TAKE ON ME [Survival LITRPG Apocalypse]

The creature lashed out with its massive tongue. The wind from its strike brushed Tom's face as he pulled back, only narrowly dodging it.

Oh shit! This one isn't fucking around.

Its tongue cut back and forth through the air like a whip. Tom desperately tried to defend himself with his bat and gauntlets, but it was too fast. It whistled as it sliced past his head. Each time it made contact with his skin, a searing burst of pain shot through his body, leaving angry red welts in its wake.

The Marauder was stronger and more agile than any Level 1 Headless they had encountered. Even with Tom's level upgrade, his new abilities, and the multiple magical buffs he had received, he was barely able to stand against the monster.

Tess's yell pierced through the chaos. "That's the last one! Everyone, focus on it!"

Tom spared a quick glance to see a very pale Hana mumble something and point at the Headless Marauder in front of them. Chloe, standing next to Hana, also looked to be casting some kind of spell.

The large Headless roared ferociously as it stumbled back, its massive body wobbling unsteadily. Hana moved closer to the creature, the pus-colored yellow light shining brightly above her and the monster.

I wish I could see the spells.

Just like that; now the creature's nameplate had a series of small icons attached.

There was [Radon Light: applied by Hana Robinson] alongside her other spell [Sickness].

The next two were [Migraine: applied by Chloe Damascus] and [Intracranial Hypertension: applied by Chloe Damascus].

Bo held Finn back from rushing in to help. Kate stood by Bo's side, emanating her [Regeneration Aura]. Loo watched with wide eyes, wringing her hands. Blake slowly dragged Bridget away from the creature, and away from the group.

"Amber, do you see it?" Tess called.

Tom glanced around, attempting to spot whatever they were referring to, but saw nothing.

Amber gave a thumbs up. "I see the path and arrow!" Blurred waves rolled up and down her arm and weapon.

"Perfect! On the count of three, attack together. One, two, three!"

"Wait!" Tom shouted.

Both girls sprinted toward the Level 2 Headless Marauder just as its tongue lashed out at Tom. Amber plunged her poker deep into the creature's side. Tess—her Sword glowing a soft gold—delivered a powerful downward slash across its torso.

Amber and Tess crossed paths behind the towering beast and turned back to face it.

The creature let out an enraged roar and charged at Tom, who braced himself for impact.

Kate landed a crushing blow to its knee. It crashed down onto one leg just before it reached Tom.

The creature's momentum was halted but its attack was not. It's tongue struck just below Tom's eye, splitting open his cheek with a loud crack.

Tom stumbled back. Blood flowed down his face and along his jawline. He placed an Iron-plated hand against his cheek.

Kate let out a furious scream and swung her bat down on the kneeling creature's torso. Her muscled arms were—somehow—larger and more defined.

Tom rushed forward; he swung his bat, ignoring the flecks of red landing around him. He connected with the monster's teeth and cracked one of them, though his hit didn't do as much damage as Kate's.

The Headless dropped to both knees with another shriek. Sickly black veins pulsed throughout its body.

Tess, Amber, and Kate converged upon the fallen monster, attacking it like ravenous jackals.

With one final howl, and a gurgling sound, the creature collapsed to the ground.

Finn let out a frustrated growl and yanked himself away from his father's grasp. He made his way over to Tom and began healing the deep cut on his face and the burning red welts covering his body.

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Tom surveyed the scene, making sure there were no other monsters nearby.. His heart clenched; Chloe was hunched over, her shoulders trembling.

"Is everyone okay?" he asked. "Chloe?"

"Almost out of mana," Chloe panted. Her breaths were shallow and rapid. "Hard to breathe." Her eyes were large and her hands trembled as she clutched at the fabric of her coat.

"Hey," Kate knelt in front of her. "Hey. Look at me." Kate put her hand gently on Chloe's shoulder. "Just breathe with me. In... and out... in... and out. It's okay. It's over."

Chloe's breaths were shaky. "I'm starting to see things when I cast . . . it's so scary . . . "

"Deep breaths, remember? We'll talk about it later. Right now, just focus on breathing."

Hana was doubled-over too, a green tinge beneath her skin. "My mana is low as well." She retched again.

Tom glanced at his own mana bar. It was perilously low.

I'm not sick or breathless. Just . . . tired. Tired and heavy.

Tom sighed, and mentally toggled off his [Skin Modification]. The plate gauntlets slowly melted and absorbed back into his skin. A cold, splinter-like sensation tingled along his hands and wrist.

Blake and Bridget crept back over to them from further down the street.

"What in the hell was that?" Blake hissed.

"What is happening?" said Bridget. "What are those?" She pointed to the bodies.

"Tried to tell you," Bo said.

"You were lucky to go undetected last night," said Tom.

"What the hell were you doing to those . . . things?" Blake pointed an accusing finger at them.

"We have abilities now!" said Loo.

"Abilities?" said Bridget.

Loo started to explain their information sheets and abilities, but Bo waved her off the subject.

"Let's keep some things private, guys," Bo whispered to the kids.

"Can you help me pull up my, uh, info sheet?" Bridget asked.

"Sure thing. You can—"

"Hold that thought for a second, Loo," said Bo. "You guys can QUIETLY explain that while we walk."

Bo turned to Blake and Bridget. "We're heading to the police station, if it still exists. Unless either of you have a cell phone on you?"

Blake shivered and shoved his hands in his pockets. "We don't have anything."

