TAKE ON ME [Survival LITRPG Apocalypse]

The earth rumbled beneath their feet. They threw themselves through thick foliage and around tree trunks. Tess's legs shook, and her vision swam.

Foundation still wasn't in sight.

The woods around them rang with headless shrieks and trembled under a distant stampede of flat feet.

*****

The evening of day six had fully settled when—bruised, sticky, and aching under the weight of their loot—they had hauled themselves out of the Spider Dungeon and reunited with the support team.

They worked together to clear the Dungeon of Coins and blueprints, and then camped until sunrise.

Tess's restless brain whirred with questions and worries. Would they make it back to Foundation in time for the next monster wave? Would the town be ready?

Pastel shades of pink and orange crept over the horizon, tinting the intricate Spider webs hanging from the trees. It was beautiful. But there was no time to sit and gawk.

This time they headed directly south. The new route would bypass Loo's territory and—hopefully—save time.

They progressed strait South, dense Spider-infested forest gave way to rugged cliffs. They were in the top-middle fiefdom of the Headless Dungeon territory, which belonged to Tom.

Tony the [Miner] discovered veins of Iron. However, Tess had to curb his and Bo's excitement; they only had two days to make it back to Foundation.

They continued to push hard.

Tess's feet sank into thick, lush grass. A stream tinkled beside them, flowing in the direction of Hana's territory. She pulled up her map; they were in the middle of the Headless territory, and the land was Kate's.

Kate crouched, and ran her fingers through the dark soil. "I don't know much about farming." She brought her hand to her nose and inhaled deeply. "But the dirt smells . . . ready."

Tom—whose vision hadn't fully returned—stumbled over a rock at the water's edge, and nearly fell face-first into the stream. Kate caught him and struggled to pull him back; his internal Iron-laden body was heavy.

They pushed on, but were impeded by mud and Tom's impaired eyesight. His weight pushed him into the damp earth, sometimes up to his calves. They took it in turns to guide him around obstacles and pull him through the muck.

Tess's Dad showed a blueprint to Hana. "These paved walkways . . . they're not just a convenience, they're a game-changer. They'll stop us sinking in the mud, and they have a time dilation effect. I know I was upset about the loot, but this blueprint alone is worth the trip."

They pushed on. Tess's legs screamed at the relentless pace. Even Richard's full-volume whining dulled into quiet groaning.

Finn had pushed himself hard throughout the day, with Hana persistently checking on him. Tess knew her brother, Finn would have crawled back to foundation if he had to but the relentless cramps eventually became too much. Finn was now being hauled red faced on a makeshift stretcher crafted from three long tree limbs and an animal skin.

The Sun slipped below the horizon, painting the sky with orange and purple hues. Tess's stomach knotted; they wouldn't make it home today.

"We need to make camp." Tess's voice was tight.

Bo's face fell. "But the monster wave is tomorrow—"

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"It's too dangerous to travel at night in such an exposed place. There could still be high level Trolls and Goblins out here and we can barely move in this muck."

"But—"

"I don't like it either. In fact, I hate it. I'm worried about Foundation too. We will just have to push hard and make it back before nightfall."

Richard sank to the ground with an exaggerated display of groaning and yelps of pain.

Finn flopped off the stretcher without a word. One leg brace was barely hanging on, and the other was carving deep red welts into his flesh.

How much longer before he can't walk?

That night she tried to sleep but Tess mostly paced around the makeshift camp, her boots wearing an oval path into the dirt.

Even Amber was groggy when Tess awoke everyone in the pre-dawn darkness; at least, until Tess reminded her about the available experience in the monster wave.

Tess set a punishing pace. The others struggled to keep up, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. Tom's eyesight was better, but Kate still had to guide him. Tess's parents took it in turns to help support Finn. Even Richard was too tired to moan or complain.

They reached the end of Kate's fiefdom and entered Bo's land from the northwest. However, the Sun had begun its downward trajectory, and they were still miles from Foundation.

"Tess," said Hana. "We need to rest—"

"No!" Tess didn't break stride. "We can't afford to stop."

*****

They broke through the treeline with Headless squeals at their backs.

Foundation's warm silhouette was straight ahead.

They were exhausted but Tess urged new strength into her legs and raced for the hilltop.

Figures stood there in formation, their weapons glinting in the fading sunlight.

