Explosion Everywhere

Nighttime, 12:45 a.m.

The city was shrouded in darkness, with shadowy creatures roaming along the streets.

Near the desolate city, a group of human survivors had taken refuge, residing beneath the mountains.

The group of human survivors resided in an underground bunker housing thousands of people. 

Although the bunker appeared small from the outside, upon entering, one would realize the vastness of the area. It resembled an underground city where humans could be seen roaming around and living.

Inside a dimly lit room, five figures sat around a table, their expressions somber, matching the heavy atmosphere.

"How much longer can we manage without food supply?" asked a man with brown hair and a black coat.

The black-haired girl styled in a ponytail with a butterfly ribbon, clutched her head with one hand as she rubbed her temples and responded to the man.

"Aaron, calm down. We will go hunting with our squads to find food in the wilderness."

"But it's nighttime... It's dangerous outside!" the man named Aaron exclaimed loudly as he slammed his hands on the table.

Before a fiasco was about to erupt within the room, a deep yet soothing voice rang out of the room.

"Quiet down.." a girl commanded, she had light blue hair and a pair of red eyes. her authoritative tone demanded attention from everyone within the room.

The people within the room fell into silence, eagerly awaiting her words.

"Have the scouts returned?" the girl asked, her tone cold and detached.

"Commander Natalia, they haven't returned since morning." a man with white whiskers on his face replied.

Natalia nodded her head as she glanced at the black-haired girl with a butterfly ribbon on her ponytail.

"Scarlet, I want you to..." But before she could finish her sentence, a deafening explosion echoed from above, causing rocks to cascade down onto the underground city.

"What's happening?"

"Are we being attacked by those disgusting corrupted beasts?"

Murmurs filled the room as some of the people voiced their concerns, while others sought support to steady themselves and prevent falling.

After a while, the tremors subsided, leaving behind an eerie silence.

"Change of plans.." Natalia declared, her gaze shifting to Scarlet.

"Scarlet, I want you to investigate what happened, and while you're at it, try to gather some food," Natalia instructed. 

Scarlett nodded in agreement as she resolutely answered. "Yes."

Natalia nodded at her and turned her attention to the others in the room, issuing further instructions.

"The rest of you, check for any injured individuals."

...

30 minutes earlier before the explosion.

I wandered through the ruined city, looking for any tools or resources that could help my plan. I explored every building I came across.

As I expected, I found some useful tools along the way.

- A pair of gloves

- A couple of wooden bars

- A bottle of alcohol

- A bag of cotton

- A pocket watch

Stopping myself in a broken apartment, I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air to steady my racing heart.

Beads of sweat trickled down my face as my back felt drenched, it felt as though I was submerged in water.

It was after all the consequence of my tirelessly navigating the city without alerting the lurking creatures outside.

The burden of survival weighed heavily upon me, both physically and mentally.

-Haa..Haa.

"With the tools I currently have, it should be enough to attract most of them away," I muttered to myself, still gasping for air.

As I stared at the ceiling, taking a moment to catch my breath and rest, I pondered over my plans, reinforcing them in case things didn't unfold as expected.

...

"This should be enough far," I murmured to myself.

Upon reaching a nearby gas station, I cautiously entered the apartment near the gas station as I glanced outside the windows.

Taking a closer look, I noticed that some of the gas containers near the station had leaked, as I could hear the faint sound of dripping.

Although I'm uncertain about when exactly this city fell into ruin, one thing was clear.

'It couldn't have been more than two months ago.'

Grabbing a wooden bar, I used my worn-out sword to sharpen its tips. Carefully, I attached the alcohol-soaked cotton to the sharpened ends.

Taking a deep breath, I ignited the alcohol-soaked cotton and firmly gripped the wooden javelin. 

As I positioned myself in the stance of a javelin thrower while aiming directly at the gasoline tanks in the gas station.

I took one step back, gripping the wooden javelin firmly and raising it high. With all my strength, I released the projectile, sending it hurtling directly toward the gasoline tanks.

-Swoosh!

As the javelin left my grasp, I could feel my back muscles stretching, while a momentary numbness tingled through my arms.

Suddenly, a loud clang echoed in the distance, followed by a deafening explosion that reverberated from afar.

-BOOM!

Without dwelling on the scene before me, I swiftly made my way out of the building. I was well aware of the immense power of a gas station explosion, and I anticipated that it would be enough to draw the attention of the creatures before a second explosion occurred.

The initial blast, although loud and devastating, I knew it was not its full release. Recognizing the opportunity, I had to utilize it to the fullest.

I sprint through the darkness, skillfully avoiding the alerted creatures that appeared to be moving towards the gas station.

Spotting a straggler among the creatures, I knew it was my perfect opportunity as these creatures always move in groups.

