Newton could hear them.
More footsteps.
Not one.
Not two.
Many.
Slow. Dragging. Crawling.
Coming from different directions.
He forced himself to stand.
His legs shook.
His side burned where the claw went in. Blood was still coming out slowly.
"…Move…"
He pressed his hand hard against the wound.
It hurt more.
But it slowed the bleeding.
"Think… don't panic…"
His breathing was rough.
Too loud.
He tried to control it.
Inhale.
Exhale.
The darkness shifted again.
Shapes started forming.
One… two… three…
Four Echo Walkers stepped into the dim light.
Their bodies twisted in different ways.
One crawled on all fours.
One dragged a broken leg.
One moved too fast.
One stood still.
Watching.
Newton's throat went dry.
"…Four…"
He could barely handle one.
Now four.
"Running won't work…"
He looked around quickly.
Nothing.
No cover.
No weapons.
Just that black floor.
"…Then I fight."
The fast one moved first.
It rushed him without warning.
Newton reacted late.
Too late.
It slammed into him.
He rolled on the ground, pain shooting through his ribs again.
"Ahh—!"
Before he could stand—
The crawling one jumped.
Newton forced his body up.
[Phase Blink Activated]
He disappeared for a split second—
Reappeared behind it—
And kicked it away.
But the others were already learning.
They didn't rush blindly now.
They spread out.
"…They're getting smarter…"
Newton tightened his grip on the blade.
His hand was shaking.
Not from fear.
From pain.
"Come…"
This time, he moved first.
He ran toward the one dragging its leg.
Weakest target.
He swung—
The blade cut deep into its shoulder—
Black liquid spilled—
But—
It didn't fall.
Instead—
It grabbed him.
Hard.
Newton's eyes widened.
"Let go—!"
The fast one came from the side.
Too fast.
He barely turned—
Claws tore across his back.
"ARGH—!"
He dropped to one knee.
Vision shaking.
Breathing breaking.
"This… is bad…"
The standing one finally moved.
Slow.
Heavy steps.
Like it didn't need speed.
Newton tried to stand again.
His body refused.
"I can't… die…"
Lilly's face came again.
Smiling.
Waiting.
Trusting him.
"…I said I'll protect you…"
His fingers dug into the ground.
"I won't die here."
Something inside him reacted.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
Quiet.
Cold.
[Hidden Trait Reacting…]
[Condition: Near Death]
[Permission… not required.]
Newton didn't hear the system fully.
But he felt it.
Everything slowed.
The Echo Walkers moved—
But slower.
Clearer.
He could see it now.
Every movement.
Every delay.
Every weakness.
"…So this is it…"
His breathing steadied.
Not calm.
But focused.
The fast one came again.
Newton stepped slightly to the side.
Just a little.
The claw missed.
He grabbed its arm—
Twisted—
And drove the blade straight into its neck.
It dropped.
The crawling one jumped—
Newton didn't blink.
He stepped forward—
Let it come close—
Then slammed his head into it.
CRACK.
It dropped.
Two left.
The heavy one rushed him.
Newton ran toward it.
At the last second—
[Phase Blink]
He passed through its side—
Turned—
And cut the back of its knee.
It fell.
Hard.
Newton climbed on top—
And stabbed it again.
And again.
And again.
Until it stopped moving.
The last one tried to run.
Newton chased.
Not fast.
Not clean.
But steady.
He caught it.
And ended it.
Silence.
No more footsteps.
No more movement.
Newton stood there.
Covered in blood.
Breathing slowly.
Then—
He dropped to his knees.
"…I'm… still alive…"
[Trial Completed]
[All Echo Walkers Eliminated]
[Hidden Class Progress Increased]
[New Ability Unlocked (Hidden)]
[Visible Reward:]
+2 Levels
+10 Stat Points
Skill Upgrade Available
Light started covering his body.
The dark world began to break.
Newton closed his eyes.
"…I need to go back…"
"…Lilly…"
And then—
He disappeared.
🌆 Back to the Dorm
Newton dropped to the floor inside his room.
Hard.
"Newton?!"
Fisher rushed in.
Newton didn't answer.
He was breathing.
But barely.
Blood everywhere.
Deep wounds.
"Hey—HEY! Stay with me!"
Fisher grabbed him.
Shaking.
Panicking.
Newton's eyes slowly opened.
"…I'm fine…"
He wasn't.
But he was alive.
And that was enough.