NOVPUB"The target has appeared, we’re under attack!" A soldier who narrowly escaped the carnage looked in horror at the bloodshed around him.
His scream, relayed through the radio, reached every Eldorian Army soldier in the town. "Return fire! Return fire!" shouted a sergeant, commanding his squad. 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓅𝓊𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
The sound of SR-47 rifles echoed through the streets like continuous firecrackers. As gunfire erupted, the local people panicked.
Some grabbed their children and fled into the nearest houses, while the braver ones huddled by their windows, recording the chaos on their phones.
Two Golden Eagle helicopters, loaded with ammunition, swiftly approached the town, causing a massive disturbance in the air. "Activate thermal imaging!" commanded the pilot.
The town turned into a patchwork of colors on their screens, but there was no sign of the creature. "Target not found," reported the pilot.
"Switch to sonic detection," ordered the command center. As the pilots changed their visualization mode, a huge creature suddenly appeared on their green-hued screen.
Before they could react, their helicopter exploded into a giant fireball.
Nearby windows shattered instantly. A man who had been filming by a window had his neck slashed by the flying debris, and his blood spurted onto the wall.
He desperately clutched at his neck, but the blood continued to pour through his fingers. His wife and children stood frozen in shock.
The helicopter’s explosion disrupted the creature’s invisibility, revealing patches of its black scales. "Target spotted! Target spotted!" shouted the Eldorian soldiers in terror.
Although they had been briefed about facing an extraordinary life form, nothing could have prepared them for the loss of an armored vehicle and a helicopter in less than twenty seconds.
"Fire at will!" the command came. Bullets poured from the armored vehicle’s machine gun, striking the black scales, but they could only produce sparks without inflicting any real damage.
As more of the creature’s camouflage was disrupted, its full form became visible.
It was a lizard-like behemoth, over ten meters long, with clearly defined scales that made it resemble a wingless dragon. "God, what in the world is that thing!" cursed one of the soldiers.
The Lizard Monster, with its four emotionless eyes, regarded the humans as insignificant bugs.
It flicked its tongue with a phantom-like speed, striking another armored vehicle and sending it crashing into a residential building, disappearing amidst dust and debris.
"Our firearms are useless against this damn thing, we need heavy artillery support! Repeat, we need heavy artillery support!" Soldiers shouted frantically as they hid and returned fire.
"Fire at full force!" the commander roared into the communication system, infuriated by the situation.
His deputy tried to interject, "But there are civilians here!"
"I am the highest-ranking officer here, my soldiers are being slaughtered, I said full force! Do you understand?" the commander bellowed.
Following the order, the remaining helicopters launched ground-to-air missiles.
The Lizard Monster spat out its tongue, intercepting and detonating them mid-air, although two managed to hit and explode upon its body. The impact tore its flesh apart, sending chunks flying.
Eldoria soldiers momentarily felt a surge of hope. If it could be wounded, it could be defeated.
However, their hope was short-lived as the Lizard Monster swiftly consumed nearby corpses, its wounds eerily healing instantly.
...
Inside the small shop, the continuous explosions and impacts from outside reverberated. The shopkeeper huddled under the counter in fear.
Chelsea and Henry also looked terrified, only Kevin, the old soldier, seemed more composed, constantly observing the outside situation.
Eldoria Army’s position was deteriorating fast. Within minutes, they had lost a third of their manpower and equipment.
"Henry, Chelsea, let’s get out from the back, gather the townspeople, and leave while the monster is distracted by the Eldoria Army," Kevin suggested.
But before he could finish, the building shook violently. The Lizard Monster wasn’t just going to stand still and be a target. It dashed through the town, wreaking havoc, moving at incredible speeds.
With its sudden movement, the situation changed drastically. The Eldoria Army struggled to hit it while the monster easily picked them off one by one.
The last Golden Eagle helicopter tried to ascend for safety but was struck and crashed into a house across from the shop, causing the shopkeeper to shudder in terror.
Over half of the Eldoria Army was now lost.
"The town’s layout is working against us, let’s retreat and engage in open terrain," the deputy advised.
The commander, with a grim expression, knew the tide of battle had turned. Continuing the fight meant more casualties under his command. "All units, orderly retreat, exit the town."
