Chapter 27 Highway to Hell

"Another scam," he thought bitterly. 

"The earth is dying, and they want us to believe they have a cure. How much money are they planning to squeeze out of taxpayers this time? How many lies are they feeding us?"

He stood up, pacing the room as the rain continued to pour outside. The news didn’t fill him with panic or relief—just a deep, simmering distrust. He had seen too many “crises” manufactured by the government to line their pockets or consolidate power. This felt no different.

For the next hour, Shachiku tried to distract himself by scrolling through news feeds, checking emails, and doing a bit of work. But the unease in the air grew. Then, without warning, the ground beneath him began to vibrate. The tremors grew stronger, accompanied by a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

Shachiku froze, his instincts screaming at him to move. He ran to the window, his eyes widening as he saw what was happening outside. A few buildings in the distance had collapsed, their structures reduced to rubble as massive dust clouds rose into the air. But that was just the beginning.

His gaze shifted to the small airport on the outskirts of town—the only one this small town had. A plane was lifting off the runway, its engines roaring as it gained altitude. But before it could climb higher, a massive crystalline vine burst from the ground with terrifying speed. The jagged, blood-red formation impaled the plane, slamming it back to the ground in a fiery explosion. The shockwave cut through the air, and he instinctively stepped back.

The scene outside descended into pure madness. More crystalline vines erupted from the ground, their jagged forms rising and falling like monstrous waves. They slammed into buildings, reducing them to rubble and leaving behind towering red crystal formations that glowed ominously. The streets were filled with panicked screams, the sound of car alarms, and the relentless roar of destruction.

Shachiku stood at the window, his face calm but his mind racing. Years of working as a corporate slave had dulled his emotions, but it had also honed his ability to assess situations quickly and act decisively. Fear didn’t cloud his judgment—instead, his mind focused on the most logical course of action.

"Helios-9," he thought.

"That’s where the military is. It’s the most secure place right now. If there’s any chance of survival, it’s there."

Without hesitation, he grabbed his lucky briefcase—a relic from his first day in the company—and bolted out of the office. The building shook as he ran down the stairs, the sound of collapsing structures echoing in the distance. He reached his car, jumped in, and slammed his foot on the pedal, the tires screeching as he sped onto the rain-soaked streets.

The drive was a nightmare. The roads were littered with debris, abandoned vehicles, and panicked pedestrians.

 Shachiku swerved and dodged, his hands steady on the wheel as he navigated the road. As he passed by the university, he saw three students running from the gates, their faces pale with fear. Behind them, a crystalline creature was giving chase.

Shachiku’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t have time to stop, but he also couldn’t just leave them to die. As the students ran into the street, he jerked the wheel to the side, aiming his car directly at the creature. The impact was brutal—the car slammed into the crystalline monster, shattering it into pieces. The force of the collision sent shards of red crystal flying in all directions, and the car skidded to a halt.

The students stared at him in shock, their breaths coming in gasps. Shachiku rolled down the window, his voice calm.

  “Get in. Now.”

The students didn’t hesitate. They piled into the car. Shachiku didn’t wait for them to settle—he hit the gas again, the car lurching forward as they sped toward Helios-9.

One of the students, a young man with messy hair and wide eyes, leaned forward from the backseat. His voice was shaky but filled with gratitude.

  “Thank you… thank you so much. That thing… it killed our friend. And it would’ve killed us too if not for you. I’m Shujinko, this is Akarui, and Makiko. That thing… it killed his brother.” 

He gestured to Akarui, who sat silently, his face pale and his hands clenched into fists.

  “What is even going on right now? Where are you going?”

Shachiku kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the wheel as he navigated the chaos-filled streets.

  “Yeah, nice to meet you kids. Name’s Shachiku Giseisha, just your ordinary salary man. And we’re heading toward Helios-9. All the military’s stationed there now. I reckon it’s the most secure place to be.”

Makiko, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to him. 

“Helios-9? That’s where all this started, isn’t it? First the explosion, then these crystals, the… the monsters. Why would we go there?”

Shachiku’s expression didn’t change. 

“Like I said, it’s where the military is. If there’s any chance of surviving this mess, it’s there. Besides, something big is happening, and I want answers.”

Akarui, who had been silent until now, spoke up, his voice low and filled with anger. 

“My brother… he died because of whatever’s happening at Helios-9. If going there means finding out why, then I’m in. I’m not running anymore. Also, I'm worried about my dad, he is stationed there. But I haven't heard a word from him since yesterday. I hope he's alright.”

Makiko sighed, crossing her arms. 

“I guess I don’t have much of a choice, do I? But if we’re going to Helios-9, we need a plan. We can’t just waltz in there and expect the military to welcome us with open arms.”

Shachiku glanced at her in the rearview mirror, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

  “Smart kid. You’re right but we worry about that when we get there. And we need to get there alive. So hold on—this isn’t going to be a smooth ride.”

As they got onto the highway, Shachiku swerved sharply to avoid a massive crystalline vine that erupted from the ground ahead. It tore through the road, sending chunks of asphalt flying in all directions. Shachiku gripped the wheel tightly but just as they cleared the vine, they found themselves driving straight toward a crowd of crystalline creatures. The monsters were scattered across the highway, their blood red forms glowing ominously.

"Hold on!” He slammed the gas pedal, barreling through the creatures. The car shattered one after another, the crystalline bodies exploding into shards upon impact. But the creatures were relentless. One of them lunged at the car, its claws slamming into the front with terrifying force. The engine was shredded, the tires popped, and the car spun out of control.

The vehicle hit the side guard of the highway, the force of the impact sending it flying over the edge. For a moment, everything seemed to move in slow motion. The car flipped through the air, slamming onto the roof of a building below the highway before crashing down onto the street.