Blake recounted their night hiding in the basement, but Tom was not listening. His mind wandered back to their last fight. There were numerous occasions on which things could have turned out much worse. Bo almost lost his leg, and could have died if Finn and Kate hadn't healed him. They could have run out of mana and had no way to defend themselves. Amber's antics could have got her bitten again.

Tom replayed close call after close call in his head. His heart rate refused to slow down.

How can I keep them safe?

Tom was a tank. Which meant he needed to take the risks, and the damage, so his family and friends didn't have to.

Tom stretched, wincing. The cut and welts were fully healed, but pain flickered wherever he had sustained damage. As if on cue, his thumb, back, leg, side, and pretty much everywhere else, began to throb.

"That's when I was just about to make my move, you see after Kate had taken my bat I was going to—"

"We ready to keep moving?" Tom said.

Blake shot him a sour glance.

Thuds and clinking metal sounded behind them; items replaced the fallen Headless.

"Where did the monsters go?" asked Bridget.

Blake spun on the spot, as though expecting the dead bodies to ambush them.

Amber snorted.

Loo, Blake, and Bridget had no items to gather.

Chloe hobbled to the items, though thankfully her breathing was back under control. "Maybe you only get loot if you contribute to the fight. Finn probably gets loot since he's healing people before the monsters disappear. That's just a guess, though."

Loo stared at the ground, her shoulders slumped. Tom put his arm around her.

They added sixteen Copper Coins to their collection.

Tom received another Iron Ingot.

Hana received a pair of padded Simple Cloth Bracers that gave an XS boost to malady magic. She could only wear one, so Bo helped tie the other to her belt.

Chloe received a Simple Copper Ring that boosted psychic power.

Amber gained a Simple Bronze Dagger with increased critical strike damage, bringing her total items to two. A giant smile plastered her face. She practically skipped across the street and tossed the gore-covered, slightly bent fireplace poker into the woods.

This is going to be a problem.

"Careful with that Dagger!" Tom called. "We don't want anyone hurt."

Amber tilted her head back and sighed.

Kate received a pair of Simple Leather Gloves, and Finn was given a Simple Leather Tunic. Both items boosted nature magic.

"Hey, Tess, what was the thing you and Amber did during the Level 2 monster fight?" Tom asked.

"I figured out I can assign targets and attack plans with my [Battle Map]. I can send the plan to someone and they can see it."

"Yep! It looked like a path with green arrows, starting with me and ending at the monster," said Amber. "I could see Tess was going to do the same attack, but on the other side, because she had the same arrow path in front of her."

"Well, that is . . . awesome," Tom said.

He wanted to remind them about being safe, but the residual pain made it difficult to think.

The group donned their new items, handed out clothes and blankets, and redistributed the backpacks.

They resumed their long walk to the police station. Tom and Kate led the way, with Bo and Hana at the rear, and the children—and the Hesses—in the middle. As they walked, the Damascus sisters explained how to access their information sheets.

They traveled along what was once a smooth concrete subdivision road. The concrete was gone, and the dirt path was perforated by large new sections of dense woodland. Tom flinched over and over again at the sound of frozen mud crunching beneath the feet of eleven people.

Tom's unease grew. It seemed like they had been walking for miles, yet Tom still recognized landmarks from their neighborhood; landmarks that should have only taken minutes to reach.

Just as Tom was about to voice his concerns, Loo stopped and pointed toward the sky. "Mom! Dad! Smoke!"

"We should go and look," Hana said. "Maybe they can help? Or maybe they need help?"

Chloe's voice was small. "What if that's a monster's campfire?"

Blake pointed at Chloe and nodded. "I'm with her. I say we continue on to the police station. If there are people there, they can fend for themselves."

"I didn't say that!"

"That is real nice," Hana said, her tone turning hot. "What if we'd done that to you?"

"I can check it out," Amber said.

"The hell you will," said Tom.

"I think we should check it out," Bo said. "People could need our help. But also, it's going to be cold tonight. Unless anyone remembered a lighter, we're going to need that campfire."

Dammit. He's right.

"Okay. I say we check it out, too," Kate said.

"I agree," said Bridget. She gave Blake a dirty look.

"Okay," said Bo. "If we do this, we need to be extra quiet."

He pointed at Blake. "No running."

Blake mumbled something about not leaving Bridget.

They cautiously made their way into the dense woods. The sharp scent of pine and damp earth filled Tom's nostrils. The trees seemed to close in around him, casting long shadows that danced on the forest floor.

They came to a large open clearing. The area was expansive, stretching for what seemed like miles, before peaking into a large hill in the center. Most of it was blanketed in snow, though there were gaps where makeshift campfires burned, or where lone trees stood defiantly against the cold.

Dread grew in Tom's heart.

The snowy tapestry was marred by injured and bloodied bodies. Many were not moving. Others moaned in pain.

A young East Asian woman dashed around, her head flitting in different directions. She carried a shovel across her body like a shield; she appeared unharmed, though she and her makeshift weapon were splattered with blood and other unidentifiable pieces of gore.

Patches of white snow were stained scarlet. Deep tracks and footprints scored the clearing; not all of them were human.

A young White man wept over one of the figures. A little boy with golden skin and wet cheeks stood alone, crying out for his Mommy. A middle-aged Black woman staggered around with an empty expression, rivulets of crimson leaking from beneath her curls.

Tom had only ever seen images like this on the news before. But here it was; right in front of him.