Chapter 14: Desperate To Kill or To Survive
The tension was palpable as more than half of the students managed to cross to the other side of the clearing, moving slowly and cautiously, just as Harry had instructed.
The rest were still struggling, eyes wide with terror, their movements jerky and hesitant. The ground was eerily silent, save for the occasional groan of a branch and the whispers that persisted in the back of their minds, threatening to drive them mad.
Suddenly, a terrified scream pierced the air.
"Look out!" a girl shouted, her voice trembling with fear. Two students, who had broken into a panicked sprint, barely avoided being pulled underground by the monstrous maws that shot up from the earth beneath them. Their rapid, frantic movements had almost cost them their lives.
"Stay calm! Move slowly!" Mr. Avery yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos. The students who had narrowly escaped death were visibly shaken, but they slowed their movements, their faces pale as they continued their cautious approach toward the base.
Just as the students started to regroup, the situation became dire. The Endwalkers, dark figures that seemed to suck the light from the surrounding area, were closing in from behind. Their ominous presence sent shivers down the spines of those who dared to glance back.
To make matters worse, a fresh wave of Forest Gremlins emerged from the shadows of the trees, their grotesque forms scrambling over each other as they advanced. Their shrill cries filled the air, and their sheer numbers made it clear they were ready for a brutal assault.
"Here they come!" Mr. Thompson shouted, gripping a thick tree branch in his hands, his knuckles white from the strain. "Get ready, everyone!"
Harry, heart pounding, quickly snatched up a branch of his own, its rough texture digging into his palms. He glanced at the remaining students, many of whom were now frozen in fear. "Everyone who can still move, get to the base! The rest of us will hold them off!"
The male teachers and the stronger boys, including Harry, formed a makeshift line, their eyes fixed on the advancing Gremlins. The air was thick with tension and the putrid stench of the monsters. They couldn't let them get to the others, not now when they were so close to safety.
"Stay together! Use the branches or whatever useful there is!" Mr. Avery barked, swinging his makeshift weapon at the first Gremlin to come within range. The creature screeched as the branch connected, sending it sprawling to the ground.
Harry didn't have time to think. His body moved on instinct as he swung his branch at the nearest Gremlin, knocking it back before bringing the weapon down again, hard. The creature's skull cracked under the blow, and it collapsed in a heap. Harry didn't stop, quickly shifting to face the next attacker.
The battle was chaotic and brutal. The Gremlins were fast and agile, but the boys and teachers fought with a ferocity born of desperation. Every swing, every hit, was driven by the need to survive. Harry managed to kill four Gremlins, his branch smashing into their bodies with enough force to send them sprawling. He was breathing heavily, his muscles aching, but he refused to give up. The others needed him.
Beside him, Mr. Thompson was a whirlwind of motion, his branch swinging in wide arcs as he cut down Gremlin after Gremlin. His face was set in a grim mask of determination, and he didn't pause for a moment, even as the bodies began to pile up around him.
"Keep it up! If you stop you die!" Mr. Thompson shouted, though his voice was strained from exertion.
Despite their efforts, the Gremlins continued to press forward, their numbers seemingly endless. The students who had made it across were screaming encouragement, but it was clear that not everyone would make it.
Harry grunted as he swung his branch at another Gremlin, sending it crashing into the dirt.
He barely had time to register his fifth kill before a strange sensation washed over him. A sudden slight warmth spread through his body, and he felt a surge of strength, his muscles tightening as if they had been renewed. A small, glowing window appeared in the corner of his vision.
[You have received 1 AP for defeating more than 5 Forest Gremlins.]
[Your strength has increased by 1.]
Harry's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't have time to process what had just happened. He could feel the difference—the small newfound strength coursing through his veins, giving him a burst of energy.
He now also understood why Mr. Thomspon seemed to have endured this despite his injury. He must have received more rewards than him.
Meanwhile, Mr. Greene, the history teacher, was struggling. A Gremlin had clawed his leg, tearing through his pants and leaving a deep gash. He stumbled, barely able to stay on his feet. Three of the stronger boys were also down, sporting various injuries that left them unable to continue fighting.
"Greene, you and the others fall back!" Mr. Thompson ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Get to the base with the rest! We'll hold them off!"
Mr. Greene nodded, gritting his teeth against the pain. With the help of a few students, he and the injured boys managed to make their way toward the base, moving as quickly as they could without drawing the attention of the underground monsters.
But then, just as it seemed like they might have a chance, the ground began to tremble.
The Endwalkers, dark and menacing, were closing in. They were mere meters away now, their massive hands swinging through the air, destroying trees and anything else in their path. The sheer power of their movements was terrifying, and the ground shook with each step they took.
Harry felt his heart rate spike, adrenaline flooding his system. He glanced at the Endwalkers, their presence a constant reminder of the danger they were in. "So that's why their names were in red..." he muttered, feeling a cold sweat break out on his forehead.
The situation was becoming more dire by the second. The Endwalkers were getting closer, their path of destruction evident as they bulldozed through the forest. The few remaining fighters gritted their teeth, knowing they had to hold the line just a little longer.
But to make matters worse, the gremlins continued attacking as if they knew if the humans managed to reach the base, they wouldn't be able to hunt them.
Both sides were desperate.
One to kill...
One to survive.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone