The Main Character Died and We’re the Only Ones Left

Safe at Last

Default Dyslexic Roboto Lora

POV: Arlo

(T) Nigel!

The same sense of gravity he felt when he faced Maksim returned, however, it definitely wasn as strong as Maksims was. The survivors all fell one by one until Arlo was the last one standing. Xavier desperately grabbed onto Arlos leg while struggling to breathe.

Arlo spun around as quickly as he could muster, materialized a dagger in his hand, and his right eye turned a brilliant purple.

(T) How? Did he follow us!?

Arlo bit his lip.

(T) I can feel the difference between us, but I can let these people die!

Nigel smiled, ”How adorable. ”

Nigel grabbed the knife in Arlos hands and crushed it into pieces. ”You must be a newbie. ”

A part of Arlos soul was crushed. He couldn put it into words, but it felt like he had just lost an integral part of himself as his blade fell apart.

Arlo grunted, ”Ill fight you with my fists if I hav- ”

Nigel placed his hand in a flicking position on Arlos chest and threw his index forward.

(T) Oh?

BAM!

Arlo screamed in pain as he was launched into the wall of the warehouse 5 meters away. After the taunting attack, Arlo could barely keep his eyes focused.

(T) Ok, well ** that. Time to beg.

The man from before raised his revolver from the ground and shot Nigel multiple times. However, each bullet bounced off of the monster like it was nothing.

”P-please. ” Arlo pleaded

Nigel smirked, ”Please? It looks like you came here to steal my kills. I have to hand it to you though. I wouldn have been able to get to these people if it weren for you. Don worry. In a way, you still killed them. ”

Nigel laughed and summoned a jet black blade. He charged for Arlo as time began to slow.

(T) Those that have been resuscitated say that death can be the longest moment of your life. I guess its better to close my eyes then. I don want to remember this if theres an afterlife.

As soon as he closed my eyes, a clanging sound was heard.

”Oh? Who are you? ” Nigel resounded.

Arlo opened his eyes immediately to see a…

(T) What?

The person in front of him had scales like a fish, deep black eyes, and razor sharp teeth. It was so far off from being called a different race, it was as if she were a different species altogether. Her stark white sword was caught in a parry against Nigels. Even though her figure was humanoid, her features were all aquatic. Still, her appearance was alluring.

”Im just following orders. ” The woman spoke with a childlike grin.

Her right eye lit up red, and in an instant, Nigel was decapitated.

As soon as she de-materialized her sword, she looked towards Arlo and her eye changed back to the deep black from before. Arlo forced himself to stand up and looked into her eyes. She stood there silently looking back at him. She exuded a calm demeanor and her features became all the more beautiful. Arlo remembered the trials that had combined sheep and human DNA to make an embryo. The poor thing didn last long, but it was still proven to be possible.

(T) Would she have the DNA of perhaps a dolphin?

Her demeanor changed in an instant and her razor sharp teeth appeared. She grabbed Arlos chin with brute strength and pulled his mouth to hers. When their lips met, her teeth sunk into Arlos mouth and drew blood.

(T) Fuck! It hurts!

Her nails raked down the side of his arm as she pulled him closer. Even her bristled tongue was painful in itself. The feeling of her soft skin starkly contrasted the numerous blade-like features her body carried.

She pulled back with a satisfied smirk and wiped the blood from her face.

”Hehe- ” She laughed with a maniacal gaze still locked onto Arlo.

(T) Shark! Definitely a Shark!

Arlos eyes jetted over to the survivors and saw a few jaws drop open.

(T) Don look at me like that! Im just as confused as you all!

”Once you finish the first 10 floors, you can find me. You better not keep me waiting okay? ” She said with a dark expression.

Arlo had so many questions to ask her but he could only urk out the most prominent one.

”W-why did you save me? ”

A furious expression appeared on the shark-like girls face, ”My names Rune. Thanks for asking, and ** me for saving you. ”

(T) Damn, I should have thanked her first.

