The First Wave (1)

Chapter 7 – First Wave (1)

[02:16:03]

The gym was quiet for once, and everyone seemed to breathe a little easier in the lull before the storm. Avi leaned back against the wall, catching his breath and taking in the room. Ken sat nearby, fiddling with a snack he must've stashed earlier, his gaze occasionally shifting over to Avi and Emily with an almost parental watchfulness. If Avi had to bet, Ken would've just run straight to wherever the enemies would be coming from and block it with his unusually large body.

Emily exhaled sharply, leaning against Avi's shoulder. "Think this will get any easier?" she asked quietly.

Avi shrugged. "I mean, it's like gym class on extra-hard mode, right? How much worse could it get?" He offered a half-smile, knowing full well she could feel his own anxiety simmering beneath the surface.

Ken chimed in with a grin that softened his usually imposing frame. "You know, even if we're only running on fumes and adrenaline, we've still got each other. And, Em, I'll protect you and Avi; please don't get yourself in any more trouble. Just stick close."

Avi rolled his eyes, nudging Ken with a smirk. "Stop it, Dad. You're embarrassing me in front of my friends."

Ken gave a modest shrug. "You know it. You're lucky I'm so soft on you two."

With less than an hour left, Ryan, Mia, and Sophia joined the group to discuss final positions. Avi shared only brief nods and a few words with them, saving most of his jokes for the battle that had yet to come. But as everyone prepared to get into position, the weight of what was coming settled over them.

"Alright," he grinned at Ken, who gave a reassuring nod before the sound of shuffling feet filled the hall.

The countdown ticked on, and though no one said it, they all knew this would be one of the longest fights they'd faced yet.

[00:37:13]

[00:12:04]

[00:01:48]

[00:00:01]

[The first wave begun! Good luck and survive, players!]

After the system's announcement, a strange, primal sound reached them first—eerie croaks that sent a shiver down Avi's spine. The grass outside the gym had been flattened under the pressure of the gathering crowd, a chaotic patchwork of green that mixed with dirt and scattered debris. The buildings of classrooms loomed like silent witnesses, their glass windows reflecting the cold light of the setting sun. Benches were overturned, twisted by force, and streetlights, their thin metal posts bent and cracked, swayed dangerously, casting jagged shadows. Here and there, shards of glass lay sparkling on the ground, remnants of classrooms that had seen better days.

The gym behind them remained untouched, a safe zone for the civilians who huddled inside, their muffled voices mixing with the roar of battle that was already beginning to envelop the campus.

Avi adjusted the grip on his makeshift weapon, jagged metal rod, and took a deep breath. The weight of the situation was starting to settle in. The metal felt cold in his hands, as if it were mocking him for daring to wield it.

"You good, Avi?" Ken asked, his voice a bit too calm given the circumstances.

Avi shot him a grin, though he could feel the tension in his shoulders. "Yeah, just a bit of jitters, you know? Nothing a good ol' fashioned monster-stomping can't fix."

Ken gave him a look that was part concern, part amusement. "Just... stay focused, alright? I've got your back."

Before Avi could reply, dozens of loud croaks broke through the air, and from the brush came the first wave:

[lvl 1 Imp]

They were ugly—grotesque little creatures that looked like horned frogs with spindly, way-too-long arms and legs. They hopped toward them with disturbing speed, their massive mouths gaping wide, revealing rows of needle-like teeth. They were small, no more than the size of a four-year-old, but with the speed and ferocity of wild animals.

"Here they come!" Ryan yelled, pointing in their direction. He was already in position, ready to direct them. "Take them out before they swarm the line!"

The ground quaked as the first wave reached them, cracks forming in the campus pavement. The distant clatter of streetlights crashing down mingled with the sharp, shattering sound of glass from classrooms being hit by flying debris. The smell of dust and smoke mixed with the metallic tang of fear.

Ken stepped forward, gripping a battered piece of metal—an improvised shield—his stance a fortress against the onslaught of imps surging forward. His every move was a masterclass in defense: swift, deliberate, and powerful. The makeshift shield deflected claws and sharp fangs, pushing the creatures back, and his voice cut through the chaos, directing the others to stand their ground and hold steady.

