[A sub-scenario has been created!]
Some looked up. Others instinctively took a step back.
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[Sub-scenario – Hot Spot]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: D
Clear conditions: Protect Chambers Street station during 10 waves of monsters.
• Keep at least 2 of the 4 barricades intact.
Time Limit: 10 hours
Reward: 200 coins
Failure: ???
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"T... ten waves?"
Someone murmured, their voice breaking.
"Only two barricades...? What if the others fall?"
No one answered.
El Moderador de Escenario, con cuernos de reno y una sonrisa torcida, observó la escena con evidente diversión.
[Gyahahaha…]
He laughed, placing a hand on his chest.
[I hope you can provide good training for the constellations.]
His eyes scanned the humans as if they were pieces placed on a cheap board.
[After all, watching them desperately try to survive is always the most entertaining.]
In a golden flash, his figure vanished.
Panic began to seep in slowly, like water seeping through a crack.
Muffled screams. Agitated breathing. Eyes searching for someone who knew what to do.
Suddenly, holographic barricades of blue light materialized: reinforced semi-transparent walls covering the north (towards the river), south (towards Wall Street), east (towards the Brooklyn Bridge), and west (towards downtown).
[Wave 1 initiated!]
Several monsters materialized on the train tracks; some were shaped like salamanders the size of dogs, others like wolves as big as horses, and so on.
"Monsters! They're everywhere!"
"Move, move!"
"I don't want to die!"
Kael paled, his fake smile cracking, and knowing that his "control" of the station had just evaporated.
"Everyone to the barricades! We have to defend ourselves before the monsters get through!"
Liam leaned against a column with his arms crossed.
'This could be a good opportunity to earn some coins, but...'
He watched as they ran desperately toward the barricades located at the four entrances to Chambers Street.
'It's not worth it.'
So he decided to do nothing and see how everything unfolded and how many people died trying to defend themselves from the monsters.
[The constellation "Hell Dragon" laughs loudly, wagging its tail with amusement.]
[Several constellations are betting on how many waves will survive.]
A section of the barricade to the east immediately gave way. Three survivors defending that line were struck before they could react.
The first, a man in his forties with a makeshift spear, was bitten on the neck.
Blood spurted out, a hot, red jet that splattered his companions as he brought his hands to the hole, gurgling, his eyes wide with shock.
He fell to his knees and collapsed forward, his face hitting the concrete with a wet sound.
The second man tried to back away, but a monster grabbed him by the ankle and threw him.
The man fell backwards; before he could scream, three claws ripped open his abdomen in a single swipe.
The third, a young woman who had survived the tutorial by sheer luck, was trapped on one of the train tracks.
An ostrich-like monster lifted her by her hair and slammed her against the metal.
The skull cracked like a nut. Blood and brain matter splattered the wall as his body convulsed one last time before going still.
"Quick, go to the east barricade! Use your skills!"
"I need someone to help me! Constellations, please help me!"
"Help! Help!"
[Several constellations shake their heads at the players' pathetic performance.]
The chaos at the station was evident: monsters were wreaking havoc, and people were moving in disarray, not knowing what to do.
Kael clicked his lips in frustration. Everything got out of hand when he saw Liam leaning against a column. That made him furious.
"Everyone, form groups of four and go to the different barricades! I'll take care of defending the eastern one!"
Kael, in the midst of the disaster, began giving orders and managed to resist the seemingly endless wave of monsters.
Liam watched Kael shout orders, trying to regain control. He was efficient. He always had been.
For a second, he thought about helping him.
The idea died before it was fully formed.
Then he saw her.
A woman, clumsy in her movements, with a bulging belly, lifts a hammer with trembling hands.
'Idiot...'
The monster lunged.
Liam sighed.
A slow, heavy sigh, as if each exhalation tore something from his chest.
"Always the same..."
He moved.
It wasn't a heroic leap or a dramatic cry.
Just a clean cut.
The monster's head fell to the ground before its body realized it was dead.
[You have killed a living being.]
The woman fell to her knees, clutching her abdomen.
Liam watched her for a second longer than necessary.
He saw no gratitude.
He saw terror.
He saw someone who still wanted to live.
"... Stand behind me."
It wasn't a firm command.
As if he already knew that saying that would bring him trouble.
The woman nodded desperately, clinging to his back as if it were the only solid thing in that hell.
He looked at the woman behind him.
"...Don't leave me."
No, not because he wanted to protect her.
But because he knew that if he died now, the weight would stick with him in the next regression.
And he was tired of carrying ghosts around with him.
A few moments later.
[Wave 1 complete!]
[Next wave in 10 minutes]
Shredded corpses littered the floor: torsos ripped open, limbs torn off, faces unrecognizable.
Blood formed rivers that flowed toward the drains, staining everything dark red. The air smelled like iron.
"… Ten-minute break."
"That's no time at all!"
[Damage to barricades]
North: 5%
South: 12%
East: 44%
West: 16%
Kael climbed down from his platform, carefully stepping over the bodies.
"You bastard! Why didn't you help defend the barricades? Do you know how many people could have been saved?"
He spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
He didn't even have to use his ability to incite them.
"That's right! Because of you, many of us have died."
"If it weren't for you, we would have the guardians to rely on for better support."
"You heartless son of a bitch! You should have died, not them!"
"Die! Die!"
Liam heard the cries growing louder and looked at the pregnant woman.
"Won't you join them? It seems they want to crucify me."
She shakes her head.
"No, you saved my life and my baby's life. Even if you're wrong, I'll stand by you."
"..."
Liam stared at her for a brief moment, his gaze determined.
"What's your name?"
"...Huh?"
The pregnant woman blinked, confused.
"My name is Myra."
He nods and says.
"Myra, do you want to live?"
She swallowed hard... and nodded.
"Yes!"
Liam looked up.
The crowd stared at him with a mixture of hatred, fear, and despair.
They were too noisy and energetic.
A slight, crooked smile appeared on his lips.
"Looks like they still have plenty of strength left."
[Wave 2 beginning!]