Adding to my advantage, this particular one appeared noticeably slower than the others.

"It should be weaker than the others, right?" I pondered to myself, continuing to observe from a distance, akin to a hunter patiently awaiting the perfect moment to strike its prey.

Taking out my pocket watch, I set a timer of 3 minutes, all while maintaining a watchful distance.

After a while, the creature showed signs of exhaustion. I knew it was the moment to strike, seizing the opportunity while the iron was hot.

I positioned myself in a sword stance, my heart pounding in rhythm as adrenaline coursed through my veins. The world around me faded into a blur as I tightly gripped my longsword in both hands.

Taking a deep breath, I felt the muscles in my feet stretched as I swiftly sprinted towards the creature.

-Swoosh!

Before the creature could register what had just happened, a deep cut materialized on its neck.

The cut was precise, slicing through its flesh, causing red blood to gush from the wound. Although the strike was not fatal, it delivered a significant blow, leaving the creature wounded and vulnerable.

The sensation of slicing through the creature's flesh felt as effortless as cutting through tofu. However, instead of succumbing to its injuries, the creature exhibited an enraged response.

-Gwarrr!

The creature thrashed around, It tried to use its mouth to expel the black liquid. However, due to the significant blow I had delivered to its neck, it struggled to properly discharge the dark substance nor call its reinforcements.

I skillfully danced around the creature, kitting the attacks it launched at me. In any normal scenario, if the creature were not heavily injured or too weak, I wouldn't have been able to maneuver so gracefully without sustaining any wounds on my body.

However, that still doesn't mean the fact that I didn't sustain any wounds, instead, some parts of my body began appearing cuts, as I struggled to find an opportunity to counter-attack.

The creature I faced possessed remarkable speed, swiftly launching its attacks when standing upright. Initially, I assumed it to be a quadrupedal creature, using its pair of tails to attack its prey.

Having never witnessed them in action or engaged in combat with them before, my initial assumptions proved to be inadequate. It became evident that I was facing a formidable opponent, and the odds of victory seemed bleak.

Despite the creature before me being heavily wounded, my victory seemed bleak. My lack of combat experience left me with no choice but to grit my teeth and search for any possible opportunity to counterattack.

Swiftly sidestepping a slash aimed at my chest, I retaliated with a counter slash. Yet, to my utter horror, the creature before me exhibited a new profound strength that far surpassed its initial state.

As the battle raged on, it seemed as if the creature drew power from the passing moments, growing stronger with each passing second. The realization sent a chill down my spine, as the daunting task of overcoming this increasingly formidable opponent loomed before me.

"I can't continue this fight," I muttered through gritted teeth as I decided to flee from the relentless creature.

Yes, in the face of an undefeatable foe, the best course of action is to retreat.

I'm not a stubborn foolish teen, unwilling to acknowledge when the odds are against me. If I cannot emerge victorious, I will prioritize my safety and escape. It's as simple as that.

Sprinting swiftly around the nearby buildings, I gasped for breath while maintaining my pace. With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I retrieved my pocket watch, glancing at its face while continuing to run.

[0:27]

Only 27 seconds remained before the second explosion would erupt. I knew that till then, I would need to kill the creature that was relentlessly pursuing me from behind. Time was running out, and I had to act swiftly to ensure my survival.

The creature relentlessly harassed me with its two pairs of tails, repeatedly stabbing me from behind. There were moments when my reactions were sluggish, resulting in deep wounds forming on my back.

The pain was excruciating, as the stinging sensation seemed akin to a thousand burning needles piercing my body without rest.

Gritting my teeth, I tightened my fist, summoning every ounce of willpower to endure the searing pain. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me as I kept running till I went inside a ruined building.

It was a place that I had previously visited during my search for tools. However, what made it truly unique was the heavy, dense air that hung within its walls, accompanied by a distinct odor.

Instinctively, I knew that this was my only chance to escape from the dire situation I found myself in.

Running up to the second floor, I hastily located the room I had been seeking. Swiftly entering it, I closed the door behind me, as the sound of the creature's attempt to reach the upper level echoed in the distance.

'I don't have much time left!' I thought, struggling to calm my pounding heart.

-Hu..

Gasping for air, I hurriedly made my way to the kitchen and turned on the gas stove, releasing a steady stream of gas.

Yes, my intention was clear—to obliterate the creature into pieces. Although I couldn't fathom why the building I currently sought shelter in had such a high concentration of methane, However, I saw an opportunity to harness it to its fullest potential.

I approach the shattered glass windows, fully aware of the inherent risk in my decision. Despite recognizing the foolishness of my plan, it remained the only viable path to ensure my survival.

The current situation is just too dire, wounds can be seen all around my body, with cuts particularly prominent along my back.