Runes expression softened, ”I was told to. Normally, after you pass the 10th floor, you can return to Earths crust anymore. Well, unless you
e a favorite like me. ” She chuckled.

(T) Ive never seen someones emotions take so many U-turns.

Arlo began, ”Thank y- ”

”Ah! I gotta go, a storm will be created if I stay. I swear to god if Ark finds out about this! ” Rune said urgently, panic evident in her eyes. She scrambled around in a bag that she materialized until she pulled out a… bone?

(T) Storm? What? Ark? What? SLOW DOWN!

Before the survivors, a red portal manifested. It almost seemed like a hallucination since it was creating no wind or gravitational effect. As Rune walked towards the portal, she turned back to Arlo and smiled, ”I really like your eyes. They
e different. ” Her voice trailed off into a soft echo as she disappeared behind the portal.

(T) Ill make sure the D** 5 includes her

(AN: The D** is the standard classification of mental disorders in the US)

Arlo looked back to see all the high schoolers standing with wide eyes.

(T) When did they even stand up?

Arlo stuttered, ”I-Im not really sure what ha- ”

The man with the revolver, which was now on the ground, cut him off, ”I-its OK. We respect all sexualities. ” He said with a quick head nod.

Arlos face reddened immediately, ”Lets just go back to the shelter! ”

–

The walk back went by fast. Although it affected them less than others, signs of radiation sickness were still apparent in the survivors. Some of them looked to be struggling to even stay conscious. Arlos scanner started working again and to his happy surprise, they were no MAW troops within 10 kilometers. Xavier held onto Arlos hand tightly for the duration, as if everyone there would disappear if he let go. The walk back was mostly silent, and the talking that was done were mostly whispers.

(T) I had assumed that all these guys knew each other before. They don seem to know each other that well at all.

As he thought more about it. It was weird. Why didn they question him about his powers?

(T) Oh yeah. I nearly got sent to heaven with a flick. Probably not too impressive.

Xavier tugged at Arlos hand and whispered, ”Why do you look like you hurt? Is it the radiation? ”

(T) Its okay Xav, Its only my pride that hurts.

”Haha, it must be. ” Arlo tried his best smile.

As they continued walking, The man that held the revolver walked close to Arlo and began to whisper, ”My names Jeremiah. I wanted to wait until we got to the shelter to say this, but… thank you. Hazel and I have been leading this group of survivors for the past couple of days and as people began to- ”

Jeremiahs voice began to crack. ”I-its been hard. Im placing my trust in you so please. ”

He wasn able to verbalize all of his thoughts but Arlo understood without him saying it. The radiation sickness was having worse effects on him than everyone else. It looked like, even now, he was only half-present. Arlo definitely wasn going to backstab them but…

(T) Can I really protect them?

Arlos right eye lit up softly as he tried to materialize his dagger. He sighed in relief as the blade appeared in his hands. It was still damaged, but it seemed to somehow be repairing itself.

When they saw the hatch, mixed emotions began to churn in the survivors. Some cried, some laughed, and some remained silent in disbelief. Arlo let them all head inside, with Xavier being the first one and Arlo being the last so that he could reapply the leaves and pinestraw. After finishing the concealing layer, he entered into the hatch. As he entered, his retina lit up purple and a familiar screen appeared.

Time Remaining: 2 hours 42 minutes 38 seconds

___________________________

Mission Completed

Difficulty: D

Save 10 Humans within 6 hours

Rewards: ???

Allocating Rewards…

___________________________

(T) Thats weird. Allocating Rewards? I guess I have to wait.

As he proceeded down the ladder, he heard a large commotion coming from inside.

”You too!? Whats your strength? It must be high Jeremiah! You
e really strong! ”

”Oh! Aria, was it? Didn you say you did gymnastics? You
e Agility must be high! ”