As she descended the stairwell, the floor shuddered violently once more. Cracks spidered across the walls, and splinters of stone flew out, one slashing across Eric's cheek.
She paid it no mind, hastening her pace, descending several steps at a time.
Upon reaching the first basement level, a foreboding unease gripped her. Her instincts for danger flared, compelling her to halt.
A meteor, nearly as tall as a person, streaked past her face and struck the ground with explosive force. The searing air it displaced ignited her damp hair and clothes.
**Bang!**
**Boom!**
A gaping crater tore through the floor, exposing twisted rebar.
Death brushed past her like a whisper. Eric stood frozen in shock until an NPC, shouting in panic, leapt forward to douse the flames on her body.
"Th-thank you!" she gasped, regaining her senses. Her skin bore scorched wounds from the meteor's searing passage. The pain lagged behind the injury, and the stench of
charred flesh curled into her nostrils, making her tremble. She immediately purchased a basic healing kit, its soothing effect dulling the agony at once.
Nearby NPCs, unlike players, had no such means of reprieve. Their anguished cries echoed, bodies writhing, crashing against walls, rolling in torment—until they succumbed,
torn apart by the pain.
There was no time to linger. Eric joined the surviving NPCs in fleeing toward the second basement level. The short distance between floors now felt as daunting as crossing
mountains and rivers. Her limbs felt leaden as she ran.
The entire building trembled. Thick smoke clouded vision. Survivors pushed and shoved, frantic to escape. In the face of death, even the weakest summoned desperate strength to
survive. Eric fought to keep herself upright, resisting the tide, avoiding being trampled.
"Help! Someone help!"
"Stop pushing! My foot—!"
Shouts and desperate gasps filled the corridor. Finally, at the last few steps, the crowd surged forward like a river breaking its banks, dispersing in all directions.
They had reached the second basement level.
Security personnel blew whistles, directing the flow. "Left! Move to the left!"
Eric forced her way through the crowd, not stopping until her legs could carry her no further. She turned to see the heavy blast door slowly closing behind her.
"No more space inside! Step back—step back!"
**Clang!**
The door sealed. The dim lights of the underground parking garage flickered. Survivors gasped for breath, many sobbing, all in disarray.
Tremors still rippled beneath their feet. Pressed back, Eric's leg struck something. She reached down—it was a car, with its doors open, already filled with people.
"It hurts... it hurts so bad..."
"Bebe! Bebe, where are you?!"
"Does anyone have a signal? Please—I need to call someone!"
"No signal! Nothing!"
Above ground, the commercial district had become a wasteland. Not a soul remained alive.
The meteor storm continued. Soon, even the wreckage would be flattened.
Time crawled on. Exhaustion dulled every voice. Eric sat on the floor, surrounded by others, knees hugged to her chest, eyes closed in weary rest.
Suddenly, the noise outside ceased.
"Did it stop? Are we safe now?"
"Not yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
"It must be nighttime. Safer to go out at dawn."
Four hours into their refuge, hunger and thirst gnawed at the survivors. Only a few had food. Under the guise of resting, Eric secretly consumed a few chocolate balls and
cherry tomatoes to regain her strength.
Another seven hours passed. Silence still reigned above. It was now six-thirty the next morning.
The guards began searching for a way out.
The staircase in this section was destroyed. With no other choice, they opened the heavy door to the adjacent shelter, seeking an alternate escape.
Survivors there were already digging an exit.
"Everything's collapsed. We have to dig our way out."
"Everyone—lend a hand!"
Those with remaining strength joined forces. Eric worked with a young NPC, forming a chain to pass rubble back. As the front cleared large stones, they caught and moved them
further down the line.
Piece by piece, they cleared the debris, revealing a gaping crater left by a fallen meteor.
"How do we climb out? There's no staircase..."
"Any ropes? Use ropes!"
Eric stood on tiptoe to peer ahead. She caught fragments of the discussion and pushed her way to the front. A gust of hot air from the opening above hit her face as she looked
up, drew a deep breath, and stepped forward.
"What is she doing? Can she really get up there?"