They're ready. They did it.

Cheers erupted from the hilltop. Hands and blades lifted into the air.

Tess didn't have enough breath in her lungs to cheer back. She pumped her legs up the incline, expecting clawed hands to grab her ankles.

They sprinted up the final part of the hill. The sight of home seemed to have injected energy into their exhausted bodies.

Rest later. We've got work to do.

Eric broke formation and ran toward her as she crested the hill.

"Lady Tess! I knew you'd make it!"

Tess risked a glance behind her. The Headless were nowhere in sight.

Tess turned back to Eric. She straightened her spine. "Of course! How are we looking?"

*****

The six teams formed a human shield around the edge of the hilltop, with most of the town's residents in the center. Children clung to adults. Dale, the man who had lost his wheelchair, sat with another white-haired couple, talking to them and keeping them calm. Ellen and her brothers guarded the Spider pups, whose frightened cries joined the cacophony.

"Team Four!" Tess barked. "What good are you way back there? Team Five, where the hell is your tank? Wait, what is he doing over there . . . "

She shook her head, and her eyes moved back to the treeline.

The Headless hadn't followed them across the plain and up the hill. However, their eerie cries echoed from the forest, and the trees at the border rustled and moved. There was a flash of pale skin in the gap between two gnarled oaks.

The darkness was deepening, and the flitting movements were harder to spot; the figures melted into the shadows before Tess could train her eyes on them.

What are they waiting for?

Tess's muscles tensed. Her hands tightened on the hilt of her Sword. She gritted her teeth.

Amber appeared at her side. "Are they scared?"

Tess shook her head.

"Then why are they just hanging around?"

"I don't like it," Tess murmured. "They're up to something." She blinked. "Get back in formation! Don't set a bad example."

Amber rolled her eyes, but she headed back to her spot.

The screeches and grunts from the forest set Tess's nerves on edge.

*****

An hour later, Tess paced back and forth along the front of the formation.

The forest was silent.

Her nerves were frazzled.

What in the hell are they doing?

Tess paused mid-lap and checked the Teams' formations again. Her enhanced [Battle Map] showed that many of the defenders had leveled up. Some of them had new items; Bridget held a [Crappy] guitar, and the [Bard] from Team Four had a bulky drum strapped to his chest.

Foundation had continued to function while they were gone.

Tess used her enhanced [Battle Map] to send a message to Bridget; she would play the first song.

Bridget looked nervous. However, she spotted Tess across the grass, and nodded.

"Lady Tess?" Mara, one of the newer recruits in Team Five, waved a brown hand and approached Tess. "What's going on? How long are we going to stand here."

Tess shook her head. "I don't know. But we need to stay ready."

Mara's face fell. "But . . . they're not there anymore. Maybe we should go back to the Shacks—"

"No." Tess's voice was sharp. "We stay in position. That's an order!"

Mara skulked back to her place. Murmurs of discontent rippled through the ranks.

Tess frowned. "They're still out there," she muttered. "I know it. They would just love it if we broke ranks."

Another hour dragged by with no noise and no movement from the tress.

"They've fucking gone!"

"My legs are tired."

"I need to use the restroom!"

Tess's resolve waned. Her own legs were trembling.

"All right," she called out. "You can sit, but stay in formation. We're not dropping our guard."

Grumbling and cursing, the teams lowered themselves to the ground.

Tess remained standing, her eyes fixed on the treeline.

"This is bullshit," someone muttered nearby. "We're wasting our time."

Tess ignored them. She focused on the gnawing sensation in her gut.

The forest erupted.

Pygmies poured from the trees, their inhuman shrieks splitting the air.

"On your feet!" Tess roared. Her [Battle Map] flared to life. "Lock in! Now!"

The Raintree defenders scrambled into position as Tess barked orders.

Jill moved forward and walked down the hill at the rushing Pygmies. "You're seriously doing this?" she screamed. "Don't you remember last week, you pale pieces of shit? Wrong fucking hill!" her debuff covering dozens of the approaching monsters.

That had become Tess's favorite saying of Jill's.

The monsters closed in.

Jill retreated back into her group for protection.

The creatures swarmed up the hill, squealing with bloodlust. Tess's heart pounded as she watched her tank line brace for impact.

"Hold the line!" she shouted. "Don't let them break through!"

With a thunderous crash, the two forces collided.