Reborn: Apocalypse

Kyle Boxer sighed as he rubbed his forehead, frustration filling him. His eyes were drawn and tired despite the extra sleep he had gotten.

Today was supposed to be a great day for their team, a strong way to start the new year. They had woken up early to go hunting, preparing to lure and kill several Morenkai. Unfortunately, more than half their kills had been stolen by other groups, prompting a brief battle that almost got him shot.

That was the unfortunate reality of existence in the central region of the Stardust Cluster. Everyone that wasn't already part of the larger teams would work hard to snag whatever Points they could, knowing that it could mean the difference between life and death.

"Tommy, do you hear that?" Abruptly, Kyle's eyes narrowed as he heard something echo faintly. His tanned skin creased as he looked around, rustling the army fatigues he wore.

He was sitting in a lounge, one of the rooms that had an outside exit and a small patio. A large table occupied most of the space in this lounge, one that had a couple pieces of paper on it and some vague drawings the man had been sketching. This lounge was hidden away in the skyscraper that was Micheal's new home.

"Tommy!" The man yelled out, standing up in irritation.

"What, Kyle?!" A voice echoed out, coming from the room across from the lounge.

"Do you hear that? It sounds like…" Kyle paused, rubbing at his short brown hair, his green eyes flashing.

"It sounds like…" He paused with disbelief.

"Yes?!"

"It sounds like a country song from back home is being played…" He finished, his voice dying off. This was the start of his second year in this hellish world, he hadn't heard music in what felt like forever.

"Dammit, Kyle! I was in the midst of writing out our Flame Dynamo Group's application to join the Tobagin Party. You know how hard it is to join any of the big groups if you don't start with them." A second man came bursting into the lounge, a black haired man with an annoyed expression on his lined face.

"Tommy, listen." The first speaker, Kyle, held his hand up, causing the black haired man to come to a pause, his eyes flashing with alertness.

The two froze, not a sound escaping as they listened intently.

"…"

"…"

Faintly, in the background, they could make out lyrics to a once familiar song…

"…♪ Country Roads, Take Me Home ♪…"

"…♪ To The Place, I belong ♪…"

"…"

Tommy's jaw dropped.

"W-what?!" He blinked and then looked upwards at the ceiling. A moment later, he rushed towards the door that led to the outside of the lounge, cracking it ever so slightly.

"…"

"…♪ West Virginia, Mountain Mama ♪…"

"…♪ Take Me Home, Country Roads ♪…"

"…"

"S-someone is blaring music from the roof. The roof of OUR skyscraper!" The black haired speaker shut the door, turning to look back at Kyle.

"Quickly! Hide away from any exits! The Morenkai are going to swarm here!"

In the skyscraper Micheal was standing on, and all the neighboring ones, people looked outside in shock and horror as the loud music from Micheal's record player burst out. Most felt a mix of shock, horror, and rage as they realized that in just moments, the Morenkai would flock here like moths drawn to light.

While they might not be at the epicenter of the attraction, if enough Morenkai stuck around, or decided to wander into the depths of their skyscraper… the danger to each was very real.

Back atop the roof, Micheal hummed as he heard the song play out, enjoying the melody. He tapped his foot to it, soaking it in. It was one of his and Shin's favorite songs.

Well, technically it was one of his favorite songs. Shin actually hated most country music, Micheal recalled with a smile.

'Damned city dweller.' He couldn't help but grin as memories of his best friend rose to the surface. He hoped he was doing okay, following the instructions he gave him before they were Chosen.

A moment later, the smile on Micheal's face hardened as he turned to his left.

Slowly, he could see a long, black arm reach up over the side of the skyscraper and begin to pull itself up.

A second arm could be seen reaching up about 6 meters to the right of that one from a separate Morenkai.

His eyes flashed,

"Looks like it's time to dance."

.. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Around half an hour later…

"Is it over?!" Tommy's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at his comrade, trembling slightly. Kyle shrugged, his own face tense as he tentatively stood up.

