ANGELS IN THE ARMAGEDDON

The air was thick with a blend of scorching heat and eerie silence, hovering over the city. The ruins and remnants of once-tall buildings laid bare the city's scars, with shattered stones and charred debris revealing fragments of decaying bodies. Golden bullet casings scattered across the intersections, while bloodstains and bullet holes marked the crumbling walls, draining the city's lifeblood. This city was already dead. Since the apocalypse, such 'dead' cities have become common worldwide. Various factors have led to their abandonment as human bases, turning them into nests for monsters. Hidden dangers have rendered these places forbidden zones for human activity. However, this city seemed to welcome a rare visitor tonight… " Hem…" A stumbling figure moved through the alley, knocking over debris and trash piles. Rising awkwardly, she fled again. A gruesome, deep wound crawled up his left leg, making her progress slow and dragging a trail of blood behind her. "It seems... there's no hope..." Though only seventeen, Quinn, a renowned hunter in her circle, knew how reckless it was to dive into a narrow alley with an untreated wound. Almost all monsters had incredibly keen senses, and the faintest scent of blood would drive these long-starving creatures in the dead city into a frenzy. The confined space left him no room to dodge if confronted by them. But she had no choice. Something far more terrifying than monsters was on her trail. She had barely avoided a fatal blow to her artery… A quick glance at her wound provided a sliver of good news: although it looked severe, the blood loss was manageable. If she could just keep going... Her pupils suddenly contracted, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably. " Ahem... girl, you’ve been naughty." A light voice sounded behind her. The rhythmic click of boots against the ground sent shivers down Quinn’s spine. How could it be? How had she caught up so quickly? Speeding up, Quinn could no longer maintain her calm. The sound of something slicing through the air came from behind, and her survival instincts kicked in, making her duck. The gust of air grazed her scalp, and a few strands of hair floated down, making her break into a cold sweat. "Huh?" The voice behind her sounded surprised that her prey had dodged her attack. The moonlight cast a dim glow into the depths of the alley, illuminating a pair of eyes glowing red, narrowed into a dangerous crescent. A delicate face twisted into a playful smirk. Despite appearing to be a girl of fifteen or sixteen, Quinn felt only terror and a profound sense of despair. Under her luxurious purple dress, her smooth legs glistened in the moonlight. Her face retained a hint of childishness, yet it exuded an indescribable allure. The beautiful scene was marred by the eerie atmosphere, with the most striking feature being the massive blood-red scythe behind her. ‘Angel,’ ‘Witch’… These were merely named by the public. They hunted monsters and humans alike, be it high-ranking officials or decaying commoners from slums. They roamed the wastelands alone, hunting down any prey they set their sights on. As a former high-ranking mercenary hunter for the NC human base, Quinn knew more than the ordinary person about these creatures. Name: Teresa. Document Code: Arbiter. ID: JXNC–980728. Rank: High Risk. The information about this girl, Teresa, flashed through Quinn’s mind. The ID’s first two letters represented the province, the next two the human base, and the numbers indicated the date recorded. The document's brief description and the label 'High Risk' were the deadliest details. This indicated that the girl had at least third-level strength, while Quinn herself was barely a second-level enhanced human, not even a proper superhuman. In the three years since the apocalypse, Quinn had fought her way up from battling zombies to hunting higher-level monsters, relying on her extraordinary combat experience to reach this point. Renowned among hunters, Quinn was often invited by the military to serve as a temporary instructor. She never imagined he would one day become the target of an ‘Angel’s’ hunt. Run! Quinn's mind screamed. Her enhanced body's adrenaline surged, numbing the pain in her wound as she sped up. She must escape from here alive! The girl named Teresa continued her measured pace, the enormous blood-red scythe in her hand lazily swinging. The narrow alley’s air turned chaotic, filled with the sound of the wind’s howl. Sensing the danger, Quinn dove forward, a blade of wind narrowly missing her, carving a smooth gash into the wall ahead, severing steel and concrete alike. Kamaitachi? Quinn remembered a friend who could manipulate air pressure similarly, though her friend’s abilities were nowhere near as destructive. It was clear he couldn’t escape. Realizing her methods, Quinn understood why Teresa was so confident. With