The glowing timer continued to tick down in front of my eyes.
[00:09:37]
The crimson numbers seemed to pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat. Marcus and Claire couldn't see the message, but the look on my face told them everything—they knew something was wrong.
"Ethan?" Claire's voice quivered. "What's happening?"
I hesitated. "The system just gave me… a choice."
Marcus frowned. "A choice?"
I nodded slowly. "It says someone's going to die within ten minutes. I have to decide whether to save them—or abandon them."
Claire went pale, stepping back as though the words themselves were poison. "W-what? That can't—how could it even know that?"
Marcus rubbed his forehead, exhaling sharply. "What kind of sick joke is this…?"
"It's not a joke," I said quietly. "It's the system's next test."
We stood in the narrow corridor, the faint hum of emergency lights buzzing overhead. The smell of blood and smoke still hung thick in the air. The timer kept counting down.
[00:08:21]
Every second that passed felt like sand slipping away in an hourglass.
Marcus crossed his arms. "So what happens if you don't pick?"
I swallowed hard. "The message didn't say. But I doubt it's good."
He grimaced. "So basically, you've got to decide who dies."
The silence that followed that sentence was unbearable.
Claire whispered, "There has to be another way. Maybe if we all survive together—"
A distant roar cut through her words. The sound echoed through the maintenance tunnels, deep and guttural, shaking the dust from the vents.
Whatever was out there—it wasn't just another ghoul.
Marcus tightened his grip on the extinguisher. "You've gotta be kidding me. That didn't sound like the others."
"No," I agreed. "That was bigger."
[Warning: A new entity has entered your area.] [Name: Mutated Ghoul – Rank C]
The message glowed briefly before fading. My stomach dropped.
Claire gasped, clutching my arm. "Ethan… what do we do?"
The walls trembled as the sound of dragging footsteps approached. The air felt heavier, denser, as though the tower itself was holding its breath.
I turned toward the others. "We move. Now."
We sprinted down the corridor, boots pounding against the metal floor. Behind us, a deafening screech erupted, followed by the shattering of pipes and the crash of metal.
The Mutated Ghoul had found us.
We darted around a corner and stumbled into a wide maintenance bay filled with broken machinery and collapsed beams. The space was large—but there was nowhere to hide.
Marcus cursed under his breath. "This place is a damn deathtrap."
Claire pointed toward a ladder leading upward into an open shaft. "Up there!"
The pounding behind us grew louder.
We raced for the ladder. Claire climbed first, her shaking hands gripping the metal rungs. Marcus followed close behind. I turned back just in time to see the creature burst into the bay.
It was massive—twice the size of a man, its spine twisted, its skin stretched taut over bones that seemed to pulse with black veins. Its jaw split open in a grotesque, vertical line.
–KRAAAHH!
The roar hit me like a physical force.
I grabbed a piece of rusted metal from the ground and threw it toward the far side of the room. It clanged loudly, and the creature's head snapped toward the sound.
"Ethan, come on!" Marcus yelled from above.
I started climbing.
The ladder groaned under our combined weight. The monster let out another shriek and lunged forward, slamming into the base of the ladder.
The entire frame shook violently.
Claire screamed. "It's breaking!"
Marcus looked down. "Move! Move!"
The metal bolts popped from the wall one by one.
I felt the ladder lurch beneath me. Claire was nearly at the top, Marcus just above me. The creature's claws tore at the base, ripping through steel like paper.
[00:04:02]
The timer kept flashing.
A horrible realization hit me—the system's warning wasn't about some random death. It was about this moment.
The ladder couldn't hold us all.
"Marcus!" I shouted. "Go!"
"What?!"
"Get Claire out of here!"
"No way, we're not leaving you—"
The ladder gave another jolt. I made my decision.
I kicked off the rung and dropped.
"Ethan!" Claire screamed.
The moment I hit the ground, the ladder tore free from the wall and came crashing down. The monster lunged upward, jaws wide—but I rolled aside, the edge of its claw grazing my shoulder.
The pain flared white-hot. I ignored it.
I scrambled to my feet, backing away as the creature roared again. Its focus locked entirely on me.
[Choice Registered: Save.] [Condition Fulfilled.]
The system's voice rang clearly in my mind.
『You chose to save.』
[Reward: Trait – Iron Resolve (Low)]
I gritted my teeth, gripping the metal rod still slick with blood from before.
"Alright then," I muttered. "Let's finish this."
The ghoul lunged. I sidestepped, swinging the rod with everything I had. It slammed into the creature's jaw, bone cracking on impact. It retaliated instantly, claws raking across my arm.
Pain exploded through me. I stumbled but kept my stance.
It lunged again.
I rammed the rod straight through its throat.
The creature spasmed violently, gurgling black ichor. Then, finally, it fell still.
For a moment, I stood there, breathing raggedly, every muscle trembling.
[You have defeated a Mutated Ghoul – Rank C] [Coins +50] [Strength has increased. Endurance has increased.]
I looked up at the broken shaft. Claire and Marcus were staring down, tears in their eyes.
"Ethan!" Claire called out. "Are you okay?!"
I smiled weakly. "Still breathing."
Marcus grinned faintly. "You crazy bastard."
"Yeah," I said, leaning against the wall. "I get that a lot."
As the adrenaline faded, the system window appeared once more.
[You have survived the triggered event.] [Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Protector of the Weak.] [Reward: +1 Trait Point.]
The timer vanished.
[Mission Progress: 25% Complete.]
I exhaled slowly.
We weren't even close to done yet.