The Extra becomes the Villain's Bodyguard-Chapter 39: Every man for himself

Day 1-3

The initial reports of monstrous attacks were met with disbelief, then horror as the reality of the situation set in. Emergency services were quickly overwhelmed, hospitals overflowing with the injured and dying.

Doctors and staff were shorthanded and medical supplies running out.

Day 4-5

As the attacks intensified, the authorities began to abandon non-essential facilities. Prisons, long-term care homes, and mental health institutions were left to fend for themselves. Guards, fearing for their own safety, fled, leaving inmates and patients at the mercy of the unfolding chaos.

In the prisons, a power vacuum emerged. Some inmates, emboldened by the absence of authority, seized the opportunity to escape, only to be met by monsters AND THE UNPREPARED WERE SLAUGHTERED.

Others, particularly the elderly and infirm, were left to face a grim fate, abandoned by the very system that was supposed to protect them.

The military quickly recognized the need to develop specialized units to counter the specific threats posed by the goblins and wolves. Rangers, with their stealth and agility, were tasked with infiltrating goblin dens and neutralizing them before they could wreak havoc. Snipers, equipped with high-powered rifles and night vision scopes, were deployed to hunt down lone wolves and prevent them from forming packs.

They studied the creatures’ behavior taking specimens, exploiting their weaknesses, and using their own strengths to their advantage. For example, they discovered that goblins were highly territorial, and by setting traps and ambushes within their dens, they could significantly reduce their numbers.

However, the initial successes against the monstrous invaders were short-lived. As the conflict dragged on, the military’s logistical challenges began to pile. The destruction of communication lines and transport routes made it increasingly difficult to resupply troops and evacuate the wounded. Ammunition became a precious commodity, rationed carefully to ensure that soldiers had the means to fight.

The constant need for new equipment, medical supplies, and reinforcements strained the nation’s resources to their breaking point.

The relentless nature of the invasion and the increasing lethality of the monsters took a heavy toll on the military. Witnessing comrades die in horrific ways and the constant pressure of fighting a seemingly endless enemy took a heavy toll on morale. PTSD and combat fatigue became widespread, leading to a decline in combat effectiveness and an increase in desertions.

The rising casualty rates and the constant fear of death took a heavy toll on the morale of the troops. Many soldiers, witnessing the horrors of war firsthand, began to question the meaning of their sacrifice. Some even felt that they were not being paid enough to risk their lives in such a hopeless conflict.

As the war dragged on, the number of desertions began to rise. Soldiers, driven by fear, concern for their families, and a growing sense of disillusionment, abandoned their posts, seeking safety and solace in the face of overwhelming odds.

The desertions further weakened the military, exacerbating the logistical challenges and making it even more difficult to defend against the relentless onslaught of the monsters. The war had taken its toll on the nation, both physically and psychologically.

The discovery of the System and its promise of power added a new layer of complexity to the situation. Soldiers, witnessing the supernatural abilities displayed by some of the monstrous creatures, began to question their own limitations. The System, with its promise of enhanced strength, speed, and even magical abilities, became a beacon of hope, a way to gain an edge in the seemingly endless conflict.

However, this newfound hope also bred a dangerous ambition. Some soldiers, driven by a lust for power and a desire to survive at all costs, began to prioritize personal gain over the collective good. They deserted their units, seeking to master the System’s powers, forming rogue factions that posed a new threat to the fragile remnants of order.

The introduction of the System into the war against the monsters proved to be a double-edged sword. While it offered a glimmer of hope for humanity, it also unleashed a wave of greed and corruption. Soldiers, once driven by a sense of duty and patriotism, were now tempted by the promise of power, leading to a further erosion of morale and a fracturing of the military’s ranks.

As the war raged on, the lines between hero and villain blurred. The once-honorable soldiers were now faced with a difficult choice: to remain loyal to their oath and fight for the survival of humanity or to succumb to the allure of power.

***************************************

The initial chaos of the invasion gave way to a grim reality as the full extent of the damage became clear. The once-vibrant cities and towns were now shadows of their former selves, their infrastructure crippled and their populations decimated.

The initial disruptions were localized, but they quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis. Power grids were overwhelmed, communication lines were severed, and roads were rendered impassable. As the attacks intensified, the situation deteriorated rapidly.

The lack of maintenance slowly eroded the foundations of civilization. Essential personnel, diverted to combat roles or fleeing for their lives, could no longer maintain the critical infrastructure that sustained daily life. Power plants, once the engines of progress, began to sputter and fail, plunging cities into darkness.

The internet, once a lifeline connecting people across the globe, became a privilege; everyone was busy trying to survive. Communication networks, reliant on a complex web of servers and cables, crumbled under the destruction.

