---
Ren pushed open the ornate door and immediately threw himself sideways as a missile screamed past his head, close enough that he felt the heat of its exhaust scorch the air beside him.
What in God's name?!
Ren rolled behind a stone pillar just as the projectile exploded against the far wall, sending chunks of rock flying in every direction. His ears rang violently as dust flooded the air. Debris bounced off his jacket, and he tasted blood where he'd bitten his tongue.
I am definitely not paid enough for this hell.
Peering cautiously around the pillar, he got his first clear look at the boss.
And immediately wished he hadn't.
What stood before him was a Hulk-sized zombie, its grotesque face twisted in a permanent snarl. Bloodshot eyes burned with unnatural hunger above pale gray skin stretched too tightly over its frame. It growled low and deep—and most importantly, it was clutching a goddamn rocket launcher in its massive hands.
This thing didn't just look dangerous.
It looked like a bioweapon nightmare.
And the way it stared at him—like a hunter eyeing prey—sent a chill down Ren's spine.
God damn it, I was not paid for this!!!
Ren's Perception activated automatically, lines of data flashing through his vision. His blood went cold.
Strength: 64
Agility: 55
Health: 100
And that wasn't even the worst part.
The creature possessed a skill—Bloodlust. A skill whose effects everyone knew far too well.
Thank God it hasn't used it yet…
Those stats were completely insane compared to normal zombies. This thing could probably punch straight through a concrete wall without even slowing down.
Another missile screamed toward him.
Ren dove behind a different pillar as the explosion thundered through the chamber. Stone fragments slammed into his back through his jacket, and the heat of the blast made sweat break out across his forehead.
"Food…" the creature growled, its bone-chilling voice echoing through the room.
Great. It talks and it's hungry. Just perfect.
What's next—witty one-liners like Spider-Man?
Ren couldn't stay behind cover forever. The room wasn't that big—maybe thirty meters across—and there were only so many pillars to hide behind. Worse, the monster's rocket launcher looked like it had unlimited ammunition.
He'd run out of cover long before it ran out of missiles.
Think. Analyze.
The launcher was powerful, but it had to be slow to reload. And those missiles were designed for long-range targets, not close-quarters combat.
If I can get close enough…
Another explosion—this one obliterated the pillar he'd been hiding behind moments ago. Stone rained down like deadly confetti. Ren rolled left and began circling the room at full speed. The creature tracked him with the launcher, but Ren moved just fast enough to avoid a clean shot.
Come on… just a little closer…
WHOOSH!
A missile detonated close enough that the shockwave nearly knocked him off his feet. Ren stumbled but kept running, using the smoke and dust as cover. His legs burned from the constant sprinting and evasive dives.
The nightmare zombie boss rotated with eerie precision, its massive head turning smoothly as its dead eyes locked onto him.
There was intelligence there.
Cold. Calculating. Murderous.
Dammit—hiding like this won't do anything. Might as well fight!!!
Resolve hardened in his chest.
Ren activated his Fullbringer's high-speed movement and vanished, instantly closing the distance between them.
He slashed with both katanas in a rapid flurry—but to his shock, his blades sparked violently against the creature's skin instead of cutting cleanly through.
Before he could react, a massive blow sent him flying straight into a stone pillar. Rock shattered as he smashed through it, smoke and debris erupting everywhere.
And the zombie boss charged after him, its enormous footsteps shaking the ground.
Boom!
Just as the creature's strike was about to land, Ren activated Bringer of Light at the last possible moment, barely dodging the attack.
Using the smoke as cover, he sprinted again.
Now that he was this close, he could see the details—the way its finger flexed on the trigger, the mechanical whirring of the launcher as it tracked targets, the faint smoke rising from the barrel.
There.
The opening of the launcher.
If I can get something inside it…
Ren grabbed one of his katanas, weighing it in his hand. It was a long shot—literally—but it might be his only chance.
The nightmare raised the launcher and aimed directly at him.
Ren waited.
Watched the finger tighten on the trigger.
Then he slid across the stone floor as the missile launched overhead and hurled the katana with everything he had.
The blade spun end over end—
—and disappeared straight into the launcher's barrel just as the creature tried to fire again.
Did that actually work? Please—please let that work.
Smoke exploded outward, thick and choking. Ren couldn't see anything, but heavy footsteps echoed through the haze, accompanied by a low, furious growl.
It's still alive. Of course it is.
He moved toward the smoke cautiously—
—and his senses screamed danger.
The nightmare zombie boss burst through the smoke at impossible speed, Bloodlust activated.
Ren froze.
His body refused to move.
The creature became a blur of gray and black, far faster than anything that size had any right to be.
The impact felt like being hit by a freight train.
Its massive fist slammed into his chest, lifting him off the ground and sending him flying into the far wall. Stone cracked on impact as white-hot pain tore through his body.
Ren collapsed, gasping for air that wouldn't come.
The smoke cleared, revealing the boss stalking toward him. Half its face was burned black, its coat smoldering—but it was very much alive.
And very much pissed off.
…This could be going better.
His chest felt like it was on fire. Every breath sent spikes of pain through his ribs, and he tasted copper in his mouth.
He pulled up his status screen.
---
[Player Stats]
Level : 7
Name: Ren Toshiki
Job: None
Title: None
HP: 300 / 400
MP: 300
Strength: 40
Agility: 40
Endurance: 25
Perception: 26
Recovery: 30
Intelligence: 22
Fatigue: 66%
Stat Points: 30
---
One hundred damage in a single hit…
A few more like that and I'm done.
He'd saved those stat points for emergencies.
This was definitely one.
Without hesitation, Ren dumped 15 points into Strength and 15 into Agility.
Power flooded his body like liquid lightning. The world slowed.
Strength: 55
Agility: 55
Ren looked up at the approaching bioweapon and smirked.
"This is risky as hell…" he muttered.
"…but damn if it isn't exciting."
"You think you've got me?" he said aloud, pushing himself off the cracked wall.
"Sorry—but the hunt has just begun."
The creature hesitated.
Then Ren moved.
Dark blue light flared beneath his feet as Bringer of Light activated again.
One moment he was against the wall—
the next, he stood meters behind the nightmare, katana spinning in his hand.
"Too slow."
The boss roared and charged.
They collided in the center of the room like opposing forces—dark blue against sickly gray.
But Ren was faster.
Slashes opened deep wounds. Blood sprayed. Bone scraped.
The creature staggered.
Its movements grew desperate.
Slower.
Predictable.
Ren felt it clearly now.
"My turn."
His blade flashed.
The katana sliced cleanly through its neck.
The head fell.
The body collapsed.
Silence.
Ren stood there, breathing heavily, dark blue light glowing faintly in his eyes.
"…Now," he said calmly, "I am the hunter."
---
[You Have Leveled Up!]
[You Have Leveled Up!]
[You Have Leveled Up!]
[Rewards Shall Be Granted!]
...
He stared at the corpse.
The nightmare from his childhood—dead.
Euphoria surged through him.
Only one thought lingered uneasily in his mind—
I'm getting used to this far too fast.
He exhaled.
With his current strength, escaping this place would be easy.
But first…
He needed to see his rewards.
To be continued.