CHAPTER 34: CHAPTER 34 – THE SEWERS (PART 1)

Chapter 34 – The Sewers (Part 1)

Jack spent the next stretch of time wandering through the bunker, methodically taking in its layout and noting every resource available. His eyes were never idle—he paid close attention to the military personnel, tracking their movements and routines.

It didn’t take long to see the pattern. Every step, every command, every hurried exchange was steeped in urgency. The atmosphere was taut, a constant reminder that the battle raging outside was far from under control.

About an hour in, he caught sight of an entire squad bolting toward the exit, weapons ready, answering some unseen call. A deep rumble followed shortly after, accompanied by the brutal percussion of war.

Gunfire rattled the walls. The distant booms of tank shells and the ear-splitting crack of missile impacts punctuated the air, each one rolling through the bunker like a physical shove. Those sounds pressed on the nerves of everyone inside, tightening jaws, clenching fists. No one knew when—or if—those noises would end.

Every twenty minutes or so, more soldiers were dispatched into the chaos, their boots thundering down the hall toward the fray.

’The monsters must have found the bunker.’ Jack’s mind raced as he sat in a dim corner, listening. ’Bullets don’t work well on them—they’d need to pump round after round just to take one down.’

His lips curled into the faintest smirk as an idea began to take shape. "When I leave... I can use this chaos to my advantage. They’ll be too busy tearing into the army to notice me."

"Be careful, Jack," came Lune’s quiet voice in his mind.

"I know," he murmured back. "I won’t overestimate myself."

Pushing himself upright, Jack moved toward the main hall—only to find it abandoned. The soldiers were either on the front lines or deeper inside, hidden away from the hell outside.

"Everyone’s already in their rooms..." he muttered.

Almost everyone. Against one wall, arms folded and eyes closed, was Evelyn. She looked like she might have been asleep, but the moment his steps reached her ears, her gaze lifted.

"You’re here," she said simply.

"Yeah."

"Ready to go?"

"Did you check the sewer entrance? Is it clear?"

"I did. There were guards earlier, but they left a while ago."

’Probably pulled into the fight.’

"It’s wide open now," she confirmed. "Come on. Follow me."

She led him through a less-frequented part of the bunker, their footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. The further they went, the more the air felt stale, the lighting dimming to a dull yellow. Eventually, they reached a stairwell that spiraled down into shadow.

They descended slowly, passing level after level until they reached the very bottom. Down here, the air was cooler, the silence heavy. A narrow corridor stretched ahead, lined with a handful of heavy doors.

"That one," Evelyn said, pointing to the rightmost.

Inside, the room was thick with dust. Rusted tools lay forgotten on workbenches, and ancient machinery loomed in the corners. Against the far wall stood a massive metal door—its purpose obvious.

"All the sewer pipes connect here?" Jack asked.

"That’s what I’ve heard."

’Useful to remember,’ he thought.

Evelyn gripped the wheel handle and hauled the door open with a creak. She pulled out her phone and flicked on the flashlight, the pale beam cutting into the dark. Jack did the same, stepping in behind her and shutting the door.

The smell hit instantly—a foul, rotting stench that clung to the back of the throat. They ignored it as best they could, focusing their beams on the vast network ahead. The tunnels stretched on into darkness, high ceilings glistening with condensation. Water dripped steadily from above, and narrow walkways ran alongside channels of sluggish, filthy water.

Somewhere in the distance, faint noises echoed back—scrapes, splashes, and the occasional unplaceable sound that prickled the skin.

"The nearest manhole is this way," Evelyn said, starting forward. "Watch the water on the sides."

Jack swept his beam over the damp stone, his senses alive to the oppressive atmosphere. There’s something down here. No way this place is empty.

"I could fly ahead, scout it," Lune offered in his mind.

"No. I need the practice. Learning to stay aware of my surroundings is the only way I’ll survive."

Lune smirked faintly to herself. I offered him the easy route, but he chose to learn the hard way... That’s the right call. In truth, her "offer" had been a test—she wanted him to grasp the importance of sensing Time Essence from enemies and bracing for ambushes. He had already reached that conclusion without her prompting.

Still, she couldn’t help but pout in mild frustration. Makes me feel useless when the brat’s already thinking three steps ahead.

They pressed on, the sound of their own steps seeming far too loud. That gnawing sense of being watched followed them with every turn, making their pace subtly quicken.

Jack kept his aura spread around him, paying particular attention to the murky water. The filth and darkness made it impossible to see more than a foot below the surface. Anything could be waiting there.

"This place gives me the creeps," Evelyn muttered. "Be careful. Monsters could be ar—"

A sharp BANG split the air.

Both lights swung toward the sound. An old, rusted bucket bobbed in the water, ripples radiating out from where it had fallen.

They froze.

The air shifted.

Jack’s senses sharpened instantly. ’They’re here... didn’t take long to find us.’

He nudged Evelyn lightly, signaling her to stay silent and still. Slowly, he expanded his awareness outward, searching for the shapes hiding just beyond the glow of their lights... His senses could take in a surprising amount of details. From ripples in water, to the droplets falling from the ceiling.

However, it didn’t stretch that far off from his current position and couldn’t penetrate the thick, muddy water.

’Tsk, a bit annoying. I know that thing is hiding somewhere. It will attack when we least expect it.’ He clenched his grip around the phone while signaling for Lune to give him his sword quietly.

Seconds passed like minutes with nothing happening. There were no more noises and no more movements. But, the duo didn’t move an inch, knowing that it could trigger an attack.

Eventually, Evelyn looked at Jack and then pointed at the manhole that was several dozen meters away from them.

’Let’s make a run.’ She told him with her eyes.

Jack looked at her silently for a second before he nodded his head. ’We can’t remain here, that thing has an advantage. We need to get out.’

Slowly, Evelyn turned around, ready to run. Her feet arched and her body leaned forward.

Then.

*Swish*

Like a whirlwind, she dashed forward with unreal speed. But, at the same time and out of nowhere... Something flashed through the water like an arrow.