The Computer Room

The broadcast room's door shuddered violently, the barricade's desk groaning under relentless blows. Akira gripped his rotary spear, while Kana tightened her hold on her hammer. Hope and fear mingled in her expression, but the fleeting contact with the outside world had sparked a flicker of courage.

"Akira, let's hold on until help arrives!" she said.

"Affirmative. I'll neutralize the threats and ensure your survival. Stay behind me."

Akira approached the barricade, timing the impacts. The door burst open, and two horrors surged inside—one clad in jagged armor, its claws tearing the floor, the other a writhing mass with countless glowing eyes.

Akira activated his spear's drill, charging the armored creature. The rotary tip bored through its shell, shards flying. A swing of his bat crushed its head, felling it instantly.

The eyed horror darted forward, its gaze flashing red as it emitted a disorienting hum. Akira's movements slowed for a fraction of a second.

"Interference signal detected. Minor system impact confirmed," he said, shaking it off and hurling an explosive. A spark from his blade ignited it, blasting the creature apart. Black ichor splattered, charring the walls.

"Threats neutralized. Temporary safety secured," Akira said, turning to Kana.

She stared at the control panel's microphone, longing in her eyes. "Could we… try reaching someone again?"

"Reattempting communication carries risks, likely drawing more hostiles. Mobility takes priority now."

He shouldered his spear, urging her forward. "Next destination: third-floor computer room. We'll use its terminals to investigate the anomaly's cause."

Kana nodded, gripping her hammer. "Got it. We've got to stop that mastermind to end this. Let's go!"

They slipped out the back exit, racing up the stairs to the third floor. Behind them, another crash signaled the broadcast room's door giving way entirely, as a swarm of creatures spilled into the corridor, chasing their footsteps.

The third floor was unnaturally still when they arrived.

But the silence didn't last.

A massive shadow loomed at the corridor's end—a serpent-like horror with multiple heads, each facing a different direction, fangs glinting in the moonlight.

"New hostile confirmed. Engaging combat," Akira said, raising his spear and shielding Kana.

The heads struck as one. Akira countered with his spear, the drill piercing one skull, spraying black ichor. Another head lunged for his right arm, but he parried with his bat and lobbed an explosive. The blast obliterated a second head, enraging the beast.

Kana swung her hammer, smashing a fallen fragment. "Akira, I'm fighting too!"

"Your assistance is noted, but don't overextend," he replied, charging the remaining heads. His spear carved through them one by one until the final head screamed and collapsed.

"Threat neutralized. To the computer room, now."

They sprinted, reaching the door. Diving inside, Akira barricaded it with a desk.

The room hummed faintly, lined with monitors and keyboards bathed in pale blue light. Dust clung to everything, but it felt like a sanctuary—for the moment.

Akira and Kana secured the door, reinforcing the barricade. He leaned his spear and bat against a desk, while Kana set her hammer down, catching her breath.

The distant thuds from outside faded, signaling a temporary safe zone.

Akira checked his pockets, frowning slightly. "Explosive reserves depleted. We need new armaments. Assessing options and planning next steps."

Kana nodded, scanning the room. "Maybe we'll find something useful here. And figure out what's causing all this."

She approached a monitor, brushing off dust. "Agreed. We'll investigate data via the terminals and secure weapons. I propose a ten-minute standby for rest," Akira said, powering up a computer.

The screen flickered to life, displaying the school's outdated management interface.

Kana sank into a chair beside him. "Let's dig into what started this nightmare."

Akira typed rapidly, accessing security logs. "Searching for the anomaly's origin."

Among the scrolling data, an odd entry caught his eye. "2 a.m.: power surge detected across the school. External communications severed. Reports of spatial distortion."

Kana tilted her head. "Spatial distortion? Is that what's behind everything?"

"Details unclear, but hostile appearances likely began at this time. Further data is needed to pinpoint the cause. Checking additional records."

He scrolled through fragmented logs, but no clear answers emerged. Then, a new entry appeared. "Access record to underground facility detected. Potential link to the anomaly's origin."

"Underground facility?" Kana's eyes widened. "The school has something like that?"

"Restricted to general students. Registered in security systems as a hidden area. Worth investigating."

Akira saved the data and shut down the system.

Meanwhile, Kana rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a long metal ruler and a spray can. "What about these? The ruler could stab, and the spray can might explode with fire, right?"

Akira inspected them. "Viable as improvised weapons. I'll attach the ruler to the spear for extended reach and modify the spray can into a flamethrower."

He secured the ruler to his spear, lengthening its tip, and rigged the spray can with a lighter for ignition. "Flamethrower complete. Suitable for close and area attacks."

Kana picked up her hammer, a faint smile breaking through. "Ready to fight again. Where's this underground facility?"

"Records indicate a hidden door behind the first-floor library. It leads below. We prepare to move."

"Rest period concluded. Preparing for hostile approach," Akira said, opening the door to peek into the corridor.

Distant skittering grew louder, but no threats were visible yet.

Kana stood, hammer in hand. "If the cause is underground, that's our shot to end this."

"Affirmative. Your survival remains my priority. Stay behind me."

They left the computer room, descending the stairs toward the first-floor library, the promise of answers driving them through the endless night.