The First Shelter Battle
998 Words
ROOOOOAR!
The roar echoed through the night.
Everyone standing near the gates froze.
The giant shadow slowly emerged from the darkness.
Under the dim moonlight, its appearance became clear.
It was nearly four meters tall.
Its body was covered in dark-red muscles, while pieces of rotten flesh hung from its arms. Bone spikes protruded from its shoulders, and one of its hands had mutated into a massive claw.
Behind it, dozens of zombies slowly gathered.
The survivors' faces instantly turned pale.
"Oh God..."
"What kind of monster is that?"
"We're dead..."
Fear spread throughout the shelter.
Even Arthur felt pressure.
This monster was much stronger than the previous mutations.
DING!
---
Appraisal Activated
Name: Bone Claw Mutant
Rank: E-
Threat Level: High
Description:
A powerful mutation that commands nearby zombies and possesses superior strength and defense.
Survival Probability: 34%
---
Arthur frowned.
Thirty-four percent.
Not good.
But much better than before.
This meant they actually had a chance.
The mutant suddenly looked directly at Arthur.
Its blood-red eyes seemed filled with intelligence.
Then—
It smiled.
A chill ran down Arthur's spine.
Why were intelligent monsters appearing so early?
ROAR!
The mutant raised its massive claw.
Immediately—
The zombie horde began charging.
"THEY'RE COMING!"
Panic erupted.
Arthur immediately shouted.
"Everyone, calm down!"
His voice echoed loudly.
The frightened survivors looked at him.
Arthur quickly pointed.
"The men, block the gates!"
"Women and children, stay inside the apartments!"
"Use anything you can find as weapons!"
Perhaps because they finally had someone giving orders, everyone quickly moved.
Tables.
Chairs.
Metal pipes.
Kitchen knives.
Everything became a weapon.
Arthur looked toward Aiko.
"You stay inside."
Immediately, she shook her head.
"No."
Arthur frowned.
"It's dangerous."
"And what about you?"
Aiko looked directly into his eyes.
"You're going out there too."
Arthur became speechless.
Aiko stepped closer.
"I may not know how to fight..."
"But I'm a nurse."
"There will be injured people."
"I can't hide while everyone else risks their lives."
Her voice was firm.
Arthur stared at her.
For a moment, he saw the same courage she had shown back in the hospital.
Despite being afraid—
She still wanted to help others.
Arthur sighed.
"Fine."
Aiko smiled.
"But..."
His expression became serious.
"You stay behind me."
A faint blush appeared on her face.
"...Okay."
Yuna, who had been listening nearby, suddenly smiled mischievously.
"You two really look like a married couple."
Both immediately froze.
"W-What?!"
Aiko's face instantly turned red.
Arthur nearly coughed.
"This isn't the time for jokes!"
Yuna giggled.
Even in such a tense situation, she somehow managed to lighten the atmosphere.
ROAR!
The zombies reached the gates.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The metal fence shook violently.
Several survivors screamed.
Arthur immediately stepped forward.
"Everyone!"
"Fight!"
With a roar, he rushed forward.
Slash!
His machete cut through the first zombie.
Dark blood splattered.
Another zombie climbed over the fence.
Arthur kicked it down.
Bang!
Its skull shattered.
The survivors stared in disbelief.
Their leader had become incredibly strong.
Inspired by him, the others also gathered courage.
"Kill them!"
"We have to survive!"
The battle instantly became chaotic.
Screams.
Growls.
Blood.
The shelter's first war had begun.
Arthur continuously fought at the front.
DING!
---
Zombie Eliminated.
Experience +2.
---
DING!
---
Zombie Eliminated.
Experience +2.
---
One zombie after another fell.
However—
Their numbers seemed endless.
More and more zombies kept appearing from the darkness.
Arthur's expression slowly became ugly.
At this rate—
The barricades would eventually collapse.
Suddenly—
"Arthur!"
Aiko's scream echoed.
Arthur immediately turned.
A zombie had broken through and was rushing toward her.
Without hesitation—
Arthur sprinted.
Too fast.
The zombie was already in front of her.
Aiko's face turned pale.
Then—
A figure suddenly stood before her.
Slash!
Blood splattered.
The zombie's head rolled across the ground.
Silence.
Aiko stared blankly.
Arthur was standing in front of her.
His arm had been scratched.
"You..."
Arthur frowned.
"Are you hurt?"
Aiko's eyes widened.
Even after being injured—
His first concern was her.
For some reason—
Her heart suddenly began beating faster.
"I'm... okay."
Arthur sighed in relief.
"Good."
Aiko lowered her head.
Her cheeks had become slightly red.
Yuna, standing nearby, noticed everything.
She smiled knowingly.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The gates exploded.
Everyone froze.
The Bone Claw Mutant had finally moved.
It slowly stepped into the shelter.
Its enormous body made everyone feel despair.
One of the survivors collapsed.
"W-We can't beat that..."
The mutant smiled cruelly.
Then—
It charged.
BOOM!
A parked vehicle was sent flying.
People screamed and scattered.
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
He immediately took out the Thunder Pistol.
Bang!
Blue lightning shot forward.
Boom!
The bullet exploded on the mutant's chest.
However—
The creature merely took a single step back.
Its defense was terrifying.
ROAR!
The mutant swung its massive claw.
Arthur barely dodged.
The ground exploded where he had been standing.
Dust filled the air.
Everyone stared in horror.
This was a monster.
A true monster.
Arthur gritted his teeth.
This thing was much stronger than him.
But—
If he lost—
Everyone behind him would die.
He looked toward the survivors.
Children.
Families.
Aiko.
Yuna.
They were all looking at him.
Trusting him.
Depending on him.
For some reason—
Arthur suddenly smiled.
Perhaps...
This was what it meant to become a king.
To protect.
To stand at the front when everyone else was afraid.
He slowly tightened his grip on his weapon.
Golden light faintly appeared in his eyes.
DING!
---
King's Aura Activated.
All stats increased.
Morale of nearby allies increased.
---
A powerful pressure spread throughout the battlefield.
Even the survivors felt their fear lessen.
Arthur looked directly at the mutant.
"You're not getting past me."
The Bone Claw Mutant suddenly became furious.
ROOOOOAR!
It charged once more.
Arthur also rushed forward.
One human.
One monster.
Both collided head-on.
BOOM!!!
The entire shelter shook violently.
And thus—
The first true battle for Arthur's kingdom began.
- Writer
