Ch. 5 - I Can Still Make It!

The hallway was a scene of carnage. After unleashing her skill, the girl collapsed to the floor, her legs too strained to support her weight.

Silent Guy lay in a pool of his blood, unmoving and possibly beyond saving.

Meanwhile, the Hunter still thrashed violently, its vitality refusing to wane.

With no resistance left, both the girl and Silent Guy seemed moments away from falling victim to the relentless creature.

Zuo Chengan scanned the two on the floor, his mind racing.

Silent Guy, half-dead, was no longer a factor.

His original plan to chip away at the Hunter's health over successive nights was now a pipe dream.

If the Hunter were reduced to a sliver of health tonight, the girl's evident strength—her skills allowing her to take off a significant portion of its life in two kicks—meant that tomorrow, when the creature attacked her room, she could finish it with ease.

That would leave him to face a fresh, fully restored Hunter alone the following night.

The math was simple: letting the creature live wasn't an option.

On the other hand, if the Hunter were eliminated tonight, things could shift in his favor.

Tomorrow, when the next Hunter targeted the girl in Room 203, he could team up with her to chip away at its strength.

It didn't have to be a fatal strike—just enough to weaken it for his showdown the night after.

Moreover, having helped her before, she might feel compelled to return the favor later.

In the blink of an eye, Zuo Chengan recalibrated his strategy. He glanced at the thrashing Hunter, its blood-soaked claws still dangerous.

If it managed to kill either of his potential allies tonight, his odds of survival would plummet.

Decision made, he bent, picked up the girl's fallen axe, and gripped it tightly.

With all the strength he could muster, Zuo Chengan brought the axe down in a decisive arc.

Crack!

The Hunter, its health bar reduced to a mere 3%, stood no chance under the ferocious blow. Its final sliver of life drained away, and the creature fell limp.

[Ding! You have killed Hunter (E). Reward: Tetanus Serum x1.]

[Congratulations! Achievement Unlocked: First Blood — Successfully eliminate a hostile entity in the first game. Reward: Attribute Points x3.]

…

In his inventory, a vial the size of a finger appeared, filled with a swirling green liquid.

The label read:

[Tetanus Serum]

Type: Item (Green, Consumable)

Effect: Apply to weapons to inflict poison, slow, and confusion debuffs on enemies.

Restrictions: Improper use might backfire on the user!

Description: Beware the potency of the Tetanus!

Zuo Chengan paid no attention to the loot for now. He kicked the Hunter's corpse aside and crouched to assess Silent Guy's injuries.

The girl's expression was nearly comical, twisted in pain despite her wide, clear eyes.

Waving him off weakly, she gasped. "I'm fine... just cramped up in both legs. Nothing serious. Go check on that guy—he's way closer to kicking the bucket."

Silent Guy's condition, however, was dire. His abdomen was a mess, three gaping wounds spouting blood like fountains.

His shoulder was equally horrifying, with a chunk of flesh missing where the Hunter's teeth had torn into him, leaving exposed muscle fibers tugging at his bones.

Now that the adrenaline numbing his pain had worn off, he was barely conscious, lying limp on the ground where moments earlier he'd been crawling around in a frantic panic. 

Without immediate treatment, he wouldn't last until the end of the game—let alone another night.

Zuo Chengan didn't feel much remorse. After all, Silent Guy hadn't been factored into his long-term survival plan.

Just as he considered the man's final moments, Silent Guy weakly extended a trembling hand toward him. "I… I…"

Zuo Chengan sighed. "Anything left unsaid? Make it fast if you want to leave any final words."

Silent Guy shut his eyes tightly, trembling with what Zuo Chengan assumed was agony.

A familiar scene flashed in his mind—mortally wounded people begging for a swift end.

"Do you want me to ease your suffering? No problem. I'll make it quick and as painless as possible."

Lifting his axe, Zuo Chengan measured the best angle for a clean blow. It would be his first time taking a life, but it wasn't murder—it was mercy. That thought helped him shove aside any feelings of guilt.

"Wait! Don't kill me!" Silent Guy's eyes shot open, and in a burst of desperate strength, he coughed up a wad of clotted blood. "I-I can still make it! M-My pocket! There's a healing item in my pocket!"

Zuo Chengan paused, lowering the axe.

Blood continued to bubble from the man's wounds, but now it sprayed slightly in sync with his words—a rather spectacular sight.

Expression neutral, Zuo Chengan reached into Silent Guy's pocket and retrieved a strange, sticky item.

As he touched it, an information prompt appeared in his mind.

[Squishy Gummy Bear]

Type: Item (White, Consumable)

Effect: Significantly restores health.

Restriction: Children and the elderly should consume under supervision.

Description: Beware—the chance of being killed by a gummy bear isn't zero.

Silent Guy must have bitten off a chunk of the gummy earlier, knowing his odds of survival were slim. It had kept him alive just long enough to endure the fight.

Trembling, he pulled out the remaining gummy and bit it in half, the sugary sweetness spreading as he chewed.

The effect was immediate—his gushing wounds began to clot, and his exposed shoulder tissue gained a translucent, raw membrane of new flesh.

Though still gravely injured, his condition stabilized enough to stave off death.

Proudly, he held up the remaining gummy fragment toward Zuo Chengan. "Brother! It's orange-flavored! Want a bite? It'll make you feel invincible!"

The gummy, which might once have resembled a cheerful bear, was now a mangled remnant—barely one leg remained.

Zuo Chengan stared at it, deadpan. "No, thanks."

"I'll take it!" the girl, her features contorted in agony, shouted desperately. "It doesn't matter if it's gross! If it stops the pain, I'll eat anything! Just shove it in my mouth!"

The remaining piece disappeared into her mouth, and moments later, her pained expression melted into relief. Her legs, which had been cramped and nearly paralyzed, finally relaxed.

Taking a breath, Silent Guy spoke again, his gratitude clear despite his exhaustion. "Brother, Sister... My name's Zheng Ren. I owe you both my life. I don't care if you'd never want someone like me by your side, but if I can be of use, I swear I'll do whatever it takes to repay you."

The girl blushed slightly, suddenly bashful. "That's... that's too much. Honestly, I just didn't want to face the Hunter alone when it came after me. If we can take them down together, maybe we can end this game early. Oh! By the way, I'm Li Yueqiu."

Zuo Chengan mentally shook his head. If only it were that simple. There's more than one Hunter in this nightmare.

The night wasn't over, though the Hunter who should have been stalking the hall was now a lifeless heap.

For the time being, staying in the corridor posed no danger.

As Zheng Ren lay on the floor, groaning faintly, a tiny eyeball hidden nearby quietly transmitted the scene to an unknown audience.

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