The hallway was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Blaine walked forward slowly, his steps controlled, his breathing steady.
Behind him—
The body of the creature lay motionless.
Cold.
Forgotten.
His gaze didn't linger.
It wasn't worth it.
Because something more important had already been confirmed.
Killing makes him stronger.
That single truth outweighed everything else.
The green interface flickered faintly in his vision.
[Strength: 2]
Still low.
Still insignificant.
But no longer powerless.
Blaine flexed his fingers slightly.
There was a subtle difference now.
A small increase in force.
In control.
Not enough to dominate.
But enough to survive.
And survival…
was all that mattered for now.
He continued down the hallway.
The flickering lights above cast long shadows along the walls.
Each door he passed felt identical.
Closed.
Silent.
But not empty.
Blaine could feel it.
Something was behind some of those doors.
Watching.
Waiting.
He stopped.
A faint sound reached his ears.
"…help…"
Soft.
Weak.
Barely audible.
Blaine turned his head slightly.
The sound came from one of the rooms ahead.
The door—
half open.
"…please…"
A human voice.
Alive.
For a moment—
He said nothing.
Did nothing.
His eyes remained calm.
Unmoved.
In his previous life…
He might have rushed forward.
Helped without thinking.
But that world was gone.
This world…
was different.
Dangerous.
Unpredictable.
And he had already learned something important.
The creature from before—
Hadn't made a sound.
Hadn't warned him.
It simply attacked.
So why…
would this one ask for help?
A trap?
Most likely.
Blaine stepped closer anyway.
Not out of kindness.
But curiosity.
He stopped just outside the door.
"…help me…"
The voice trembled.
Weak.
Desperate.
Blaine's eyes shifted slightly.
Then—
He pushed the door open.
Creaaak…
Inside—
A man lay on the ground.
Covered in blood.
Breathing heavily.
His arm twisted unnaturally.
His body shaking.
"…please…"
He looked at Blaine.
Hope filled his eyes.
"Help me…"
Silence.
Blaine stared at him.
Calm.
Cold.
"…How many?" Blaine asked.
The man froze.
Confused.
"…what…?"
"How many of them are here?"
The man hesitated.
His expression flickered.
"…I… I don't know…"
A lie.
Too slow.
Too uncertain.
Blaine's gaze sharpened slightly.
Then—
He noticed it.
A shadow.
Behind the door.
Barely visible.
But moving.
"…"
So that's how it is.
The man on the ground…
was bait.
And the real threat—
was waiting.
Blaine stepped back.
The injured man's eyes widened.
"Wait—don't leave—!"
Too late.
From behind the door—
Something lunged forward.
Fast.
Silent.
Claws aimed straight at Blaine's neck.
But—
Blaine had already moved.
He ducked.
The attack missed.
And in the same motion—
He grabbed the attacker's arm—
And slammed it into the wall.
BANG!
A distorted creature revealed itself.
Similar to the first—
But faster.
More aggressive.
It screeched.
Blaine didn't hesitate.
He drove his knee into its abdomen—
Then followed with a strike to its head.
Crack.
The creature staggered.
An opening.
Blaine grabbed the metal shard again—
And stabbed forward.
Stab.
This time—
The creature resisted.
Struggled.
Stronger than before.
But not enough.
With a final push—
The shard pierced deep.
The creature went still.
Then—
Collapsed.
Silence.
Again.
[Target Eliminated]
[Strength +1]
[Strength: 3]
Blaine exhaled slowly.
Stronger.
Again.
He turned his gaze toward the man on the ground.
The man was staring at him—
Frozen.
Terrified.
"…you…"
His voice shook.
"You knew…?"
Blaine didn't answer.
Because the answer didn't matter.
Instead—
He asked a different question.
"Is there an exit?"
The man swallowed hard.
"…yes…"
"…stairs… at the end of the hall…"
Blaine nodded once.
Then turned away.
"W-wait!"
The man called out desperately.
"Please… take me with you…"
Blaine stopped.
For a moment—
It almost seemed like he might consider it.
Then—
He spoke.
"If you can walk…"
"Follow."
And without another word—
He kept moving.
Because in this world—
No one saves you.
You either survive…
Or you don't.