Chaos consumed the room.
The first mutated girl lay in two halves at Charvet's feet, her body motionless. But the other—she was still changing. Her delicate frame twisted grotesquely, bones cracking and reforming in unnatural ways. Her fingers stretched into jagged claws, her spine arched at an inhuman angle, and her mouth widened into a horrific grin filled with serrated teeth.
A shiver crawled down Joanne's spine. This… this isn't normal.
ROAAAARR!
The creature lunged with terrifying speed.
Joanne barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as razor-sharp claws slashed through the air where her head had been. She landed on one knee, gripping her sword tightly. Before she could counter, the monster twisted mid-air, its deformed limbs bending unnaturally as it came at her again—faster.
CLANG!
She blocked just in time. The impact sent her skidding backward, her arms trembling from the sheer force.
She was at a disadvantage.
This wasn't a normal mutation—it was something far worse.
From the corner of her eye, she caught movement.
Ned was backing away toward a dark corridor.
Her blood boiled. "You're running?!"
Ned smirked. "I prefer to call it… leading."
Then—he turned and bolted.
Charvet moved instantly. "I'm going after him."
Joanne wanted to stop him, but she was still locked in battle. "Be careful!"
Charvet didn't need the warning. His black armor gleamed under the dim lighting as he vanished into the corridor in pursuit.
Charvet raced after Ned, his steps swift and silent.
He's fast. But not faster than me.
Ned sprinted through the darkness, his breathing ragged but his posture oddly relaxed—like he wanted to be chased.
Charvet caught up just as they entered a vast chamber.
The first thing he noticed was the cages.
Hundreds of them.
Inside—zombies.
Not ordinary ones. Their bodies pulsed with unnatural energy, their flesh grotesquely warped. Some had extra limbs, jagged bones protruding from their skin, or twisted, monstrous forms. Their glowing eyes flickered with something beyond hunger.
Charvet's instincts screamed at him.
Ned stopped in the center of the room, breathing heavily, a grin playing on his lips.
"You're too predictable," he taunted.
Charvet's grip on his sword tightened. Something wasn't right.
Then—
CLICK.
Ned raised a small remote and pressed a button.
SHUNK.
The cage doors unlocked.
ROOOOOAAAARRRRR!
The mutated zombies surged forward like a flood.
Charvet exhaled sharply. "Tch."
Ned laughed, stepping backward toward another exit. "Ahh… I wish you could see your face right now." His grin widened. "Let me tell you a little secret before I go—" He gestured toward the monsters, eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"These zombies? They were once students."
Charvet's stomach turned.
Ned continued, savoring the moment. "Every single one of them… was a member of my faction." He chuckled darkly. "They trusted me. Followed me." He spread his arms as if admiring his work. "And now? They're my greatest creations."
The laughter echoed in the chamber.
Then—he disappeared into the shadows.
Charvet had no time to chase.
Dozens of twisted abominations charged at him, their inhuman howls filling the chamber.
[System Alert!]
Survive the onslaught of mutated zombies.
Objective: Eliminate the experimental zombies (0/153).
Reward: random skill book
Charvet exhaled.
Fine.
He'd cut them all down.
A four-armed zombie lunged first, its claws stretched out to rip him apart.
Charvet moved instantly.
His sword flashed.
SLASH!
The monster's body split open from shoulder to hip, black blood spraying across the floor.
It collapsed, limbs twitching.
But before Charvet could recover, another leaped at him from behind.
Without turning, he spun his sword in a deadly arc.
SHRRK!
Its head flew off, landing with a wet thud.
Charvet didn't even blink.
This was nothing.
A hulking brute roared, charging at him like a rampaging beast. Its muscles bulged, veins blackened, its massive fists the size of sledgehammers.
Charvet readied his stance.
The monster swung—
BOOM!
The air shook as its punch smashed the ground where Charvet had stood a second ago.
But he was already gone.
Vanishing Step
One moment, he was there.
The next—he wasn't.
He reappeared behind the brute, sword already moving.
SLASH!
His blade sliced through its leg, cutting through thick flesh and tendons.
The monster stumbled, roaring
Charvet didn't stop.
With precise footwork, he jumped onto its shoulder—then plunged his sword straight into its skull.
CRACK!
The brute twitched violently—then collapsed, lifeless.
A six-limbed horror dropped from above, spider-like arms tipped with razors.
It was fast—but Charvet was faster.
His blade moved like lightning, striking before it could even land.
SHING!
One arm severed—then another.
The creature screeched, stumbling back—
Charvet ended it with a single thrust, stabbing through its open maw.
But he barely had time to breathe.
The horde wasn't stopping.
More mutants rushed from the shadows, their twisted bodies hungry for blood.
Charvet gripped his sword tightly.
If they wanted a fight, he'd give them one.
His movements were flawless—every strike precise, every dodge effortless. thanks to his advance swordsmanship skill
His footwork kept him ahead of their attacks, his blade dancing between enemies.
To a normal person, it looked inhuman—like he was reading their moves before they even made them.
One monster swung—he sidestepped and countered in the same motion.
Another lunged—he twisted, driving his sword through its chest.
Blood splattered, bodies fell, and Charvet never hesitated.
Ned laughed.
Charvet turned, eyes locked onto the bastard.
"You fight well," Ned mused, grinning.
Then—he raised his hand.
