My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 429

Realizing the imminent danger, they quickened their pace, trying to stay ahead of the rats’ relentless surge.

The warriors poured more of their spiritual energy into fortifying the walls, repairing the damage caused by the relentless gnawing and clawing.

The race against time became critical as the rats threatened to breach their defenses with each passing moment.

In the alley, Duke spotted an emergency exit.

Acting swiftly, one team member crouched down on one knee, positioning his hands to create a sturdy platform at chest level.

Another team member took a few steps back, adjusting his stance before sprinting forward.

With perfect coordination, he planted his foot onto the hands of the crouched man, using them as a stepping stone.

Boosted up, he grabbed the edge of the ladder, quickly climbing to the top.

Once he secured his position, he kicked the ladder down, allowing it to slide back down for the rest of the team to use.

The rest of the team ascended the ladder with practiced discipline, their movements fluid and efficient.

While nerves and fear coursed through them, they didn’t show signs of panic.

They recalled Duke’s lessons from their training: maintaining a clear mind was crucial in dangerous situations.

The more perilous the circumstances, the more alert and focused they needed to be to survive.

They understood that succumbing to panic could lead to misjudgment, endangering not only themselves but also their teammates.

They all did their best to maintain their composure, fighting against the fear that threatened to overwhelm them as the mutant rats surged toward them like a black flood.

After kicking down the ladder, everyone except Duke had climbed up to safety.

With a grim determination, Duke pushed the ladder back up while he stayed in his position, creating a barrier to prevent the mutant rats from reaching them.

His team watched in horror, hearts racing, as they feared he was sacrificing himself to hold the line.

If Duke could read their thoughts, he would have rolled his eyes and scolded them for watching too much drama.

Why on earth would he sacrifice his life when he had a wife waiting for him back home? Were they completely out of their minds?

They were fortunate that Duke was so focused on keeping the mutant rats at bay that he didn’t notice the expressions on their faces.

Once he ensured everyone had made it up the fire exit staircase, he knew the rats would soon attempt to climb the building floor by floor or claw their way up the cemented walls.

With a determined push, he sent the piling mutant rats tumbling down like a line of dominos, slowing their reactions.

He quickly summoned another fire meteor, ready to incinerate the mass of mutant rats before him.

As the rats piled on top of one another, those at the very bottom found themselves trapped, while the ones at the top stumbled to regain their balance.

But before they could react, the fire meteor descended upon them, engulfing most of the horde in flames and reducing their numbers significantly.

The heat and chaos created a momentary reprieve, buying Duke precious seconds to regroup and think of their next move.

The mutant rats’ dry fur made them incredibly susceptible to the fire, allowing the flames to spread rapidly through the pile before Duke.

The conflagration roared to life, transforming the horde into a writhing mass of burning flesh, sending plumes of acrid smoke spiraling into the air.

The stench of charred fur mingled with the nauseating odor of the rats’ flesh, creating a noxious haze that threatened to overwhelm Duke’s senses.