Smoke drifted through the open stairwell as Kael led the group downward. The building groaned under its own weight, concrete cracking in distant sections as fires spread unchecked across multiple floors. Every few steps, debris rained down from above, forcing them to pause and listen for signs of structural collapse.
They moved quickly, but not recklessly.
Kael stayed near the front, scanning corners and broken corridors before advancing. The Shadow Step trait did not make him invisible, yet it allowed him to move with a softness that felt unnatural compared to the heavy echoing footsteps of the others. That small advantage already proved useful in this new world.
When they finally exited the tower, the scale of destruction became impossible to ignore, The street was unrecognizable.
Cars lay overturned, some burning quietly, others crushed beneath collapsed streetlights and fallen signage. Glass covered the pavement like glittering sand. Farther down the avenue, several buildings leaned at dangerous angles, their upper floors partially collapsed.
The dragon silhouette was gone from the immediate sky, but its presence still lingered in the form of swirling cloud patterns and faint tremors rolling across the city.
Kael did not slow. He guided the group through narrow side streets, avoiding open intersections where larger creatures were more likely to roam. Twice they were forced to hide behind abandoned delivery trucks as mutated beasts passed nearby, their distorted forms moving with unsettling purpose.
The man with the fire bloodline struggled to keep up. His breathing was uneven, sweat soaking through his uniform. Kael slowed slightly, adjusting their pace without drawing attention to it.
After nearly forty minutes of movement, they reached the harbor district.
The ocean stretched out beyond the broken docks, dark and restless. Waves slammed against damaged piers, sending spray into the air. Several cargo ships burned offshore, their hulls glowing faintly in the distance.
Near the edge of the port stood a reinforced concrete structure half buried beneath collapsed containers and debris. It was one of the old emergency shelters built years ago and later abandoned when funding disappeared.
Kael approached the sealed entrance and examined the door mechanism.
The Codex reacted faintly.
Structure Integrity: StableInternal Oxygen Levels: AcceptableThreat Presence: Low
Good enough.Using the remaining manual override system, Kael and the officers forced the heavy door open. Rust protested loudly before the mechanism finally gave way. Cool air spilled out from the interior corridor.
They moved inside and sealed the entrance behind them as best they could, stacking metal crates and debris to block direct access.
Only then did Kael allow himself to relax slightly.
The shelter was dim but intact. Emergency lighting still functioned on backup power. Several storage rooms lined the central hallway, along with old medical stations and water reserves.
The group spread out cautiously, checking corners and scanning rooms.
When no immediate threats appeared, the tension finally eased.
One of the officers sat down heavily against the wall, rubbing his face with trembling hands. Another leaned against a support beam, staring blankly at the floor.
The man with the fire bloodline lowered himself onto a crate, staring at his palms as faint heat shimmered above his skin.
Kael stood near the entrance and closed his eyes briefly.
The Codex pulsed again.
Temporary Safe Zone EstablishedSurvivor Group Stability: LowLeadership Opportunity Detected
He ignored the last line.
Leadership was not something he planned to chase. Survival came first.
Still, he turned back toward the group and spoke calmly, keeping his voice steady and controlled.
They needed structure.
He instructed one person to inventory supplies. Another was sent to inspect the secondary exits. The injured officer was directed toward the medical station for basic treatment.
Nobody argued.
Fear made people cooperative, at least in the early hours.
While the group worked, Kael examined his own condition. The Stone Skin enhancement still felt faint but present, like a thin layer of armor beneath his skin. The Shadow trait continued to sharpen his awareness in dim environments.
Useful, but far from enough.
The world outside was escalating too fast.
Suddenly, the shelters internal radio system crackled to life.
Emergency broadcasts, Fragments of information filtered through.
Cities collapsing across multiple continents. Creatures appearing in coastal regions. Military responses failing to contain large-scale outbreaks. Communication satellites experiencing interference.
Kael listened quietly ,This was not localized chaos. It was global collapse.
The man with the fire bloodline looked up slowly. His voice was quieter now, stripped of earlier panic.
What happens next? Kael did not answer immediately.
He walked toward the reinforced door and placed his hand against the cold metal surface. Beyond it lay a ruined city filled with monsters, desperate survivors, and people who had already started hunting each other for power.
Evolution had begun. There was no turning back. He turned toward the group.
We adapt, or we disappear.
The Codex responded faintly, almost approvingly.
Survival Phase ProgressingOrigin Authority Synchronization: 4%
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
This shelter was not an ending.
It was only the starting point.