Chapter 6- Shattered Hopes and Unexpected Allies

As Elandra and her group trudged on, the late evening sun cast a golden glow on the desolate landscape. They stumbled upon an abandoned warehouse, its crumbling facade a stark reminder of the world's decay.

Elandra activated her stealth ability, vanishing into the shadows to scout ahead and confirm the warehouse was safe. Once she gave the all-clear, she returned to the group, deactivating her stealth and announcing, "It's safe." A few of the non-awakened members jumped in surprise, still unaccustomed to her sudden appearances and disappearances.

Inside the warehouse, the atmosphere was musty and poorly illuminated, filled with the smell of rot. The members of Elandra's team clustered closely, their hushed conversations bouncing off the walls as they attempted to comprehend their serious predicament.

Meanwhile, Jameal and his group of five were fleeing for their lives from a marauding horde of 10 goblins. Jameal, a unique individual among the people of Mellowvibe, had awakened a couple of hours after the triplets, possessing two gifts and guided by a system fairy named Elton. He felt an inexplicable pull drawing him to the city's outer edges, and with Elton's encouragement, he followed its lead.

Back at the warehouse, Elandra decided to scout the surrounding area, despite its desolation. She sought to understand the origin of the goblin horde, which, according to her previous reconnaissance, had not frequented this area before.

Her determination to evaluate was guided by more than mere vigilance; she sought answers to rationalize the unexpected shift in the goblins' territorial behavior. As she set out, the crunch of gravel beneath her feet reverberated through the stillness, and the faint howling of wolves in the distance sent a shiver down her spine.

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As they stalked forward, Elandria considered how they could best utilize their newly awakened powers. "How much mana do you have?" Elandria asked Elsa, a mother who had awakened with her daughter Lisa. "My name is Elsa, and this is my daughter Lisa. I have 200 mana."

 Elandria smiled, "I think it should be enough."

Elsa spoke up, "I have an idea." She waited for my nod before continuing to her daughter, "Honey, can you ask the animals if there's any safe way out from the fire?" Lisa hugged her teddy bear tighter, whispering to it before placing her tiny hand on the floor. Her lips moved in silent conversation; her brow furrowed in concentration.

After a moment, she looked up, her face alight with hope. "The rats! They say there's a hidden passage beside the basement, a hidden way that's safe from the fire!"

Relief swept through our group, but it was short-lived. The path was treacherous, untraveled by humans, a narrow crawl space that wound dark and deep beneath the burning structure. But it was a chance.

Elandria nodded firmly; a leader resolved to her duty. "We'll take it. It's the best shot we have." Nora, still cradling the ornate lamp, whispered to the artifact, as if seeking counsel. The lamp's surface shimmered briefly, affirming her silent query. She looked up, determination etched on her features. "The genie agrees—it's our safest exit."

We prepared quickly, dampening cloths to cover our faces against the smoke, tying ropes to ensure no one was lost in the dark. The boy who could become a dragon offered to lead, his eyes already glowing with a nascent, cerulean light. "I'll go first. The fire won't touch me—not anymore." As we filed into the basement, Elsa summoned a gentle, guiding flow of water, a whispering stream that led the way forward, quenching small fires and dampening the heat around us.

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Meanwhile, Alphonso and his group had just arrived at the burning hotel. Alphonso, another unique individual like Jameal, had awakened a few hours after the triplets. He possessed two gifts and a system fairy, and luckily for us, he had awakened a godly item like Elandrei.

He summoned his tome and spoke in an unknown language, and when the chant finished, he pointed his hand at the hotel. A tsunami of water under his control drowned the hotel.

Elandria sensing the incoming danger. "Quick, cover us with water magic, using all your mana!" I shouted to Elsa and Noah, a 16-year-old boy. They activated their power without hesitation, just as the water flooded the hotel's lower floors.

Once the fire was out, Alphonso and his team hurried into the hotel to combat the monstrous plants that had survived the water. They searched the lobby area thoroughly and were about to head to the first floor when Elandria and team appeared from an unexpected entrance.

Elandria stormed towards Alphonso, annoyed and tired. "Are you trying to kill us? Why did you have to use such a strong spell?" she paused, then asked, "Wait a minute, water spell? When did you awaken?"

Alphonso smiled guiltily. "The name is Alphonso, I apologize for the big spell. It was the only one I had that could quickly put out the fire. As for your question, I awakened last night, a few hours after the apocalypse began."

Elandria turned to Juzella, my system fairy. "He awakened last night? I thought I was the only one!" Juzella remained silent, and she asked again, "What are you hiding from me, system fairy?"

Juzella answered tersely, "If I do not answer, it simply means I cannot say, or you are not ready for those answers."

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Upon exiting the vehicle, Elandrei and her bodyguards were left breathless by the bleak scenery in front of them. The beacon of optimism they had been searching for turned out to be only a destroyed encampment, its leftover fragments serving as a chilling memory of the disaster that had taken place. The atmosphere was filled with a strong scent of smoke and ash, and the stillness was overwhelming, interrupted only by the sound of twisted metal creaking and debris rustling softly.

Elandrei's gaze swept over the scene, her thoughts racing with inquiries. What had occurred to the individuals who made it through the ordeal? Were they overcome, or did they desert their position in the presence of overwhelming obstacles? Her bodyguards exchanged somber expressions with one another, mirroring her own sense of disbelief on their faces. This place was designated as their ultimate safe haven, their final opportunity to flee from the chaos that had consumed the world.

While walking through the camp, the quietness intensified, becoming denser, resembling a fog enveloping their bodies. Elandrei was on edge, her gaze constantly searching for any potential threats. She understood the urgency of finding shelter before night arrived again, but each step felt like a violation, as if they were intruding on a cemetery.

With each step, Elandrei felt a growing sense of dread. The camp was unusually silent, as though all evidence of life had disappeared. When they rounded the corner, they were suddenly confronted with a frightening scene that made them shudder. A group of zombies blocked their path ahead, unlike any they had seen before. They had a malevolent twinkle in their eyes and moved in unison as though being manipulated by an unseen power.

Elandrei felt her heart drop when she discovered the reality: the camp survivors were not killed by brainless zombies - they were transformed. And now they faced an enemy far more dangerous than they had ever imagined. The zombies' intelligence and coordination made them a formidable force, and Elandrei knew they had to act fast if they wanted to survive.