When the pair of Spring-Autumn and Blue exited the aquarium, the sight of the city was shocking. Buildings collapsed, half-dead bodies under walls, strange creatures roaming around. These creatures were small and grotesque with green skin. Huge bulging eyes, pointing ears, and a huge nose. There were also giant bird creatures in the sky. It was gigantic beyond imagination. The wingspan could cover a decently sized plaza. With a single swoop, a big chunk of the city was destroyed, killing many people. The scene made the pair turn pale, blood draining from their face.

[Initializing... ]

A blue screen appeared in front of their eyes. "Huh?" They both unconsciously let out a voice.

However, this voice alerted the creature in front of them. The creature was short and green with huge bulging eyes and a long nose. Its stature was small and skinny to the point where one could see several ribs from the skin. It wore only one article of clothing and it was a linen cloth that covered its groins.

"Kekekekeke... "

It let out a strange noise. Its huge, bulging eyes staring at them before starting into a sprint.

"Hiiik!" Blue let out a strange scream while Spring-Autumn squinted his eyes slightly. Looking at it objectively, it looked kind of silly. It was so short that its head did not even reach his waist. He took a deep breath and at the moment it came into his range, he hugged Blue who was still in a princess carry tighter and lifted his leg.

"Puohh!!"

The creature flew at least 4 feet off the ground, a few sharp teeth flying out. Spring-Autumn kicked it right at the perfect spot.

[Goblin]

A blue tag popped up above its body. It twitched a couple of times on the ground before letting out an ear-splitting screech. At that moment, countless sounds of scurrying footsteps came. It was also at that moment, Spring-Autumn realized he did a bad thing.

From the shadows of collapsed buildings, goblins came flying out. Spring-Autumn looked behind him, the stairs down into the aquarium as a possible exit route. However, water was rising from it. It was a sight that defied common sense.

He looked down at Blue who could not seem to comprehend what was happening. Their face was awfully close from the way he was carrying her. Perhaps because of the high danger, he felt strangely calm. He took this moment to admire her exquisite features. She was looking at him in a daze as well.

"Can you run?"

He felt her legs shake.

"Are you leaving me behind..?" She replied in an empty voice. Her face, pale as a sheet of paper. Paler than usual.

"Perhaps."

He felt another visible shake. He held on her tighter. "Hold tight."

Spring-Autumn broke out into a run. There was only one escape route: The direction where he kicked the first goblin. As soon as he reached it, he stomped hard on its face. "f.u.c.k you!"

That little stop did not halt his momentum. It was a necessary stop for his mind. He was a petty person that had to get back at every little thing. The goblin's face curved in like a sponge at impact. After one last twitch, it was dead.

He continued with his run. However, at this moment, a little goblin jumped out from a building next to him. Time seemed to slow in his mind. It would land on him. He thought.

His body kept running. He could see what was happening but he could not control his body. Run. That was the only thing on his mind. Some sort of limit was lifted and he felt like he could go faster.

The goblin dropped down. Saliva drooling out of its body, its lips curved up into what looked like a grin, showing its sharp teeth. Despite running faster, it was not enough. It extended its claw and fiercely slashed at his back the moment it landed.

The pain made Spring-Autumn's mind go blank. He could only see white. His foot stumbled. Fortunately, his body did what it was supposed to do. Run. It knew it had to run so it kept running.

With his mind blank, he ran and ran and ran. With a girl in his arms he ran. What should've been a burden turned into a source of motivation for him. He must live for himself. He also doesn't want the girl he had a crush on to die. He barely felt her weight as he ran.

After who knows how long, Spring-Autumn's mind came back to him.

"Huff. Huff."

He breathed heavily.

"Season…"

A small voice called for him. With his face dripping with sweat, he noticed that he got her s.h.i.+rt wet too. She was still in a daze. At least her facial expression made it seem so.

"Up ahead… there's a distribution center."

He took a deep breath. "Okay."

He let Blue down when they reached the center.

"You can walk now. Kehaha." He couldn't help but let out a laugh when they reached the front gate.

Blue straightened out her dampened blouse and patted down her skirt when she landed. Face still pale, "Your back…"

"Small injury. More importantly, we lived! Kehahaha! We lived!"

The laughter was contagious. Without knowing why she was laughing with him too. In a remote part of the town, everything was broken but it was different. All the goblins converged to the middle part of the city where the main population was. It was just the two of them. They had lived.

They entered the distribution center. The distribution center was initially built to distribute food and supplies when the country entered a recession a few years back. It was unneeded now. There was no one inside and fortunately, there were supplies. It was worthy of being called a distribution center.

When the sense of peace settled in the heart of the two, Spring-Autumn was weak-kneed. He leaned against the wall and collapsed.