Chapter 22 – SHELTER AND SLEEPING PREDATOR

Selene led the group into the shelter, guiding them through a large, fortified tunnel entrance. The inside was bustling with life—makeshift tents and crude housing lined the streets, and survivors huddled together in small groups, whispering among themselves. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, gunpowder, and cooked food, a stark contrast to the blood-soaked wasteland they had just escaped from.

As they stepped deeper inside, a wave of exhaustion washed over them. The group had been running and fighting non-stop, and now, for the first time in a long while, they could breathe.

Selene turned to them and said, "I'll help you adapt to the atmosphere inside. Van will be treated immediately."

Several medics rushed to take Van away, checking his wounds and vital signs. He had suffered severe injuries during their escape, but at least now, he had a chance to recover.

Meanwhile, the shelter's administrators started sorting the newcomers. Those who had yet to awaken any talents were assigned to the outer tents, where they would help with labor or defense preparations. The awakeners, however, were taken to a separate area to have their abilities recorded.

Selene guided them toward a large central structure—a building reinforced with thick metal sheets, standing at the heart of the shelter. It was clearly the headquarters of the settlement, and people were constantly moving in and out.

As they approached, voices called out to them.

"Hey! Do you guys want to join our guild? We specialize in slaying monsters!"

"Hey, handsome! Hey, beauty! Join our guild—the Cavalry! We're the strongest here!"

More and more guild recruiters swarmed them, each trying to poach new awakeners into their ranks. The shelter was not just a safe haven—it was a battlefield of alliances, where strength determined one's status.

Selene chuckled at their confused expressions. "You should consider joining a guild," she said. "It will make your life easier here. They provide protection, supplies, and a place to belong."

Sophia frowned. "Are we going to fight immediately?"

Selene shook her head. "No, you have five hours to prepare. But be warned—this world is getting more dangerous by the second."

The group nodded solemnly. The Red Gates were appearing more frequently, and the creatures inside them were growing stronger. This shelter might be safe for now, but for how long?

Just as they were about to enter the main building, a desperate voice called out from the side.

"Miss Selene! Can you send a rescue team to save someone outside?"

Selene turned toward the voice. It was a young woman, her face filled with guilt and worry.

"Who is it? Where are they?" Selene asked cautiously. "If it's too far, we might not be able to help."

The girl hesitated before speaking. "His name is Maximus… and he's close to the Red Gate."

The moment she said his name, the entire group froze.

"Maximus?" Selene's eyes widened. "You mean the number one ranked in Dragon Country?"

Murmurs spread among the awakeners nearby. Everyone had heard of him—the one who stood at the peak of the rankings.

"Why is he near a Red Gate?" someone asked.

Sophia clenched her fists, her voice bitter as she recounted what had happened. "He bought us time. He stayed behind to hold off the monsters… so we could escape."

A heavy silence fell upon them. Some of the awakeners had a look of admiration, while others shook their heads in pity.

Selene sighed, a complicated expression on her face. "So, he sacrificed himself for you?"

There was a flicker of something in her eyes—admiration, perhaps, but also a hint of sadness.

"Unfortunately, we can't send a rescue team," Selene finally said. "Even if we gathered our strongest fighters, it would be suicide to enter the Red Gate's vicinity."

Sophia's heart sank. "So there's nothing we can do?"

Selene hesitated. "The only thing we can do is hope he's still alive."

She pulled up the Dragon Country Rankings, scanning for Maximus' name. His points were no longer visible, but his name remained on the list—a small sign that he was still breathing.

Sophia bit her lip, worry clouding her expression. "Maximus… you better not die on us."

With nothing more they could do, the group turned their focus on adapting to the shelter—joining guilds, gathering supplies, and preparing for the inevitable fights to come. The sun slowly set, casting an orange glow over the ruined city.

Thirty Minutes Away…

The remnants of buildings stood in ruins, debris scattered across the land. Cracks ran deep in the earth, as if an atomic explosion had erupted in this place. The destruction was unfathomable—cars crushed like tin cans, streets torn apart, entire blocks reduced to rubble.

At the center of the devastation, a lone figure lay motionless.

A man with long black hair, his chiseled face serene, as if he were merely sleeping. His body, adorned with perfectly defined muscles, seemed almost sculpted by gods. Yet, there was an unnatural pressure in the air around him—a deadly, suffocating aura that sent shivers down the spines of any creature nearby.

Monsters lurked in the shadows, drawn by the scent of blood. But the moment they stepped within a certain distance… they stopped.

Fear.

Even the most savage beasts instinctively retreated. Something deep in their primitive minds screamed danger. They knew—if they stepped any closer, they would be devoured.

A massive tier 2 mutated beast, its body covered in bone armor, crept toward the figure. Its red eyes glowed with hunger. But just as it reached the boundary of the aura… it froze.

Its legs trembled, its instincts shrieking in warning.

Even the mindless zombies that had wandered too close stopped in their tracks. They could feel it. The figure on the ground was not prey.

It was the predator.

Even boss-level monsters emerging from the small Red Dungeon Gates in the distance refused to approach. Their instincts told them the truth—this man was something far beyond them.

Yet, he remained still.

Sleeping.

His body was healing—his soul absorbing energy, his bloodline feasting on the remnants of power around him. His mana and stamina were recovering at a terrifying rate.

And then…

A faint twitch.

A breath.

The monsters shuddered, taking another step back.

He was still asleep—but soon, he would wake up.

And when he did…

The world would tremble.