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Chapter 3: Shadows of the Unknown
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The soft hum of the generator barely masked the distant, guttural wails from outside the lab. Inside, the group sat in a rough circle, their weapons laid out in the center as if forming a makeshift altar to survival. Tension thickened the air, every creak of the old building drawing wary glances.
Kaito Takeda leaned back against a wall, his makeshift spear resting across his lap. His gray eyes flitted between the others, studying their expressions. Everyone was shaken—how could they not be?—but they were still holding together.
"We can't stay here forever," Hana Yamamoto said, pacing near the boarded-up windows. Her fiery red hair caught the faint light, her crowbar swinging idly at her side. "Eventually, those things will get in, or we'll run out of supplies."
"She's right," Ayumi Sato added, her voice calmer but no less urgent. "We need a long-term plan. Food, water, shelter… we can't just hope this will blow over."
Ryo Takahashi adjusted his glasses, his analytical mind already at work. "The infection is spreading too quickly. Even if this were contained, the damage is catastrophic. Cities like ours are likely already lost."
Akari Fujiwara, seated on the edge of a desk, shivered at his words. "Do you think… do you think anyone's coming to save us?"
A heavy silence followed her question. Kaito glanced at her, noting the faint tremble in her voice and the way her fingers gripped her knees.
"We can't count on that," Kaito said finally. His voice was steady, carrying a weight of certainty. "If help was coming, they'd be here by now. We're on our own."
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A Systematic Revelation
As the conversation shifted to rationing supplies, a faint glow appeared in Kaito's vision—a familiar, translucent screen hovering just out of reach. He blinked, startled, and the words sharpened into focus.
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System Notification
Quest Progress Update:
Mission: Kill 10 Infected
Progress: 2/10
New Subquest:
Objective: Survive the next 48 hours within the school premises.
Reward: Experience points and additional information about the infection's origin.
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Kaito's heart skipped a beat. The system was always there, reminding him of his strange connection to this nightmare. He hadn't mentioned it to the others yet—not fully. How could he explain that a mysterious, game-like interface was guiding him through this apocalyptic mess?
"Kaito?" Ayumi's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Yeah?"
"You okay? You've been staring into space for a while."
He shook his head, forcing a small smile. "Just tired. Let's keep talking about our next move."
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The Scavenging Plan
After a tense discussion, the group decided they needed supplies: food, water, and medical equipment.
"There's a convenience store a block away," Ryo said, tracing a crude map he had drawn on a piece of scrap paper. "If it hasn't been completely looted, we might find something useful."
"That's a big if," Hana said.
"Everything's a risk now," Kaito countered. "But sitting here doing nothing is worse."
"We'll go in pairs again," Ayumi suggested. "Cover more ground and watch each other's backs."
Kaito nodded. "I'll go with Hana. Ayumi, you go with Ryo. Akari, you stay here and keep the lab secure."
Akari bit her lip but nodded. "Just… be careful, all of you."
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Into the Streets
The group split at the school's side exit, the broken streets stretching out like a graveyard of forgotten lives. Kaito and Hana crept along one alley while Ayumi and Ryo moved toward a nearby pharmacy.
Kaito kept his spear ready, his senses sharp. "Stay close," he murmured to Hana.
"Don't need to tell me twice," she replied, her voice quieter than usual.
The convenience store came into view, its once-bright sign flickering ominously. The windows were smashed, and the door hung ajar.
"Looks like we're not the first ones here," Hana whispered.
"Let's hope they didn't take everything."
They stepped inside cautiously, their weapons raised. The shelves were in disarray, with empty boxes and spilled snacks littering the floor. Kaito grabbed a plastic bag and started collecting whatever was left: a few cans of soup, a half-crushed box of crackers, a single water bottle.
"Better than nothing," he muttered.
Hana was inspecting the back corner when she froze. "Kaito," she hissed, her voice tight.
He turned to see her pointing toward the rear exit. A shadow moved just beyond the broken glass, accompanied by the telltale growl of an infected.
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Ambush in the Store
"Get ready," Kaito whispered, gripping his spear.
The infected burst through the door, its glowing yellow eyes locked onto them. It was faster than the others they'd encountered, its movements almost too quick to track.
Hana swung her crowbar, but the creature dodged, lunging toward her. Kaito intercepted it, driving the blunt end of his spear into its chest. The impact knocked it back, but it recovered almost instantly, snarling viciously.
"Watch out!" Hana shouted as the creature swiped at Kaito.
He ducked and countered with a sharp thrust, the spear piercing its neck. The infected let out a wet gurgle before collapsing to the floor.
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System Notification
Quest Progress Update:
Mission: Kill 10 Infected
Progress: 3/10
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Kaito exhaled, his heart pounding. He wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at Hana. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she said, though her hands were still shaking. "That thing was faster than the others. Are they… evolving?"
Kaito didn't answer immediately. He looked down at the body, his mind racing. If the infected were getting stronger, then they needed to adapt—and fast.
"Let's grab what we can and get back," he said finally.
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Reunions and Revelations
When they returned to the lab, Ayumi and Ryo were already there. They had managed to scavenge a small stash of bandages, over-the-counter painkillers, and a few bottles of water.
"Anything happen?" Ayumi asked.
"Ran into another one," Hana replied, her tone grim. "It was faster, stronger. Like it was learning."
Ryo frowned. "That's… troubling. If they're evolving, it means this isn't a typical virus. Something's driving these changes."
"Something—or someone," Kaito muttered under his breath.
Ayumi shot him a curious glance, but he didn't elaborate.
As the group settled in for the night, Kaito found himself staring out the window, the distant fires painting the horizon in shades of red and orange. The system's notifications lingered in his mind, a constant reminder that his path was anything but normal.
Survive the next 48 hours.
The words echoed in his thoughts, their weight pressing down on him. Whatever the system was, it wasn't just a guide—it was a challenge. And he couldn't afford to fail.
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