"Hold the line!" Ken shouted, even as another wave of imps lunged toward him. He wasn't alone in the fight; classmates flanked him, wielding anything from broken broomsticks to jagged pieces of debris. The field was a maelstrom of movement, each defender fighting for their life amidst the sound of frenzied shrieks and the metallic clash of weapons.

Avi stood just outside the protective circle Ken formed, clutching the metal rod tighter, its jagged edges gleaming in the dimming light. The weight of it felt foreign in his hands, the sharp end trembling as his heart pounded in his chest. He glanced around, eyes darting between the torn-up pavement, the rubble-strewn grass, and the school buildings in the distance. The gymnasium loomed behind him, its brick walls marred by cracks, a silent witness to the chaos. Students scrambled past, their faces painted with fear, some taking refuge behind the taller, braver figures who formed the front line.

An imp with a malformed, twisted body shot toward him, its blackened skin slick with an unnatural sheen. Avi's eyes widened, and he tried to bring his arms up in time, swinging one rod at the creature. His strike was wild, uncoordinated, missing the creature by a hair's breadth. The imp's mocking screech cut through the roar of battle, its gnarled hand snatching at his arm with surprising speed.

Avi yelped, stumbling backward. The rod slipped from his fingers, clattering against the pavement. Panic surged, blinding him to everything but the creature's jagged teeth coming for him. He barely managed to duck, rolling onto his back as the imp's claws scraped past his cheek, leaving a thin red line. The ground scraped against his skin, sharp and unforgiving, as he scrambled for the fallen rod, fingers scrabbling in a frenzy.

"Get up, Avi! You need to—" Ryan's voice called out, but it was drowned by the war cries around them.

The imps were relentless, pouring into the space between the defenders and the buildings like a flood. Avi's muscles burned as he lunged for the rod, his hands closing around it just in time to block the next swipe. He swung wildly, the motion more panic than precision, slicing across the imp's arm and making it howl. But before he could regain his footing, another imp lunged from the side, its body a dark blur.

He turned too late. The creature's claws tore through his shirt, catching on the fabric and sending him sprawling. Pain flared along his side as he crashed against the pavement, the wind knocked out of him. His vision blurred, and the sounds of battle became distant, muffled by the pounding of his own heart. He glanced up, eyes widening as he saw the imp coming for him again, its mouth wide in a cruel grin.

Ken was a shape in the periphery, a guardian on the front lines, blocking blows and pushing the attackers back with every ounce of strength he had. But Avi was on his own now, surrounded by the deafening clamor of combat and the shouts of others urging each other to hold their ground. His arms were heavy, the rod slipping in his grasp, and his breaths came in harsh, jagged pulls.

"Come on, come on," he whispered, desperation lacing his voice as he forced himself up. His vision swam, the edges darkening as exhaustion clawed at him. An imp's shadow fell over him, blocking out the last rays of the sun. His muscles ached, the promise of safety distant and fading, as he stared down the creature poised to strike.

"Great," he muttered as he stared up at the creature looming over him, its mouth opening wide. "I swear I'm gonna hate frogs after this."

The imp lunged forward with an inhuman roar.

In that moment, something inside Avi sparked, and the world slowed as if time itself had taken a breath. His vision blurred, a brilliant, electric surge coursing through him. He pushed himself up in one smooth motion, grabbing the metal rod from the ground. Without thinking, he jabbed it forward, the sharp end piercing the creature's grotesque mouth with a wet, shuddering noise. It dropped like a marionette with its strings cut, twitching as it crumpled to the ground.

Before he could take a breath, his body was already in motion. The chaos seemed to pause around him as his senses sharpened and his instincts took the lead. He darted between the imps, moving with a fluidity he'd never known he possessed. Each strike was precise, every movement calculated. His body moved as if it were made for combat, as if he had done this a thousand times before. The imps were too slow, too clumsy to keep up with him.

"Finally!" he muttered, the exhilaration flooding through him. The battlefield became a blur of motion, his rod flashing as it connected with another imp, sending it sprawling.

But suddenly exhaustion gnawed at him, a dark, creeping sensation that coiled around his muscles. His vision dimmed at the edges, and the world felt heavy. The last thing he saw before the darkness came was Ken's face shouting what seems to be his name.

"Avi!"