The duo was hiding away in one of the random smaller rooms, a doorstop keeping it somewhat securely locked. Both of them had their backs planted firmly against the door, to help prevent it from opening. They had fled here immediately, not taking the time to run up several floors to inform the other 4 members of their team.

Their allies were smart. Once they heard what was going on, they would know what to do if they wanted to not get killed. They had all survived here for a year now, none of them got that far in the central region by being foolish.

The sounds of that infernal song had played on repeat, over and over, for the past nearly 30 minutes. As the duo heard it play, it sent shudders through their hearts.

For, also in the background, snarling howls from enraged Morenkai could be heard, echoing in terrifying ways with the backdrop of a country song. Tommy almost wanted to cry, his hands trembling as he gripped his silenced Glock pistol.

He was smart enough to keep the safety on, recognizing he was in no state to wield it at all. Just holding it was the only thing helping him keep his sanity.

The country song had faded away, as had the snarls of enraged Morenkai. The Morenkai were usually quiet, for them to be howling, it must've been a massacre up top.

To whatever foolish soul had dared blast music so loudly, Tommy could only imagine the bloody leftovers the Morenkai would have left behind.

"Yeah. Seems like." Kyle muttered, his demeanor much more put together. He had taken this all much better, something he attributed to his military training back on earth in the Canadian Army.

The duo was silent for a few moments. Everything was still.

Finally, Kyle stood up as well, sighing. His hand was at his waist, where a silenced Glock pistol of his own could be seen.

"I'm going to go up and check it out." He declared, his eyes cool.

"What?! What if there are Morenkai up there! That is suici-"

Kyle shook his head, cutting Tommy off.

"Those screams from the Morenkai… They almost sounded as if they were being cut off. As if they were being killed…" Kyle's eyes flashed, his body shaking for just an instant.

"I… I need to check it. I need to know." A strange, overbearing curiosity had filled him. He wanted to know who was so foolish as to blast country music at the top of a skyscraper. Who would dare to do such a thing? Why did the yells of those enraged Morenkai sound almost like they were abruptly cut off?

He had many questions and no answers.

"Don't worry, there is no risk if we go carefully. We'll take it one step at a time." Kyle opened the door, checking the hallway before he began to walk down it. His every step was filled with determination.

"Kyle! K-kyle!" Tommy chased after him, his voice an urgent whisper.

"This is stupid! Let's just wait another hour at least, to be sure!"

Kyle ignored him, walking up to the stairwell. He opened the door slowly, listening for movement or sounds. He heard nothing, save the panted wheezing of the fear-struck Tommy behind him.

Slowly, he began to scale the stairs. He moved carefully, taking several breaks to check for movements or sounds. Tommy eventually followed behind him, after dilly-dallying for several moments.

Soon, the duo reached the top of the stairwell. Kyle paused again, listening for sound or movement. He found nothing.

With a hand that only trembled slightly, he rested his hand upon the door and slowly began to open it. Tommy began to hyperventilate in the background, staying with Kyle despite his fear.

WHOOSH

The door was pulled open…

Revealing a scene that was burnt into the duo's mind.

A scene of horror.

A scene of violence.

A scene of sheer impossibility.

A scene of slaughter.

Dozens of Morenkai lay dead, flung haphazardly, a veritable mountain of corpses. Black blood soaked the rooftop, pieces and bits of Morenkai bodies lying everywhere. The stench of death rose from the normally scentless creatures, causing Tommy to gag.

Standing at the center of this mountain of death, a lone figure could be seen.

A man covered in blood, wearing what was left of a ragged outfit from earth. This man was covered in gruesome injuries, from huge cuts to jagged bite marks where white bone was visible. In this man's hand was a long, immaculate steel blade.

The duo looked at the figure, their eyes widened in shock.

And that figure slowly turned its head, looking back at them.

The man smiled, a bloody rictus full of deadly promise.

"M-M-my God, Kyle…" Tommy stuttered out, his entire body shaking,

"I-i-it's a monster! Re-retreat!"

.