Bang!

Loud noises of crashes, screams, and crumbling buildings sounded from outside. Alice snapped awake, her head lifting up from her desk in a sudden movement. She wiped the drool pooling at the corner of her lips and looked around in confusion.

“What…”

She went towards the large windows on the left corner of the office and looked down from her position on the 6th floor. The familiar scene played out before her. Monsters were walking the streets, their large arms crashing against cars, sounding alarms, and punching through buildings. Any humans they managed to find were quickly caught in their sharp claws and brought towards their pointed fangs…

Crunch.

The familiar sound made Alice shiver. Memories of her body being bitten apart, the pain and the betrayal, flooded her senses. Overwhelmed, she fell to her knees, trembling hands holding onto her head as her eyes span, “No…” An almost silent croak of denial and desperation left her lips.

Crash!

The sudden, familiar sound brought her to her senses. Looking up, she saw the windows on the right corner of the office shatter apart as something jumped through. Almost in slow-motion, her body already pumping adrenaline, she saw the pieces of glass sparkling in the air. In one particularly big piece, she saw her much younger reflection. With widened eyes and a terrified expression, she looked pathetic. No! Not again!

It was seven years ago. It was her first year on the job and she was only 20 years old. It was the day the monsters had suddenly appeared to attack humanity.

As the monster landed on the ground, it shook, and cracks formed. With a hint of terrible glee reflecting in its large, grotesque eye, it turned to look at Alice. It smiled, revealing terrible fangs. It had found prey.

This particular monster was not one of the strongest, but it certainly caused a great deal of fear. It didn’t matter how high up you were, it’s powerful legs, reminiscent of a cute bunny but with mossy leathered skin instead, made it possible to jump high into the air. It almost looked like a giant bunny on steroids, minus the cute expressions and fluffy fur.

As it turned towards her, Alice saw the glint of the pale blue dot under its massive jaw. She saw the large, sharp piece of glass lying near her as well. What would she do this time? Would she run again?

Or would she fight.

Alice swallowed dry. She really wanted to stab the monster that was slowly nearing her, as if playing with its prey. She really wanted to, but…Her heart was beating so fast, her whole body was shaking in fear, and her mind was going blank. She fell backwards, crawling away while maintaining eye-contact with the monster. Its smile widened. It seemed to find its prey’s actions amusing.

Don’t be scared! She shouted to herself in her mind as she bit her lip. And, as if it had all been a lie, the fear was gone. A cool, cold sensation permeated her whole body, and her mind was suddenly calm.

“…huh?” Alice tilted her head in confusion. Had she ever been this calm before? She looked back up at the monster, its face as hideous as always. However, there was no fear.

She tilted her head to the other side, still confused.

The monster seemed to sense this change in attitude, and its already hideous expression turned worse as it scrunched up in annoyance. How dare his prey not be scared. This little-!

Before the monster could do anything, Alice was already sprinting towards it, causing it to become confused and flustered.

The shard of glass glinted in the air as she held it above her head, ready to strike.

However, even if the monster had been taken aback, its strength and speed were still above Alice’s. Bulging veins appeared on its body and face as the monster become filled with rage, and a giant paw filled with sharp claws swatted her horizontally with great speed and force. Alice had no time to react. Blood spluttered out of her mouth, the impact on her stomach causing it to twist, before her whole body went flying into the air, crashing into a hole and leaving behind a crater.

Alice was dead.

But Alice won’t die.

Alice was once again sprinting towards the monster. In the air, she saw a pale blue line glinting horizontally. She ducked, the large muscular arm of the monster swinging by above her head as it followed the line. She gathered strength in her legs, preparing to jump.

The monster was taken aback, faltering. It hadn’t expected its swift attack to miss. That usually didn’t happen. Just as it was pondering this, and wondering where Alice went…

The shard of glass glinted as Alice now held it with both hands, jumping up and pointing it upwards, right under its massive jaw and outside its field of vision. The tip hit the pale blue dot and inserted itself smoothly into the monster’s flesh.

Blood spurted out, covering Alice as she pulled out the shard.

She smiled. Finally! Finally! I’m fighting!

The monster began to fall back, a clawed paw trying to keep its blood in. However, Alice did not let it go. She jumped on top of the monster and began stabbing with the glass over and over again on the same exact spot. The monster struggled, but it couldn’t even focus on Alice as its arms flailed helplessly and blood filled its lungs.

Eventually, it stopped.

A door slammed open.

“Alice, are you okay- …huh?”

The person who had rushed in, desperately looking for Alice, couldn’t help but freeze, suddenly confused. They saw Alice on top of a bloody monster. When she turned around to face him, the most dazzling, happy smile he had ever seen on her took him by surprise. If that were only it… The blood splattered across her face and drenching her clothes was in too stark a contrast to such a pure expression.

Jake gulped.

Meanwhile, Alice couldn’t help herself. She was just too happy. She had finally done it! She overcame her fear. She took that shard of glass and stabbed the monster! She didn’t run! She didn’t run! She didn’t run…

Alice’s smile widened even further.

She was just too happy.

We meet again, old friend. But, this time…I took you down with my own hands.

A white flash then enveloped her body.

<You have leveled up!>