Tick Tock On The Clock [LITRPG Deckbuilding with Time Ticking down]

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A larger hellhound stood barely five feet away, silent and still as death. It hadn't come with the others. Viscous, glowing saliva dripped from its mouth and hissed when it touched the ash-covered ground.

And then its molten jaws snapped forward, its glowing teeth aiming for Dorian's throat.

Dorian's instincts kicked in, and he twisted right, shoving the kids behind him as he threw himself into the path of the attack. The hound's claws raked across his back, burning through fabric and slicing deep into muscle.

Fuck! Fuck

Intense pain exploded through him, but the wound cauterized instantly as the hound's ember-lined claws seared his flesh closed. The stench of burning skin filled the air.

Dorian gritted his teeth, his breath hissing through clenched teeth as he hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet. Pain radiated through his entire back like a wildfire, but he forced himself to move, his eyes never leaving the beast.

Mara and Lian scrambled back, eyes wide and terrified.

"Get behind me!" Dorian barked, pumping his shotgun. The metallic clack echoed through the clearing like a gunshot. "Find cover, but always stay behind me!"

Lian grabbed Mara's arm, dragging her toward the remains of a fallen tree trunk, both of them scrambling to get behind it.

The hellhound lunged again, a black blur of flames and muscle.

Dorian's jaw clenched as he surged forward, meeting the monster head-on. He braced his legs, his right fist swinging up in a brutal uppercut that connected with the hound's snout. The impact echoed through his bones, but it barely staggered the beast.

It snapped its jaws at him, fangs flashing like molten daggers. Dorian twisted, taking another searing swipe across his left side, the claws cutting deep into his ribs. Blood poured down his side, and the heat of the hound's claws sealed the wounds shut, flesh sizzling.

But the opening was there.

Dorian grunted, raised the shotgun with one arm, and jammed the barrel under the hound's chin.

"Eat this!"

BOOM!

The shotgun roared, the force sending the hellhound skidding back, crimson blood spraying from its ruptured throat.

BOOM! BOOM!

Two more shots—one to the chest, one to the skull. The hound's eyes dimmed, the flames in its sockets sputtering as it collapsed in a smoking heap, its body convulsing as the molten veins cooled.

Goddamn it!

Dorian staggered back, sucking in a ragged breath. His arms trembled, and his back screamed in agony, every wound blazing like it was still on fire. Sweat dripped down his face, mingling with the blood running in thin rivulets down his neck.

But he had no time to recover.

A chorus of howls echoed through the trees.

Dorian's head snapped up, his heart hammering against his ribs. Shadows moved in the periphery.

One. Two. Five. You've got to be joking.

Five more hellhounds emerged from the smoke-drenched forest, their eyes blazing like smoldering coals. They fanned out, surrounding him, their growls vibrating the ground beneath his feet.

"Shit," Dorian muttered under his breath, pumping the shotgun again. The empty clicks echoed back at him, out of ammo. Throwing the shotgun, he took out his handgun and knife, stabilizing his stance and controlling his breathing.

The first hound charged, its molten claws tearing up the ground as it barreled toward him.

Dorian roared and shot his gun while ducking and slashing upwards. The beast yelped, stumbling, but another leaped at him from behind.

It sank its teeth into his forearm. Pain shot up Dorian's arm like lightning, the fangs burning through muscle. He grunted and bashed the gun's stock against the beast's head, feeling its skull crack as he shot another bullet into the monster. The hound released its grip, but its molten blood splashed onto his skin, blistering it instantly.

Dorian fell to one knee, gasping for air, eyes blurred with sweat and blood. Another hound lunged, its claws aiming for his throat.

Is this it?… god damn Dorian get up!

He threw up an arm to shield himself, and then a shadow dropped from the sky like a meteor.

A hulking, black-armored beast slammed into the hound mid-leap, sending it crashing into the dirt with a thunderous impact. The ground shook.

The hellhound thrashed, howling, but the newcomer tore into it with monstrous strength, tentacles and claws ripping the beast apart, blood splattering like rain.

A familiar voice echoed through the clearing, ragged but unmistakable.

"You miss me, old man?"

Cassian stood atop the Behemoth's massive back, one hand clutching a makeshift sash around his waist—the only thing he was wearing. He was bruised, bloodied, and bald, but he was alive.

And he was grinning like a man who'd just crawled out of hell and was ready to raise it all over again.