"She jumped! Wow, she made it!"
With a powerful leap, Eric landed in a crevice on the fractured wall. Gripping tightly with both hands, she began to climb.
The survivors below murmured in awe. Eric ignored them. Her body, honed by countless brushes with death, was agile and strong. Pain didn't deter her. She clung to every
surface she could, even as her fingernails tore away.
Every muscle strained. Like a gecko, she scaled the wall—
Two meters… three…
Catching sight of a broken ledge, she realized it led to the first basement. Not worth stopping. She climbed higher.
The figures below grew distant. The air grew fresher, tinged with the scent of rain. Her hands bled, shoes torn—but finally, she reached the ground floor.
Collapsing in the ruined lobby, she listened to the downpour outside.
She stood, took a few steps—her foot splashed.
Water had already seeped into the ground floor.
Twelve hours after the meteor rain began, the storm only worsened. With the land ruptured, the survivors below now risked drowning, without food or water.
Eric searched swiftly for rope. On the second floor, she found an intact bedding store. She stashed some supplies in a supermarket, then tied the high-end sheets together into
a makeshift rope. Back downstairs, she secured one end to a column and dropped the other into the shelter.
Cheers erupted from below.
Security shouted, "One at a time! Don't rush!"
Eric didn't stay. She quickly gathered high-quality clothes, including undergarments, from the mall—her old outfits were worn thin from constant missions. Her supermarket
corner only stocked out-of-season clearance wear. She'd need proper attire to visit the central station's apparel shop.
Only after gathering supplies did she venture outside under an umbrella. But with water already flooding the lobby, the streets below were worse. A few steps in, she spotted
swirling whirlpools—hidden craters punched by meteors. She dared not go further.
Instead, she climbed to the mall rooftop.
There, devastation stretched to the horizon. Where would the portal appear?
She searched the rooftop but found nothing.
Then she gazed toward the distant mountains—where the resort had been when she entered the instance. Now, a third of the mountain was gone, sheared clean off.
Could the portal be there?
Her instincts said yes. These instances often toyed with players, luring them back where they began.
Waiting here would lead nowhere. Eric set out once more.
To avoid hidden pits, she probed ahead with a long stick.
The water rose to her chest. Time for the lifeboat. Once deployed, her progress quickened. At the mountain's base, she found the path destroyed. She forged a new route.
The rain-soaked earth made climbing arduous. She dug her staff into the mud for leverage, grasping at bushes and trees.
She spotted steps ahead—stone, solid ground! She hurried to them.
Once on the path, she moved faster. Pausing to rest and eat, she glanced back—and saw two others climbing.
At this time, in this place, only players would be here.
Her confidence swelled.
After three grueling hours, Eric reached the summit.
The resort lay in ruins, but at the shattered entrance stood the portal.
She strode forward and stepped in.
**\[Player Eric has cleared the standard instance: Meteor Strike. Reward: 4 points.]**
With the instance complete, she intended to return to the inn and treat her wounds. Her pain tolerance had grown—these injuries weren't worth using a healing kit.
But as she exited the mission hall, a loud commotion erupted behind her.
She turned—only to find herself engulfed in fog.
The transit station was shrouded in mist!
Unease twisted in her gut. Instinct screamed—run.
Other players, too, were fleeing the streets in search of shelter.
Eric sprinted to the inn. The first floor was crowded. Members of the Women's Mutual Aid Association were maintaining order.
"New female players, over here..."
It was Natalie's voice.
Eric approached, greeting her. Natalie lit up with surprise. "Eric! Nicole said you were looking for me days ago—I heard... but you look well. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine now," Eric smiled. "And you? How've you been?"
"Great," Natalie beamed. "I don't stay in the lobby anymore. Just yesterday, a few of us pooled points and rented a room."
After a brief exchange, Eric added, "I've joined a guild now—they cover housing. My prepaid room still has over half a month left. I checked at the front desk—it's
transferable. I'd like to offer it to your group. Maybe someone without a place could use it?"
Natalie's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Eric! I'll tell Nicole right away!"