A Fight I Couldn't Run From.
An attempt to escape through a high window went wrong when the floor collapsed, dropping Ellie straight into a Bloater's nest. What followed was a brutal fight in tight quarters, ending only after the upgraded bow and a final shotgun blast brought the monster down.
I stepped away from the workbench with my newly reinforced bow and found another WLF soldier. His body was slumped upside down, face hidden, but the massive bloodstains painted a clear picture of a violent end.
I pushed deeper into the ruins and found a room decorated for a birthday party. Seeing the colorful banners and festive decorations in such a dark, blood-soaked place felt incredibly haunting. It was a snapshot of a normal life that had been interrupted by the end of the world.
I spotted an open window high up on a wall, but it was out of reach. I found a heavy crate and began pushing it into position so I could climb up. Just as I thought I had it, the floor beneath me collapsed, and Ellie crashed through to the level below.
The fall felt like a descent into a nightmare. As the dust cleared, I realized I had dropped straight into a Bloater's den. The massive, fungal beast was having a feast on an infected body.
The moment the Bloater sensed me, it tossed the corpse aside like a ragdoll. I didn't waste a second, I scrambled to my feet and started moving. In a cramped space like that, staying stationary against a beast of that size is a death sentence.
I put my upgraded bow to the test immediately. I notched several explosive arrows and let them fly. The impacts were devastating, blowing off chunks of the Bloater's fungal armor and staggering it. I could see the massive damage each hit was dealing.
The Bloater started ripping spore sacks from its body and throwing them at me. The toxic gas clouded my vision and started burning Ellie's lungs, slowing my movements just as I needed to be at my fastest.
In the middle of the chaos, a runner was attracted by the noise burst into the room. I was already struggling to find an exit, but the Bloater actually did me a favor as it smashed the smaller infected out of its way with a single blow.
I knew the beast was on its last legs. I stood my ground, swapped to my shotgun, and waited for it to charge. As it closed the distance, I emptied the shells into its chest. The Bloater finally collapsed to the floor.
We'll check what happens next in another post.
Image Source: In game screenshots.
End of the post.
Peace.