A constant torrent of gunfire illuminated the gothic-inspired ironworks of the Arc Catholic Church. Every shot ignited the soldiers’ determined gazes in continuous triggers of red lightning, a flash and a spark, a pale corpse dropping and the barrel moved to the next. A smear of grubby green and gray and brown lined the high brick walls, discolored in the darkness until the storm of barrels splashed color upon them. Rattling the walls came lanky, decrepit things of gray, running on sticks, two chasms acting as eyes, clawing thin-as-thread fingers into the mortar, tearing gray with gray. Everything about their physiology determined it was impossible for them to be this nimble, to attain such strength in their bareness of flesh and muscles, but they did. They came in hordes, and lead made ribbons of them, and each kill came a horrid, human cry. Ghouls, as the System said, hailing from an unknown world, a cross between demons and zombies.

They appeared to possess some sort of demonic power: they acted mindlessly like zombies, stank like demons, feasted on humans like both. Althea witnessed their ruthlessness first-hand. The legs she saw, the skinny and gray legs seen through the basement window of Julius High School, it was them. It was them, and it was the same legs that invaded her school, and the same legs which flooded the basement. They had found the survivors. Principal Gotts and Miss Rosenberg had argued whether they should stay or leave again, frantic as the threat was right above their heads; before a decision was made, the ghouls chose on their behalf, and the door was broken.

They came. In the second before, where the basement was heavy with a haunting silence, they had heard the ghouls’ dragging shamblings growing and growing, trembled at every banging at the door, and it was at this time where death spoke whispers into every soul there, pleaded them to pick up any object, no matter how small or inane or useless, because outside that room, eleven thin steps up, was either salvation or death. They should’ve taken the former, but fear was stronger. It grasped their chests, forced their legs to the cold, cold ground, and watched as the gray-things entered. In the next moment, the misplaced few at the door were eaten alive, fingers digging into her muscles, their tendons, twisted every line of sinew into knots, and had sharp teeth ripping flesh from the neck, from the thighs and the sides, arms too, and they melted into the rotten mass. Miss Rosenberg was the bravest. She didn’t hesitate to push against the overwhelming, sprawling evil. She too disappeared screaming, but all knew what she said: Run. Push through. Find a way to escape. What could the others do, other than force their way to freedom?

It was an unorganized, selfish stampede of desperate survival. There was no hope for order; the previously built relationships between friends, between peers, between teachers and teachers, students and their tutors and mentors, sank. It was uncountable. Althea recognized half the people inside that basement, more than half even, and many were killed. Everyone had pushed against everyone, some were pushed directly into teeth. They climbed over each other, stepped on each other, made any desperate attempt to reach the singular door, and found further horrors. More ghouls waited for them outside. Some were special: larger, faster, spellcasters too, the whole works. Those who managed to survive the basement had won a lottery, and they had to win another. A majority did not survive. Althea herself was grabbed a few times; if it weren’t for her status as a Pseudo-Slayer, then she would have died there. Like the rest, she focused on the singular desire to live: to see the others again.

To see Alexander again, because he had promised he’d protect her. As if. Alexander was an asshole, a no-good jackass of a brother. Didn’t value himself as much as he should. Didn’t see himself as Leona saw him. The same guy who helped expose Oasis Guild, that was him. A complete idiot.

Althea wanted to see Leona again, so they could sit around and discuss the latest dramas and gush over the actors. They could tease Alexander about anything and everything, and Leona’d stay for the night, and it’d be just the three of them, together. Hell, she wanted to see Vernon again, that awkward bastard, always trying to buy her love. She wanted to punch him.

She missed Mom, who used to scold her for being lazy; she missed Dad, who constantly urged her to exercise. No, she had seen how Dad worked Alexander. Althea didn’t know how men could enjoy being so sweaty.

Here, Ordo offered her the opportunity for a normal life, no longer bound by what had happened in Hangzhou. It was difficult. At least she had Uncle Ali, who helped her heal. Though she was still going through the motions. In Julius High, she didn’t really consider any of her classmates as a “friend”—other than Vernon of course. Diana, well, she was in her English class and they happened to be seated next to each other. She was dumb but did her best anyway, sweet but too sweet—essentially, she was an ordinary girl. In the basement, Diana was right behind Althea until she wasn’t anymore.

It was then Althea knew Ordo was worse than Hangzhou. People she knew, loved, laughed with, they lived here. She was too familiar with grief and devastation, and that led to a fear she didn’t know she had: if everyone she loved was gone, what would happen to her?

What about Alexander? who was worse than she was? If he lost Leona, it’d kill him more than Hangzhou had.

“Althea…” said a man’s voice, Principal Gotts. Honestly, Althea thought he died in the escape as well; it was a shock to see him alive still. He must be shocked too. “Are you doing alright?“

“No,” she said. There was no reason to pretend she was. “Just twenty, maybe thirty minutes ago, we were running for our lives. I’m not fine, Principal Gotts. Not fucking fine at all.”

He nodded, chuckling in order to cope. His eyes were horribly red. “I’m not either. I should’ve sacrificed myself like Miss Rosenberg—no, I should’ve died. Children were killed, three of the most horrible words put together. Children were killed, and I am alive.”

Althea did not respond. She had no place to affirm or condemn his emotions. As the principal of Julius High, he felt the weight of every kid there.

They both continued the silence, listening to the soldiers outside continue their defense of Arc Catholic Church. They hadn’t called for an evacuation yet, but they were barking orders, sergeants and lieutenants calling for ammo, for reinforcements, to secure an exit-point. Sounded like the church might fall.

A soldier ran by, lugging multiple crates of ammunition in his hands, having his strapped rifle jitter with every unbalanced step. His helmet was not tightened all the way, so it wobbled, threatening to fall, but he continued, running towards his unit. How many more crates left until the soldiers run out?