CLICK.
More cage doors slammed open.
And from the shadows, a massive abomination emerged.
It stood twice his height, its ribcage split open, revealing a beating, pulsating heart.
Ned's smirk widened.
"Let's see if your sword skills are enough… against my masterpiece."
Charvet exhaled slowly.
This fight was far from over.
It wasn't alone.
The remaining mutant zombies surged forward, their twisted bodies ravenous for blood.
Charvet gritted his teeth.
He was surrounded.
A clawed zombie lunged—
SLASH! Charvet cut it down midair, black blood splattering his armor.
Another rushed from behind—
He twisted, using Vanishing Step to reposition.
SWOOSH!
The monster's claws slashed through empty space.
Charvet reappeared behind it—his blade already in motion.
SHRIIIK!
Its head hit the ground before its body even realized it was dead.
But there was no time to rest.
A hulking mutant charged, fist raised to crush him.
Charvet ducked, but pain shot through his side—one of the monsters had managed to land a hit.
Blood dripped down his arm.
He hissed.
I can't keep this up forever.
The massive abomination roared again, its heart pulsing wildly, as if sensing his exhaustion.
This thing is the key.
If I kill it… the rest will fall.
His grip on his sword tightened.
Thunder Slash was ready.
He had one chance.
Five seconds.
He exploded forward.
Lightning Destruction
As soon as he was in range, he activated—
THUNDER SLASH!
BOOOOOM!
A flash of blue lightning erupted from his blade, the sheer force tearing into the abomination's body.
It screamed, staggering back—
BOOOOM!
Another strike—this time across its torso, splitting flesh and bone.
BOOOOM!
Charvet jumped, spinning midair, before delivering the fourth strike—a diagonal cut straight down its chest.
BOOOOM!
The abomination collapsed to one knee, its ribs exposed, its beating heart vulnerable.
Charvet landed, panting hard.
One more.
He gritted his teeth—and with everything he had left—
BOOOOOOM!
The final Thunder Slash pierced through its heart.
A shockwave of lightning exploded outward—
The abomination let out a deafening, gurgling cry—before it collapsed completely.
Charvet staggered, exhaustion weighing him down.
Thunder Slash was on cooldown.
But he wasn't done.
The Last Ones Standing
The remaining zombies rushed him, their eyes still filled with rage.
Charvet exhaled, his mind steady despite the fatigue.
His body hurt.
But his instincts were sharper than ever.
Using Vanishing Step, he moved through the battlefield like a shadow.
One zombie lunged—he dodged, blade slicing its throat open.
Another swiped—he countered, driving his sword through its chest.
His swordsmanship was flawless.
Every movement precise.
Every strike deadly.
He fought until the last zombie fell.
And then—
Silence.
Charvet stood amidst the carnage, his body aching, his breath ragged.
Around him, piles of mutant corpses lay motionless, their twisted forms still crackling with residual energy from his last Thunder Slash. His sword dripped with dark, putrid blood, the scent of burnt flesh and decay thick in the air.
He exhaled, steadying himself.
It was over.
At least, for now.
Quest Complete!
Eliminate the experimental zombies (153/153)
Reward: Random skill book
Then—
Footsteps. Fast. Unsteady.
Charvet snapped his head up, his instincts flaring.
Through the dark corridor, Joanne emerged.
Joanne's Condition
She looked worn out, her armor scratched and stained with blood—both hers and the monsters'. A fresh wound ran down her arm, her left leg limping slightly.
But her eyes—
They were still sharp, still burning with determination.
Joanne scanned the battlefield, taking in the destruction. Her breath hitched slightly at the sight of the massive abomination's corpse, split open like a butchered animal.
Finally, her gaze settled on Charvet.
"You're alive."
Her voice was steady, but there was a flicker of relief in her expression.
Charvet let out a short breath, nodding. "Looks like you are too."
Joanne wiped the sweat from her brow and gave a tired smirk. "Barely."
Then, her expression hardened.
"Ned escaped."
Charvet's grip on his sword tightened.
Joanne wasn't surprised. Ned was cunning, the type to run when things got tough.
"Did you see where he went?" Joanne asked.
Charvet shook his head. "I tried to chase him, but I got ambushed by more mutants. He was already gone by the time I finished them off." he clenched his fists, frustration clear in his voice.
Joanne sighed. Ned had planned this well.
Everything—the experiments, the trap, the distractions—it was all designed to stall them while he made his escape.
"Coward," Charvet muttered.
Joanne looked around again, her gaze lingering on the dead students who had been turned into monsters.
Her jaw tightened.
"That bastard… he did this to his own people."
Charvet didn't respond immediately. He had already figured that out from Ned's sickening laughter before he unleashed the horde.
These weren't just random zombies.
They had been players. Survivors.
Students who had trusted Ned.
And he turned them into abominations.
Charvet exhaled slowly, his mind processing everything. "He'll pay for this."
Joanne nodded. There was no hesitation in her voice. "Yeah. He will."
Joanne winced, pressing a hand to her side where blood was starting to seep through her armor.
"You're injured," Charvet pointed out.
"So are you," she shot back, nodding at the deep cut on his shoulder and the bruises forming along his ribs.
Charvet rolled his shoulders. "I've had worse."
Joanne scoffed, but she didn't argue. "We should get out of here before more of those things show up."