Hidden Mission Completed.
The words didn't just appear. They cut into Aren's vision, sharp and sudden, like reality itself had been scratched open. His steps slowed, then stopped completely as more lines followed.
Objective: Eliminate 25 infected
Status: Completed
Aren blinked, his breathing still slightly uneven from the fight.
"Twenty-five…?" he muttered under his breath.
He hadn't been counting or even realized.
Another line replaced it.
Reward Granted: 150 System Coins
"Coins…?" he repeated, this time softer, like saying it too loudly might break whatever this was.
Then the interface shifted again, smoother now, almost deliberate, as it was fading and rearranging itself.
Additional Reward Unlocked
System Shop Access Granted
For a moment, everything else faded. The hallway, the bodies, the smell of blood… all of it dimmed behind the glowing blue interface now hovering in front of him.
SYSTEM SHOP
Aren stared.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
The menu responded to his thoughts almost instantly, expanding into a list.
Basic Med Kit — 20 Coins
Energy Bar Pack — 5 Coins
Water Supply — 10 Coins
Reinforced Baton — 80 Coins
Light Protective Vest — 120 Coins
More items stretched beyond, waiting to be explored.
Aren's eyes moved quickly, scanning, calculating.
"So this is the progress I have been going with, it's not just fighting…" he murmured.
He checked his balance.
Current Coins: 150
Well that wasn't a lot, But it's not useless either.
His gaze lingered on the med kit.
Then shifted, then back again.
Alero, The kids, Even the teacher, and his mom.
He doesn't even know if she is alright or safe now.
"…Later," he said quietly.
With a thought, the entire interface closed, fading away like it had never existed.
But the feeling stayed.
Aren exhaled slowly and rolled his shoulders, grounding himself back in the present. The silence of the hallway returned, heavy and watchful. The infected he had just dealt with lay scattered across the floor, motionless, their twisted forms no longer a threat.
"For now," he muttered.
He turned and walked back toward the classroom, his footsteps steady but light.
When he reached the door, he knocked once.
It opened almost immediately.
Alero peeked out first, her eyes searching him quickly.
"You're okay?"
"I'm fine," Aren replied.
The younger ones shifted behind her, clinging close, their small faces filled with a mix of fear and fragile hope.
"Is it safe?" one of them asked quietly.
Aren nodded.
"Yeah. I cleared the way."
Celine stepped forward next, her posture still guarded despite the relief in her eyes.
"You did all that alone?" she asked, "are you injured anywhere?"
Aren shrugged slightly.
"They were in the way."
She studied him for a second longer, like she wanted to question that answer, then let it go.
"Alright," she said. "Then we shouldn't waste time."
Aren stepped aside.
"Stay close. Don't make noise."
They moved together, carefully stepping into the hallway. Alero kept the younger ones close, her hand never leaving them, while Celine stayed slightly behind Aren, watching their surroundings.
As they reached the stairwell, Aren raised a hand.
"Wait!!!"
Everyone froze instantly.
Aren tilted his head slightly.
He heard sounds of footsteps. Coupled with his improve physice his senses were sharp, the sounds of running but not fast footsteps could be heard coming from the left corridor.
He moved first, slow and controlled, rounding the corner.
And then he saw them.
Three students.
One female teacher.
And another girl standing slightly apart near the window. and others
They froze the moment they saw him.
The teacher stepped forward immediately, placing herself between Aren and the students.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice tense but steady.
Aren raised his hands slightly.
"Relax. I'm not infected."
The girl near the window narrowed her eyes, studying him.
"…He's telling the truth," she said after a moment.
Alero and the others stepped into view behind Aren.
The tension shifted.
Relief, cautious and uncertain, replaced the fear.
"Oh thank God…" the teacher exhaled.
One of the boys spoke up.
"What's going on out there? Is it really—"
"Yeah," Aren cut in simply. "It's real."
Silence followed. It was heavy as even with the reality in front of them, they couldn't just believe it. But they had to accept it.
Then the girl by the window spoke again.
"You're leaving?"
Aren nodded.
"That's the plan."
"There are infected near the entrance," she said.
"Not anymore."
She blinked.
"You cleared them?"
"Yeah."
The group exchanged looks, surprise flickering across their faces.
The teacher hesitated before asking, "Can we come with you?"
Aren didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced at his sister.
She met his gaze and gave a small nod.
That was enough.
"Stay close," Aren said.
The girl gave a faint smile.
"Fair."
Together, they moved. They went down the stairs. Across the corridor.
Through the broken remains of what used to be a normal school day.
The courtyard came into view.
Bodies lay scattered across the ground, silent evidence of what had already happened.
The gate stood ahead.
Freedom at last or something close to it.
They stepped forward.
But just as Aren and the rest reached it—
The sound of engines filled the air.
Several military vehicles rolled up outside the school entrance.
Armed soldiers stepped out quickly.
Weapons raised.
One of them shouted.
"Everyone stay where you are!"
Aren stopped walking.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the soldiers.
"Well," he muttered under his breath.
"This just got interesting."