Chapter 87: Chapter87-Monster Invasion

As I pondered this unsettling thought, another crucial idea suddenly came to mind... Time? What about the time? I clearly recalled the time I saw in the dream. If I check the current time and compare it to the dream time, I might be able to figure out what's going on or learn something important. With a sense of urgency, I looked at my smartwatch that could give me the current time. Name: Michael Frostburne Total Rules Broken: 1 Current Rules Broken: 0 Time: 9 p.m. ... Ehh? I slept for nine hours? That's unbelievable... I didn't expect the night to start while I was asleep... So, that's it. This proves it was just a dream. But still, it's hard to believe... I have no choice but to move on. "Gruuuu~" Just then, a rumble came from my stomach, signaling that I was a bit hungry. It had been a while since I had eaten anything, especially since I hadn't had a single bite of food since arriving at the shelter. For now, let's eat and Suddenly, a deafening blast erupted from the first floor of the building, jolting me out of my thoughts. The entire building began to shake violently. My heart raced as the ground beneath me trembled, throwing me off balance. "What the heck is going on?" I shouted, trying to steady myself against the wall. The blasts kept occurring, each one more intense than the last. It felt like the entire building was on the verge of collapse. The lights in the room also began to shake and looked like they might fall on me, so I quickly opened my door and got out as fast as I could. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the chaos around me. Fuck me! All I saw after coming out were people running frantically up and down the corridor. The air was filled with shouts and the sound of footsteps echoing off the walls. I also heard someone shout, "Run! Everyone, run! Those ugly monsters are here!" I was baffled by his words. Who were these ugly monsters? Dont tell me... And if they were here, were they responsible for this violent shaking? I looked around in a panic. As a man ran toward me, I grabbed his collar and urgently asked, "What's happening? What do you mean by 'ugly monsters'?" The man's eyes were wide with fear as he stumbled, trying to break free from my grip. He looked like he was about to collapse from the adrenaline. "Are you serious?" he gasped, trying to catch his breath. "You don't know? They're" Before he could finish, another blast rocked the building, cutting off his words. Debris rained down from the ceiling, and I had to duck to avoid falling pieces. "Those monsters!" he continued, shouting over the noise. "They're those bear-like creatures and others." I let go of his collar, causing him to stumble and fall to the floor. He quickly got up and ran toward the staircase. What? They're here already? It's not that I didn't consider the possibility of them showing up, but I didn't expect them to arrive so quickly, especially since there are still 22 hours left until everything is supposed to be over. The shaking grew more violent, and I could hear the building's supports groaning under the strain. No, I couldn't wait more here... My instincts kicked in, and I knew I had to get out before the building collapsed on top of me. I hurried down the staircase, moving as fast as I could, only to be met with a scene that, while not entirely surprising, was dire for my situation. No, no, no... I was in serious trouble. The entrance of the hospital was swarming with monsters. Two massive Abominations, towering and grotesque, were battling a horde of zombies, while elite group members tried to fend them off. Smith brothers, Anna and, others groups were right in the thick of the fight, their movements swift and desperate as they fought the monstrous invaders. I scanned the area and saw people scattered everywhere. Some stood frozen in fear, clustered together in groups, while others were paralyzed with terror, their panic evident. I couldn't spot Solos, James, or Marcus anywhere. They were probably busy protecting others amidst the chaos. 'Damn it, I can't stay here.' If anyone spots me, they'll definitely ask or force me to fight. With so many people around, refusing them right in front of their faces isn't an option. Retreating seemed like the best option. I turned and quickly ascended to the second floor, where I found Lia hectically evacuating people from their rooms. 'What's she doing here?' I wondered, but she spotted me immediately. "Michael, why did you come up here?" she asked. "I came to grab my weapons to join the fight downstairs," I explained. "Oh, okay. Take them," she replied. I moved slowly toward my room while Lia continued helping people down the corridor, guiding them toward the staircase. Before I opened my door, I called out to her, "Hey, Lia, I didn't ask anyone on the first floor, but doesn't this hospital have a safe or fire exit?" "Yeah," she said. "It's on the first floor and leads to the back of the hospital. We're doing our best to get everyone out through there." "Ohh, got ikot. Thanks for information. Keep it up," I said. I quickly opened my room's door and stepped inside, shutting it behind me to prepare for what lay ahead. Oh fuck, now I have to wait for her to leave or she might ask me to join the fight again. I guess