06: Last Stand at the First Floor

Kael's boots scraped against the crumbling stairs as he descended onto the first floor. His breath was shallow, his body trembling from exhaustion.

He had fought through six brutal floors, each one pushing him closer to his limits. His sword felt like a slab of iron in his hands, his muscles aching with every step. His mana reserves were nearly depleted, his stamina hanging by a thread.

But this was it.

The final floor.

And between him and freedom—

Seven zombies.

They stood blocking the corridor, their rotting bodies swaying slightly, as if waiting for him. Their clouded, lifeless eyes locked onto him the second he stepped forward.

Kael's fingers twitched around his sword hilt.

I don't have the mana to take them all down with spells.

He clenched his jaw.

No running. No retreating. This was the last fight.

Then, as if responding to his resolve, the zombies charged.

A Desperate Battle

The first zombie lunged, its arms outstretched, jaw unhinged, ready to tear into flesh.

Kael shifted his footing.

With a single fluid motion, he stepped inside its attack radius, twisting his body as he drove his sword forward.

SCHK!

The blade pierced through the zombie's skull, splitting it clean through. Its body jerked once, then crumpled.

One down.

But the second was already on him.

A clawed hand lashed out, catching his arm.

Kael winced as he felt nails scrape across his sleeve, tearing fabric, barely missing flesh. He twisted his arm free and retaliated, driving the pommel of his sword into its face.

The zombie staggered back, its nose collapsing inward, but it didn't stop.

Kael didn't give it the chance to recover.

With a sharp pivot, he swung his sword in a low arc, cleaving through the creature's ribs.

SCHK!

Blackened, decayed organs spilled onto the floor. The zombie shuddered before collapsing.

Two down.

But the third zombie was already lunging from his blind spot.

Kael barely managed to raise his arm to block, and the impact sent him crashing into the wall.

His vision blurred.

His lungs burned as the air was forced from them.

The zombie let out a gurgled snarl, its jagged teeth snapping inches from his face.

Kael gritted his teeth and reacted instinctively.

He drove his knee into its rotting stomach, pushing it back just enough to swing his sword into its neck.

The blade sliced halfway through—

But not deep enough.

The zombie twisted, its half-severed head lolling at an unnatural angle.

Kael's heart pounded.

The thing was still moving.

He gripped his sword with both hands and wrenched it sideways—

Tearing the head clean off.

The body collapsed.

Three down.

But there was no time to recover.

The fourth zombie had already reached him.

A rotting arm crashed into his ribs, sending him sprawling.

Kael coughed blood, his fingers barely holding onto his sword.

He tried to stand, but his body was sluggish. Too slow.

His muscles screamed in protest.

And then—

The fifth zombie pounced.

It tackled him, pinning him to the ground.

Its bony fingers wrapped around his throat.

Kael gasped, struggling, his hands clawing at its grip.

His lungs burned.

His vision darkened at the edges.

The zombie's jaws opened wide, drool dripping onto his face.

Kael desperately reached for his sword—

Too far.

He was out of time.

No. I didn't fight through all of this just to die here.

With one last burst of strength, Kael did the only thing he could.

He bit down on the zombie's wrist—hard.

Rotting flesh tore away between his teeth.

The creature recoiled, releasing its grip just enough—

Kael grabbed a shard of broken wood from the floor and stabbed it into the zombie's eye.

It shuddered violently—then fell limp.

Kael gasped, rolling onto his hands and knees.

His vision swam. His chest ached.

Five down.

Two left.

But he wasn't sure if he had enough strength left.

The Final Two

Kael forced himself to stand, gripping his sword with everything he had left.

The sixth zombie lunged.

Kael sidestepped, bringing his sword in a desperate arc—

SCHK!

The blade tore through its skull, sending it crashing into the wall.

Kael's arms felt like lead. His legs barely supported him.

His entire body screamed for rest.

But there was one more.

The seventh zombie stood at the end of the hallway, directly in front of the exit.

Kael stared at it, chest heaving.

The creature didn't rush forward like the others.

It simply stood there, watching.

Kael's fingers tightened around his sword.

No. Not watching. Waiting.

It was intelligent.

Kael took a slow, shaky step forward.

The zombie moved.

Fast.

Kael barely had time to react before it closed the distance.

Its speed was unnatural.

Kael swung his sword on pure instinct—

But the creature ducked.

His eyes widened.

It was adapting.

The zombie's claws lashed out, raking across his shoulder, tearing through flesh.

Kael staggered.

I can't—

Then, in a last act of desperation—

He dropped his sword.

The zombie lunged—

Kael grabbed it by the throat.

With all the strength left in his body, he spun—

And slammed the creature's head into the rusted metal door behind it.

CRACK!

The skull caved inward.

The zombie twitched—then fell silent.

Kael stumbled back, gasping.

Seven down.

It was over.

The Exit

Kael turned toward the rusted metal door.

His hands shook as he reached out.

The door was slightly open, revealing only darkness beyond.

A system message flickered before his eyes.

[Level 3 Complete.]

[Players Remaining: ???]

Kael frowned. The player count was missing.

Something felt… wrong.

But he couldn't stop now.

With a heavy breath, he pushed the door open—

And stepped into the unknown.

The moment he crossed the threshold, everything vanished.

No sound. No feeling.

Just—

Darkness.

Then—

The system spoke.

[Level 4: Initiating...]