[20 minutes earlier]
"Ammar. After you leave this school, take everyone towards the South, specifically to Kuala Lumpur. There will be a group of soldiers patrolling there..."
"… If you're lucky, you might get protection from them. Remember, never head to the north."
"How do you know there will be soldiers stationed there, when this disaster just started 35 minutes ago?" Ammar asked.
"Just listen to what I'm saying. Don't ask unnecessary questions. Do you understand?"
"Understood!"
Back in the present, Ilyas is still dealing with the monsters that approach him. He has already killed about half of the school's monsters.
"Only 1 minute left before the bomb explodes. I better kill all of these monsters and get out of here."
Ilyas shot the oncoming creature and then jumped from the level 4 corridor.
Suddenly, a gigantic hand burst through the wall, seizing Ilyas's leg from the second floor.
Ilyas was then pulled and slammed into the wall by the giant monster.
BRAAAK!
ROOOOOAAAARRGGHH!!
A monster, 250 cm tall and weighing up to 160 kg, appeared. Its skin was tougher and it had a stronger physique than an ordinary monster.
"I thought it would be easy to leave. I almost forgot about this bastard."
The giant monster took its stance and prepared to launch an attack towards Ilyas.
The monster attacked by charging its body towards Ilyas. Ilyas managed to dodge the attack easily.
"Shit, my gun got destroyed. Looks like I'll have to use the old way."
The monster took a fighting stance again, ready to charge at Ilyas. Ilyas also took his stance, preparing to counter the monster's attack.
The monster ran towards Ilyas quickly. However…
BAAAAMMMM!!!
The sound was so loud that it could be heard by the group of students and teachers being guarded by Ammar.
"Huh? What was that?"
When they looked towards the school, they were shocked to see a massive explosion coming from the direction of the school.
The explosion that shook the earth caused the school building to crumble, with walls and roofs collapsing due to the force of the tremendous blast, leaving behind remnants of ash and debris all around.
Kamal and Ammar were stunned, as they weren't told about this.
Aira was speechless, her face pale, her eyes wide with pain. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, her heart shattered just like the destroyed school.
Her hands trembled as she held back the deep sadness, seeing Ilyas fall in that incident. The feeling of loss, unspoken, was etched on her face.
Lilia tried to encourage Aira, who was sitting weakly on the ground, mourning Ilyas, whom she thought was gone.
They could only continue their journey, not wanting to waste Ilyas's sacrifice.
[10 minutes after the devastating explosion at the school]
Ilyas woke up in the ruins of a destroyed building. The condition of the school became ruined and damaged, filled with shapeless human corpses and monster bodies.
"I didn't expect there to be a Giant here. The virus keeps evolving faster and faster..."
"...Thankfully, the bomb exploded before I used 'that.' Otherwise, this school would've been completely destroyed."
Ilyas stood up from the rubble of the school building and saw both of his father's guns destroyed.
Ilyas began to circle the school grounds as if searching for something. He headed towards the school field and observed his surroundings.
"The field is definitely the right place for me."
Ilyas sat down and began meditating on the field for a few minutes.
After some time passed, Ilyas opened his eyes and stood up.
"Phew, there are still a few viruses left in this school. Well, I didn't expect much since this is still the early phase of the Armageddon..."
"... I could just eat those corpses to increase the virus in my body. But..."
At that moment, Ilyas remembered the most disgusting and terrifying experience he had gone through in the past.
"... Enough. Let the corpses be. Besides, there's already a lot of the virus in my body. I'll find another way to slow down this 'disease' from going out of control."
Ilyas took a few items and some clean clothes before leaving the destroyed school.
He walked towards the north. Ilyas didn't follow his friends because he knew that doing so would only bring disaster to them.
The sky was dark, shrouded by smoke from burning vehicles. The atmosphere was terrifying, filled with human corpses.
Human organs and body parts, separated from their bodies, were scattered on the road and blood was splattered everywhere.
For others, this was a horrifying and disgusting sight. However, for Ilyas, this was a scene he had always seen in his past life.