Noise bustled through the streets, overwhelming as people walked back and forth to the places they wanted to go. A normal day for a normal school morning.
"Alex, you okay? We need to go to the field since we have a P.E. class," Damian called to his friend, who was still sleeping on his desk.
"Ugh…" his friend groaned, finally moving from his previous position.
"Come on, get up. We need to move now," Damian urged. Alex absentmindedly nodded his head as he followed his friend's urging.
"Let's go!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
As the sun rose and filled the school with its warmth, the clock struck eight in the morning. In that moment, the ground began to shake—not because of an earthquake, but due to a roar that emerged from a crack in the sky.
Fissures spread like webs, massive cracks appearing as bottomless pits of darkness. Then, from within them, a pair of ruby eyes stared at the school building, as if it were a god that could decide the life and death of the students there.
Chaos immediately reigned as the monster that appeared from the sky landed on the roof of the building.
"Run!"
Someone shouted, and immediately the students rushed toward the school stairs.
A bloody event unfolded. As the school shook from the monster's presence, another horrifying event spread terror through the hearts of the children. A tremor rippled through the ground like a warning, halting everyone's movements. In seconds, the floor buckled, and dark, swirling portals tore open inside the school campus.
"Dead end!"
"Go to the fire exit!"
"Go the other way!"
"Not here! Move back, everyone!"
They panicked, having no room for escape. Even the entrance was already occupied by another portal. They no longer knew where to go, and with the giant monster gazing through the window, the pressure to escape rose through the roof.
"Fuck! Move! Now! There is something in there!"
From the rifts, dozens of eyes gazed out, filling the students with fear.
"Run!"
Creatures emerged straight out of the portals—beasts with twisted forms and grotesque features. They surged forth, their unnatural roars echoing through the hallway. Glass shattered as more rifts erupted from the floor.
"Damn it! Just where on earth are we supposed to go?" one of the students shouted, agitation clouding his judgment.
The monster was already right in front of them, and with no other path to take, all they could do was wait for their death.
At that moment, when all hope was gone, time seemed to stop as light struck the group of students.
"What's going on?"
"What is this?!"
Confusion filled them as the light surrounding their bodies transformed into rectangular objects.
"Are these cards?"
"What are we supposed to do with these?"
As if answering their questions, something suddenly appeared in front of them—a rectangular screen with words written inside it.
[Welcome, Players!]
The message filled everyone with confusion.
[Do you want to survive? Then please choose a card that will grant you an occupation that might be able to save you!]
[Every card has the power to protect you; however, you must choose wisely. Pick the occupation you think will save you from this event.]
[Think well, Players!]
[Thirty seconds before the cards disappear…]
The students were thrown into a different kind of chaos. Now, they had to put their doubts aside and choose an occupational card. If the words were true, then their only chance of survival was to pick the best occupation available.
Three seconds passed, and one by one, cards began to disappear. As the options dwindled, more students panicked as the most ideal occupations were taken.
"Damn it! That was supposed to be mine!"
"Shut up! I got it first!"
[Time's up!]
A ding rang inside their heads, followed by another notification.
[Congratulations! You have chosen your occupation!]
[Use it wisely, and please stay alive!]
The light finally ceased, and the children were returned to their grim reality—sandwiched between a horde of monsters and the giant one looming outside the window.
They were trapped, but unlike before, they now had the courage to survive. They had been given a chance—a choice—to stay alive in this world-ending situation.
"Fireball!" one of the students cried.
Immediately, a ball of flames formed in front of him. The temperature rose as it shot forward, burning the rampaging beasts away.
"Nice!"
"Now! Strike at will!"
In that moment, they made a choice—to carve a path to safety rather than fight a giant monster they knew they had no chance of surviving.
All sorts of attacks were unleashed at the front, while those at the back tried to read the movements of the giant monster outside the window.
Alex and Damian were among them.
"Does anyone have a defensive skill or something that can momentarily blind this thing?" Damian asked in a hushed tone, afraid his voice might agitate the predator outside.
"I have a skill called Illusionist. It can create mirror doubles of a target, but I can only do it for one person," Nadya said nervously, feeling useless.
"It's okay. We just have to trust the people at the front," Alex said, trying to sound confident as he consoled his classmate.
The students at the back locked eyes with the beast in a silent standoff. Dread filled them, yet none dared to look away.
Finally, after seconds that felt like eternity, a voice from the front gave the call they were waiting for.
"Everyone, follow me!"
The cluster of students moved as one, escaping the rampaging jaws of death.
Those in front dragged the ones behind them. Even when called to move, some couldn't tear their eyes away from the monster.
"Gwen, which place did you say was safe?" Asher asked as he led everyone toward the fire exit—the only route with fewer monsters.
"The canteen," Gwen replied. "My map skill marked it as a safe zone. I didn't see any signs of monsters inside."
"Good. Let's go there."
Asher led them forward until a shout from behind filled them with terror.
"It's moving!" Alex shouted.
Damian and the others immediately activated their skills, forming shields around them.
"Run faster!" Alex yelled, keeping his eyes locked on the source of their fear.
Fear washed over the children, making them feel hopeless—but that fear also became their driving force to survive.
Alex and Damian remained at the back, eyes wide as they stared at the colossal monster tearing into the side of the school building. Red, iron-like scales glistened as its snake-like face glared down at them.
"Pres!" Alex shouted, gaining their class president's attention.
"What now?!" Asher yelled while running toward the fire exit.
"It's opening its mouth—something's coming!" Alex warned.
"Damn it!" someone shouted in frustration as they rushed up the steps.
"Everyone, put your heads down!" Alex yelled.
Without hesitation, they obeyed.
"What the hell is going on?!" George cried, hopelessness creeping into his voice.
His complaint was cut short as a violent gust of wind slammed into them. Something massive passed overhead. When they looked up, the ceiling was gone—the upper part of the building had been torn away by the monster's enormous claws.
"Move, now!" Alex shouted.
They sprinted up the steps, racing toward the canteen.
"I need everyone with offensive skills at the front! If you have support or fighter-type skills, assist them!" Asher commanded, knowing another horde awaited beyond the fire exit.
"We just need to get past this", he thought, forcing his trembling legs to move.
"Then we'll be safe"