Awakening of the Calamity

Lucien finished observing the slaves as they dispersed in groups of two and some of three in different directions. They all had a somber and resigned expression.

With his red and cold eyes, he scanned the surroundings wprecisely and calmly

This patrolling suited him perfectly. It was not only an opportunity to familiarize himself with the place but also to make future plans. He knew that every detail observed would be crucial once he found a way to complete this Awakening Test.

The moon shone beautifully high in the sky, its whitish-gray-brown light filtering through the slowly moving clouds. The rays illuminated the ruined city, casting shadows on the rubble.

The cold night breeze crept into Lucien's body, who was only dressed in a few rags that provided no protection against the hostile climate.

While advancing carefully, Lucien climbed over the rubble blocking the streets. Every movement was calculated to avoid making noise. The air, heavy with humidity and decay, assaulted his senses.

All around him were destroyed houses and a deathly silence. There were no sounds, only the echo of his breathing, controlled and constant.

When he reached the top of the pile of rubble, Lucien stopped to get a better look at the street stretching out before him. In the distance, there was nothing but ruins and darkness.

However, he did not let his guard down. He knew that monsters could be hiding in any corner, anxiously waiting for the perfect moment to attack. With the same calm and care with which he had climbed, he began to descend.

He continued advancing through the shadows cast by the destroyed structures. After a while, Lucien came to a house that appeared to be in perfect condition. But he didn't go in immediately.

First, he carefully evaluated his surroundings, letting nothing escape his eyes.

'There seems to be no danger... but I can't be careless'.

After assessing his surroundings, Lucien entered the house. The interior was full of dust and cobwebs, there was no sign of life, no insects or pests such as cockroaches or rats. The woodwork was rotten.

In one of the rooms, there was a wardrobe with most of the clothes rotting due to the humidity and the passage of time. But there was one intact garment, it was a simple black tunic, and it was soft and warm to the touch. It was perfect for the hostile climate.

Lucien, with quick movements, took off the rags he was wearing and put on the black robe. Although it was a bit big on him, he didn't mind, as it provided the necessary warmth.

Finding nothing else useful, Lucien left the place and continued his patrol, while observing the rubble-filled streets and memorizing the places he passed.

The great wall of obsidian that surrounded the ruined city rose imposingly, casting long shadows over the streets full of rubble and broken statues. The wind whistled through the destroyed structures. The undergrowth grew between the cracks in the pavement, moving rhythmically.

In the middle of this desolate landscape, a seventeen-year-old boy advanced with a firm step. His hair, messy and slightly long, fell over his cold eyes. He wore a simple black tunic.

'I've been walking for twenty minutes and haven't come across any monsters. This area seems relatively safe... for now'.

However, in the distance, low, guttural growls could be heard, sounds that did not belong to any human. Lucien stopped walking.

"The safest thing is to assume that there are monsters behind that pile of rubble".

He concluded, looking at the blocked road.

He approached the pile of rubble blocking the road, his feet moving stealthily over the broken stones. He wanted to see what was on the other side before taking action. He wasn't the kind of person who took risks without a good reason.

If he could avoid the danger and let others do the dirty work, so much the better.

Upon reaching the top of the pile of rubble, Lucien frowned and narrowed his eyes, scanning the scene before him. In the street, two monsters prowled, their grotesque forms moving with disturbing fluidity.

The creatures were tall and thin, with pale, torn human skin that seemed to have been sewn to their bodies grotesquely. The skin hung in places, revealing twisted muscles and tendons beneath.

Their limbs were long and disproportionate, with fingers ending in sharp claws. Bony spines protruded from their necks, and the tissue of their bodies seemed to be alive, moving and contracting as if breathing.

Lucien watched in silence, his expression indifferent. There was no fear in his eyes, but they widened slightly in surprise.

There were not two Corrupt Creatures, yes, it was better to see in the shadows of the destroyed buildings there were more, and more continued to appear along the way. He had already counted more than twenty!

Lucien also noticed that, in one of the houses, there were three people, two women and a man, who were watching him making desperate gestures as if they were asking for help, but he ignored them.

'Reporting this and letting others do the dirty work seems like the best option. There's no need to risk my life... yet.'

Lucien turned on his heel with a fluid movement and began to descend from the pile of rubble, each step calculated so as not to make the slightest noise.

About the people who were taking refuge in one of the houses? They were not his problem. He didn't care if they lived or died; their survival had nothing to do with him.

Just then, a heart-rending scream broke the silence.

"Aaaaah!"

Lucien stopped dead in his tracks, but he didn't panic. His eyes immediately turned towards the house where the three people he had ignored were. There, his gaze met one of the women, who now had a sinister smile on her face.

Seeing that smile, he understood everything. He wasn't a victim; it was a trap. But there was no time to think about that.

A cold feeling ran down his spine, but it wasn't fear. It was the certainty that he had underestimated the situation.

'Stupid' he thought, as his muscles tensed in preparation. There was no time to regret it, only to act.

In a matter of seconds, all the Corrupted Creatures in the vicinity had fixed their attention on him.

Without hesitation, Lucien quickly fell from the pile of rubble and began to run at full speed, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the night.