"Took your sweet time…" Dorian managed to croak before collapsing, but there was a smile of relief on his face. For now, he could rest, and Cassian would take care of this mess. I probably need a massage, these bones are getting old.

…

Scanning the battlefield, Cassian counted four more hellhounds prowling at the edge of the clearing. Their burning eyes flicked warily between him and the towering figure of Behemoth, who stood with blood-soaked tentacles quivering, yellow eyes glowing like smoldering coals.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Cassian patted Behemoth's massive shoulder. "Go on, buddy. Rip them apart."

Cassian dropped to the ground, knees bending to absorb the impact. Dust and ash rose in a cloud around him as he straightened, his gaze immediately snapping to Dorian.

Shit! heal card is on the other preset… damn it'll take a few minutes.

He moved to Dorian as he mentally changed the preset back to preset 3, dropping to his knees beside the man. Dorian's breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling in ragged bursts. Blood seeped from gashes along his back and arms, the wounds still smoldering from the hellhound's searing claws.

« You are changing your soulkeep preset to #3, equipped cards heal and creation attunement cards, time to switch: 96 seconds »

Damn it, he's worse off than I thought.

Behemoth's eyes flashed, and with a roar that shook the trees, the hulking summon charged forward, a wall of muscle and rage. The ground trembled beneath its thunderous steps as it crashed into the first hellhound, slamming it to the ground with a single, crushing blow. Limbs snapped, bones crunched, and the air filled with snarls and the wet, sickening sound of flesh tearing.

Cassian didn't need to look twice. Behemoth would handle it.

« Ding! Preset switched to #3, Cards are now active, Behemoth will despawn in a few minutes »

Despawn? Oh, I don't have him equipped here… Sorry, buddy, I'll summon you soon.

Feeling the familiar hum of creation energy ripple through his core essence well as he could feel his total essence shrink. Sighing, He laid a hand on Dorian's chest, the coolness of his palm a stark contrast to the feverish heat radiating from the man's skin.

Behemoth stomped back toward them, its chest heaving, black ichor dripping from its claws. It hovered protectively over Cassian, eyes scanning the area, ever vigilant.

"Let me know if any hostile entities are spotted till you are up," Cassian murmured to his summon without looking up.

Behemoth rumbled in acknowledgment, lowering itself slightly, as if to shield them both.

Cassian inhaled deeply, centered himself, and summoned the healing card. "Heal."

A warm, golden glow burst from his palms, enveloping Dorian in a soft, radiant light. The energy pulsed, washing over his torn flesh, knitting muscle, and sealing wounds. Burns faded, cuts closed, and Dorian's breathing grew steadier, stronger. Yet he remained unconscious.

Flexing his wrist, he slapped Dorian, and immediately his eyelids fluttered, then snapped open.

"What the hell, Cassian?"

Cassian shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "You looked dead. Thought a slap might wake you up."

Dorian groaned. "Next time, try a gentle nudge."

Cassian grinned, the expression full of teeth and relief. "Next time, don't get mauled by hellhounds." He gestured toward the pile of debris nearby. "Now, get up. Go check on the kids. They're still shaking like leaves."

Dorian pushed himself to his feet, wincing as he tested his newly healed arm.

"Yeah, yeah." As he limped away, he shot Cassian a look, his eyes lingering on the makeshift sash wrapped around Cassian's waist. "Nice look, by the way. The bald monk thing really works for you."

Cassian scowled, running a hand over his smooth scalp. "Shut up. I'll grow it back soon."

Dorian just chuckled, shaking his head as he moved toward the fallen tree where Lian and Mara were still huddled together, eyes wide and tear-streaked.

Cassian let out a long breath, the adrenaline starting to drain from his veins. He wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow, then bent down to retrieve Dorian's bag.

Rummaging through it, he yanked out a black bodysuit and a gray jumper. Both were a bit singed and smelled like ash, but they were intact. Good enough. He slipped into the bodysuit first, the cool material clinging to his skin, then shrugged on the jumper, zipping it up to his collarbone.

No boots, though.

A familiar pair of small hands patted the top of his head. Cassian's eyes widened as he whipped around to see Mara grinning up at him, her hand still resting on his bald scalp.

"You're so shiny! And smooth," she giggled.

Lian appeared beside her, his eyes puffy and red, but there was a tiny, wavering smile on his lips. "You look like a… like a shiny egg," he said, voice cracking but amused.

