A muffled scraping along the barricaded door woke Joon-woo from a half-slumber. He blinked, heart jarring into alertness. The cramped office room remained cloaked in near-darkness, illuminated only by the faint emergency light from the hallway crack at the door's base. Mi-sun and Ha-jin crouched silently near the makeshift barricade, their silhouettes tense. They hadn't woken him yet—good, they'd followed instructions, waiting until they were sure something threatened them.
He rose carefully, sword in hand. Outside, a faint scraping persisted, as if claws dragged lightly across wood or metal. He drew close, gently touching Mi-sun's shoulder to let her know he was awake and ready. She exhaled soundlessly in relief.
Ha-jin leaned closer, whispering just above a breath, "Something's testing the door. It started a minute ago. We didn't hear any growl or snarl—just this… scraping."
Joon-woo nodded. The silence outside was more unnerving than roars or hisses. Some monsters prowled quietly, testing barriers, waiting for prey to panic. He motioned them back. He needed space to respond if the door gave way.
They shuffled back, positioning behind a low filing cabinet. Mi-sun clutched her spear-rod nervously. Ha-jin gripped his mop handle with whitening knuckles. Both watched him closely—he was their anchor of confidence.
Joon-woo placed an ear to the door, slowing his breathing to near silence. The scraping paused. The air felt heavy, thick with tension. Then a gentle rattle, and the cabinet blocking the door trembled slightly. Whatever it was tried a different tactic—pushing or pulling at the door. He clenched his jaw. If it managed to pry open a gap, he'd have to act fast.
He decided on a risky move: surprise attack. He whispered to Mi-sun and Ha-jin, "When I open the door slightly, be ready to stab if anything leaps in. I'll strike first, you follow if needed. Stay low, aim for legs."
They nodded, swallowing hard. Mi-sun positioned her spear low, Ha-jin angled his mop handle like a makeshift lance. They had minimal offensive Skills, but even a basic poke could distract a monster long enough for him to deliver a killing blow.
Quietly, Joon-woo pressed his shoulder against the cabinet, pushing it a fraction of an inch off the door. Just enough to see through a tiny gap. He strained his eyes in the gloom. Through the crack, he caught a glimpse of pale flesh and long, jointed limbs—another ghoul? Or something else?
Its eye glinted in reflected light, an eerie dull yellow. It hissed softly, a sound like steam escaping a pipe. Joon-woo eased the cabinet a bit more, making it think it had succeeded in loosening the door. The creature's clawed hand slipped in, feeling around.
Now!
He shoved the cabinet aside enough to open the door a hand's breadth. The creature's arm thrust inward, expecting to push further. Joon-woo swung his sword downward, a sharp vertical slash onto the exposed limb. The blade bit deep, a muffled shriek answered. The arm jerked back, dragging a trail of dark ichor across the doorframe.
Mi-sun seized the chance, jabbing her spear low through the gap, hoping to hit something fleshy outside. A wet thud and another strangled cry told her strike found purchase. Ha-jin joined, thrusting his makeshift weapon clumsily but effectively into the gap, forcing the monster away from the threshold.
The creature snarled, trying to yank the door open fully. Its strength rattled the hinges. Joon-woo gritted his teeth and pushed back hard, shoulder braced against wood. The monster growled in frustration, claws scrabbling. He angled his blade at the gap and triggered Quick Slash, the enhanced speed letting him dart the blade out and back like a steel fang. Another shriek—his strike must've hit vital flesh.
In a rush of desperation, the beast tried to retreat. He heard a scraping shuffle outside. Joon-woo yanked the door fully open now, risking exposure to finish the job. He stepped into the corridor's faint light, blade ready.
There it was: a gaunt, elongated ghoul with too-long limbs and a shredded arm. It bared teeth at him, hissing. He advanced, no time to waste. The corridor was tight, giving him an advantage. The ghoul slashed with its good arm, claws scraping the wall as he dodged, then he countered with a diagonal slash that opened its torso. The creature gurgled, collapsing onto its side. He delivered a final thrust into its neck, ending its struggles.
Panting softly, he checked the hallway. Quiet now. No other monsters rushing in. He hauled the corpse away from the door, leaving it slumped against a broken water dispenser. Another kill, another test passed. He motioned to Mi-sun and Ha-jin that it was clear.
They emerged, relieved. Mi-sun looked pale, her eyes wide. "We… we helped," she said, voice trembling. "I actually hit it."
Ha-jin nodded, "Me too. G-got a piece of it at least."
Joon-woo gave a tight nod. "You did fine. Perfect cooperation. That's how you survive—quick decisions, coordinated strikes."
They both looked grateful for his calm praise. Already, he saw some confidence flicker in their eyes. They weren't warriors yet, but at least they knew they could wound a monster. For them, that realization was gold.
He considered relocating. The noise might attract other creatures. But this building seemed mostly quiet. He doubted many monsters roamed the upper floors after that ghoul was eliminated. Still, he wouldn't drop his guard.
"Let's return inside and barricade again," he said, stepping back into the office. "We'll keep shifts as planned. Just be quieter."
They complied, helping him restore the barricade. Once sealed inside again, Mi-sun offered a weak smile, "At least now we know we can fight back a little."
Ha-jin nodded, "Yeah… thanks to you."
Joon-woo shrugged, "Just keep learning. We all started clueless." He recalled his own frantic fights before he got comfortable, though he had a head start this time.
Back in the dim room, he decided he could still afford a short rest. He instructed Ha-jin to take the next watch while Mi-sun quietly leaned by the door, listening for distant sounds. Joon-woo settled in a corner, sword resting on his shoulder, eyes half-lidded. He trusted himself to wake at any alarm.
In the hush, he let his mind drift. Today had been brutal, but productive. He'd gained Stats, saved some survivors, claimed a safe resting spot. Each monster slain sharpened his instincts. His Growth-Type Class hinted at future potential, so he'd keep challenging himself against stronger foes. Once stable, he'd target known hotspots for rare herbs, Key Fragments, or skill tomes.
Sleep came reluctantly. He drifted in a light doze, every noise snapping him close to wakefulness. Twice he stirred when Ha-jin shifted his position, but no threats emerged. Time crawled, the silence outside punctuated by distant roars. Eventually, he risked a deeper rest, trusting these two wouldn't betray him. They seemed too frightened to attempt anything foolish, and besides, he held all the power in this trio. If they wanted protection, they wouldn't cross him.
As hours passed, the building remained quiet. The apocalypse outside raged on, but here in this hidden room, three survivors huddled under Joon-woo's quiet leadership. When dawn approached, he'd wake, test the barricade, and move on—there were herbs to harvest, rare artifacts to seek. The city held infinite secrets now, and he intended to claim them first.