Chapter 9: Descent into the Abyss
Alex stared at the map glowing faintly in his system interface. Floor 2 was a red zone, marked with ominous flashing symbols indicating a high density of infected. Every instinct told him to stay put, to fortify his position further.
But the system's rewards were too valuable to ignore. A New Skill and a Bonus Loot Crate? Those could mean the difference between surviving and dying when things got worse—and Alex knew things would only get worse.
He let out a long sigh, rising to his feet. His steel-edged crowbar rested comfortably in his grip, its weight giving him a sense of security.
"Alright," he muttered, eyeing the reinforced door. "Let's see what the second floor has in store."
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Preparing for the Descent
Before leaving, Alex did a quick inventory check. He'd learned the hard way that going in unprepared was a death sentence.
> Inventory:
Steel-Edged Crowbar (Durability: High)
Ration Pack (7 Days' Supply)
Energy Bar x2
Duct Tape (x1)
Rusty Nails (x12)
Bandage (x1)
His eyes lingered on the bandage. The scratch on his shin from the stalker had stopped bleeding but still burned slightly. Infection was the last thing he needed.
He unwrapped the bandage and tied it around his leg, grimacing at the sting.
> Health Restored: +10 HP.
Status Effect Removed: Bleeding.
"That's better," he muttered, flexing his leg.
Finally, Alex glanced at the flashlight in his hand. Its beam had been a lifesaver, but he needed to conserve its power. Switching it to low mode, he steeled himself for what lay ahead.
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The Stairwell
The stairwell connecting the third floor to the second was eerily silent, the only sound the faint hum of the building's emergency lights. Alex pushed open the door cautiously, the hinges creaking louder than he liked.
He peered down the steps, the dim lighting casting long shadows that danced unsettlingly on the walls.
The air felt heavier here, thick with the smell of decay. Alex gripped his crowbar tighter as he began his descent, each step slow and deliberate.
At the bottom of the stairs, the door leading to Floor 2 was slightly ajar. A faint, wet sound came from the other side—like someone tearing meat apart with their hands.
Alex's pulse quickened.
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The Feeding Ground
Pushing the door open slightly, Alex peeked into the hallway. The scene that greeted him turned his stomach.
Two infected knelt over a mangled corpse, their hands covered in gore as they ripped chunks of flesh from the body. One was missing an arm, its tattered shirt soaked in dried blood. The other had half its face caved in, the exposed bone glinting in the dim light.
Alex pulled back, his breathing shallow. "Two of them. I can handle this," he whispered.
The system interface appeared in his vision.
> Infected Detected: Walkers (x2)
Danger Level: Low
He took a deep breath, raised his crowbar, and stepped into the hallway.
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Strike First, Survive Later
The infected were too focused on their meal to notice Alex at first. He approached the nearest one—the one missing an arm—keeping his steps as silent as possible.
When he was close enough, Alex raised the crowbar and brought it down with all his strength.
> Critical Hit! 35 Damage.
Walker Eliminated: +10 SP
The crowbar sank into the infected's skull with a sickening crunch. It collapsed instantly, its body twitching before going still.
The second infected turned, letting out a guttural snarl as it lunged at Alex.
"Not today!" Alex shouted, stepping back and swinging his crowbar in a wide arc. The weapon connected with the side of the infected's head, sending it sprawling to the ground.
Before it could recover, Alex raised his foot and stomped on its skull, shattering it like a rotten melon.
> Walker Eliminated: +10 SP
He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily as he wiped the blood off his crowbar. The system pinged again.
> Mission Progress: Floor 2 Cleared – 2/20 Infected.
"Twenty? You've got to be kidding me," Alex muttered, glancing down the long hallway.
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Deeper into the Floor
The second floor was laid out similarly to the third, with a central hallway and apartments lining either side. Most of the doors were closed, but a few hung open, revealing darkened interiors.
Alex checked his system map, which highlighted the general locations of infected. Most were clustered toward the eastern wing of the floor, but a few stragglers wandered nearby.
He decided to clear the closer ones first, not wanting to risk being flanked later.
The first apartment he entered was eerily quiet. Dust coated the furniture, and the air was stale, but there was no immediate sign of infected.
Alex moved cautiously, his flashlight sweeping the room. As he approached the bedroom, the faint sound of wheezing reached his ears.
He stopped, his heart pounding.
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Ambush
The closet door burst open suddenly, and a walker lunged out, its decayed fingers grasping for Alex's throat.
"Shit!" he yelled, stumbling back and swinging his crowbar wildly.
The infected's claws grazed his shoulder, tearing through his shirt but missing flesh. Alex swung again, this time connecting with its jaw and sending it reeling.
He didn't give it a chance to recover, stepping forward and driving the crowbar through its skull.
> Walker Eliminated: +10 SP
Alex leaned against the wall, his breathing ragged. "That was too close," he muttered, checking his shoulder. The scratch wasn't deep, but it was a reminder of how quickly things could go south.
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Loot and Survival
After clearing the apartment, Alex scavenged what he could.
> Items Found:
Duct Tape (x1)
Painkillers (x2)
Water Bottle (x1)
The painkillers were a welcome find. Alex pocketed them and moved on, stepping back into the hallway.
The system pinged as his progress updated.
> Mission Progress: Floor 2 Cleared – 3/20 Infected.
System Points Earned: 30 SP
He sighed, gripping his crowbar tighter. "Seventeen more to go."
The sound of distant groaning reached his ears, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Let's finish this."