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Chapter 4: Blood and Resolve
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The gym doors creaked as Kaito pushed them open, and the small group of survivors stepped into the darkened hallway, moving silently, tense and ready. The air was thick with the scent of stale blood, and every shadow seemed to pulse with hidden threats. Kaito led the way, gripping his crowbar, its cool weight reassuring in his hands. Hana kept close, clutching a broken broom handle, her knuckles white with tension.
Behind them, Ryo and the remaining survivors followed, their faces hardened by fear and desperation. The quiet murmurs and stifled cries of earlier had faded, replaced by a grim determination. Kaito knew that this fragile strength was the only thing keeping them from falling apart, and he could feel the weight of their hopes resting on his shoulders. It wasn't a role he'd chosen, but it was one he was beginning to accept.
They hadn't gone far when the faint shuffle of footsteps reached Kaito's ears. He held up his hand, signaling everyone to stop. Ahead, an infected student stumbled out of a classroom, its movements jerky, like a puppet barely held together by invisible strings. The light in its eyes was long gone, replaced by a dull, predatory hunger.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[OBSERVE ACTIVE]
[NAME: Unknown Entity]
STATUS: Hostile Entity
LEVEL: 2
STATS:
Strength: 4
Agility: 3
Endurance: 5
Perception: 1
Intelligence: 0
Willpower: 0
Weakness: Cranium (Critical Hit Spot)
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"Everyone, stay back," Kaito whispered. He tightened his grip on the crowbar, stepping forward slowly. The infected student's head turned sharply, its cloudy eyes focusing on him with an unsettling intensity.
The creature lunged, its mouth stretching open with a guttural hiss. Kaito sidestepped, swinging the crowbar in a swift arc. The impact was brutal, sending the infected sprawling against the wall with a sickening crunch. Without waiting for it to recover, Kaito raised the crowbar and drove it down onto the creature's skull. It went still, its body collapsing in a lifeless heap.
A notification chimed, the system acknowledging his kill.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE]
You have defeated a Level 2 Hostile Entity.
Experience Points Earned: +10
[QUEST PROGRESS: First Slayer Exclusive Quest - 3/10]
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Three down, seven to go. Kaito exhaled, a mixture of relief and grim satisfaction filling him. With each kill, he felt his strength growing, his movements sharper, his reflexes quicker. But he couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling in the back of his mind—the awareness that each victory was chipping away at something within him.
Hana approached cautiously, her eyes wide but steady. "Are you okay?"
Kaito nodded. "Let's keep moving. We can't stay in one place for long."
The group pressed forward, weaving their way through the labyrinthine hallways. Every corner, every darkened classroom, felt like it held the potential for ambush, and their tension only grew with each step. They were close to the emergency exit now, but Kaito knew better than to assume they were safe. If they wanted to survive, they had to stay vigilant.
As they approached the stairwell that led to the emergency exit, a muffled scream echoed from below. Kaito froze, his heart pounding. He looked back at the others, who stared at him with fear and uncertainty in their eyes.
"Someone's down there," Hana whispered, clutching her weapon tightly. "We can't just leave them."
Kaito hesitated. Going after whoever was downstairs could put them all at risk, but the thought of leaving someone behind… it went against everything he was trying to hold onto, everything that kept him from becoming as monstrous as the infected.
"We'll go," he said finally, glancing at the others. "Anyone who wants to stay here, feel free. But I won't abandon someone if there's a chance they're still alive."
Ryo snorted, though he looked impressed. "Fine. But don't get us killed, hero."
Kaito gave a nod, and they descended the stairwell together, their footsteps quiet against the concrete. The scream had faded, replaced by an eerie silence. As they reached the lower level, Kaito scanned the area, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.
A figure was crouched against the wall at the far end of the hall, surrounded by three infected. It was a girl, her uniform torn and her body trembling as she tried to keep the creatures at bay with a metal ruler. Her face was pale, streaked with tears, and her eyes were wild with terror.
