NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: CHAPTER 9
One of the creatures shuffled down the dimly lit corridor, its skin a sickly gray and its eyes glazed over with a haunting emptiness. The sound of its ragged breathing echoed in the silence, creating an unsettling backdrop to the chaos that had consumed their world. Suddenly, a wet towel flew through the air and smacked the creature squarely on the head. It paused for a brief moment, then continued its aimless walk, unfazed by the unexpected hit.
"W-what are you doing, Takagi-san?" Hirano asked, his voice a mixture of confusion and trepidation. He glanced around the corridor, half expecting other creatures to leap out from the shadows.
"Just shut up and watch," Takagi replied, her voice low and focused. She wasn't about to let fear cloud her judgment. With a flick of her wrist, she threw another wet towel, this one hitting a nearby locker with a dull thud. The creature turned toward the sound, its movements jerky and disjointed, and began to slam its body against the locker, scratching and moaning as it sought out the source of the noise.
"Do you understand now?" Takagi asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied the creature's behavior. "See how it didn't react when that rag hit it? I bet they don't feel pain. They only react to sound. And if they can't see, then they wouldn't run into that locker."
"What about heat?" Hirano asked, curiosity piqued despite the chaos around them.
"We'll test that if we get a chance," Takagi replied, determination setting her jaw. "Now, let's move." She stood, brushing off her pants as she prepared to head out.
"Are we really going outside?" Hirano's voice was shaky, revealing his inner turmoil.
"What's wrong with that?" Takagi shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"Umm... I don't like walking," Hirano admitted, his shoulders slumping.
"That's why I hate fat nerds! Don't complain about walking until you're old enough to drive!" Takagi snapped, her frustration spilling over. She wasn't one to coddle anyone, especially not someone who seemed to be falling apart at the seams.
"Ah... hahaha," Hirano chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.
As they moved cautiously toward the staff room, Hirano found the nerve to call out again, "Um, Takagi-san?"
"What now?!" she barked, turning with irritation etched on her face.
"Why me?" Hirano asked, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
"Huh? No reason in particular," she replied coldly, her tone extinguishing any lingering optimism he might have harbored.
Reaching the staff room, a sense of dread enveloped them. Hirano froze as he noticed a shadow creeping around the corner. In an instant, he realized they were surrounded. Creatures began to close in from all directions, their grotesque forms silhouetted in the dim light.
Hirano's heart raced as he fumbled with his makeshift weapon, a nail gun he'd cobbled together from various supplies. He squeezed the trigger, and the sharp sound of nails piercing flesh filled the air. "Oi, fatass! I can't learn anything about them if you keep killing them like this!" Takagi shouted, her frustration boiling over as more creatures were drawn to the noise.
"Ehh, Takagi-san, help me out here!" Hirano pleaded, panic evident in his voice as he fired another round, his aim wavering.
"Are you an idiot? Why should I have to fight them?!" Takagi retorted, her eyes darting around as she assessed their dire situation.
"I'm almost out of ammo!" Hirano exclaimed, desperation creeping into his tone.
"Then reload, you idiot-fatass-nerd!" Takagi barked, her patience wearing thin.
"But... behind you!" Hirano stammered, his voice rising in alarm.
Takagi whipped around, her breath catching in her throat as she spotted one of the creatures looming over her, its mouth agape, revealing sharp, decayed teeth.
"ARRRGHHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed, the sound tearing through the tense atmosphere, echoing down the hallway and attracting even more creatures from nearby rooms.
"Takagi-san!" Hirano shouted, his heart racing as he desperately tried to reload his weapon.
"Don't you dare come near me!" Takagi yelled, panic overtaking her senses. She stumbled backward, her foot catching on Hirano's bag, sending her crashing to the floor. She felt her heart pounding in her chest as the creature closed in, the stench of decay overwhelming her senses.
