Three days later…
Collins and James moved cautiously through the ruins of the city, every step measured, every breath heavy with wariness. Hunting monsters and mutated beasts had become routine, yet the results were painfully slow. Collins had only managed to reach Level 5, while James lagged behind at Level 3.
The progress gnawed at them. Every skirmish took energy, every kill demanded risk, and yet the growth was minimal. Worse still, both knew that the Djinns were unpredictable. If those beings decided to release stronger creatures at this stage, they would be little more than prey.
They walked a broken road that snaked toward the Oba's palace. Their pace wasn't sluggish, but neither was it fast. Both men understood that rushing headlong into danger was as fatal as moving too slow. Strength mattered more than distance now.
James kicked the corpse of a mutant hound he had just slain, its twisted body leaking black ichor onto the cracked asphalt. He wiped his crude blade on the tattered hem of his shirt, breathing heavily. "That's the fifth one in twenty minutes. Feels like the damn things are breeding in the gutters."
Collins didn't respond immediately. His fingers pressed to his temple, eyes narrowing as his mental map bloomed to life within his mind. Red dots spread across the glowing mental image like spilled blood on glass. When he zoomed in, his face darkened.
They were close to Alagbaka roundabout, but the entire area pulsed red. Too many signals to count.
"Damn," Collins muttered under his breath. "There are… hundreds."
James raised an eyebrow, already expecting bad news. "What is it this time?"
Collins exhaled sharply. "The roundabout's flooded. Monsters everywhere. Going straight through is suicide."
A humorless smirk tugged at James' lips. "Didn't I say Plan B was the safer bet? But no, Mr. Genius had to insist on Plan A."
Collins gave him a sideways glance. "Plan A is better. At least in theory. Clear paths, visibility, places to retreat. But I didn't account for that…" he jerked his chin toward the cluster of red dots on his invisible map. "It's a slaughter pit now."
Plan B was James' idea: cutting through the dense bush that skirted the city's edges. It offered cover, but it was crawling with mutated beasts, predators born from wild instincts rather than urban monstrosities. Worse, Collins' map could only show their approximate positions, not their exact behavior. Beasts in the wild were unpredictable, savage in ways city monsters weren't.
Collins hesitated, then clenched his jaw. "Fine. We go with Plan B. But stay sharp. If anything comes at us, don't hesitate."
James snorted. "When have I ever hesitated?"
They pushed into the thickets. The air grew damp and heavy, thick with the smell of rot, wet soil, and decay. Every step cracked twigs, every gust of wind rustled leaves, and both men felt eyes on them from the shadows.
Collins' map pulsed faintly in his head. Dozens of red blips flickered in and out of range, like predators circling unseen. His heartbeat quickened.
Then
A scream.
It cut through the silence like a knife, high-pitched, raw, desperate. Feminine.
Both men froze.
James' grip tightened on his blade. "Human?"
Collins' mental map flared. A faint blue dot blinked into existence, surrounded by a cluster of red. His throat tightened. Whoever it was, they had seconds left.
"Over there." Collins didn't wait. He bolted.
"Damn it, Collins!" James cursed, but followed close behind.
They crashed into a clearing, and the sight made even James falter.
A young woman was cornered against a fallen tree trunk. Her clothes were torn, her skin smeared with dirt and bruises. Her wide eyes brimmed with terror as she swung a broken branch wildly.
Three mutated ghouls prowled around her. Their humanoid forms were grotesque, spines jutting out like jagged thorns, claws dripping with venom, mouths stretching too wide, lined with needle-like teeth.
Each time she swung the branch, one hissed and darted close, only to retreat with mocking patience. She wouldn't last another minute.
Collins' voice tore through the clearing. "Over here!"
The ghouls' heads snapped toward him, glowing red eyes flaring.
James groaned. "You just love pulling death onto us, don't you?"
"Shut up and take the left!" Collins barked, his machete already sparking faint energy as he lunged.
The first ghoul shrieked, slashing downward. Collins sidestepped, blade arcing upward. Steel tore through its chest, spraying black blood across the dirt. The monster howled before collapsing.
The second ghoul darted at James. He met it head-on, blade clashing against claw. The impact cracked bone, but the ghoul retaliated, slashing across James' chest. Blood spurted, painting his shirt red.
James staggered, but his eyes burned with defiance. "Not… today!" With a roar, he shoved forward, plunging his blade straight into the ghoul's skull. It twitched, then fell limp.
The third ghoul hissed and broke past them, darting straight for the girl.
Collins' map pulsed as he anticipated the angle. He threw himself forward, ramming into the creature mid-leap. Claws raked across his side, hot pain blooming, but he ignored it. Snarling, he drove his blade upward into its neck. The ghoul convulsed, then collapsed in a heap.
Silence.
Collins panted, blood dripping from his side. James leaned heavily on his weapon, chest wound oozing.
The girl stared at them with wide, trembling eyes. Her lips parted, voice weak. "You… you saved me."
Collins shoved the corpse off and pushed to his feet, extending a hand. "Are you hurt?"
She hesitated before clutching his palm. Her hand was small, trembling, but her grip was firm enough to surprise him. "N-no… just… shaken."
James groaned, wiping blood from his face. "Great. Just what we needed. Another problem."
Collins ignored him, studying her. "Your name?"
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed. "Amara."
Her voice was soft, but her eyes held something that didn't match her frailty, a flicker of resolve beneath the fear.
Collins noticed. His frown deepened. She's not just some helpless survivor.
Before he could ask more, the bushes rustled violently. Collins' map surged with activity, dozens of red dots flaring into existence around them.
James' eyes widened. "Oh, for fu—" He raised his blade. "They're surrounding us."
Collins pulled Amara behind him, his voice sharp. "Stay close. James—protect her back. We're not losing anyone today."
Amara's lips pressed tight, her trembling slowing. There was something in her expression now.
The shadows stirred, glowing eyes emerging from the dark. Dozens of twisted forms crawled into the clearing.
The fight wasn't over. It was just beginning.