The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse Chapter 9: Ch 9: Securing the Core - Part 2

As the group made their way out of the dungeon, Selene clenched her hand tightly, trying to ignore the increasing heat seeping through her glove. At first, she thought she was imagining it—just a side effect of exhaustion or the adrenaline finally wearing off.

But the warmth quickly turned into pain.

It felt like fire was licking at her skin, growing more intense with every step she took.

After ten minutes, she couldn't take it anymore and finally did sothing that was unlike her usual self.

Selene stumbled to a stop, clutching her wrist as a sharp jolt of pain shot up her arm.

"Wait... sothing's wrong with the core."

The others turned to her, confused.

"What now?"

Noah sighed, clearly irritated.

Selene hesitated for a mont before she slowly unclenched her fist.

The mont her palm opened, a violent pulse of energy rippled through the air.

The red core, which had been quietly resting in her grasp, was now glowing brighter than ever, pulsing like a heartbeat.

The light was almost blinding, and a sudden wave of heat exploded from it, making everyone stagger back.

"Shit! This was not supposed to happen. Why is the core reacting like this?"

Ethan cursed, his usually calm deanor shifting into sothing sharp and urgent. He sounded surprised and it made Selene's suspicions rise up.

However, even as Ethan cursed under his breath, he was not the first one to move.

Nora was the first to act. She imdiately stepped forward, her brows furrowed as she examined the core.

"This isn't right. Let see what is going on. Selene, stay still and let have a look."

She muttered, her voice unusually grim.

She extended her hand over it, using her abilities to inspect it. But the mont her flas flickered near the core, it pulsed violently, sending a shockwave outward.

Nora reeled back, looking both startled and pissed.

She turned toward the others.

"The core—it's suddenly activated. And it's about to combust. We don't have much ti left on our hands."

The words sent a chill through the group.

The atmosphere shifted in an instant.

"What do you an combust?!"

One of the hunters shouted in panic.

Nora's expression darkened.

"I an, we might not make it out of here alive."

A murmur of fear swept through the party.

Panic quickly set in.

"Wait, wasn't Selene the one holding it?!"

Soone accused.

"She must have done sothing!"

Another hunter shouted.

"This is happening because she didn't control it properly! It is always her fault these things happen."

Selene felt the weight of every glare, every pointed accusation being thrown her way.

She wanted to defend herself.

Wanted to tell them that she hadn't done anything to the core.

But before she could speak, Noah's voice cut through the noise.

"Shut up!"

Everyone flinched.

Noah glared at the group, his red eyes burning with irritation.

"Blaming her won't change anything. She didn't know anything about the core—she's not even an awakened. Stop acting like this is her fault! If anything, it is ours for making her hold the core."

His words made everyone pause.

Even Selene was surprised. She had not expected anyone to co to her defence like this, but it felt...nice.

But Noah wasn't done.

"Instead of wasting ti pointing fingers, how about we focus on NOT DYING?"

His words snapped them all back to reality.

The panic didn't fully disappear, but at least no one was arguing anymore.

As everyone tried to process what to do next, Selene stood there, staring at the core in her hand.

Unlike the others, she felt sothing else.

Not panic.

Not fear.

Sothing... calm.

The core's glow reflected in her eyes, and for a mont, she could almost hear it.

A whisper.

A call.

And then—

An urge.

A strong, undeniable urge that made her breath hitch.

She felt like she needed to swallow it.

Her fingers twitched.

Her throat felt dry.

The core pulsed, as if calling to her.

What would happen if she—

"Selene!"

Nora's voice snapped her out of it.

Selene blinked, realizing she had stopped breathing.

Nora didn't seem to notice her hesitation. She was already moving, taking control of the situation.

"Everyone, get out of here. This place is likely going to explode any second!"

She ordered in an almost calm voice. But her eyes betrayed how shocked and scared she felt at the mont.

"We don't have ti. I'll try to stabilize the core, but if this thing explodes, the whole dungeon might collapse. If you want to live, leave—now!"

No one needed to be told twice.

Even the panicked hunters turned and ran, disappearing down the dungeon path without looking back.

Only three people stayed behind except her.

Noah.

Ethan.

And Selene.

"You two should go, too."

Nora said, her tone unusually serious.

Noah scoffed.

"And leave you behind? Not happening. This kind of family ss is best taken care of within the family."

Nora sighed but didn't argue.

Instead, her eyes flickered to Ethan.

Unlike the others, he hadn't moved an inch.

He simply stood there, watching Selene with an expression she couldn't read. His eyes felt familiar, but she could not place where she had seen them before. She just knew that they looked familiar.

Then—

He reached up and pulled his mask off.

The mont he did, both Noah and Nora stiffened.

Selene's breath caught.

For the first ti, she saw his face without any mask and it looked the sa as the one she rembered.

Ethan just had a face that commanded attention and there was no denying it, even when she looked at it from this close. She could not forget it.

And judging by the looks on the twins' faces—

They recognized him.

Ethan Park was standing right in front of them and his face looked serious. He took a step toward Selene, but the intense energy radiating off the stone made him take a step back from her as well.

Whatever this core was, it was strong enough to repel even the strongest known hunter alive.

______

So, after soone pointed it out, it turns out that smoke granade and Smoke bomb are different things. I thought they were the sa...today I learned...

Anyway, I'm too lazy to go back and correct it...so it's going to remain as it is...

And before you ask- yes! I'm lazy enough to go back and correct it, but not lazy enough to write this all.