"No... no... no! Go away! Get away from me!" Desperately, she snatched up a nearby battery-powered screwdriver and aimed it at the creature's face, her hands trembling. With a swift motion, she drove the screwdriver into the creature's skull, feeling a rush of adrenaline as blood splattered across her clothes.
Just then, Niikaz burst onto the scene, her eyes sharp and focused. She fired from the left side, her aim precise and deadly. Kazu and Okada flanked her, providing support as they took down more creatures. Marikawa and Saeko rushed in, their movements fluid as they dispatched the creatures that had surrounded Takagi.
Hisashi, a fierce determination in his eyes, dodged an attack, twisting away just in time. He shoved his weapon through the mouth of one creature, feeling the sickening crunch as he hurled it into another.
Rei moved in sync with him, her weapon glinting in the dim light as she swung it with deadly accuracy, striking one creature in the head before stabbing another with practiced precision, supported by Takashi.
"There are too many!" Hisashi shouted, stepping back to regroup with the others, sweat glistening on his brow as he assessed their dwindling options.
"Damn it!" Takashi cursed, swinging his metal bat with all his might. He connected with a creature's skull, sending it sprawling to the floor, but more kept coming, an unrelenting tide of horror.
"Takashi, that's reckless!" Rei called out, her voice laced with concern for her friend's safety.
"Shit!" Hisashi moved to assist him, his heart pounding as he fought off the creatures.
Hirano, meanwhile, reloaded his nail gun, the sound of the mechanism clicking echoing through the air. He carefully took aim and fired again, nails striking true and dropping several creatures in quick succession.
"Saeko, Kazu, Okada, cover the other side. I'll finish up here," Niikaz commanded, her tone brooking no argument as she formed a weapon from her left palm. With a swift motion, she eliminated eight creatures in one fluid action, each shot precise and calculated.
"Niikaz, I'll fight with you!" Kazu called, determination etched on his face.
"No, help the others. I'll handle this," she replied firmly, her expression serious, revealing nothing of her own anxiety.
"Tch, fine!" Kazu grumbled, frustration simmering beneath the surface as he moved to support the others.
Niikaz's internal system activated, her lenses glowing as two rings formed in her eyes. Targets appeared in holographic displays, each one locked onto a creature's head. Calculating range and trajectory, she pulled the trigger without hesitation.
One bullet pierced through multiple creatures in a single shot. She slid across the floor, firing upwards, sending another round through a creature's mouth, exiting through its skull. The efficiency of her movements was mesmerizing, and Kazu, from across the room, caught a glimpse of her display. His eyes widened in awe as he watched her flawless execution. "Whoa," he breathed, captivated by her skill and poise.
As one of the remaining creatures lunged at her, she coolly placed her weapon against its head and fired point-blank, the creature collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Four creatures remained, their mouths gaping wide, but they didn't stand a chance against Niikaz. She rotated her body, firing rapidly. Blood splattered from their heads as their bodies dropped simultaneously, unable to react in time.
Kazu, still reeling from the spectacle he'd just witnessed, returned to the fight, focusing on the last of the creatures that were closing in on them.
With the last of the creatures taken care of, Kazu, Hisashi, and Takashi did a final sweep, checking every corner to ensure the floor was clear.
Niikaz opened a map, scanning an 800-meter radius for any signs of movement. Red dots marked creatures, blue for humans. Satisfied that the area was secure, she switched the display back to the immediate floor.
"Looks like everything's clear here. We can speak freely without attracting any more of them," she noted, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of tension. The battle had taken a toll on everyone, and the adrenaline began to fade, leaving behind the weight of exhaustion.
"Did you see that?" Hirano exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement and disbelief. "Takagi-san, you were amazing back there! You actually took one down!"
Takagi, still catching her breath, shot him a glare, her heart racing from both fear and anger. "I didn't do it for you, fatass! I just didn't want to die!"
Hisashi, trying to lighten the mood, added, "Well, we all did what we had to do. It's not like anyone expected a friendly welcome party."
"Let's focus on what's next," Niikaz interrupted, her tone shifting back to serious. "We need to regroup and plan