An infant cried, echoing. The mother held her baby close to her breasts, whispered sweet things in their little ears, telling them it would be alright. Children, no older than elementary schoolers, clutched their parents and older siblings, burying their heads against them. They plugged their ears.

Althea considered herself to be a skeptical person—if Oasisgate had taught her anything. While she wanted to trust the military to defend their positions, sometimes things couldn’t work out. Like now, for example.

It was no good waiting here. She had waited once enough.

Althea stood.

“What’s wrong?” Principal Gotts asked. His eyes were puffy, but a glimmer was still there; he wanted to help somehow.

“Nothing,” she said, checking her [Inventory] to remind herself of what she had. After completing Stage 1 of Besieged Ordo, she had the rewards. They weren’t touched until now. “I’m gonna find my brother. I’m not gonna fuck ‘round and see what’s up.”

“It’s dangerous, maybe even suicidal, to go outside. You—!” stated Gotts before stopping. He saw the stubbornness in Althea’s eyes and wavered, looking away in resignation. “I… I don’t have any grounds to plead with you. I’m sorry. Are you sure this is the right decision?”

Althea took the [Steel Dagger], which was apart of the first Slayer Gift. “There’s no other decision to make, sir. Even if my dumbass of a brother is knee-deep in danger, I feel safest with him. With my sister too. They promised they’d be safe, and it’s my job to make sure they keep it. Otherwise I’m gonna kill them.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Althea. Be honest with me, please. It’s…” He shrugged, gesturing to the aesthetic around them. “It’s a sin to lie.”

She chuckled. “Can’t say I do, honestly. The Slayer System has a [Map] so it can guide me. Dunno if System Articles is the way or Ordo University is. Going anywhere is risky regardless but I’ll find a way.”

“Go to Ordo University then,” suggested Principal Gotts. “I’ve overheard some of the soldiers talking before, well, you know. They designated it as a priority site, so you might have an easier journey there. It’s where Vernon is, right?”

“Mhm. Knowing him, he’s trying to flirt with girls, or better yet, Death. I’ll consider going to OU then, thanks.”

“Doing whatever I can to help. It’s…” He surveyed the population, particularly the survivors from Julius High. “It’s best if I stay here. I’ll burden you anyway, but I belong here. I’ll be doing a lot of praying, Althea. For you, myself, all of Ordo. We may not see each other after this, but that’s alright. As long as you live, everything will be alright.”

“As long as you’re safe too. Everyone.” Althea glanced through the windows, spotting the soldiers tirelessly defending the walls. The ghouls were not letting up. “If I were you, prepare for an escape plan. Things can go horribly wrong fast.”

“I know,” said the principal, having a sad smile. They both had experienced it. “I’m sorry that all of you ended up in that basement. It turned out to be a coffin for most of us.”

Althea frowned, remembering Alexander’s words before the chaos happened. “No, it’s my fault. I suggested the idea to you—”

“No, a few of us had the same idea. It was a smart, practical solution. Don’t blame yourself for it; blame me for not doing anything to further guarantee our safety. But let’s not play this game, alright? Go, Althea. Go find your brother. You can find a way over the walls.”

Principal Gotts was completely sincere in his words, down from his uneasy stance traveling to his dark, quivering pupils that witnessed too much; he didn’t have the desire to see another child die, but all the same, he wasn’t strong enough to force Althea to stay. Just another man experiencing tragedy.

Ultimately, Althea wished him the best as well. No man deserved to die here. She shook Principal Gotts’s hand as one last farewell, for him and herself, to her normal life. “Be safe,” she said, and made for the back of the Arc Catholic Cathedral.

[Skill Activation]

She found the walls there, saw the soldiers defending them. When the horde of ghouls thinned, and a brief respite was to be found, Althea Shen ran at the bricks and leapt.

[Blur]

~

[Althea "Survivor of Hangzhou" Shen] STATISTICS Power F6 (+2) Constitution F7 (+3) Agility E3 (+2) Magick E4 (+2) F10 (E2) Pseudo-Slayer SURVIVOR OF HANGZHOU [A] - TITLE

Although a life of the ordinary was your lot, fate was not the kindest to your wishes. Through perilous odds, you have survived the Hangzhou Disaster.

While this title is active, increase your Constitution by 1 level.

If a similar disaster to Hangzhou occurs, increase all stats by 2 levels further until the event ends.

SKILLS: 5/5 Blur [C]

There is no gap too small for you to navigate through. No matter the distance or the number, you will find a way through, flawless. Increase your Agility by 3 levels for one hundred steps or thirty seconds have passed, whichever comes first.

You may use this ability once per ten minutes.

Charity [D]

What is yours, you give. Excluding buffs, you may distribute your own statistic points to give to others for five minutes; however, it comes at the cost of weakening yourself for that duration. The lowest a skill can go is F1. You may only give any one ally three levels at maximum for up to three allies.

You may use this ability once per week.

Feeble Channel - Lightning [D]

By the power of the lightning gods, let your weapon be blessed with the might of electricity.

Due to your inexperience with this skill, you need to exert a conscious effort to maintain the skill.

Magick Boost [E]

Enlighten yourself! Increase your Magick by 1 for fifteen seconds.

This skill has a thirty second cooldown.

Runecraft - Gravity [C]

Gravity be damned, so you say. Etch a Rune of Gravity into an object. Upon activation, Runes of Gravity can perform the following: Increase Gravitational Pull, Decrease Gravitational Pull.

The time required to etch is dependent on your purpose and the size of the rune. You may only have two Runes of Gravity at any given time.

HONOR: N/A