"Alright, girls, listen up. You too, August." John called out.
"What is it, John? Are we going somewhere?" August asked.
"Yes. We’re going for a hunt. We need to learn to coordinate and combine our abilities."
John glanced at the group, their expressions a mix of curiosity and excitement.
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"Our base needs to be fortified even further, unless..." he paused, taking in their reactions.
"Unless you’re okay with becoming Theodore’s grunts and slaves."
"I’d rather die," Stephanie retorted, her arms folded and a scowl marring her beautiful features.
"Yeah, me too," Julian agreed, a hand resting on the handle of his long sword.
"Alright. Let’s get going, then."
The group, which consisted of John, August, Julian and all the girls minus Mika, headed towards the entrance of an underground tunnel. It was a tunnel that diverted traffic from the main boulevard, but now in the apocalypse, it was a monster nest.
"It’s so dark here," Dalia said, looking at the walls that towered above them.
"Shh," John brought his index finger to his lips.
"Stay quiet and don’t let the monsters sense you," he whispered.
"This place is really creepy," Dalia said.
"Yeah, and it’s pretty damn dangerous," Octavia added.
The group entered the tunnel and found it pitch black. The air was musty, and the walls were lined up high above their heads. The tunnel was empty except for the occasional car that had been flipped upside down and had its wheels missing. The ground was littered by shattered glass and metal.
The sound of dripping water echoed in the silence as their footsteps crunched underfoot.
John walked cautiously, tightening his grip on his dagger and flashlight. The tunnel would be infested with monsters, but they had no choice but to creep in further.
As they crept deeper into the tunnel, they would hear the occasional sound that made them tense. A screech, a thud, a growl. They could not tell where it came from, or what they were. John glanced around nervously, straining his eyes to spot any movement or threat. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead and his stomach tightening.
As they wandered further through the tunnel, it had gotten darker and harder to see. It was almost pitch-black when a light flickered in the distance, like a single candle burning in a dark void. As they grew closer the light became clearer. It was a torch that had been stabbed into the ground and was flickering slightly, casting shadows on the walls surrounding it.
A screech came from behind them and the sound of wings. John ducked just in time, avoiding something swooping overhead. His flashlight moved from the ground to the ceiling, and he spotted a monstrous bird-like creature.
A horrid miasma of filth and evil, emanating from a figure swathed in dirty, brown feathers, the sharp beak as a mantis cutting through a sickly-looking torso as a worm, flanked by spindly and bony arms, tipped in bird-like claws.
The harpy spat at John and dove towards him, its claws poised to tear through his flesh. John rolled to the side and caught the harpy’s foot in his fist, yanking it hard.
"Octavia, get it!" John shouted as the bird-woman was flung into the wall.
Octavia sprang to action, raising her sword in the air. The ground beneath her glowed green as her eyes burned gold. Wind whipped around her, blowing dust and debris everywhere. Her sword shone brighter and brighter, causing everyone to squint their eyes.
A magical power resonated from her and the sword she held in her hand. John grunted, staring at the harpy struggling to break free from his grasp. His ears were ringing from the constant and irritating, maddening screeches of the foul creature.
A glow enveloped Octavia as she raised the sword above her head. It was Julia’s strength buff. John approved inwardly and observed as Octavia’s sword slashed down at the beast.
A gale of wind followed the sword, spinning and slicing towards the harpy. A cry of pain erupted from the bird creature as its body was cut in two by the sword, the glowing green aura cleaving it apart.
Dalia rushed to John’s side, "John! Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry."
Julian’s eyes narrowed into slit. His own girlfriend so worried about another man didn’t sit well with him. He clenched his fist in frustration, seething in envy. He wasn’t blind or stupid. He had noticed the budding romance between John and Dalia.
Unaware of Julian’s own internal turmoil, John shot him a smirk and turned towards the group.
"Alright. Things ended quickly this time, but remember for next time: Stephanie and Octavia go in front, Dalia and Maria provide cover and Julia provides circumstantial support. August will look for opportunities to use... whatever his skill is and hope to one-shot the monsters. Meanwhile, I will do my own thing and try to take advantage of the openings you create."
John’s voice boomed through the tunnel, reverberating off the walls and echoing down the corridor.
The group nodded their heads in understanding, their eyes focused and determined.
They marched deeper into the tunnel, their senses alert and their weapons at the ready. The darkness seemed to close in around them, and the air was thick and heavy. The sound of their footsteps and breathing was amplified, creating an eerie atmosphere.
As they moved forward, the stench of rotting flesh became stronger and stronger. The walls were covered in grime and slime, and the floor was slick and sticky.
Suddenly, the sound of movement and groaning could be heard ahead. John stopped in his tracks, raising his hand to signal the others to do the same.
"There’s something up ahead," he whispered.
Everyone remained silent, listening intently for any indication of what was lurking in the darkness.
As they strained their ears, the sounds became louder and clearer. They sounded like growls and grunts. There was also the sound of something scraping against the floor and walls.
The group cautiously advanced towards the source of the noises, their hearts racing and their hands trembling.
"Stay alert," John murmured, his muscles tense and ready to strike at any moment, but before they could react, a massive boulder crashed onto the tunnel in front of them, blocking their path. As they all raised their weapons, dozens of shadow-like figures emerged from the walls and surrounded them.