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Chapter 2: The Awakening
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The science lab doors slammed shut behind them, and Ryo immediately began dragging tables and chairs to barricade the entrance. His broad shoulders strained under the weight of the furniture, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Kaito, still gripping the bloodied fire extinguisher, leaned against the wall, catching his breath.
"What… was that?" Ayumi asked, her voice trembling. Her hands clutched the hem of her blazer as if it were the only thing grounding her to reality.
"They weren't human anymore," Ryo replied flatly, his glasses flashing under the harsh fluorescent lights. "Something changed them."
"They're infected," Kaito said, the words leaving his mouth almost instinctively. He thought back to the glowing yellow eyes, the unnatural movements, and the inhuman snarl. "That's the only explanation."
Akari Fujiwara, seated on the floor with her knees hugged to her chest, looked up. "How do you know? Is it a virus? Or something else?" Her voice was soft, but the fear in her tone was unmistakable.
Kaito hesitated. He couldn't exactly explain the glowing system interface he'd seen earlier without sounding insane. "It's just a guess," he lied. "What else could it be?"
"Does it even matter?" Hana Yamamoto snapped, pacing the room. Her fiery red hair was disheveled, and her knuckles were white from gripping the broken chair leg she carried. "We're trapped in a school full of those things. We need a plan. Now."
"She's right," Ryo agreed, setting the last table in place against the door. "We can't stay here. We need to find a safer location and figure out what's going on."
Kaito nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. The translucent interface had appeared again, hovering in his vision like a persistent ghost. He couldn't shake it, nor the weight of the title it announced: First Slayer.
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System Notification
Quest Progress Update:
Mission: Kill 10 Infected
Progress: 1/10
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He clenched his fists, his mind racing. The "system" didn't feel like a hallucination. It was real—somehow. And if he completed this so-called mission, maybe he'd gain something that could help them survive.
But that meant he'd have to fight.
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Regrouping and Planning
The group fell into silence for a moment, the sounds of distant screams and shuffling footsteps filtering through the barricaded door. Hana broke the quiet first.
"If we're leaving, we need weapons," she said, lifting her chair leg for emphasis. "This isn't gonna cut it if more of those things show up."
"There's a supply closet down the hall," Ryo offered. "It might have tools or something we can use."
"Great," Hana said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's just waltz out there with no idea how many of those things are waiting for us."
"We don't have a choice," Kaito interjected, pushing off the wall. His gray eyes were sharp, his voice calm but firm. "Staying here won't help anyone. If we don't act, we'll just end up trapped when they break through."
Hana opened her mouth to retort but stopped, her expression softening. "Fine," she said reluctantly. "But if we die out there, I'm blaming you."
Ryo adjusted his glasses. "We'll move in pairs. It'll be safer that way."
"I'll go with Kaito," Ayumi volunteered immediately, stepping forward.
"No way," Hana countered. "I'm not letting him take all the risk while we sit here."
Kaito raised a hand, silencing them. "Both of you can come. Ryo and Akari will hold the fort here."
Ryo nodded. "We'll keep the barricade secure. Just… don't take too long."
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The First Steps
The hallway was a labyrinth of overturned desks, scattered papers, and faint smears of blood. Every creak of the floorboards felt deafening in the oppressive silence. Kaito led the way, gripping the fire extinguisher tightly, with Hana and Ayumi flanking him.
"Stay close," he whispered, his gray eyes scanning every shadow.
They reached the supply closet without incident, but Kaito's instincts told him it was too quiet. He motioned for the others to stay back as he opened the door.
Inside, the air was stale, and the room was filled with cleaning supplies, tools, and broken chairs. Kaito grabbed a sturdy mop handle, breaking it in half to create a makeshift spear. Hana rummaged through the shelves, finding a crowbar, while Ayumi armed herself with a heavy wrench.
"Not exactly a katana," Hana muttered, testing the weight of the crowbar, "but it'll do."
As they turned to leave, a low growl echoed from further down the hall. Kaito froze, his grip tightening on his weapon.
"Here we go," he muttered.
The infected emerged from a classroom, its glowing yellow eyes locking onto them. Its movements were jerky but fast, and it let out a guttural snarl before charging.
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The Second Kill
Kaito stepped forward, positioning himself between the infected and the others. The creature lunged, but Kaito sidestepped, driving the sharp end of his mop handle into its chest. It staggered, but its unnatural strength kept it moving.
"Kaito, look out!" Ayumi shouted.
The infected swiped at him, but he ducked, swinging the handle like a bat and striking its head. With a sickening crunch, the creature crumpled to the floor.
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System Notification
Quest Progress Update:
Mission: Kill 10 Infected
Progress: 2/10
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"You okay?" Ayumi asked, rushing to his side.
"Yeah," Kaito said, his breath heavy. He looked down at the lifeless body, his mind racing. Each fight felt harder than the last, and he knew the infected were only going to get stronger.
"Nice work," Hana said grudgingly. "But don't think I'll let you hog all the kills."
"Be my guest," Kaito replied dryly.
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Returning to the Lab
When they made it back to the lab, Ryo and Akari were waiting anxiously.
"Find anything useful?" Ryo asked.
"Tools," Ayumi replied, holding up the wrench. "Better than nothing."
"We also ran into another one of those things," Kaito added.
"And lived to tell the tale," Hana said with a grin, though the tension in her voice betrayed her bravado.
As they regrouped, the reality of their situation began to set in. The infected were spreading fast, and their small group was woefully unprepared for the challenges ahead.
But Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that he was being tested, that the system had chosen him for a reason. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: he couldn't face it alone.
"We'll survive," he said, his voice firm. "Together."
The others nodded, their expressions a mix of fear and determination. The fight for their lives had only just begun.
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