The quiet after the battle was deafening, but it was short-lived. Viktor stood over the remains of the low orc, his chest rising and falling as the system's notification faded from view. The cold, calculated tone of the message felt almost mocking in the face of the carnage. He glanced at the others. They were alive, but their exhaustion was evident.
Brian stared at the distance where Arya had fallen, his lips pressed into a thin line. Lydia whispered soft words to the trembling girl, her hands glowing faintly as she soothed a shallow cut on the child's arm. Viktor didn't have time to process their emotions; the roar in the distance that broke their short-lived silence reminded him of the larger threat still looming.
"We can't stay here," Viktor said, his voice firm. "That was just one. There are more out there, and we don't know how many."
Brian nodded, though his gaze lingered on the darkness from where Arya's body laid. "You're right," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But we can't keep running aimlessly. We need a plan."
Lydia looked up, her face pale but resolute. "There's a safe house nearby," she said. "It's not much, but it's fortified and stocked with supplies. We can regroup there, figure out our next move."
"Lead the way," Viktor said without hesitation, his muscles aching from the recent fight, and gestured for the group to follow Lydia.
The little girl clung tightly to Lydia's side, her small hands gripping the healer's tattered cloak. "What's your name?" Viktor asked gently, his voice softening for the first time since the chaos began.
"E- Elina," the girl stammered, her eyes wide with fear.
"Stay close, Elina," Viktor said, offering her a reassuring nod. "We'll keep you safe."
As they moved through the winding streets of Verdantra, the city seemed to close in around them. The buildings loomed like silent sentinels, Every sound, the crunch of their boots on gravel, the distant echo of roars, the faint rustle of leaves, felt magnified in the stillness.
Lydia them through a narrow alley that opened into a small courtyard. At the center stood an unassuming building, its windows barred, and its door reinforced with steel plating. She approached quickly, pulling a key from a hidden pocket and unlocking the heavy door.
"Inside," she urged, holding the door open as the group filed in. Viktor was the last to enter, his eyes scanning the street one final time before he pulled the door shut behind him.
The interior of the safe house was sparse but functional. Crates of supplies lined the walls, and a few cots were scattered across the floor. A faint glow emanated from a small crystal embedded in the ceiling, casting the room in a soft light.
"We'll rest here for a bit," Lydia said, sinking onto one of the cots. She pulled Elina close, wrapping a blanket around the girl's shoulders. "It's not safe to move until we've had a chance to recover."
Brian sat heavily on a crate, his head in his hands. Viktor leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, as he surveyed the room. "What's the status of your abilities?" he asked, his voice all business.
"I'm low on mana," Brian admitted. "That last freeze spell drained me more than I expected."
"I'm fine," said Lydia. "I've got enough left for a few more heals, but I'll need to conserve it."
Viktor nodded, his mind already calculating their odds. "We'll need to move soon," he said. "The longer we stay in one place, the more likely it is that something finds us."
As if on cue, a faint scratching noise echoed from the door. Everyone froze, their breaths catching in their throats. Viktor signaled for silence, drawing his blade as he moved toward the door. The scratching grew louder, more insistent.
"Stay back," he whispered to the others. He positioned himself beside the door, his muscles tensed.
The scratching stopped abruptly, replaced by a deep, guttural growl. Viktor tightened his grip on his weapon. The door shook as something heavy slammed against it, the reinforced steel groaning under the impact.
"It's found us," Brian said, his voice trembling.
Viktor's mind raced. They couldn't afford another direct confrontation, not in their current state. "Is there another way out?" he asked Lydia.
She shook her head. "The safe house was designed to keep things out, not to provide an escape route."
The door buckled under another heavy strike, and Viktor knew they had seconds before it gave way. "Brian, can you do anything to slow it down?"
The mage nodded, his hands glowing faintly as he summoned the last of his mana. "I'll freeze the door," he said. "But it won't hold for long."
"Do it," Viktor ordered.
Brian raised his hands, and a thin layer of ice spread across the door, reinforcing the metal with a shimmering barrier. The growling outside intensified as the creature slammed against the door again, but this time, the ice held.
"It's buying us time," Brian said, his voice strained. "But I'm tapped out now."
Viktor nodded grimly. "We need to fight smart," he said. "Lydia, keep Elina safe. Brian, you're on support. I'll handle the front line."
The door shattered under a final, massive blow, the ice exploding into shards as a hulking figure burst into the room. It was another high orc, its crimson eyes glowing with malice. It let out a deafening roar, its massive axe gleaming in the dim light.
Viktor charged forward, meeting the orc head-on. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying as steel met steel. The orc's strength was overwhelming, each strike sending vibrations up Viktor's arms. He gritted his teeth, using every ounce of his skill to deflect the creature's brutal attacks.
Brian, though exhausted, managed to conjure small bursts of fire, aiming for the orc's exposed flanks. The flames distracted the creature just enough for Viktor to land a precise strike, his blade slicing across its arm.
Lydia stayed back, her hands glowing as she prepared to heal any injuries. Elina clung to her, her wide eyes fixed on the battle.
The fight was brutal and relentless. Viktor's movements were a blur as he danced around the orc, exploiting every opening he could find. But the creature was resilient, its wounds only fueling its rage.
Finally, with a desperate lunge, Viktor drove his blade deep into the orc's chest. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body dissolving into ash.
The room fell silent once more, save for the ragged breaths of the survivors. Viktor leaned against the wall, his sword slipping from his grasp as exhaustion overtook him.
The system chimed, its emotionless voice cutting through the quiet:
[You have slain a high orc.]
[Reward: Experience points gained. Skill proficiency increased.]
Viktor ignored the notification, his focus on the others. "Is everyone okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Lydia nodded, though her hands were still trembling. "We're alive," she said. "That's all that matters."
Brian managed a weak smile. "Barely," he said. "But yeah, we're okay."
Elina hugged Lydia tightly, her small frame shaking with silent sobs. Viktor knelt beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're brave," he said softly. "We couldn't have done this without you."
The girl looked up at him, her tear-streaked face breaking into a faint smile. "Thank you," she whispered.
Viktor stood, his resolve hardening. They had survived this battle, but the apocalypse was far from over. There would be more creatures, more challenges, and more losses. But for now, they had each other. And as long as they had that, there was hope.
"We rest," Viktor said, his voice firm. "But only for a moment. Then we move. Together."