Apocalypse: Inhuman Ascension

The evolved humans from the two shelters in Cleveland navigated the streets of Pittsburgh. Occasionally, they'd encounter rogue dungeon monsters, mostly kaiju, and immediately slayed them.

While they wanted to collect the corpses, they didn't have such luxury. In their minds, they decided to collect them later.

"Several strong presences up ahead!"

The same evolved with scouting abilities reported, his expression grim. Every single evolved immediately switched to battle mode.

Before them was a popular structure—a football stadium belonging to the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers. Surrounding the stadium were several kaiju monsters. Almost all of them had yellow essence crystals. However, a startling number possessed blue essence crystals, which made the humans tense.

"Over thirty of them…"

Ezekiel sucked in a cold breath, feeling his lungs burn. The number of strong creatures far surpassed theirs. The difference was simply too great.

Austin's face darkened at the sight, but he remained determined. Such a threat couldn't be allowed in the country. Although he had no idea how the other countries fared, he didn't want to see America overrun by powerful monsters. Wouldn't that become a joke in the future? The most powerful country in the peace time fell the fastest.

Turning to Toji, he raised his weapon.

"We're forcing our way through."

Behind them both, over fifty second-level evolved unsheathed their weapons. Together, they all charged at the dungeon monster horde. The third-level evolved humans proved their strength and swiftly killed the second-level monsters around them.

Roars and shouts filled the air as both armies clashed. Monsters fell in great numbers, showing the tenacity of humans hardened by the apocalypse.

"Haaa!!! Go to hell!"

Toji roared as he spun, his chainsaw shredding the monsters around him to minced meat. He ignored the blood that splattered on him, advancing deeper into the horde to face the third-level kaiju. The other third-level evolved from his group also followed him, hoping to contain the monsters.

At another side, Austin swung his greatsword, cutting halfway through the third-level monster before him. Before the monster could retaliate, it was besieged by attacks from three other evolved from the Bull Shelter. Austin's tactics was simple—join hands and quickly eliminate the strong monsters. This was an effective method since the third-level monsters outnumbered their own third-level forces.

Under the combined efforts of both shelters, several monsters quickly fell before they could put up some resistance.

Finally, after almost ten minutes, the entrance of the stadium was revealed. Austin furrowed his brows tightly. Blocking the large entrance was a wall of thick hide, confusing him.

"What could that be?"

He asked Toji who was standing beside him, equally disturbed. Their confusion didn't last long. The wall of flesh moved, making the ground tremble, then it disappeared.

BOOM!

The front section of the stadium shook, then collapsed. Chunks of heavy metal fell, forcing the evolved humans to retreat hastily.

From within the chaos, two large orbs of light appeared very high above the ground. What followed was an earth-shattering roar that they would never forget.

RROOOAAAARRRRR!!!

The stadium groaned, its structure teetering on collapse. Two resounding thuds struck the ground, and the monster finally revealed itself.

With its height almost as great as the stadium, the kaiju really resembled Godzilla from the movies. Several evolved gasped, instantly connecting it to that creature from movies.

Standing on two gigantic legs, the monster had thick scales covering its body. Sharp bone-like spikes lined from the back of its head to the tip of its tail, emanating a threatening aura. On its forehead was a green crystal that gleamed brightly, signifying its level of evolution.

Finally, its two eyes fell on the humans below it. Some second-level evolved collapsed, feeling a crushing weight pressed on them. The third-level evolved fared better, though they could feel that moving wasn't easy any longer.

'Is that spiritual pressure? What the hell is this?!'

Ezekiel cursed in his mind, holding his spear tightly. Austin's gaze sharpened, and he instantly released his own pressure, surprising the other evolved.

Since when could they do that? Unknown to them, Austin was sharp and quick-witted. After studying the Godzilla for a moment, he understood the principles behind the pressure and replicated it.

Every evolved around him felt the pressure lessen, then sighed in relief. Toji glanced at him, then tried his luck. Luckily, he also got the principles and replicated it, though, it was less refined than Austin's.

The evolved humans looked at the monster again, only to be stunned. Its mouth was already open, blue energy being condensed within. Almost everyone recognized the famous attack—Lightning Blast.

"Turtle Formation!"

Austin bellowed, producing a shield from his back. Every other evolved from his faction also produced a similar shield. They huddled together, creating a done of metal. To top it off, Ezekiel activated one of his attributes. A green, translucent dome covered the shield, amplifying its defense level.

Toji glanced at them in envy. Unlike the Bull Shelter, his shelter specialized in attacking. The Bull Shelter's defensive ability was what made them a pain to deal with.

Cursing inwardly, he raised his chainsaw, then attached an Attack Card on it.

"All of you! Use your strongest skills and Attack Cards!"

Immediately, his team responded. Tens of Attack Cards filled the air, followed by several long-range skills.

The blast of blue lightning hit them a split second later.

BOOM!

The sky detonated in a huge explosion as the lightning blast slowed for a moment, weakened by the attacks. It didn't stop, though. It continued downward, then struck the shield wall.

The green dome held for a few seconds, then shattered. Instantly, the strike connected with the shields.

Ezekiel spat a jet of blood as he had forcefully maintained the green done, else it wouldn't have been able to contend against the blast.

Finally, the attack ceased, making everyone sigh in relief.

The evolved from the Bull Shelter checked their shields noting the absurd damages. Even a single sword strike could shatter what was left of the shields.

Austin panted, his body bathed in sweat. All around him, the evolved were also trembling. Holding their ground against that blast was draining. Although Toji's group fared better, his expression was ugly. A large crack snaked across his chainsaw, prophesying an impending destruction. All the group's Attack Cards had been used, leaving them vulnerable to another strike.

When Toji looked at the gigantic monster before him, he felt a hint of despair. How were they supposed to kill this thing?

Piu… Bang!

A whistling sound caught his attention, followed by a loud bang from the Godzilla's shoulder. Dark blue blood dripped from the hole which had been created, startling the evolved humans.

"Who was that?"

No one replied to him, as all eyes were fixed on the new arrivals.

Caw! Caw! Caw!

The cries of crows filled the air, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere. Everyone saw a young man at the front of the new group raise his sniper, then fire.

Piu… Bang!