The first Mutated Human lunged.
Its twisted arms reached for Ryo, its hollow eyes filled with nothing but hunger.
Ryo didn't hesitate.
Slash!
His sword cut cleanly through its neck. The creature let out a gurgling shriek before collapsing.
But that was just the beginning.
More of them emerged from the ruins, their disjointed movements unnatural, like puppets held by invisible strings.
There were too many.
Kael moved like a storm, his blade slicing through the monsters with calculated precision.
Shiori dodged an incoming strike, twisting her body to drive her dagger into a creature's skull.
Haruto's bow twanged, an arrow piercing through a Mutated Human's forehead.
But the creatures didn't stop.
They kept coming.
Ryo gritted his teeth. "We can't fight all of them! We need to move!"
Kael nodded. "Then we break through."
Ryo's eyes darted around, searching for a way out.
Then he saw it—
An abandoned overpass, leading toward the city's subway entrance.
That was their only chance.
"Follow me!" he shouted, cutting through another enemy.
The group moved as one, slashing, dodging, and pushing forward.
Haruto fired another arrow but missed. A Mutated Human lunged at him—
"Haruto, move!" Shiori shouted.
But it was too late.
The creature's claws sank into his shoulder, blood splattering onto the ground.
Haruto screamed.
Ryo reacted instantly, his sword flashing.
Slice!
The Mutated Human's head rolled.
Shiori grabbed Haruto, supporting him as they ran.
"Can you still move?!" she asked, breathless.
Haruto groaned in pain but nodded. "I-I'll live."
Ryo turned to Kael. "We need to hurry. He won't last long if we stay here."
Kael didn't respond—he was already clearing a path.
The overpass was close.
Just a little more—
Then—
A deafening roar shook the air.
A massive shadow loomed over them.
Standing at the end of the overpass was something far worse than the Mutated Humans.
A Nightmare Beast.
Its hulking form was covered in jagged, black exoskeleton.
Its multiple eyes gleamed with a sinister intelligence.
And worst of all—
It was looking directly at them.
---
To Be Continued…