The front door slammed open as I pushed it with my shoulder, Lily still clinging tightly to me.
The moment we stepped outside, the world… wasn't the same anymore.
It felt like stepping into a nightmare.
The quiet suburban street I had known my entire life was gone. In its place was chaos—houses damaged, cars overturned, and people running in every direction. Screams filled the air, overlapping into a constant, suffocating noise that made it hard to think.
And above it all—
Those things.
Massive creatures towered in the distance, their forms too large and distorted to fully comprehend. Some moved slowly, their weight shaking the ground with each step. Others skittered across rooftops with unnatural speed.
My breath caught in my throat.
"…What… is all this…?"
"Rael…" Lily's voice trembled against my chest.
"I know," I said quickly, tightening my hold on her. "Don't look. Just stay close to me."
But even as I said it, I couldn't stop looking.
Because this wasn't something you could ignore.
This was the end of everything we knew.
A sharp scream rang out nearby.
I turned instinctively.
A man was running down the street, panic written all over his face. Behind him, two small green figures chased after him—fast, relentless.
Goblins.
One of them leapt forward, swinging its crude weapon. The man stumbled, falling hard onto the ground. Before he could get back up, the second one was already on him.
I forced myself to look away.
"Come on," I muttered, my voice tight. "We have to move."
I ran.
Not toward anything specific—just away.
Away from the monsters.
Away from the screams.
Away from whatever this had become.
"Rael… where are we going?" Lily asked, her voice small and shaky.
"…Somewhere safe," I replied.
Even though I had no idea where that was.
We turned down a side street, one that was usually quiet. For a brief moment, it seemed empty.
Too empty.
My steps slowed.
Something felt wrong.
The air was… still.
Silent.
Then—
A sound.
A faint scraping noise.
From behind.
My body reacted instantly. I turned—
Too late.
A small figure lunged from the side, its movement sudden and violent.
"—!"
I twisted my body, barely managing to shield Lily as something struck my shoulder. Pain exploded through my arm, forcing a gasp out of me as I staggered back.
A goblin.
Up close, it was worse than before. Its skin was rough and uneven, its grin wide and unnatural. Its eyes locked onto me with a twisted excitement.
It had been waiting.
Hunting.
"Stay behind me," I said quickly, setting Lily down but keeping her close.
My arm throbbed where it had hit me.
I had nothing.
No weapon.
No plan.
Just fear.
The goblin stepped forward, dragging its crude blade along the ground, creating a harsh scraping sound that sent chills down my spine.
Think.
Think!
My eyes darted around desperately.
Anything.
Something.
A broken wooden plank lay nearby, probably from a damaged fence.
I grabbed it without hesitation.
It felt weak.
Fragile.
But it was something.
The goblin lunged.
I reacted on instinct, swinging the plank wildly. It connected with its side, knocking it slightly off balance. The impact sent a jolt through my arms, pain shooting up to my shoulder.
But it worked.
For a second.
The creature staggered, then straightened.
And smiled.
Wider.
"…That didn't work," I muttered under my breath.
It rushed me again, faster this time.
I tried to block but—
The plank snapped.
Clean.
Like it was nothing.
"—!"
Pain flared as something sharp grazed my side. I stumbled back, barely keeping my footing. My breathing grew heavier, uneven.
I couldn't win.
That realization hit harder than anything else.
I wasn't trained.
I wasn't strong.
I was just… normal.
"Rael!" Lily cried out behind me.
That voice—
It grounded me.
No.
I couldn't lose.
Not here.
Not in front of her.
I forced myself forward.
If I couldn't fight properly—
Then I'd fight desperately.
The goblin swung again.
I stepped in instead of back, grabbing its arm with my good hand. The impact hurt, but I ignored it, slamming my weight into it. We both fell to the ground, rolling across the dirt.
It screeched, thrashing violently.
Up close, it smelled awful.
Rotten.
I clenched my teeth and drove my fist into its face.
Once.
Twice.
Again—
Something sharp stabbed into my side.
My body froze.
The goblin's grin was right in front of me.
Its weapon… buried into me.
"…Ah…"
The strength drained from my body almost instantly.
My grip loosened.
The world tilted.
"Hehehehe...he...he," Seeing me in pain the goblin begin to laugh.
"Rael!!"
Then, Lily's scream echoed, distant and distorted.
The goblin pulled back, preparing to strike again.
I tried to move.
My body didn't respond.
So this is it…
The thought came quietly.
Strangely calm.
I turned my head slightly.
Lily stood a few steps away, frozen, tears streaming down her face.
"…Run…" I forced the word out.
Even if my voice barely reached her.
"Run…"
The goblin raised its weapon.
And in that moment—
I understood something.
This wasn't a nightmare.
This was reality now.
Cruel.
Unforgiving.
And I was too weak to survive in it.
The weapon came down.
Everything went dark.
[Ding!]
The Host has died.