"Ughaaaaah...!"

"It's weird for zombies to run that fast!"

Rea gets angry at such a weird detail, even though she should have already seen them do it by now.

Since I'm carrying her, both my hands are full and I can't use my knife.

Then I have no choice but to deal with them using my legs...!

I jumped right in front of a zombie that trying to grab me.

My thrust-out knee caught it directly in the lower jaw, snapping its neck with a crack.

If I close my eyes to the sensation of rotten meat, it's actually quite exhilarating!

"The screen says you defeated a zombie!"

So even in my current state, I can finish them off in one blow without using a weapon.

And it seems the voice doesn't echo in my head unless I level up.

But it also feels like my hit just landed in a lucky spot earlier.

Dodging the zombie arms that trying to grab me from the left and right, I kick away the opponent blocking my path with the sole of my foot this time.

The blown-away zombie slammed into the barricade.

"Huh, it didn't pop up this time..."

"Looks like I can't defeat them unless I land a solid hit."

Just as I expected, the zombie quickly stood up and headed toward me again.

So a zombie's weakness being the head is universal across all ages and places, huh.

Well, I've already slipped past it, so it's not a problem even if it gets up.

"Rea, raise my Strength by 2 points."

"O-Okay!"

When the points were allocated, it felt like Rea's body had become lighter.

Then, another knee strike to the zombie in front.

This time it landed right in the middle of its face—and the upper half of its face blew away.

"Ugh, gross..."

Rea involuntarily let out a strained voice.

Even I was a bit put off by the way the brain's matter splashed.

But the power has definitely gone up.

Landing, I next slammed my right kick into its chest.

The sensation of snapping ribs and squashing the insides transmitted to the sole of my foot.

The result of the zombie being blown away and slammed into the barricade didn't change, but—

"You defeated it this time, Erika!"

"Okay, this will work against zombies!"

With this, small fry like zombies are no more of an obstacle than the barricades.

Maintaining my speed, I move forward, avoiding fights as much as possible.

The goal is steadily getting closer.

"That's definitely a door, right?"

"But I don't think it looks like the entrance to the infirmary."

Originally, the infirmary should be at the end of this hallway.

But what's there is a gray, metal double door.

I've never seen a door like that anywhere in the school.

"If we pass through there, I wonder if we can return to our original school..."

"I don't think you should get your hopes up."

"What if I become a burden on the other side too?"

Good grief, she should just worry about her own safety first.

"You don't need to worry about that!"

"You're so kind, Erika."

"I'm not—"

I'm really not.

I'm dirty, ugly, and broken.

To what extent am I broken? To the point that I'm actually enjoying this situation, thinking it's like a movie or a manga!

But it can't be helped, right? I have power now.

Because I can slaughter these filthy monsters with my own power.

Fulfilling my own desires, and having that become someone's salvation.

It would be weirder not to enjoy something like this!

"Tch, get out of the wayyy!"

This sense of elation at the moment I kick a zombie to death,

"Monster [Zombie] killed. Congratulations, you have leveled up to 5!"

The concept that all my actions are not in vain, but are rewarded and turned into my own power a concept that never existed in my life until now—teaches me that this monster filled world is exactly where I belong.

"Just a little more, do your best Erika!"

My legs are actually starting to go numb.

I'm running out of breath, should I raise my Stamina?

No, if I just need to run through, it shouldn't be a problem.

If there are monsters past that point, I'll think about it then.

As we approached the goal, the density of the barricades and the number of zombies, which had only been increasing, started to decrease.

Yes, they were decreasing—

"This is weird."

"Eh?"

"I can't imagine something as convenient as 'only the end is an easy goal'."

"You mean it's a trap to make us let our guard down?"

Sadly, Rea's words were proven right immediately after.

From the door ahead, a giant shadow of a man slipped out sluggishly.

I don't know if it used to be human, or if it was another humanoid creature.

It's height is so great that it has to bend down to pass through the door.

And the armor of muscle it wore was thick and hard enough to make a bodybuilder pale in comparison.

Even though it was a zombie with rotting purple skin, festering to reveal exposed muscle, it still boasted overwhelming intimidation.

"A huge one came out... Does that mean it's a boss?"

"Probably. It looks strong just from its appearance."

Just as Rea and my thoughts aligned, the enemy roared "Guooooooooh!" and charged at us.

The exit is right in front of us.

"Rea, I'm going to put you down, so go open the door."

"But...!"

No time to listen to objections.

I readied my knife.

Despite having such a large body, its speed was incomparably faster than the other zombie wolves.

Dodge and slash? No, with my reaction speed, it's probably impossible.

First, I'll block the initial strike, then chain into the next move.

Holding the knife sideways, the giant zombie slammed its fist down onto the waiting me.

Bwoosh!

I heard the sound of the fist cutting through the air.

Instantly, goosebumps covered my entire body.

"Guh, so heavy...!"

This is bad.

That fist was as heavy as if a two-ton truck had collided with me.

The arm I thrust forward was easily pushed back, and the impact of the punch pierced my chest.

"Gah!"

My body floating in the air.

The air in my lungs was expelled all at once, and with that momentum, I coughed up blood.

Scattering fresh blood, I flew in a parabolic arc.

"Erikaaa!"

Rea's heartbreaking scream echoed.

There was an awful sensation around my chest.

Just like the feeling I had on the sole of my foot when I kicked that zombie—ah, is this what breaking a rib feels like?