Cassian's scowl deepened as he tried to bat Mara's hand away, but she only dodged and laughed harder.

"Alright, alright, enough!" he muttered, though a grin tugged at his lips despite himself. "I swear, I'll grow it back."

"Sure you will," Dorian said, coming up behind the kids with a crooked smile. "You'll be back to your pretty-boy self in no time."

Cassian rolled his eyes, but the tension in his chest finally began to loosen as he took in the scene before him. Dorian stood tall, battered but breathing. Lian and Mara were laughing, the sound bright and sweet despite the grim backdrop of scorched earth and smoldering trees.

But as the moment stretched, a cold weight settled in Cassian's stomach. The laughter echoed strangely in his ears, like a hollow bell. Something was missing.

Wait… where's Dr. Elira?

Cassian opened his mouth to ask, but before he could, his eyes met Dorian's.

The old soldier's expression tightened. A dark shadow passed through his gaze, and he shook his head—a single, hard shake that said it all.

Not now.

His heart pounded against his ribs, but he swallowed the question down. Now wasn't the time to press. Not with the kids right there, their eyes still wet and glimmering with relief.

He let out a heavy sigh, the air escaping him in a slow, controlled exhale. Then he pushed to his feet, brushing dirt from his knees. "So," he said, forcing his tone to stay level. "Where to now?"

Dorian's eyes lingered on the kids for a moment before he turned to Cassian. "If I remember right," he said, his voice rough but steady, "there used to be an underground shelter some distance away at the base of mountains, It was a massive project and could hold most of the city's population, I believe that's where they were evacuated during the initial outbreak."

Cassian frowned, glancing at the barren, scarred landscape. "You think it's still operational? Or are we walking into a tomb? Like the facility"

Dorian rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes shadowed. "Not sure," he said. "Could be operational. Could be emptied out. Either way, it's the only place close enough that might still have supplies. And if there are survivors…"

Cassian nodded, understanding the unspoken words. If there were survivors, they might have news. Or at the very least, some sign of what happened. He still has found no hints of what's the goddamn main quest.

"Alright," he said, squaring his shoulders. "Lead the way."

…

[05: 18: 28: 43]

Five hours later, the group trudged through the charred remains of what had once been a dense forest. The air was thick with the scent of burnt wood and sulfur, a smoky haze lingering over the ground.

They'd encountered more hellhounds along the way. Smaller packs this time, nothing like the group that had ambushed Dorian.

None of them had yielded any soulsparks. Cassian frowned, wiping blood from his dagger. "We're not getting any soulsparks?"

Dorian nodded, leaning against a half-toppled tree. "Not every monster carries them," he said, his voice hoarse. "Soul sparks are rare. The amount we got in the Nest was... Ungodly, I told you that"

That's a bummer…

Cassian sheathed his blade, a sour taste in his mouth.

He glanced down at the kids. Mara's eyes drooped, and Lian's feet dragged with exhaustion. Cassian's brow furrowed. They needed shelter, food, and a place to rest. And soon.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Dorian raised a hand, halting them. "Hold up," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.

Cassian's eyes narrowed as he scanned the area. The trees ahead had been cleared away, the ground smoothed into an open stretch of packed dirt. Faded markings lined the earth—man-made, deliberate. Signs of civilization.

Cassian felt a flicker of hope. "We're there?"

Dorian nodded grimly. "Yeah. We're close."

They continued forward cautiously, weaving through the debris-strewn path. Ahead, three figures emerged, stepping out from behind a makeshift barricade.

Soldiers.

Each one wore combat fatigues, their eyes hard and wary. Assault rifles were leveled at Cassian and the others, fingers hovering over triggers.

"Identify yourselves!" one of them barked, his voice rough and sharp. "James, they got kids, man," another one whispered.

The other two flanked him, eyes darting between Cassian, Dorian, and the kids. They were on edge, tense, and ready to fire.

Cassian's jaw tightened. His hand twitched toward his dagger, but he forced himself to stay calm. The last thing they needed was another fight.

Beside him, Dorian stepped forward, raising his hands in a slow, deliberate motion. "Easy," he said, his voice firm. "We're survivors."

The soldiers exchanged glances, guns still raised, expressions hard and unyielding.

Cassian's muscles coiled, every sense on high alert as he braced himself for whatever came next.

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