'Jumping down from the second floor wouldn't cause me a broken leg right?' I pondered, a hint of uncertainty clouding my thoughts.

Nevertheless, the distant sound of banging grew louder, serving as a clear indication that the creatures were diligently searching for me, scouring each room in their relentless pursuit.

-Sigh..

"I hope this will be the last time, I do something stupid like this," I muttered to myself, as a bitter smile appeared on my face, clearly not expecting the outcome.

Despite recognizing the formidable strength of the creature before me, I underestimated the disparity between us. I naively believed that by weakening it sufficiently, I would have no trouble in killing it on my own.

However, I was gravely mistaken. In the end, I narrowly escaped death. l was truly lucky yet not at the same time.

I lacked information but what can I do? No one had been able to tell me what are these creatures and their weaknesses.

I hadn't witnessed them in action nor do anything interesting at all. All I had observed was their tendency to call for reinforcements or release a viscous black liquid, which led me to focus my efforts primarily on its neck.

If only I had known the outcome of the battle, I would have never risked myself in this risky situation.

'Damn it.. whatever.' I muttered under my breath, frustration coloring my tone. I retrieved my pocket watch to check the time.

[0:12]

-Bang!

The door was violently destroyed, revealing the terrifying creature standing before me. Its smile sent shivers down my spine, emanating an aura of pure dread. Razor-sharp teeth stained with blood were prominently displayed.

Despite landing some blows on the creature, I noticed that the creature possessed the ability to regenerate its wounds. The deep cut on its neck ceased to bleed, indicating its remarkable healing capabilities.

'What are these disgusting beasts anyway.' I glared at it as I clenched my teeth while gripping tightly to my pocket watch as cracks began to form around the pocket watch.

The creature advanced towards me with a deliberate and menacing smile, it attempted to instill fear in me. However, I maintained my composure, calmly casting a glance at my pocket watch to check the time.

[0:08]

"You may have won the battle, but at the end of the day," I said with a smile, as I took a box of matches before leaping out of the window.

The creature screeched in horror, desperately attempting to pursue me. Yet, it was too late. I struck the matchstick, igniting its flame, and hurled it towards the creature.

"I survive either way."

-BOOOM!

-Cough...

-Cough...

"Ughh..." I growled in exhaustion, collapsing onto the ground. Weary and drained, I cast a glance at the pocket watch, noting the remaining time.

[0:05]

"5 seconds left before the explosion." 

Scanning my surroundings, I took in the sight of countless dust particles and debris scattered all over the place. The building I had sought refuge in was now reduced to a mere pile of rubble, mingled with ominous blackish liquids.

I rose to my feet and retrieved a rock coated with the mysterious blackish liquid, closely examining it in my hands.

"Why does it smell?" I questioned, bringing it closer to my nose. However, as the scent registered in my senses, my eyes widened in shock, a look of disbelief etching itself onto my face.

"Shit! I need to find cover, or this city will go up in flames!" I screamed in panic, the urgency evident in my voice.

The black liquids I had been cautious with contained a highly flammable substance, posing a grave threat of a devastating explosion. I couldn't discern the exact nature of the flammable substances it contained, but it was undoubtedly a harbinger of bad news.

"Now I get why the city stinks," I muttered, my legs propelling me tirelessly towards a nearby structure. I couldn't be certain if I would be safe from the impending cataclysmic explosion, but I was acutely aware that, I knew that I messed up big time.

"But hey, the good news is that I might clear all those disgusting creatures."

As I stole a glance at my pocket watch, my stomach emitted a loud growl, signaling the persistent hunger that had been plaguing me.

'Yeah, I also need to find some food after this.'

Holding the pocket watch tightly, I checked the time, my eyes fixated on the tiny hands.

[0:02]

"Why does two seconds feel like an eternity?" I pondered, a sense of unease settling within me.

Suddenly, an eerie silence descended upon the surroundings, no longer punctuated by the gentle gusts of wind.

Before I could react to the peculiar stillness, a deafening explosion shattered the tranquility. The sight that unfolded before my eyes seemed almost surreal, reminiscent of the destructive power wielded by the strongest weapons in my old world.

-BOOOOM!

'Shit, it's a fucking mushroom cloud!'

Before I could make a desperate dash towards another building, seeking safety from the impending explosion, an overwhelming force engulfed me, plunging me into unconsciousness.

-BOOOOOOOOM!

The ruined city plunged into chaos as numerous buildings were reduced to rubble, and flames danced wildly, casting an ominous glow in every direction.

Miniature explosions erupted sporadically throughout the cityscape, adding to the sense of turmoil and destruction.

'I've fucked up big time.' I thought, as my consciousness slipped away.1