Without wasting any more time, I crouched low, bulging my calves as the soles of my shoes dug into the cracked ground.
My trusted steel pipe remained clenched in my fist.
I took a deep breath.
–Leap.
I propelled into the air, jumping higher than I had ever done in my life.
In the air, my body felt light. Way too light. As if a heavyweight, previously strapped to my body, loosened.
The warm breeze blew against my face and my squinted eyes, causing my blond bangs to dangle over my forehead as I streamed through the air.
I had to scrunch my nose, though. The air carried that rather unpleasant smell of blood. And also rotten corpses. But mostly blood.
Thud!
I landed, crouching low with one hand on the ground for support.
My grin deepened.
This feels… really good.
Like my faulty body got replaced with a better one or something.
"Heh."
I stood upright and immediately began running toward the bridge.
My pace was quick. And the low sounds of my feet hitting against the cracked ground echoed, mixing with the cacophony of distant screams, screeches and blaring alarms.
I wondered what the sources of those blaring alarms were.
But I had no time to ponder it.
The beating of my heart was the only thing my mind could focus on as I hurriedly ran through the ruined street filled with fallen blocks, crumbling buildings, flattened cars, and corpses of both Rethons and humans alike.
My heart pulsed joyfully, dancing continuously within my chest.
What music did it dance to?
I honestly had no idea.
But the feeling was really pleasant. The way blood calmly circulated from my heart toward my entire body as I literally ran through a destroyed city.
A slight chuckle brushed my lips as my eyes remained focused ahead.
I slowly approached a heap of destroyed rocks that lay in the middle of the road like a perfect obstacle.
A broken plastic pipe stood strong from the middle of the rock, sprinkling out dirty water.
A scowl painted my face.
That's definitely shit water.
As I arrived a few inches away from the heap of rocks, I crouched. And leaped over the shit-water sprinkling debris.
Something liquid touched my blood-dried calves as I leaped.
Fuck no.
It was the shit water.
I groaned, forehead wrinkling as the frown on my face deepened.
There was no way I'd look down at the area where the water touched me.
That would've made me shed tears.
"Tch."
I landed on the ground.
"Fucking apocalypse."
Swallowing my pride — my non-existent pride — I continued my hurried sprint.
But still, I couldn't shake off the thought that,
I could have just run OVER the heap of rocks. I didn't have to jump!
Why the hell did you jump, Dustin?
"Shut up," I whispered, a reprimanding tone etched into my words. "No use crying over spilled milk."
As I uttered those words, my frown dissolved, and a small smile replaced it as my neck snapped, eyes capturing the sight of the bridge ahead.
Ah, yes.
Not much of a surprise.
The massive steel tower loomed, firmly planted underwater. And aboveground, on the wide, long road atop the bridge…
I mean, I should've figured. It's always like this in those apocalypse movies.
…A massive crowd of people marched and ran with panic carved into their every movement.
I halted instantaneously, driving the end of my steel pipe into the ground hard enough to spread a web-like pattern through the cracked asphalt.
Being stronger felt really amazing.
The poignant screams echoed incessantly. Screams of both children, women, and even men alike.
From the fairly far distance where I stood, with narrowed eyes, I viewed the hordes of panic-stricken people stampeding through the bridge with horror painted on their faces.
I cocked a brow.
Damn. I'm surprised. How the hell is that bridge holding up?
Although the bridge did quiver ever so slightly.
I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have noticed the slight quiver if my perception stat had been a point lower. Or two points lower as it was earlier...
With strained eyes, I gazed once more at the ongoing stampede on the bridge.
Hm?
Behind the slowly advancing crowd of panicking people, an innumerable number of shadowy figures ran, chasing after the people with feral speed.
Aren't those..?
Indeed, those black goo-dripping creatures.
My pupils shrank as my lips cracked, widening into a grotesque smirk.
"Rethons," I said, licking my lips.
Of course, I recognized them. I had spent time killing a shit load of them after all.
I thought they suddenly became extinct as I didn't see any single one on my way here.
I cracked my neck.
Oh well,
I uprooted my steel pipe from the asphalt, clenching it tightly.
More Exp.
I moved immediately, running toward the flock of Rethons, the smell of Exp trickling into my nose.
As I approached the entrance of the bridge, I halted immediately.
–Screech!!
Yup. That deafening screech.
"It's them, alright," I said.
Standing just a few inches away from the entrance of the bridge, I surveyed the numerous packs of Rethons that ran after the crowd with widened jaws, their every expression portraying the same predatory glee I had come to despise.
–HiHiHi…
They're having way too much fun. Gooey things are even laughing.
I placed the steel pipe on top of my shoulder as I stood with a relaxed posture, my other hand resting on my waist.
Meanwhile, the slow and unfortunate people who were behind the crowd screamed, looking backward frantically as they ran, tears and snot smearing their faces.
"I– it's close to me! Please, someone, help!"
"Shit! T–they're too fast! Move out of the way!"
I moved my waist slightly, cracking it. And ease spread throughout my body.
I jumped, streaming toward the packs of Rethons that came from every corner of the city, chasing the scent of these people who had also run from various parts of the city.
"Come to me, EXP!!!!!!" I screamed aloud, my voice bleeding and echoing as I ran.
Every Rethon halted immediately, all their necks turning toward me simultaneously as I ran towards them.
The mad smirk on my lips never faded. And as they all saw the smirk, they flinched and whimpered.
I began my assault, swinging my steel pipe wildly.