Cold midnight rain battered against the frosted skylights of the gymnasium, casting distorted watery shadows across the bleachers.
Inside the cavernous sports hall, seventy civilian survivors huddled beneath wool blankets around four glowing heat stones.
At the center of the hardwood basketball court, teacher Owen stood beside a folding chalkboard, holding a makeshift wooden gavel.
"We have thirty minutes before the midnight curfew to make our final collective choice," the teacher announced, his voice echoing across the rafters.
"The system logs broadcast across the walls proved that Warden Rexar orchestrated every monster attack in this facility."
"We know for a certainty that the dungeon boss views every human being in this school as livestock for his evolution."
"The East Wing council under the First Player has offered us full integration, guaranteed hot meals, and immediate physical protection."
