Zachary dashed forward the moment he heard the cries.
Three people—
Pinned beneath broken debris.
Close.
So close.
"I've got you—!" he shouted—
But—
Too late.
A massive hand slammed down from above.
CRUNCH—
The sound echoed in a way that didn't feel real.
Zachary stopped..
Mid-step.
His eyes widened.
The debris—
The people—
Gone.
Crushed beneath the weight of something far too large.
A shadow loomed over him.
Slowly—
Zachary lifted his head.
A gigantic red ogre stood before him.
Its skin rough and uneven, veins bulging across its arms like thick cords. Its hand was still pressed into the ground, fingers slowly curling as if savoring what it had just done.
Zachary didn't move.
He could've reached them.
He knew it.
But he didn't.
"…Damn it…"
The ogre turned.
Its eyes locked onto him.
For a moment—
Everything went quiet.
Zachary's fist clenched.
Then—
RAAAWWW!
The ogre roared, its voice shaking the air as it charged forward, each step cracking the ground beneath its weight.
Zachary exhaled.
Steady.
Focused.
He lowered his stance.
Behind him—
The receptionist stood frozen, her legs trembling uncontrollably.
"Run!" Zachary shouted without looking back.
That snapped her out of it.
She turned—
And ran.
The ogre's fist came swinging.
Wide.
Heavy.
Unstoppable.
Zachary moved.
He jumped—
BOOM!
The fist slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave of dust and debris outward. The air itself seemed to ripple from the impact.
Zachary twisted midair—
Then—
Thud!
His kick connected with the ogre's jaw.
The force snapped its head to the side, its massive body staggering before losing balance completely.
It crashed down.
Concrete shattered beneath it.
Zachary didn't hesitate.
"Come forth—Barnacle!"
Darkness surged behind him.
A figure rose.
Barnacle.
Sword in hand.
Silent.
Zachary sprinted forward, Barnacle moving alongside him.
The ogre tried to rise—
Too slow.
Slash—
Barnacle's blade carved through its arm.
Slash—
Again.
The ogre roared, but its strength was already fading.
Zachary stepped in—
Delivering the final blow.
The massive body collapsed.
Still.
Zachary stood there for a second.
Breathing steady.
Eyes cold.
But there was no time to stop.
More monsters flooded the area.
He moved again.
Fight after fight—
Blow after blow—
Each one fell.
But then—
He met one.
Different.
Zachary's fist struck first—
Clang—
His eyes narrowed.
The monster didn't budge.
Its skin—
Sharp.
Spiked.
Like layered blades fused together.
It swung its tail—
Zachary barely dodged.
The tail sliced through the air—
And the wall behind him.
Clean.
Like it was nothing.
Zachary stepped back.
This one—
Wasn't like the others.
The monster looked like a wyvern, its massive wings folded inward, its body covered in rough, blade-like scales, and its teeth sharper than any knife Zachary had ever seen.
Its eyes locked onto him with an unnatural intelligence, like it wasn't just another mindless beast..
"SCREECH!"
Its cry tore through the air, sending a powerful gust of wind outward.
Zachary's uniform fluttered violently as debris brushed past his face, forcing him to shield his eyes slightly.
"…It's strong," he muttered, wiping the dust off his face while keeping his gaze locked on it..