MAGNUS DEI SYSTEM: CRIMSON RESOLVE

CHAPTER 3: CURING AN INFECTED

[Extraction process complete. Preparing for a cure.]

Alex waited, his eyes constantly shifting to the screeching crawler. It seemed that because of its defiance, the dominance effect worsened.

The virus could alter the physical features of its victims, making it difficult to tell this one’s gender.

“I need a place to hide,” Alex mused. His eyes went to the shadows of the crawlers. In a few hours, it would be dawn, and everyone would come out to play. 

His mind went to the handbook. Reapers had stations in certain regions where they would gather and communicate certain information and news.

[Viral Cure Generated. Activation time: 2 minutes.]

Before Alex could form another thought, a drug vial and an injection appeared in his hands. 

“This is it… I can’t believe I am doing this,” he muttered to himself, facing the crawler that was in agony. 

With this drug, he would be able to revert it to its original state. It was simply too good to be true.

In a swift movement, Alex withdrew the red liquid from the vial and brandished the needle. 

His gaze steeled, channeling the Dominator’s Will on his target. At once, the crawler became still, and Alex injected the cure. 

Just as he was about to take a step back, a blood-curdling shriek erupted from the mouth of the crawler. Alex covered his ears, but the cry brought him down to his knees. 

This was bad. Very bad

With that cry, the grounds shook violently, and a heavy thudding sound from afar. Guttural moans and siren-like cries rose to the air. It was a beacon of rage—something had gone against a natural order.

[Warning!! Incoming Horde. Get to safety at once.]

“I can’t get to safety in this state,” Alex grumbled. He could feel the vibrations underneath him, but his legs had not regained their energy, and in his corner, an adult-looking man was lying motionless.

It had to be the infection he had cured. The man was unmoving. 

A mess that was leading him into more trouble.

If that horde met him, they would rip him to shreds, and the cure—humanity’s last line would be gone. 

[Warning!! Incoming Horde. Deploying safety mechanisms.]

[Initiating Emergency evacuation protocol.]

[Transporting Host to nearest safe location.]

“Teleportation?” Alex turned to the sleeping man beside him. The other crawlers were not touching him either. If he were going to teleport, he would have to take that man along with him. 

[Initiating transportation. Safe Location found. Please stay still as this process might cause some discomfort.]

Alex nodded and took the hand of the man who had just turned. He’d wanted to witness the process, to know how it worked but tears blurred his vision, and the world darkened before he could blink.

[Transporting Host.]

Instantly, the environment was surrounded by a dark cloak, and just as a monster landed on that side, the boy and his captive vanished.

The monster stomped on the ground. It was nine feet tall, with a body the size of two gorillas fused together, and it raised its head. The monster could sense it—the fresh scent of blood. 

Its food was here, but now, it was nowhere to be found. The incoming horde arrived the next moment, but they were all silent as they looked at the monster in front of them. It was a reaction of fear. The reapers gave this monster a name—the Beast Crawler.

Angry at the disappearance of its supposed meal, the monster let out a roar, causing the horde of the crawlers behind it to writhe in pain, bearing the brunt of their leader’s rage. 

In its anger fit, the monster turned around and swiped at some crawlers, grabbing a handful of them before it chomped on them. 

It needed something to quench its hunger, and although these minions didn’t have good taste, they had proven to be sufficient.

Alex exhaled deeply. A metallic taste greeted his taste buds, causing him to spit out blood. The teleportation had taken a toll on him, and the price of survival had only just begun. Blood trickled from his nose, but he pinched his nostrils shut, reducing the loss of blood.

The rotting scent in the air had thickened, and the breeze was a lot drier than before.

“I have so many questions.” Alex’s knees trembled beneath him, and he gripped his head, the truth of his current reality was laid bare.

He was trapped, left out in a dangerous place. No one knew he was alive. It was safe to say no one cared.

Alex hugged himself, his body quivering. He could die all over again. Now that the adrenaline had worn out, silence enveloped his body. He was alone.

Never had he been this alone in his life. His mother’s face appeared in his head, and his breathing became ragged.

After a few minutes, Alex raised his head, scanning his surroundings. “I have to find somewhere.” Staying out here would only make him an easy catch for the crawlers, and who knew what else walked within this city.

Torn posters, fallen billboards, and the debris of ruined buildings filled the expressway. It seemed like he had been teleported to the middle of the city. 

Every building that came into his line of sight was either crumbled or a pile of debris but there was no point giving up now.

He needed to get a good place so he could think and get his questions answered by this so-called resurrection system. 

Beside him was the sleeping fellow and a sigh left his lips, “You still alive?” He murmured, watching the man’s chest rise and fall. Leaving the lone human was not an option. 

This city was a barren wasteland and Alex could tell by the thick odor in the air that it had been overrun by the infected and probably even worse. 

The wind blew harshly, raising old and crumpled papers to the sky. Alex allowed his eyes to follow the direction of the wind and he saw it.

Standing a street ahead was the tower, rising high above the condemned building, boasting of its sturdiness.

“Let’s head there.” Alex rose to his feet, he had found his destination. He walked to the human and checked his pulse. The sharpness in a human’s vitals was unlike the dull difference of the infected. 

After confirming this, Alex slipped his arms over the man’s body and with a deep breath and a swift motion, he lifted the man onto his back.

His knees shook, but he held on.

“I should be able to carry you for a few minutes.” Alex calculated and adjusted the weight of the man’s body. He looked towards the tower and smiled.  

At least now they would have a starting point as long as the tower wasn’t home to any other being.