

"No way…" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kyiv's eyes darted back to the notification.

He read it again.

And again.

But the words didn't change.

His breath hitched.

Then, his face twisted in disbelief.

"No f*cking way."

His legs buckled, and he stumbled backward.

It felt like that single step had drained years of his life.

Then, panic set in.

"No, no, no, no, NO!"

His voice cracked as frustration surged through him.

This got everyone attention.

Xeno, walking towards him, raised a brow.@@novelbin@@

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Kyiv didn't answer—his hands were shaking.

Frustrated, Xeno pulled up his own screen.

His eyes widened.

"…Are you kidding me right now?!"

His fingers clenched into a fist.

Then, he gritted his teeth.

"Goddammit!"

Freya, watching their reactions, felt a pit form in her stomach.

"What's happening?" she asked, her voice uneasy.

Kyiv's head snapped toward her.

His face twisted in rage and desperation.

Then he yelled:

"5000 POINTS!. We need 5000 Nightmare Points to proceed to the next round."

A heavy stillness fell over the group.

For a moment, no one even breathed.

The trial they had just passed only rewarded them with 3,000 Nightmare Points each.

If they were to use it they would be short 2,000 points.

But where were they supposed to get that massive amount of Nightmare?

There were two known ways to earn Nightmare Points.

Option One which was the most common method was to hunt and kill Nightmare Monsters.

But was it realistic now that they had exited the trial and couldn't go back due to restriction?

The best solution would be they kill a lot of nightmare monsters during the trial, but most of them, more than anything had been focused on survival.

Life was lost and the survivors were injured, exhausted, and barely standing.

The second option was to exchange Points

Players could trade points with each other.

But who would willingly give up their hard-earned Nightmare Points?

No one.

Kyiv's breath hitched as his mind raced.

Unknown to many.

A third way existed.

A secret, brutal way that only a unique few knew.

If you killed another player, their Nightmare Points and stat points would automatically transfer to you.

And the only way to know that is if you had killed someone in the nightmare.

Kyiv knew.

And on his knees, his mind spiraled.

He had done questionable to act like a saint now.

The first two options were nearly impossible.

So that left only one way.

Kill someone.

His hands trembled.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears.

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Now came the next question.

Who to kill?

Kyiv's eyes darted around frantically.

Everyone who had made it this far was strong.

No one would go down easily.

The Ronins?

Suicide.

They'd spot his intent and cut him down before he even raised his sword.

Even if he killed one of them, he wouldn't made it out alive.

Alex?

Not a chance.

Kyiv had seen what Alex was capable of.

Xeno?

Maybe, since he had lost an eye... but it was still too risky.

That left only one person.

His eyes landed on Freya.

She was weaker than the others.

She was exhausted.

She was alone.

Kyiv's gaze darkened like a predator who had found its prey.

He took a deep breath.

Then without any hesitation, he lunged toward her.

His grip tightened around his sword.

His boots that he paid for with his arm activated, boosting his speed.

He blurred forward, his blade aimed straight at Freya's back.

And she had no idea.

The sword was inches from piercing her, but a cold voice shattered the air.

"Petrify."

Kyiv's body was locked in place.

His sword stopped—millimeters from Freya's skin.

Freya turned, her eyes widening in shock.

The realization hit her.

She stumbled back, watching Kyiv struggle with a manic look on his face.

He gritted his teeth as he couldn't move.

Alex then stepped forward, leaning close to Kyiv.

His voice was low and dangerous as he muttered:

"You... what do you think you're doing?"