I can wait for that. But more importantly, I need to think about how to escape. The fire exit would have been a great way to get out if there weren't people stationed there. What should I do now? Since the exit route is out, I need to find a new option. I decided to think it over carefully, so I put my right hand on my face like Sherlock Holmes and pondered further. Hmm... No, that's not good; I'd get caught... This option isn't good either, and neither is that one... After pushing all distractions aside and thinking hard, I finally found an escape route. It's one that no one would expect. It's a bit risky, but with hundreds of healing potions, a minor wound isn't a big deal, even though the pain still can't be ignored. I waited, holding my breath, until the corridor grew silent, the only sound the faint ticking of a distant clock. Slowly, I turned the doorknob and cracked the door open, just wide enough to peer through. My eyes scanned the brightly lit hallway, searching for any sign of Lia. Satisfied she had indeed gone, I opened the door fully, the hinges creaking softly in protest. I stepped cautiously into the corridor, the cold tiles pressing against the soles of my feet. I moved to the middle of the corridor... I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I was about to do. My eyes fixed on the glass panel wall by the staircase, my heart pounding wildly. Yeah, I was planning to jump from the second floor by breaking this glass wall. It might sound like a suicide attempt, but I was confident I'd survive until my bravery ran out. My plan was to escape the hospital this way because it led to the east side, while both the fire exit and entrance were on the north and south sides. This route was better since no one, including the monsters, would see me, and I could get away easily... Though, I don't believe I'll be lucky attempting this, but let's do it anyway. Without a second thought, I sprinted forward, my feet thudding against the tiles. The air seemed to whip past me as I sprinted, my eyes fixed on the glass. Each step brought me closer, the adrenaline surging through my veins. The glass panel loomed ahead, and in a matter of seconds, I was mere inches away. With a final burst of speed, I threw myself at the glass. The impact was shatteringliterally. The glass burst around me in a shower of shining pieces, the sound of it breaking echoing in my ears. For a moment, I was worried that some of the shards might hit my eyes since I was surrounded by them, but luckily, nothing happened. The force of my momentum carried me through, and suddenly, I was falling. Maybe not suddenly, since I already expected it... The world seemed to slow down as I plummeted from the second floor. The ground rushed up to meet me, and I hit it hard, the impact sending a jolt of pain through my body. I tumbled and rolled, coming to a stop in a heap. Here it comes... Pain radiated from my right leg, a sharp, searing agony that told me I was hurt. I knew it... Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up to a sitting position. I knew something would go wrong; my luck couldn't be so good that I'd survive so easily... My right leg throbbed, and I glanced down to see a deep gash running along my shin. "Man, my legggg." Blood oozed from the wound, staining my pants and pooling on the ground. I winced, the pain nearly overwhelming, but I knew I couldn't afford to be immobilized. Naturally, I had already made some preparations for this. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out one of the healing potions I had stashed away. Huh? Why are my hands shaking? Didn't I only hurt my leg? With shaky hands, I uncorked it and dranked it quickly, feeling a strange, tingling sensation as the potion took effect. The bleeding slowed, and the pain began to subside, though the injury didn't vanish completely... But, since I had multiple potions, I could quickly recover from this injury. So, breathing heavily, I looked around, taking in my surroundings. I found myself on a residential street nestled between several houses and the hospital. Street lamps lined the road near the hospital, casting a warm glow and light that illuminated the area. The surrounding streets were still dark, making the bright street lamps near the hospital stand out even more. It was strange how quickly the lamps had been fixed. When I first got here, most of them were either broken or short-circuited. The speed of the repairs was impressivemaybe Marcus arranged for someone to fix them, or it was done by someone really skilled. Either way, it seemed unlikely that just anyone could have fixed them so fast... After waiting a few minutes, I felt the healing effects take over; my injured leg and other wounds gradually mended. I carefully stood up and stretched, easing the stiffness from my body. To my surprise, no one had come to check the second floor during this time. Even if they had, I doubt they would have spotted me. Why? I was wearing the mask I got from Hyosan School. It really came in handy. Huggh... I should leave now. After stretching a bit more, I decided to head toward the center, since this area would likely be overtaken by the zone in a few hours. But then, suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the streets... "What now?"