First Encounter With Others

The sun had barely begun to cast its pale light over the city when Laura woke. She moved with silent precision, strapping her weapons to her belt and checking her inventory.

Everything was in place. She found Eric sitting by their makeshift barricade, keeping watch. He turned when he heard her approach, a question in his eyes.

"I'm heading out to do a little scouting," she informed him quietly, her voice low so as not to wake the others. "I'll also use the opportunity to find arrows for Essei."

Eric nodded, standing a little straighter. "How long will you be gone?"

"I'll be back by evening, but if I run into trouble, it might be tomorrow morning," Laura said, her gaze steady. "Your job is simple: make sure everyone stays alive until I return."

Eric gave her a confident smile, though his eyes held a hint of seriousness. "I've got this. Don't worry."

"Good." Laura placed a hand on his shoulder briefly—a rare gesture of trust—before turning and disappearing down the stairs. She moved swiftly through the building and out into the open streets.

The city was as silent and foreboding as ever, each broken structure and abandoned vehicle a reminder of the chaos that had overtaken their world. Laura knew the dangers well, but she also knew that she couldn't let fear dictate her actions.

As she moved, she kept to the shadows, her senses heightened. The ruins of the city were crawling with creatures from the apocalypse—each step she took was a delicate dance of survival. But Laura wasn't just here to survive; she was hunting.

Whenever she spotted a lone creature, she struck with precision, using her daggers to take it down quickly and silently. Groups of up to five were no exception—she would isolate them, using hit-and-run tactics to dispatch each one.

Every kill brought a satisfying notification from the system: [+EXP], and slowly but surely, Laura felt herself growing stronger. Her stats increased, her movements grew more fluid, and her senses sharpened. She was becoming the predator she needed to be.

Her destination was a familiar one—a small resort she used to visit on weekends before the apocalypse. It had an archery range, and she hoped it still had arrows that Essei could use.

The distance wasn't far—only about five kilometers—but the state of the city made it much more challenging. Collapsed buildings blocked some streets, and open paths were too dangerous, leaving Laura with no choice but to weave through narrow alleys and take long detours.

As she moved cautiously past a ruined office building, she caught sight of movement up ahead. She froze, blending into the shadows. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the scene—seven figures, all humanoid. At first, her heart leapt, hoping they were other survivors. But as she observed, the hope faded.

The men were armed with crude weapons—pipes, knives, and makeshift clubs—all stained with dried blood.

Their expressions were hard, their eyes scanning the street with the predatory hunger of those who'd learned to survive by taking from others. Bandits. Laura knew the type well enough; desperate times had brought out the worst in many.

Quietly, she turned to slip away, intending to avoid confrontation. These men were beneath her notice.

She had no desire to waste her energy on them when there were real threats to worry about. But just as she moved, one of the men spotted her. His eyes widened in surprise before a wide, almost feral smile spread across his face.

He nudged his companions, and they all turned to look at her, their gazes filled with malicious intent.

"Hey, wait up!" one of them called, stepping forward with a swagger that spoke of overconfidence.

Laura paused, her expression cold and unreadable. She knew their type—men who thought strength came from numbers and intimidation. She felt a flicker of annoyance but kept her composure. Turning slowly, she met their gazes without a trace of fear.

The man who had called out to her stepped closer, his weapon—a rusted pipe—resting casually on his shoulder. "You shouldn't be out here alone, girl," he said, his tone mocking. "Dangerous place. Lucky for you, we can… keep you company."

The others laughed, a low, ugly sound that echoed off the ruined walls. Laura didn't flinch. She let them come closer, her eyes never leaving the speaker's face. "I don't need company," she said flatly. "Move on."

Her words only seemed to amuse them. Another man, taller and bulkier than the first, stepped forward, his grin revealing yellowed teeth. "Oh, we're not asking," he sneered, his grip tightening on a heavy club. "See, we've got needs. And you… well, you're about to help us out."

The tension thickened, the air crackling with impending violence. Laura felt her heart rate slow—a calm before the storm. She shifted her weight, assessing each man's stance, their weapons, their distance from her. Seven against one, but she'd faced worse odds.

One of the men lunged, swinging his pipe. Laura moved like lightning, sidestepping the blow and bringing her dagger up in a single, fluid motion. The blade sliced through the man's arm, and he howled in pain, dropping his weapon. The others hesitated, momentarily shocked by her speed.

"I'm not in the mood for this," Laura said, her voice icy. "Leave. Now."

But hesitation gave way to anger, and the remaining men charged at her. Laura's movements were a blur—dodging, parrying, striking. She moved with lethal precision, each strike designed to incapacitate or kill. The men were clumsy in comparison, their attacks fueled by rage and desperation rather than skill.

One of them swung wildly, and Laura ducked, driving her dagger into his side before spinning away. Another tried to grab her from behind, but she twisted free, slicing his leg and sending him sprawling. The fight was brutal and fast-paced, but Laura never lost her focus. She was a predator, and they were prey.

Within minutes, four of the men lay incapacitated or dead, groaning in pain. The remaining three backed away, fear replacing their bravado. Laura's eyes met theirs, cold and unyielding.

"Go," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

They didn't need to be told twice. Dropping their weapons, they turned and ran, disappearing into the rubble-strewn streets. Laura watched them go, then turned her attention back to the fallen. She searched their belongings quickly, finding a few useful supplies—food, water, and a handful of basic medical items.

Standing, she wiped the blood from her dagger and took a steadying breath. She had a mission, and distractions like this couldn't slow her down. She turned away from the scene and continued her journey, her mind already focused on the archery range and the arrows she hoped to find for Essei.

But as she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just a taste of what was to come. The apocalypse had changed everything, and humans could be just as dangerous as any creature lurking in the shadows.