Buaaaghhh
...
Scratch
...
Bam bam bam
...
Pow pow pakk
...
Scratch scratch swoop
"Hyaaahhhhh!!!"
Bugh bugh bam. Pow!
Ghhhleaggghhh! Gleaghhh…! Gha… Ghu…..
Bump…
"Hahh… Hahh… Hahh…" I try to control my breath after delivering the final blow to the ghoulie.
"Another one's down." I straightened up from the last striking pose, regaining my composure.
Ghhraaggghoooo!!!
"Oh, great. No break for me, huh?!" The ghoulie from the backyard had now joined the party.
Ghleaghhhhaaaaa…!!!
Ghrrghhh… Ghraaoooooghhh…!!
"Fuck!" The first ghoulie, the one that found the carcass, emerged from the hallway. Witnessing yet another fallen kin before me, it spiraled into a rage. I find myself caught in a pincer situation. In this dire moment, my only option was to brace myself for another battle.
"Heyaaahhh!!!"
Ghreaghaaaaaa!!!
Ghggraaaaoooo!!!!
Buaghh.
Scratchh.
"Gahhhh…! Heyahhh!!"
Bagghhh.
Scratchhh.
Bugggghhh.
I reinstated my stance before propelling myself toward the ghoulie emerging from the hall. The one behind me followed suit. I delivered a powerful straight punch while simultaneously enduring a swipe from the ghoulie behind me. In retaliation, I unleashed a sweeping backfist with my right hand. The ghoulie from the hall also landed a diagonal swipe on me, but I countered with a forceful side kick to its stomach.
Ghraooogghhhhh!!!
"Hyaaahhh!!" The other ghoulie let out a fierce battle cry, launching itself at me. In response, I met its charge with my own battle cry, hands poised for another strike. However, it was the ghoulie that initiated the onslaught, delivering a series of rapid strikes.
Scratch scratch scratch scratch.
"Guhhh…" I swiftly halt and establish a front guard, lowering my body to shield both my head and torso from the four diagonal swipes. As the fifth swipe approaches, I suddenly open my hands, leveraging the momentum to deflect the attack and counter the ghoulie. Seizing the opportunity, I bend forward and deliver a series of four straight punches, alternating between right and left. Building on the assault, I execute a powerful right uppercut, followed by a left hook, and conclude with a forceful push kick.
Bagghh.
Swoop.
Bug bugh bugh buggh bum paw buaghhh.
Ghraghh!!
Scratch
"Gahh!" Another scratch marked my back as the ghoulie from the hall executed another strike. The impact propelled me forward, momentarily disrupting my balance. However, I swiftly regained my composure, pivoting to face the relentless adversary. Gratitude surged within me as the other one lay lifeless after the forceful push kick, sparing me further concerns. Three ghoulies down, and now I'm facing the fourth.
We circled one another, locked in a silent dance of anticipation. A full minute passed before the ghoulie seized the initiative for the first strike.
Ghraaooooo!
Swooop. Bug bugg buagghhh!!
"Heh... Perfect!" I had anticipated the ghoulie making the first move, and my wish came true. Swiftly slipping past the ghoulie's right diagonal swipe, I countered with a powerful straight from my right hand. Continuing the onslaught, I delivered a solid left body shot, followed by a swift left uppercut.
Ghaghhh… Hgggghhh… Gleaaagghhh!!
"Huff... Huff." The exhale escaped my lips as I delivered a forceful push kick to send it reeling backward, swiftly followed by a lightning-quick superman punch with my right hand.
Bughhh… Buaghhh!!!
Bruakkk!
It knocked down after absorbing my punch in the face. I thought it would be done for, yet the ghoulie, though dazed, remained conscious and made a feeble attempt to rise.
"Hgaaahhh!!"
Bump.
I struck it down with a final diving punch, ensuring it fell into a deep eternal slumber once and for all.
"Hahh… Hhahh…" Once more, I struggled to regain control of my breath following a fierce battle. "Three are down, but there were four of them. Where does the other one go?"
Ghhgggraaaaoooghhaaaa!!!!!
Scratch! Scrape scrape scrape scrape scrape, stabbb!
"Ahh!!! Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh! Uhhkkk!!" In the blink of an eye after pondering the whereabouts of the fourth, it emerged from the basement, lunging at me. It landed a swipe on my chest, lifting me off the ground and propelling me back on my feet. It followed up with a series of swipes, concluding the assault with a powerful thrust from its right arm.
Ghrraaggghhhh…!
The ghoulie was infuriated, with saliva dripping from its mouth, a rather repulsive sight. It appeared to be not just furious but also ravenous. Considering it was breakfast time, I could potentially be its most satisfying meal—an exquisite blend of the taste of its sworn enemy and the one who just slayed its companions. Hell, I might just be a delectable treat.
I tried to regain my composure, rising to my feet after being forcefully thrown back by that final thrust. The ghoulie, undeterred, charged at me once more, attempting another swipe. Swiftly, I ducked to evade the attack, seized its body, and brought it down. From there, I unleashed a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes.
Bughh! Buaghhh! Buagh! Buagh! Buagghhhh!!!
Ghhhhreeaaggghhaaaa!!
"Uh… Guh…! Heyahhh!!"
Bum. Bum…
I unleashed a flurry of punches on the ghoulie. It struggled to break free, but I successfully pinned it down. Following that, I delivered two powerful overhead smashes, silencing the ghoulie once and for all.
