Kael sat still behind the minimarket cashier's counter, his fingers gripping the shotgun tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He glanced at the wall clock again; the hands moved slowly towards three. 2:50 PM.
Ten more minutes, and the first horde of monsters would sweep through the city, just as he remembered from his previous life. His habit as an accountant, always working under deadlines, unconsciously made him calculate time even when in danger.
He forced himself to stay calm, though his heart pounded furiously.
Kael had prepared himself as best as he could, as best as he remembered. His backpack was on his back, full of water bottles, food, and medicines. He held the shotgun, and a small pistol was tucked into his waistband, with spare ammunition in his jacket pocket.
He had also sprinkled salt all over the minimarket's doorways and windows, as well as around his body—something he learned from a survivor in his past life, though he wasn't sure if it would work in this world.
His memory of the monsters that would attack was still clear. Carrion Hounds, with their too-many teeth; Shade Stalkers, who feared light. But it wasn't just them; there would be several other monsters lurking.
He closed his eyes again for a moment, trying to calm his mind while recalling the city's geography—the streets and alleys—that led to the cathedral on the eastern edge of the city, where the Soul Splinter was located.
That shard, one of the sources of Divine Essence, was the key to rebuilding his power. But reaching it meant having to pass through the monsters, and Kael knew he couldn't fail his plan.
He opened his eyes, gripping his shotgun tighter, whispering to himself, "You can do this; you already know what you have to do."
Suddenly, the silence shattered. At 3:00 PM, a roar echoed in the distance, followed by heavy footsteps and the sound of claws scraping against asphalt. Kael tensed and held his breath, his body sinking lower behind the cashier's counter.
Outside the glass door, strange-shaped creatures moved rapidly in all directions. He peeked carefully, watching tensely as the hordes appeared.
Carrion Hounds led the first wave of the monster invasion, shaped like thin, furless dogs, but with far too many teeth for ordinary canines. They ran in all directions, clawing at the scattered bodies of human victims, snarling and fighting over flesh.
Behind them, Scavenger Rats, shaped like cat-sized rodents, scurried and leaped among the debris, feeding on human bodies. Their red eyes seemed to glow, scanning everywhere, sometimes sniffing the air.
Kael held his breath, his heart pounding. He knew these monsters were weak, but they were numerous, and a single bite would be fatal for his current body.
Then, more dangerous monsters emerged. Shade Stalkers, large cat-like creatures, leaped nimbly across building rooftops or high debris.
And piercing screams echoed from the very rear of this horde, from the Screechers, thin humanoid creatures with wide, split mouths.
Kael covered his ears, his body trembling slightly as the sound shook his still-human soul. "Don't look at them, don't listen to their voices," he whispered to calm his soul.
And the last monsters appeared, Flamebats in several buzzing and chirping swarms in the air, shaped like bats. They would shoot fire from their mouths, and in a swarm, they would be very difficult to defeat.
His past memories made him understand the weaknesses, habits, and attack patterns, as well as the dangers of each monster. But knowing and surviving their attacks were two different things.
The monsters moved closer to the minimarket where Kael was, and some Carrion Hounds sniffed at the glass door. Kael could see their noses twitching as they caught the scent of the salt he had sprinkled on the doorway. The dogs growled softly, then retreated from the minimarket.
Though cold sweat ran down his back, Kael now exhaled slowly. But he had to wait, letting the monster wave pass, before he would leave.
When only a few monsters remained—Carrion Hounds fighting over bones, and Scavenger Rats gnawing on something behind a pile of rubble—Kael crawled to the back door of the minimarket, then opened it slowly to avoid making noise.
The outside air, carrying the smell of smoke and blood, immediately assailed his nostrils. Frowning slightly without realizing it, he stepped out, then hunched over and quickly walked into the narrow alley behind the building.
The path ahead was full of debris—wrecked cars, fallen lampposts, and puddles of what he didn't know. He moved cautiously, avoiding the puddles and broken glass, which could reveal his position to the monsters.
As he neared the end of the alley, Kael heard a growl. He stopped, and with his back pressed against the wall, carefully peeked around the bend in the alley.
A group of Carrion Hounds were devouring an unrecognizable human body, their claws greedily tearing at the flesh. Kael suppressed his nausea, then turned to choose another route, entering the ruins of a store next to the bend, heading towards his original destination.
Not far away, he heard the Screecher's scream again, and immediately covered both ears, then took cover behind an overturned car until the sound subsided.
As he was about to stand up to move again, his eyes caught a shadow moving on the roof across from where he was hiding. Kael froze, and saw a Shade Stalker with glowing eyes looking directly at him.
The creature didn't attack, instead, it just stared at him for a moment, then leaped away to another building and disappeared. Kael exhaled in relief—he knew if that monster wanted to attack him, he wouldn't stand a chance of winning, as his reflexes were now only those of an ordinary human.