Trials in the Storm

The rain poured down as they moved through the ruined city. The streets were littered with rubble, burning vehicles, and rotting corpses. Faint growls could be heard from the dark alleys, a sign that danger was always lurking.

Aruna walked in front, her steps steady without the slightest hesitation. A cold aura surrounded her, turning the rain that fell around her into ice pellets.

Nadia approached Raka and whispered, "Are you sure we can trust her?"

Raka kept his eyes forward. "She saved us. That's enough for now."

Nadia snickered softly. "I don't like strangers who suddenly appear and act like they're leaders."

Bayu chuckled. "I don't mind as long as she can kill those monsters."

Vina who was walking behind added, "And you didn't feel anything? That woman… was too calm. As if she had long been used to this world."

Raka nodded. There was indeed something different about Aruna. Not only her strength, but also the way she faced this crumbling world.

Suddenly, Aruna stopped.

"Shut up."

Everyone immediately held their breath.

From a distance, there was a heavy rumbling sound—like something big was moving.

They pulled over, hiding behind a collapsed building. From a gap in the wall, Raka saw something that made his blood run cold.

A giant almost five meters tall was walking slowly in the middle of the road.

Its skin was gray with rotting flesh, but large muscles were clearly visible underneath. Its head was covered in sharp spikes, and every step it took shattered the asphalt beneath it.

Vina swallowed. "What the hell is that…"

Aruna spoke softly. "Mutated Titan. If we attract its attention, we're dead."

They all held their breath, hoping the creature wouldn't notice them.

However, the wind suddenly changed direction.

Raka watched in horror as the Mutated Titan stopped, then lifted its head, sniffing the air.

And then, it turned directly toward them.

"RUN!" Aruna shouted.

Without thinking, they all ran into a narrow alley, hoping to escape before the creature caught up.

BOOM!

The wall behind them shattered into pieces, and the Mutated Titan roared with a sound that echoed throughout the city.

Raka ran as fast as he could, but he knew they couldn't beat the creature's speed.

"This is crazy!" Bayu shouted. "How can we escape from—"

Before he could finish his sentence, ice began to appear on the street.

Aruna raised both of her hands, and in an instant, a giant ice wall formed behind them, blocking the Mutated Titan.

BOOM!

The creature slammed into the ice wall with incredible force, but the wall held—at least for a few seconds.

"This won't hold it for long," Aruna said. "Follow me!"

They ran into a tall building that was still standing. Aruna led them up to the top floor via the emergency stairs.

Once on the roof, Raka saw a collapsed bridge connecting to another building next to it.

"Jump!" Aruna gave the order.

"Seriously?!" Nadia stared at him in disbelief.

Aruna didn't answer. She just ran, then jumped lightly across, landing perfectly on the roof of another building.

Raka took a deep breath, then followed without hesitation.

One by one, they all managed to jump. As Bayu became the last, the Mutation Titan finally destroyed the ice wall below.

The creature roared and tried to reach them—but it was too late. They were all already in a safe place.

From a distance, the creature could only growl angrily, before finally turning around and disappearing amidst the ruins.

Raka caught his breath, then turned to Aruna.

"…You saved us again."

Aruna just stared at him for a moment before saying, "You're still too slow."

Nadia snorted, but said nothing.

Aruna turned around, staring at the horizon that was starting to turn red as the sun set.

"You have to get stronger… because this is just the beginning."