Upon seeing the Eldoria Army retreating, Henry slammed his fist on the table in anger. "These bastards stirred up the monster and now they’re running away!"
Kevin’s expression darkened too. He had hoped to lead the townspeople to safety, but the army’s sudden retreat left them with little time.
The thunderous sounds continued in the town, marking the Lizard Monster’s destruction of homes and its consumption of the residents within.
Reaching their destination, Kevin knocked on a battered door. A woman’s voice, quivering with fear, responded from inside. "Who’s there?"
"It’s me, Kevin. We’re here to get you out," he replied calmly.
The door creaked open, revealing a terrified family huddled together. Kevin quickly ushered them out, leading them towards a safer path out of the town.
As they navigated through the chaotic streets, the sounds of the Lizard Monster’s destruction echoed ominously. They moved swiftly but cautiously, avoiding any direct confrontation with the beast.
They came across more residents trapped in their homes, each rescue adding to their group. Chelsea and Henry worked alongside Kevin, their faces set in determination despite the fear in their hearts.
The town, once a quiet and peaceful place, was now a labyrinth of danger and destruction. Buildings lay in ruins, streets were torn up, and the constant threat of the Lizard Monster loomed over them.
Despite the harrowing circumstances, the small group of rescuers remained resolute. They understood the gravity of their mission - every life they saved was a victory against the chaos and despair that had engulfed their town.
As they neared the edge of the town, Kevin looked back at the destruction, his heart heavy with sorrow.
This was no longer the place he had known; it had become a battleground for a conflict beyond their understanding.
But there was no time to mourn. They had lives to save, and every moment mattered.
With renewed determination, Kevin led the way, guiding the survivors towards safety, away from the nightmare that had befallen Lukesburg.
Kevin, Chelsea, and Henry eventually located a man whose leg was trapped under heavy debris, his face etched with panic and fear.
Working together with all their strength, they managed to lift the beam and pull the injured man to safety.
"Thank you, Dr. Kevin," the man managed to gasp, his relief palpable.
"There’s no time to lose, let’s move!" Kevin urged, and they quickly assisted the man, hobbling away from the danger zone.
Just then, the ground beneath them trembled violently; nearby buildings collapsed like houses of cards, a clear sign that the Lizard Monster was drawing near.
In a frantic search for cover, they found refuge behind a sturdy wall.
The Lizard Monster, with its long, sinuous tongue, effortlessly pulled screaming victims from a demolished house and swallowed them whole.
The group, hidden behind the wall, gasped for breath, their hearts racing with terror.
As they prepared to leave their hiding spot, a baby’s cry suddenly pierced the eerie silence, stopping them in their tracks.
Peering cautiously, Kevin spotted a small arm protruding from a cupboard in the collapsed house – a clear indication that the devoured parents had hidden their child there.
The Lizard Monster, drawn by the baby’s cries, paused momentarily. Kevin’s face twisted in anguish and indecision.
After a moment of deep contemplation, he made a decision and turned to his companions. "You two need to get out of here. I can’t ask you to follow me into this danger."
Chelsea, grabbing his hand with a determined grip, pleaded, "No, Kevin…"
Kevin, filled with a sense of guilt and responsibility, tried to insist. "I’m sorry, Chelsea, but you don’t have to be part of this. You’ve already spent two years here; you deserve a better future."
Unwilling to leave his side, Chelsea firmly stated, "If you go, I go."
Kevin’s expression softened, touched by her resolve. Just as he was about to argue further, Henry suddenly broke away, his voice trailing behind him, "You both need to get out now!"
"I’m just Henry from Hudson, a nobody. No family, no ties. Grew up on the streets, always looked down upon because of my mixed heritage.
But ever since I met you two and learned medicine, I’ve felt respected, like a real person, not just some street trash."
"If I die, no one will mourn. But you two have a whole future ahead of you. So please, live!"
Henry’s words echoed as he ran into the rubble, fearlessly pulling the infant from the cupboard and then sprinting away with all his might, racing against time and danger.
Kevin and Chelsea watched in stunned silence, their hearts heavy with a mix of admiration and dread.
