Chapter 9: The Run for Survival

The world was falling apart. More bombs were dropping, and Zhang Wei knew he couldn't stay still. Every corner of the city was being obliterated by the relentless barrage from above. Explosions ripped through the air, their shockwaves throwing debris in all directions. The sky was lit up with fire, and the ground trembled beneath his feet. He had no choice but to run.Zhang dashed forward, adrenaline surging through his veins. His only thought was survival—he had to find the tunnel, the underground passage that might be his last chance to escape the chaos. But it wasn't just the bombs he had to worry about. The monsters were everywhere, their grotesque forms moving through the ruins like predators hunting their prey. The demons—some as tall as skyscrapers—marched through the destruction, their massive feet crushing buildings as they walked.A low growl filled the air, and Zhang glanced over his shoulder. A creature, all claws and teeth, was gaining on him, its glowing eyes locked on his back. Zhang cursed under his breath, pushing his legs to move faster. He could feel the heat of the explosions behind him, the shockwaves pushing him forward, but the monster was still closing in.A building ahead of him shook, its structure weakened by the relentless assault. Without thinking, Zhang leaped through a shattered window, glass slicing through his clothes as he crashed inside. The creature behind him roared in frustration, its huge body unable to follow. But Zhang didn't stop. He scrambled to his feet and ran through the crumbling halls of the building.Another explosion shook the ground, and the ceiling above began to collapse. Zhang didn't have time to think—he sprinted forward, dodging falling debris, his body moving on pure instinct. A chunk of concrete smashed to the ground inches behind him, sending dust and rubble flying. He threw himself to the floor, sliding across the shattered tiles as the entire structure came crashing down behind him.His heart pounded in his chest as he crawled through a gap in the rubble, emerging into the open streets once again. The world around him was a war zone—planes flew overhead, unleashing their payloads of bombs, missiles, and bullets on the creatures below. The air was filled with the sounds of destruction—the screech of monsters, the deafening roar of explosions, the crumble of collapsing buildings.Zhang didn't stop. He couldn't stop. He ran through the streets, dodging debris and navigating the chaos as the world around him was torn apart. A shadow loomed above him, and he looked up just in time to see a massive demon, towering above the ruins. Its skin was dark, thick as armor, and its eyes burned with hatred. With every step, it crushed buildings beneath its feet, sending shockwaves through the ground.Zhang didn't wait to see what it would do next. He sprinted down an alleyway, jumping over a pile of debris, his body moving faster than it ever had. Behind him, the demon roared, its colossal arm swinging down and smashing the street, sending cars flying like toys.He dived through the broken window of another building, glass crunching beneath his boots as he hit the floor and rolled. The creature's massive hand reached in after him, tearing through walls and dragging rubble with it. But Zhang was already gone, crawling through the twisted remains of the building, his heart hammering in his chest.He emerged out the other side, gasping for breath. The city was barely recognizable now—fires burned in every direction, and the once-tall skyscrapers were now reduced to piles of rubble. But there was no time to rest. He needed to keep moving.He spotted the entrance to the subway tunnel in the distance. That was his way out, his only chance to escape the nightmare. He broke into a sprint, pushing through the pain and exhaustion as the ground shook beneath him. A massive explosion rocked the street ahead, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Buildings collapsed all around him, walls crumbling and debris raining down like meteors.Monsters chased him, their screams echoing through the destruction. He could hear them dying under collapsing buildings, their bodies crushed by falling debris. Some were impaled on jagged metal, others trapped under the weight of the ruins. But even in their death throes, more took their place, hunting him with a relentless hunger.Zhang leaped through another smashed window, the impact jarring his bones. He rolled to his feet and kept moving, sprinting through the building as the walls caved in around him. He could feel the heat of the fires outside, the roar of explosions, and the distant screams of the dying.The tunnel was close. He could see it—just a few more blocks. But the street between him and safety was filled with debris, with monsters, with chaos. He had no choice. He had to keep going.He smashed through another door, his body crashing into the open air as he sprinted across the street. A demon's arm came down from above, smashing the ground where he had been moments before. He slid under a pile of rubble, rolling to his feet and sprinting forward again, his lungs burning with the effort.The tunnel was right there. Just a few more steps.An explosion ripped through the air, and Zhang dove to the ground as a wall of fire erupted behind him. He felt the heat sear his skin, but he kept moving, crawling through the debris, his body trembling with exhaustion. He reached the entrance to the tunnel, pulling himself up and throwing his body inside.For a moment, the world was quiet. The tunnel stretched out before him, dark and foreboding, but it was safe. For now.Zhang collapsed against the wall, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. The sound of bombs, the roar of monsters, the destruction above—it all seemed distant now. But he knew it wasn't over.It was only the beginning.