Free Web NovelChapter 60: Chapter 60 Take this as your first real test.
The sharp, urgent sound tore through the quiet atmosphere of the room.
Ivy’s eyes snapped open instantly.
She had just laid back on the bed, about to get some much-needed rest after breastfeeding Hope but the alarm left no room for hesitation.
"What?"
She sat up immediately, her heart already beginning to race.
In one swift motion, she stood up from the bed, carefully placing Hope back into her cot before turning her full attention to the system.
Ivy had long since connected the city’s surveillance network to her system.
With the internet gone in this broken world, her system had become her only window into what was happening beyond her base. Through it, she could observe everything....the survivors, the chaos, the spread of the monsters... even the slow collapse of the country itself.
So for the system alarm to trigger like this....
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Without wasting another second, Ivy activated the interface.
Monstrous growls exploded through her headphones, loud and feral, echoing violently into her ears. The sound alone was enough to send chills racing down her spine.
But it was the visuals that truly struck her.
People were dying.
Not just dying but being slaughtered.
Some were being torn apart alive, their screams echoing in desperation as monsters devoured them piece by piece. Others had already fallen....heads ripped clean from their bodies, lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.
Blood soaked the streets while bodies littered the ground.
In some places, the horror was even worse.
Ivy’s stomach dropped as she watched a man collapse, only for a creature to rip open his abdomen, dragging out his intestines and devouring them while he was still barely alive.
"Ugh!"
Her hand flew to her mouth instinctively.
For a brief second...she thought she might vomit.
Vehicles sped through the streets in panic, people trying desperately to escape the city but it was useless.
The monsters were faster and stronger.
They chased the fleeing cars, leaping onto them, smashing through windows, dragging people out mid-motion. Some vehicles crashed into each other, causing massive pileups, only for the monsters to descend upon the wreckage like predators feasting on trapped prey.
It was chaos.
Pure, unfiltered horror.
Ivy staggered back slightly, her breathing uneven.
Her body felt cold, her chest tightened.
"...It’s nothing," Ivy whispered to herself with tears rolling down her cheeks which she hasn’t realized, though her voice trembled slightly.
She placed a hand over her chest, gently patting it as if trying to calm her racing heart.
"It’s nothing... just focus..."
But deep down...she knew that wasn’t true.
It wasn’t nothing.
Ding!
{You may proceed to the city for training, host.}
The system’s sound cut through her thoughts.
{Take this as your first real test.}
"Huh?" Ivy blinked, her head snapping up slightly.
Her brows furrowed.
"Now?" she asked, disbelief slipping into her tone. "You mean... right now?"
Her grip tightened slightly.
Ding!
{Yes, host.}
{This is the most optimal time.}
{Hurry up, host... and good luck.}
Silence followed.
Ivy stood still for a moment, her gaze fixed on the horrifying scene still playing across her interface. freewёbnoνel.com
Her fear hadn’t disappeared.
If anything....it was still there.
But something else began to rise alongside it.
Determination.
Her lips pressed into a thin line while her eyes hardened.
"...I can do it," she muttered under her breath.
There was no avoiding the task.
If the system had chosen now, then it meant now was the best time. Delaying it would only make things worse.
Ivy exhaled slowly.
With that, she turned her attention back inside the shelter.
Aria and Lila were seated quietly, their gazes fixed on the books in front of them. They were working on the assignment Ivy had given them solving equations to keep their minds occupied and sharp.
For a moment, Ivy just stood there, watching them.
Then she spoke.
"Alright, girls... Mom has to step out for a bit," Ivy began, her tone calm but firm, seriousness clearly etched into her voice. "You should both be done with the questions I gave you before I come back, okay?"
Lila immediately looked up, her brows knitting together.
"Huh? Where are you going, Mommy?" she asked, her voice soft, a hint of sadness creeping into her expression.
Ivy’s expression softened instantly.
She walked over and gently cupped Lila’s face before placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Mommy just has to take care of some adult business," she replied warmly. "I’ll be back very soon, alright? You just have to be good girls for me." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Lila nodded slowly, though the worry didn’t fully leave her eyes.
Ivy then turned to Aria, her expression shifting slightly....more serious this time.
"You can feed little Hope properly now," Ivy said, raising a brow slightly. "I’ve already pumped breast milk for her. Once she wakes up, make sure she’s fed, especially if I’m not back yet. Do you understand?"
Aria straightened immediately, nodding with determination.
"Yes, Mommy," she replied with a small but confident smile. "I’ll take care of her. But... please stay safe outside. We’ll miss you."
A faint warmth flickered in Ivy’s chest.
"I’ll miss you too, my darlings," she said softly.
She leaned in, planting gentle kisses on Aria’s and Lila’s foreheads before walking over to little Hope and doing the same.
For a brief second...
She hesitated.
Then, with one last lingering glance at her children...
She turned and walked out.