Kaito didn't hesitate. "Stay behind me," he whispered to Hana and the others before charging forward, his crowbar raised.
The infected turned toward him, momentarily distracted from their prey. He struck the first one hard, the crowbar slamming into its head with a sickening crunch. It crumpled to the floor, motionless. Before the others could react, he swung again, catching the second creature in the jaw and sending it sprawling.
The third infected lunged at him, its rotting hands reaching for his throat. Kaito barely managed to dodge, stumbling back as it advanced. He swung wildly, the crowbar connecting with its arm, but it only seemed to enrage the creature further. It let out a low growl, its teeth snapping inches from his face.
A sudden scream pierced the air, and Kaito saw Hana rush forward, her broken broom handle stabbing into the creature's side. It turned toward her, but before it could attack, Kaito took advantage of the distraction, driving his crowbar into its skull.
The creature went limp, collapsing to the ground in a heap.
Another notification appeared, but Kaito ignored it, his focus on the girl huddled against the wall. She stared up at him, her expression a mixture of shock and relief.
"Are you okay?" he asked, offering her a hand.
The girl nodded, her hand shaking as she took his. "Thank you… I thought I was done for."
Kaito helped her to her feet, glancing back at the others. "Let's get out of here before more of them show up."
They moved quickly, finally reaching the emergency exit. The door led out to the back of the school, where the grounds stretched into the shadows of the surrounding trees. The air outside was cool, and for a moment, Kaito felt a wave of relief wash over him.
But that relief was short-lived. As they regrouped outside, a new notification appeared in his vision, flashing with a sense of urgency.
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[SYSTEM MISSION: First Slayer Exclusive Quest - Progress Update]
Objective: Eliminate 10 infected.
Status: 6/10 defeated
Reward: Title Upgrade (First Slayer)
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Six down, four to go. The system seemed to be tracking his progress with a ruthless precision, pushing him forward, reminding him that his fight was far from over.
Ryo leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "Alright, Tanaka. We're out of the school. Now what?"
Kaito looked around, his mind racing. They had escaped the immediate danger, but the infected could be anywhere—and they were far from safe. The streets beyond the school gates stretched out, empty and ominous in the moonlight. If the infection had spread through the town, they'd be just as vulnerable out there as they had been inside.
"We need to find shelter," Kaito said, his voice steady. "Somewhere secure. Maybe a nearby store or an office building. We can figure out our next move from there."
The girl they'd rescued, still shaking, nodded in agreement. "My… my family owns a convenience store a few blocks from here. We could go there. It's small, but we'd have supplies, at least."
Kaito exchanged a glance with Hana, who nodded in silent approval. It was as good a plan as any, and right now, supplies were essential. They'd been lucky to make it this far, but they couldn't rely on luck forever.
"Alright," Kaito said. "Let's go. Stay close, and keep quiet."
The group moved as one, slipping through the shadows as they made their way down the deserted streets. The town was eerily silent, the familiar sights transformed into haunting silhouettes by the moonlight. Occasionally, they heard distant groans, and Kaito felt the tension in the group grow with each sound. But they pressed on, determined to reach their destination.
After what felt like hours, they arrived at the convenience store. The windows were intact, and the door was locked—a good sign. The girl quickly unlocked it, ushering them inside.
Kaito took a deep breath, his body relaxing slightly as they closed and barricaded the door behind them. The store was small but well-stocked, the shelves lined with food, water, and basic supplies.
They settled into the back room, using crates and boxes to create makeshift barriers around the entrances. It wasn't perfect, but it was safer than being out in the open.
As they gathered in the dim light of the storeroom, a new notification appeared in Kaito's vision.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[QUEST PROGRESS: First Slayer Exclusive Quest - 6/10]
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He closed his eyes, steeling himself. The system's reminders, its relentless push for progress, felt both empowering and terrifying. He was growing