"Hah… Hahh… Hahhh…" I struggled to catch my breath, my gaze lifting upward. The intense battle had drained my stamina, leaving me thoroughly exhausted.
"Hufff… Huft…." I took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, releasing all the air in one go. I repeated the process over and over until my heart returned to its normal rhythm. Adrenaline began to subside, allowing the pain to seep into my battered body.
"Arghhh… Damn, it hurts." I groaned in pain as I shifted my body, becoming aware of the wounds on my chest and back. However, amidst the pain, I sensed something peculiar within me.
"Ahh… What's this…?" I raised my palms, examining them as if observing something. It was more like sensing than observing, as I felt a distinct change within me. Despite the pain, my body seemed to be healing, as if becoming more resilient, capable of enduring and delivering more damage.
It felt like I was getting stronger.
To confirm this sensation, I decided to check my status. I opened the window and scrutinized the words and numbers that appeared before me.
Name: Rama Kusuma
Attributes:
Strength 10.6
Vitality 10.6
Agility 7.4
Endurance 7.4
Intelligence 7
Willpower 3
Body Mass 80 kg
Height 170 cm
Age 25
Core Skills:
Combat 19
Athletic 16
Cognitive 35
HP 106/106
SP 74/74
MP 70/70
Exp 35/460
Encumbrance 0/106
Body Condition:
Hunger 63.53%
Thirst 17.97%
Sleep 92.5%
"Holy shit, I just leveled up!" I stared in awe at my status. It was undeniably real. While there was no explicit level indicator, I surmised that only those who consistently tracked their progress knew their exact level. The experience threshold had shifted, accompanied by changes in attributes.
A joyful giggle escaped me as I marveled at the evolution of my body and self. Yet, I couldn't afford to drop my guard. Ghoulies still lurked in the building; five laid below, and the number above remained unknown.
"Think, Rama, think!" I closed my eyes briefly, contemplating my next moves. After a moment of contemplation, I resolved to embark on reconnaissance. Understanding the situation was paramount before devising a comprehensive plan.
Aware that there were five ghoulies below, whether awake or not, I resolved to ascend through the back staircase. I retraced my steps to the rear of the building, which is where I was before. Emerging on what appeared to be the rear side of the main hall, I couldn't help but appreciate the building's attractive interior. Large windows adorned the outer walls, inviting anyone to find a corner, sit, and indulge in contemplation while taking in the view. In my mind, I envisioned the possibility of sharing this space at night, perhaps with a girlfriend. The scenario painted itself as a serene moment—sitting side by side, engaging in deep conversation, cuddling—and the rest, well, you can imagine. Just the two of us, creating what could be one of the most memorable moments in my life.
"Ahh…." I sighed, dwelled in my imagination with eyes closed. It was such a good fantasy.
"Alright, time to get back to business." I shook my head, rousing myself from the diluted fantasy I had been lost in. Following the hall toward the right wing of the first-floor hallway, I muttered an expletive under my breath as I came across three ghoulies lying on the floor. One of them began to stir, slowly pulling itself up to a standing position. It ambled towards the front side of the hallway, growling, and its fellow ghoulies followed suit. The growl seemed to be a wake-up call for the entire group.
"Oh, shit…" I immediately took cover, my heart pounding in my chest. The prospect of facing an unknown number of ghoulies unnerved me. While I had managed to dispatch five ghoulies consecutively, it had always been in separate encounters. Dealing with more than two at once was an uncharted territory. I decided to move toward the back corridor, following it until I reached the chamber located right behind the main hall's podium for better reconnaissance. Ducking and moving cautiously, I reached one of the stairs before the podium, where I halted, carefully sticking my head out just enough to observe.
"Oh, my God..." I gasped in surprise at the sight of a swarm of ghoulies, seemingly gathered for some sort of morning briefing. A realization hit me: where there was a meeting, there must be a leader. Panic set in as I wondered about the whereabouts of their leader.
Ghhrrrrgghaaaaa…..
"Shit!" I reacted swiftly, retreating toward the bathroom next to the podium as soon as I heard a distinct rumble coming from the corridor behind. The sound was heavier, sending a chilling aura that set it apart from the others. I slipped into the bathroom just in time, leaving the door open to avoid detection. A ghoulie passed by, resembling its brethren but exuding a stronger aura. Frozen in place, I controlled my breath, avoiding any sounds or movements.
"Oh, God... What if they discover that some of their brethren have turned into corpses?" I pondered amid the rumbling ghoulies. Danger signals flooded my brain, urging me to leave immediately. Sweat dripped down my head, and soon after...
Drap drap drap drap drap!
Ghrroaghhaaa… Ghroooghhaa… Ggghhhrraaooo…!!!
The sounds of hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by anguished groans. It seemed like a ghoulie was running with tears streaming down its eyes. Empathy momentarily tugged at me, but I snapped back to reality, focusing on planning my escape route while the ghoulies' tumultuous rumbles intensified.
Ghrraaghhaa!!!
Ghghhhraaooo….
Ghhhgghrraaaaa…!
Ghaaagghhghhrrrrr…!!!
Ghghhraa! Ghhgghhhgraaoo. Ghaghaa ghaa ghrrghhhaaa!!!
Then, more rumbles reached my ears. The sounds of them scattering around and unleashing their battle cry. The ghoulies had heightened their awareness. Now, I was truly in big trouble, and shit was about to go down.