a bitter smile, Quinn stood, facing Teresa. Her left hand rested on her gun holster, and her right held a knife in front of her, ready to strike. With her abilities, running would only lead to a torturous death. Quinn had to face her head-on. This wasn't a hopeless fight. Though shorter than average, Quinn still towered over Teresa. In the alley, her long scythe was less effective. In close combat, Quinn was confident in her fighting skills. “Girl, aren’t you running anymore?” Teresa tilted her head, a bloodthirsty smile spreading across her face. “Then I guess our hide-and-seek game ends here.” Her words hung in the air, and her scythe slashed, creating another wind blade. Quinn saw it coming, his trained instincts making him dodge, and he fired his gun - a Type 54 Black Star. Seven bullets. Quinn weighed the gun, the distance was less than a hundred meters - no need to aim. The 7.62mm bullets shot out, aimed at Teresa. She merely showed slight surprise before her smile returned. She found Quinn’s counterattack amusing but insignificant. The bullets were effortlessly sliced in midair, diverting their path. Bang! A second shot followed quickly. The low firing rate was Quinn’s biggest drawback, but she didn’t expect much from her bullets. While Teresa deflected the second shot, she closed the distance, her knife ready. “Ho~you are so sneaky.” Alarmed by her gaze, Quinn changed her knife’s trajectory to defend herself. The force against her arm chilled her. The girl’s strength didn’t match her appearance. She wielded the massive scythe effortlessly, and her smile grew seeing Quinn’s fear. “It's done...” As the pressure on her knife increased, Quinn’s desperation grew. But a sudden spark from her waist momentarily distracted her. Seizing the moment, she broke free, though the scythe left a bloody mark on her chest. Ignoring the pain, Quinn evaded another wind blade, continuously moving, her gun firing. Bang! Bang! She kept her distance, analyzing her remaining bullets, before launching another attack. “Girl, your attacks are useless.” Her knife clashed with her scythe, sending sparks. Quinn quickly retreated, avoiding a standoff. “Let’s get serious~” Teresa initiated her first offensive move. Her attacks were terrifyingly precise, forcing Quinn to dodge constantly. Despite her scythe's limitations in the narrow alley, her skill matched hers. The tight space reduced Quinn’s evasion options. The scythe’s arc forced her into a corner, where she had to block with her knife. “Clang—” "You’re really impressive, girl." " I haven’t had this much fun in a long time." Teresa approached at a slow pace, her scythe drawn back. Unable to resist the scythe’s pull, Quinn moved closer, feeling her breath on her skin. “Girl, it is time to end.” “Yes… it should end now…” Quinn’s words puzzled Teresa until a cold touch on her chest made her smile falter. The short distance left no room to dodge. Teresa tried one last swing of her scythe, but it was too late. “Ugh!” Quinn pulled the trigger. A brilliant red mist exploded behind the girl, painting them both crimson. The scythe fell from her grip, and Quinn collapsed, cradling her lifeless body as silence returned. It’s over… Gasping, Quinn inspected the horrifying wound on her body, the powerful handgun's impact evident. “Ha…looks like…I survived…” Surviving an angel’s hunt was unprecedented, at least according to the records. But why? Touching the still-warm corpse, confusion filled Quinn’s eyes. Why did angels hunt her? As the adrenaline faded, Quinn set her body down and walked towards the alley’s exit. It wasn’t her concern. Everyone had their struggles in the apocalypse. Quinn needed to return home… There was still a military training session today… She was already late… Just as she reached the exit, a sudden sense of danger made her pause. “Ah—” “!” A familiar voice came from behind, and Quinn had no time to dodge. In the next moment, her world began to spin, finally coming to rest on a familiar yet strange body before her... That is... My body?!! "Oh my girl~" Her headless body slowly collapsed, revealing Teresa who had been hidden. Her chest was fully exposed, the clothing torn apart by bullets, leaving her small breasts standing proudly in the wind. The pristine white skin and the enticing pink buds adorning it filled Quinn with utter dread. But I... I... “Girl, why did you have to be so rough with me?” Teresa walked closer, her charming smile the source of all Quinn’s fear. "Girl, your kindness is laughable. " "In the apocalypse, not even corpses deserve pity..." "So, for someone as kind and foolish as you..." "A swift and painless death is the best outcome." As darkness gradually consumed her vision, the voice in Quinn's ears grew increasingly distant. Just before she succumbed to the blackness, he glimpsed a flicker of... pain in the depths of the girl's eyes? Is this... what an angel truly is?