A hoarse roar echoed.
Suddenly, a pair of shriveled, bloodstained hands shot through the gap in the elevator doors, clawing desperately. A pale zombie face squeezed into view.
But what greeted it was a cold flash of steel.
Sosuke Kitahara's snow-white katana easily pierced through its skull. Without hesitation, he stomped hard on the zombie's abdomen. The immense force sent the zombie flying, slamming into the two others behind it. The three zombies tumbled into a heap.
The cramped elevator was too tight for him to fight properly. He charged out without a second thought, swinging his katana down at the zombie nearby. Before it could even react, its skull was split in half. It collapsed like a deflated balloon.
The other zombies showed no fear at all.
They didn't care that their companions were being killed one after another. On the contrary, the scent of living flesh only drove them into a frenzy, their primal hunger intensifying.
But compared to them, Sosuke was far more ruthless.
The breathing technique coursing through him filled his entire body with power. The katana in his hand felt like an extension of his arm as he wielded it with terrifying precision.
A silver arc flashed.
In an instant, the surrounding zombies had their heads sliced in half. Black blood and brain matter splattered everywhere, soaking Sosuke's clothes in the putrid stench of decay.
It all happened so quickly that Utaha Kasumigaoka hadn't even reacted before Sosuke had already cleared the entrance.
She stared at him in shock. Even though she'd witnessed similar scenes before, her heart still pounded wildly.
"I'm not going to be a burden!"
Utaha bit her lip hard, recalling the breathing technique Sosuke had taught her. She gripped her baseball bat tightly, took a bold step forward, and smashed the heads of the two zombies that had fallen earlier.
With a brutal crack, the bat crushed the zombie's skull like an overripe melon. Black blood exploded everywhere.
"The room's to the left. Stay behind me, don't get distracted."
Sosuke glanced at the floor guide. Utaha quickly nodded, her heart racing in excitement.
"Sosuke, that breathing technique really works! I could feel my strength was way higher just now when I swung the bat!"
Of course, it wasn't like breathing techniques could be mastered so quickly.
But that surge of power wasn't just her imagination.
Human potential is endless. Normally, it's kept buried deep inside. But in life-and-death situations, the survival instinct can awaken that hidden power, forcing it to erupt.
It's like being constipated for a week and suddenly exploding under pressure. That release feels way stronger than normal. The principle's the same.
Sosuke quickly glanced at his system panel. The breathing technique still showed "In Training," but he immediately understood what had happened.
Now wasn't the time to overthink.
At the far end of the corridor, over a dozen zombies had gathered. Attracted by the noise, they charged toward them, roaring wildly.
The zombies blocking the path were swiftly cut down.
Without exception, each skull was split in two. The sound of Sosuke slicing through them echoed like chopping soft melons. Black blood flooded the floor.
As they rounded the corner, three room doors appeared.
Room 7012 was right in front of them.
"Here! Hurry, get inside!"
A short-haired woman frantically opened the door, her eyes full of panic. Sosuke recognized her instantly, Haruno Yukinoshita.
"Run straight in! Don't stop!" he urged, pushing Utaha forward.
The room the Yukinoshita sisters were hiding in was at the end of the hallway. Utaha didn't hesitate for even a second. She clenched her teeth and sprinted forward.
But just as she passed an open door, a zombie lunged out at her!
Sosuke's reaction was lightning-fast.
His katana stabbed forward with a loud crack, the blade piercing through the zombie's eye socket and pinning it firmly to the wall.
Without a pause, Sosuke yanked his katana free and dashed into the room.
The moment Sosuke entered, Haruno slammed the door shut and quickly locked it. She and Utaha immediately backed away from the entrance.
Sosuke remained by the door, unsure if the hotel's doors were sturdy enough to withstand the zombies. A hotel like Chizuru should have passed strict inspections… hopefully.
Before long, the zombies outside began slamming into the door with heavy thuds.
Thanks to everyone staying silent, the zombies eventually lost interest. Within a few breaths, the hallway returned to quiet, and the zombies began to wander again.
Sosuke let out a silent breath of relief.
The breathing technique did make him stronger, but it also consumed his stamina at an alarming rate. He wiped the sweat from his brow.
"We're good. The zombies are gone."
Utaha finally relaxed too. She tucked her hair behind her ear. Even dressed plainly, her natural beauty was undeniable.
That casual gesture caught Haruno Yukinoshita off guard for a moment.
No wonder so many zombies were chasing her.
Haruno instinctively compared her to her own sister. In terms of looks and aura, neither seemed to outshine the other. Utaha just appeared a little more disheveled.
As for Sosuke, despite still being handsome, his blood-soaked appearance radiated an intense killing aura. Fresh gore still dripped from the tip of his katana.
The two sisters instinctively took a step back.
Especially Yukino Yukinoshita, whose already pale face became even paler. Her brows furrowed slightly, clearly unsettled.
Haruno was the first to recover.
As the eldest daughter of a merchant family in Chiba, she had long been independent in both spirit and finances. Her fair skin, elegant features, and confident demeanor radiated a charming, sunlit beauty.
Her simple yet refined makeup and graceful attire perfectly complemented her poised, radiant aura.
"We meet again, Kitahara-kun."
Haruno smiled and gestured to her sister. "This is my younger sister, Yukino Yukinoshita. My real sister, you know."
Honestly, Sosuke really wanted to recruit both of them into his team right away. The more people in his team, the more points he could earn.
But as the only man in the room holding a weapon, being overly enthusiastic now would only make them suspicious.
So, he simply gave a cold nod.
Yukino, who had been silently standing by the bed like a delicate sculpture, met his gaze with pure, cautious eyes and offered a polite nod in return.
Sosuke briefly introduced Utaha to them. Now, at least, they had officially met.
But in this situation, no one had the mood for pleasantries.
Covered in blood and feeling extremely uncomfortable, Sosuke was dying to clean himself up.
His spare clothes were still packed away, and he wasn't ready to waste them yet. He just wanted to wipe down quickly.
Without hesitation, Sosuke stretched out his hand.
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Oh, you like the story? Wow, who knew. Go ahead, drop a review and throw some power stones maybe I'll be motivated to keep going.