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Chapter 2: Descent into Chaos
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The halls of Matsuda High were transformed. Where there used to be nothing but the usual chatter and class bells, now only eerie silence and the occasional growl filled the air. The fluorescent lights flickered erratically, casting shadows that stretched along blood-smeared walls, turning familiar surroundings into a haunted maze.
Kaito moved carefully, his knife gripped tightly, every muscle tensed, Hana close behind. Faint notifications from the "Survival Protocol" system hovered in his vision—a strange, steady presence he was still trying to understand. He pushed it to the back of his mind, forcing himself to focus on the immediate threat of each turn and shadow.
"Where are we going?" Hana whispered, clutching her hands to steady them.
He glanced back. "The emergency exit by the gym," he replied quietly. "The front entrance could be crowded. Better to get out through a side door."
A low groan echoed from the hallway ahead. Kaito's pulse quickened, spotting movement—a lone infected student, limping awkwardly toward them, its face slack, eyes clouded over. His fingers tightened on the knife as he activated Observe, and the student's stats appeared before him. They were slow, but their endurance was high, meaning a single hit might not take them down.
"Stay behind me," he murmured. "If it gets too close, you run."
Hana's hand tightened on his arm, her face tense. "I can't just leave you."
"We don't have a choice," he replied. He took a breath and stepped forward, moving with purpose.
The infected student staggered closer, and Kaito's mind raced, calculating each move. As it lunged, he dodged, sweeping to the side and bringing his knife down hard. The blade struck its shoulder, but the infected barely reacted, swinging its arm at him. Kaito ducked, his reflexes sharper than before. He sidestepped, seized a brief opening, and plunged the knife into the creature's temple. It froze, then crumpled to the ground.
Kaito took a moment to catch his breath, his hands shaking slightly as he wiped the blade on his shirt. Hana stared at him, her eyes wide.
"Kaito… are you okay?"
He nodded, though his heart still raced. Just then, a faint chime sounded, and a new notification flashed in his vision.
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[SYSTEM NOTICE]
Level Up! All Stats +1
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A rush of energy flooded his body, each stat shift settling into his muscles and sharpening his senses. The system's upgrades were tangible now, but Kaito barely had time to process them before he heard another sound—a low, scraping noise coming from around the corner.
"Come on," he whispered to Hana, taking her hand as they continued down the dimly lit corridor. The once-familiar school was now a shadowy battleground, every step forward making the strange sense of dread even heavier.
As they reached the next corner, they spotted another figure hunched over, clawing at the floor with an unsettling intensity. The stench of blood and decay made Kaito's stomach churn, but he forced himself to stay focused, activating Observe to assess the threat.
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[OBSERVE ACTIVE]
[NAME: Unknown Entity]
LEVEL: 3
Weakness: Spine
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The infected was stronger and tougher than the last, and Kaito's mind raced through their options. A straight attack was risky, but he had no choice. He turned to Hana, his expression serious. "Stay here. If it notices us, run for cover."
Without waiting, he moved forward, silent and quick. The creature whipped around, eyes locking onto him, its mouth twisted in a guttural snarl. Kaito dodged its swing, feeling a surge of energy in his limbs as he struck low, aiming for its spine. The infected shuddered, its body twitching as the knife hit its weak point, then went limp.
He exhaled sharply, feeling the weight of the tension slowly ebb. Hana moved to his side, her expression a mixture of awe and fear.
"They're… everywhere…" she murmured, glancing around, eyes wide with anxiety.
"Then we'll keep taking them down," Kaito replied, determination flaring in his chest. He knew that lingering too long could mean certain death, but every victory seemed to make him stronger. Another notification popped up, but he barely had a chance to read it before another low growl echoed from further down the hall.
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[SYSTEM MISSION: First Slayer Exclusive Quest]
Objective: Eliminate 10 infected
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Kaito's grip tightened on his knife as he absorbed the mission details. This wasn't just survival anymore—the system was giving him something like a twisted purpose, a role that felt both terrifying and strangely empowering.
"What's wrong?" Hana asked, noticing his intense expression.
"Nothing," he said, though a hint of resolve edged into his voice. "Just a new task from this system. It's pushing me to keep going."
Hana's expression softened, a flicker of hope amid her fear. "Then let's keep going," she said. "We'll make it out of this… together."
Kaito gave her a nod, a small but determined smile. With the system guiding him and Hana by his side, the path forward was clear: fight, survive, and grow stronger. But in the back of his mind, he felt a shadow of something more ominous—an instinct that warned him this was only the beginning.