End Times, Surviving with My Beastly Army novel Chapter 20

End Times, Surviving with My Beastly Army

Chapter 20 A Safe Place in the Chaos

That pig was rolling its eyes at her with disdain.

བ་་

Finished

Ella suddenly remembered something strange that had happened before. Once, while traveling in Vrance, she’d accidentally eaten some wild mushrooms that weren’t fully cooked. That night she had seen all kinds of weird things.

But this time she hadn’t eaten any mushrooms at all.

Her arms and legs suddenly felt weak. What kind of place was this?

Robin’s voice came again from inside. “Are you coming in, or do you want me to roll out the red carpet?”

“Oh! I’m coming!”

Ella answered without thinking. She stepped forward quickly, lifting her left arm and left leg at the same time. After two steps, she realized she was walking awkwardly with the same side moving together. Her face turned bright red. She quickly fixed it and hurried into the villa like she was escaping something.

The moment she stepped inside, she was stunned.

The apocalypse had started seven days ago. Outside, the world had already fallen apart. Windows were smashed. Doors had been forced open. Everywhere there were cries, panic, and despair. The air itself felt heavy, like a gray cloud hanging over everyone’s hearts.

But here, inside the villa, everything was neat and organized.

Food, supplies, lights–everything was in place. For some reason, Ella suddenly felt her nose sting, like she might cry.

When the apocalypse began, she had been traveling with Henry for work. She was working as his assistant intern at the time. Tim and Dane were his bodyguards.

Everything had happened too suddenly. They had gone to sleep, but when they woke up, the whole world had already changed.

It was Henry who first realized that those terrifying, disgusting creatures were the zombies people saw in movies. He said the only way to survive was to stay far away from crowds. Big cities would be full of zombies.

So he made a quick decision. They would return to Klam. The trip would be long and dangerous. But if they could make it back and hide inside Shangri–La, they would finally have a safe place to catch their breath.

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13:27 Thu, May 21

Chapter 20 A Safe Place in the Chaos

យ

16

Finished

Unfortunately, on the way back, something terrible happened. A huge roadside billboard suddenly broke loose and fell. Henry pushed Ella away just in time. The metal frame crashed down and smashed his leg.

That night, while Ella drifted in and out of sleep, she saw someone in her dream.

She couldn’t see the person’s face clearly. The figure said, “I am Hercules. Our fates are connected. I am willing to pass my strength to you.”

If this had happened before the apocalypse, Ella would have shouted, “Are you crazy?”

Even in a dream, that would sound ridiculous.

But that night was different. The image of Henry pushing her away kept flashing in her mind. Ella clenched her teeth. “I accept!” she shouted in the dream. “No matter the price. No matter what you want. I agree to everything!”

All she wanted was power.

Even if it was only a dream, she still wanted to become stronger.

Hercules, ancient demigod, whatever. She didn’t care. In this brutal apocalypse, the world had become a place where the weak were eaten alive. Only the strong could protect the people they cared about.

After the dream, Ella woke up in shock. She discovered that she really had gained incredible strength.

During the rest of their journey, she changed completely. At first, she had been the one everyone needed to protect. But now, she has become the strongest fighter in the group. She even took the lead in protecting the others.

After a long and dangerous trip, they finally reached Shangri–La. Even though someone else had taken over the place, the scene inside still surprised her. The windows were bright and clean. The floors shone like glass. A few pieces of clothing were draped over the sofa. A robot vacuum slowly moved around the floor. The whole house felt calm and ordinary, like someone was simply living a normal life there.

Ella had been strong the entire way here. But now, standing in a place like this, she suddenly felt like crying.

The apocalypse had only been going on for seven days. So why did normal life already feel like something from a hundred years ago?

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a powerful aroma suddenly reached her nose. The scent was rich and warm; it went straight into her soul.

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13:27 Thu, May 21

Chapter 20 A Safe Place in the Chaos

Finished

Is that?

Ella stiffened. She quickly raised her head and looked toward the source of the smell.

And then she saw it.

In the dining room, a young woman who looked no older than 20 was calmly cooking a pot of fondue.

The table was covered with food. For the fondue, the ingredients included thinly sliced lamb, crisp lettuce, tender strips of beef tripe, sliced potatoes, and bread.

The table was completely full.

There were different dipping sauces. The cheese fondue simmered gently, sending up rich, mouthwatering aromas that drifted through the air like invisible hooks tugging at her nose.

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