Chapter 3- Echoes of Awakening 

The world was also hit with varying apocalypses, like Velanore country, but was offered an opportunity by a mysterious entity that introduced the chaotic games and provided them with a mystical artifact. This artifact assists them in awakening their latent power and offers the chance to choose a class once their power has been awakened. As for Velanore, they had to survive the apocalypse as regular humans at the onset, except for the triplet sisters. The apocalypse took away family, friends, and prized possessions, yet they had to fight for survival. 

Elandra decided to follow Ella's advice and devised a plan to kill off the goblins. Using the bat, she sneaked up on single goblins to take them out. When only a few remained, the goblins realized someone was taking them out. The remaining goblins grouped together, while Elandra disappeared to her hotel room. 

Simultaneously, after Elandrei and her remaining guards searched the rest of the mansion, they took a rest. On Elandria's side, she turned to the survivors who followed her to the roof and asked, "Would you all like to group together? Are you all from this city?" Everyone answered negatively, while a little girl whimpered in her mother's arms. 

The next day, as the sun burst through the clouds, everyone around the world still alive rejoiced to see the sun, since it was dark the previous day. They thought they would never see the sun again. 

Elandra showered, then ate breakfast, thankful that the water supply was not cut. She left the safety of her room to venture out into the city, determined to level up and become stronger. Her gains from yesterday were: 

[Level: 6 | Class: None | Bloodline: None | Skill: Invincible Stealth | Talent: None | Items: None | Power: None |] 

[Attributes: Strength: 10 | Agility: 10 | Constitution: 10 | Intelligence: 10 | Charm: 10 | Luck: 10] 

The lively streets she remembered were now desolate, littered with debris and the remnants of a civilization abruptly halted in its tracks. Her newfound power of stealth elevated beyond mere invisibility - she became a wraithlike figure moving undetected amidst the chaos that had befallen Mellowvibe city. She navigated through wreckage with an otherworldly grace, saving scattered survivors by ambushing the creatures she encountered. Unknowingly, she became an unseen protector moving through the shadows, a gatherer of secrets in a world where knowledge was the currency of survival. 

She ventured to areas where governmental agencies were found and was distressed to see them crumbled and deserted. Elandra thought to herself, "Should I press on, venturing into danger to help others, or should I prioritize my own safety and make a break for Melabrooke?" 

As Elandra contemplated her next move, Ella proposed, "Why not take on a leadership role? You've already saved numerous people and grown stronger in the process. My question still stands: will you fight for those who can't fight for themselves? Do you recall your answer?" Elandra stood still, lost in thought, wondering why she had agreed to take on this responsibility in the first place. 

 In Melabrooke, Elandrei gathered the guards and stated, "We should go into the city to find out what's happening and see if the government has any plans." 

They walked through the rich community, checking every house they passed to see who was still living and who had joined the undead ranks. They quelled all the undead they found on the way. Afterwards, they returned to the mansion and took a car to the city. On the drive, Elandrei asked Maribelle, "How will the other humans awaken? Will they spontaneously awaken like myself?" 

Maribelle answered, "Some will, while some won't." Maribelle, hinting at something to come, continued, "Wait in patience, and you will see!" Elandrei nodded her head and continued looking outside at the city. The place that had once been a bustling city had now turned into a ghost town. 

 Similar to Elandra, Elandrei sought out governmental buildings but was less hopeful than she was. Elandrei suspected that they were not spared from this unexpected apocalypse, and it was unlikely that many had remained alive. Upon arrival, just as Elandrei thought, the governmental buildings were teeming with zombies, so she decided to leave since there were too many to combat. 

After leaving that area, they got out of the car to start hunting zombies. Elandrei informed her guards that she had awakened an item and that there was a chance they would become awakened too; therefore, they should allow her to get the last hit on the zombies, as that would make her more powerful. 

Her guards nodded in understanding, their faces a mix of awe and determination. As they ventured deeper into the desolate city, the eerie silence was punctuated only by the distant moans of the undead. Elandrei led the way, her senses heightened and her grip on her katana tightening with anticipation. The first zombie lurched into view, its grotesque form shambling towards them with outstretched arms. 

Elandrei's eyes flashed with determination as she stepped forward, ready to test the true power of her awakening. With swift, precise movements, she struck the creature down, feeling a surge of energy course through her as she absorbed the zombie's essence. 

Excitement and a hint of fear flickered across the faces of her guards—they were witnessing the birth of a potentially formidable power, one that could change the dynamics of their survival. As more zombies approached, drawn by the commotion, the group prepared for a fight, not just for survival but also to empower Elandrei, who might be their best hope in this post-apocalyptic world. 

As Elandrei cuts down another zombie, the distant clash of human against undead drifts on the wind from the south. With a mix of dread and resolve, she tightens her grip on her weapon and steers her group toward the sounds of battle. 

The next day, on Elandria's side, she told her fellow survivors while getting up from the ground, "We should look for food and other resources—especially weapons that produce fire." 

An older guy among the group, Josh, stated, "I think you're correct, but where do we go to find those things?" 

A girl, Nora, answered, "I came here on a summer work program and was working in the kitchen. I can direct us to the food storages and where we could find gas and bottles to make firebombs." Elandria nodded, "Great idea, lead the way, please." 

They headed back down the stairs cautiously, on the lookout for any tendrils of roots or branches. As they descended, they met other survivors who warned them of the horrors on the lower floors. Elandria shook her head, thinking, "I knew the branches would envelop at least the first five floors." 

She stopped the group and said, "I think we should search the rooms for a lighter and bottles of alcohol. I suspect the first five floors are overtaken by the branches." With that in mind, Elandria and her group searched the hotel rooms that were unoccupied and found three lighters and a large quantity of alcohol. They left two people to guard the remaining alcohol while they took what they could carry. 

In the flickering shadows of the hotel, Elandria stands at a crossroads, facing a dire choice. The lower floors, choked by encroaching darkness and danger, hold the promise of sanctuary or the threat of a tomb. Lighting the fire could carve a path to salvation, guiding them to the supplies Nora mentioned, or become a beacon for every lurking horror drawn to its blaze. As the flames catch, sending a column of smoke into the sky, Elandria watches, her resolve hardening, aware that this signal could summon rescue or herald new threats. 

Meanwhile, in a distant city, Elandra's conversation with Ella echoes in her mind. The weight of leadership settles heavily on her shoulders as she surveys the group of survivors depending on her. The realization dawns on her that this role might be her destiny. Resolute, she steps forward, her decision clear, but her heart heavy with the burden of the lives now intertwined with hers. 

Far to the south, Elandrei and her guards press towards the sounds of combat, swords drawn and hearts pounding. The possibility that they might find government officials alive offers a glimmer of hope in the desolation. Each step brings them closer to potential allies or a devastating truth: they might be marching into a trap. As they round a corner, the scene before them unfolds—a desperate battle that will test their strength and perhaps offer a new direction for their journey.