I'm not dead, but isn't this dangerous—I wonder what my remaining HP is.

[HP: 2/10]

Oh, it tells me in my brain if I ask.

Even though I blocked it, I only have 2 left, huh.

I'm smashed against the ground, footsteps of a monster horde approaching from behind, and in front, the zombie from earlier is moving to launch its next attack.

Even if I can dodge this, I only have a few dozen seconds left anyway.

Furthermore, my remaining HP is 2.

If I take the next attack, even if I guard it, I'll probably die.

Hmm, leveling up didn't increase my HP, so maybe it's the type that increases if I raise Stamina.

But even if I block the next one, I feel like I won't be able to escape without defeating this guy.

What I need to increase isn't HP, but the power to completely defeat the opponent.

"Wh-What should I do! Is there anything I can do, anything I can do to help!"

I mean, why is Rea still there?

Since she's unharmed, she should just ignore me and run toward the door quickly.

We practically just met, so no matter how high your communication skills are, you don't have to pretend to be that kind of a person.

Well... thanks to that, I'll be saved though.

"Guh, goh, Re, Rea..."

"Erika, look out!"

The zombie's fist rains down from overhead.

It's fine, I can read this.

I roll to the side and dodge it.

Ah, but getting blown away by the shockwave and having my body float was maybe unexpected.

Hitting the ground hurts; the broken bone must be stabbing into something.

"Ngh... Rea, the smartphone..."

"The smartphone? What should I do!?"

"Everything, into Strength...!"

I call out to Rea while standing up.

Right, pain isn't a big deal.

I know a pain much worse than this.

"Let go of me, don't touch me! Noooooo!"

Compared to that moment, the pain of a broken bone is nothing.

"Stop... please, stop it already..."

The pain of a punctured lung is nothing.

"My being born was a mistake. I am sorry for existing here. Thank you for using violence to make me understand my place. I sincerely thank all of you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

It's practically painless—

"Got it, I'll use the remaining points on Strength!"

[Kuragane Erika]

[Level: 5]

[HP: 2/10]

[MP: 10/10]

[Strength: 13]

[Magic: 5]

[Stamina: 5]

[Agility: 7]

Power wells up in my body.

The fist closing in right before my eyes—I thrust my knife toward it.

I no longer need to defend.

The blade pierced straight through the fist.

"Guoooooooooh!"

The opponent's movements slow down for just an instant.

But that pain must have immediately converted into rage toward me, as it swung its other fist down like a hammer.

On the other hand, my body's movements are somehow sluggish.

Powering up when in a near death state seems to only happen in manga.

Cutting off the other arm would significantly shave down the opponent's power, but it still has legs and a head. Its attacks won't stop.

If so, I have no choice but to take its head.

But right now, in a near-death state where a mere graze could kill me, ignoring the punch is a huge risk.

Unless I have a means to attack two places simultaneously—the neck and the arm.

Ah-ah, I wonder if a god from somewhere would grant me a mysterious power.

My life has been terribly inconvenient until now, so just this once—

"Since it's your first time, I guess it can't be helped. Just this once, I'll help you out, Erika chan."

Just kidding.

Haha, am I being too greedy?

"Skill [Dual Slash Lv.1] acquired."

...

—Huh?

It actually came down? A god, gave me power—

"Why, the screen changed on its own, and operating on its own—sorry, I'm sorry, Erika!"

Did Rea do something?

Or is it a bug?

I don't know, I don't know, but I got it, so I have no choice but to use it.

I don't know what a skill is, and I don't know how to use it, but if I just scream it out, it'll probably work out somehow!

"Dual Slash! Die with thissssss!"

My killing intent targets the opponent's arm and neck.

I only swung the knife once.

But the slash split into two and cut the zombie leader, simultaneously severing the designated parts.

The downward swinging fist stopped moving right before my eyes, and its body fell to its knees and collapsed onto the floor.

"Monster [Zombie Leader] killed. Congratulations, you have leveled up to 7!"

At the same time, the clack of a lock opening sounded.

So, It was a door which doesn't open unless we defeat this monster.

"Ha... guh..."

"Erika, blood from your mouth... but hurry! They're almost here!"

Rea took my hand.

Leaning on her shoulder, gasping for breath, I reached the door.

But perhaps the door itself was heavy, the powerless Rea struggled to open it.

The horde of monsters was, just as Rea said, right upon us, and there was no time to bask in the afterglow.

With an arm that had little strength left in it, I pushed the door open.

What lay beyond was a pure white space.

I don't know where it connects to, or even if it's safe at all; just a completely white place.

The image of the female student eaten at the entrance flashed in my mind.

What if it's a trap similar to that one—Rea must be hesitating because she's thinking the same thing.

But we don't have the luxury of choice.

"Haa... haa... let's go, Rea."

"...Yeah."

Rea squeezed my hand.

Within my hazy consciousness, I remember a girl I once held hands with in the same way.

For me, The taste of blood spreading in my mouth is no different to the taste of betrayal.

She's just going to betray me eventually, just like Yumemi chan.

But, if I have changed, if the world has changed.

Will the nightmare not repeat itself?

Is there a future where I won't be betrayed?

While diving toward the white space, I am lost between the me that has changed and the me who hasn't change.

The outstretched arms of the monsters grazed my back.

Eventually, my vision was completely dyed in white, and even Rea's figure disappeared from my sight.

My consciousness faded away, and I surrendered myself to a pleasant slumber akin to sleep.