With the military stretched thin and law enforcement agencies overwhelmed, the fabric of society began to dissolve. Looting and violence became commonplace, as desperate individuals resorted to desperate measures to survive. Gangs emerged, vying for control of dwindling resources, further destabilizing the already fragile social order.

The failure of water treatment plants and sewage systems led to a public health crisis. Clean water became a precious commodity, and the spread of disease further weakened the population.

Roads became treacherous obstacles. Monster attacks, combined with the lack of maintenance, made travel a perilous undertaking. Fuel shortages and the absence of traffic control brought the transportation networks to a standstill.

The collapse of infrastructure was not an event, but a process, a slow and gradual decline. Each failure fed into the next, creating a cascading effect that made life increasingly difficult and dangerous for the survivors.

Cities were silenced and everyone hiding.

In the face of this impending doom, the baser instincts of humanity began to surface. The greed for power became evident, kindness was scarce. Individuals, driven by a desperate desire to survive, turned on each other, forming factions and vying for control of the dwindling resources. The once-noble ideals of humanity were cast aside.

The world had changed, and it was no longer the world they knew.

******************************************

Two weeks. Two weeks of relentless struggle, of pushing back against the monstrous tide. Two weeks of watching friends and family fall, of witnessing the world crumble around them. And then, a flicker of hope.

The System, the useless, mysterious entity, shimmered back into existence. This time, however, the message was different. An announcement:

[CONGRATULATIONS! 75% OF FLOOR 1 INHABITANTS ELIMINATED. ELEVATION TO FLOOR 2 GRANTED.]

A wave of relief washed over the survivors. It was over. The nightmare was finally over. They had won. There would be peace now, a chance to rebuild, to heal. But the elation was short-lived.

Beneath the congratulatory message, a new line of text appeared, chilling them to the bone:

[FLOOR 2 ACCESS CONDITION. ELIMINATE THE KING OF FLOOR 1 AND HIS ROYAL GUARD TO PROCEED.]

The nightmare wasn’t over. It was just beginning.

Panic set in. Rumors spread like wildfire. What were the monsters of Floor 2 like? Would they be stronger, faster, more intelligent? Fear gnawed at them, a constant companion.

Some argued against killing the King. "If we kill it," one survivor pleaded, "won’t that just make the next floor even harder? What if it unleashes something worse?"

But this sentiment was lost in the chaos. Communication was fragmented, with no central authority to coordinate a response. Some believed killing the King held a hidden advantage, a reward for their victory. Others, driven by fear and a desperate need for a sense of control, simply wanted to eliminate the threat, regardless of the consequences.

The problem was, no one knew where to find the King. The world was vast, and the portals to Floor 1 were numerous and scattered. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack, a desperate hunt with no guarantee of success.

************************************

In the decimated cities, where the echoes of screams and the stench of decay still lingered, the United States military established a presence. Large screens, powered by dwindling generators, were erected in public squares and makeshift settlements. Speakers crackled to life, amplifying a single voice.

The President, his face etched with exhaustion but his voice firm, appeared on the screen. "My fellow Americans," he began, his voice low, "I know fear and despair have gripped our nation. We have faced a darkness we never imagined, a horror unimaginable. But I stand before you today to say that this nation will not fall. We will not surrender to these monstrous creatures."

He spoke of the sacrifices made by the brave soldiers who continued to fight, of the resilience of the human spirit, and of the hope that still flickered in the face of overwhelming odds. He acknowledged the pain and suffering endured by the people... the loss of homes, jobs, and loved ones. And promised to rebuild, to heal, to restore the nation to its former glory.

"I know," he said, his voice heavy with emotion, "that some of our soldiers have betrayed us, have abandoned us in our hour of need. But I also know that the vast majority remain loyal, patriots who will defend this country with their lives. Do not lose hope, my fellow Americans. We will overcome this. We will rebuild. We will prevail!"

The President’s speech was met with a mixed response. Some cheered, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of the screens. They boasted about the strength and resilience of the American military, declaring that they would rise above this crisis, just as they had done before.

Others, however, remained unconvinced. Their cheers were hollow, their faces etched with bitterness. They had lost everything... their homes, their livelihoods, their loved ones. They were hungry, scared and confused. And here was the President, safe and sound, hidden away in some undisclosed location, preaching about hope and resilience.

"Where was he when we were fighting for our lives?" one woman spat, her voice raw with anger. "Where was he when our city was overrun?"

"He’s just trying to save face," another muttered, his voice laced with contempt. "He’s more concerned about his own image than the people he’s supposed to be leading."

The President’s speech, intended to rally the nation, served only to further divide it. It highlighted the growing chasm between the elite, who seemed to have gone through the storm with relative ease, and the ordinary citizens who were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.