The barricaded gymnasium offered only temporary safety. Outside, the moans of the infected rose in a terrifying chorus, echoing through the hallways and stairwells of Hyosan High. Cheong-san paced along the edge of the room, fists clenched, eyes scanning every entrance. "We can't stay here forever. If we don't find food and medical supplies, we won't last another day."
Nam On-jo held Su-hyeok's hand tightly, her face pale but determined. Ji-soo and Seok-yoon checked the barricades, making sure the doors were secure. I flexed my kagune beneath my uniform, feeling the faint pulse of the shadowy appendage. Hunger whispered quietly at first, a subtle pressure beneath my ribs, but I forced it down. Not now. Focus. Control.
Cheong-san's voice broke the tension. "We'll move in groups. Everyone stay close, watch each other's backs, and no one strays alone. The science labs and cafeteria might still have supplies."
We left the gymnasium carefully, the hallways littered with debris, broken lockers, and shattered glass. Each step was measured, every movement deliberate. The groans of the infected echoed around us, mixing with the distant cries of frightened students. My kagune twitched, responding instinctively to the nearest threats, even before I could see them. The faint flicker of shadow was like a sixth sense, warning me of the danger ahead.
As we approached the stairwell leading to the upper floors, the first horde appeared. A group of five infected staggered around the corner, their movements uneven and jerky. I lashed out with my kagune. The first swing was awkward, barely strong enough to push one back, but the next strike, fueled by instinct and focus, knocked another off balance. Cheong-san attacked with precise blows, taking down two more, while Su-hyeok and Ji-soo helped the younger students dodge and evade. Nam On-jo guided the terrified group, her courage steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Each encounter strengthened my kagune. The appendage flickered with more confidence, reacting to my will with slightly more precision. Hunger stirred faintly, a persistent whisper, but I clenched my jaw. Control. Survive. Protect.
We moved up the stairs cautiously. The corridor on the third floor was littered with debris, broken lockers, and the remains of students who hadn't survived the outbreak. My enhanced senses detected faint heartbeats nearby—some human, some infected—and my kagune twitched in anticipation.
A sudden noise caught our attention. A small group of students, panicked and armed with makeshift weapons, emerged from the shadows. They weren't infected, but fear had twisted their intentions. Desperation made them dangerous. Survival now wasn't only about fighting zombies—it was about navigating human unpredictability.
Cheong-san raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "We don't want to fight. Stay back, or you'll get hurt."
The students hesitated, eyes darting nervously. We moved past them slowly, my kagune flickering defensively, warning any who thought to attack. They eventually backed off, disappearing into the stairwell shadows. The encounter left a bitter taste in my mouth. The world was collapsing—not just because of the infected, but because humanity itself was untrustworthy.
Finally, we reached the science lab. The doors had been shattered, shelves toppled, glass scattered across the floor. But we found water bottles, first-aid kits, and even a few remaining energy bars. Every item was a small victory, a step toward survival. Hunger tugged at me again, sharper this time, but I clenched my teeth and focused. My kagune pulsed faintly beneath my skin, growing stronger, responding to instinct and will alike.
Seok-yoon leaned close, whispering with a grim expression. "The government… they're experimenting. People are gaining ghoul-like powers, but they can't control them. They're unstable… dangerous. You're… different. You can control it."
I nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle in. Slowly, unpredictably, my kagune responded to my control more efficiently. Each swing, each lash, each moment of hunger resisted, honed my instincts and power. One day, if I survived, trained, and mastered my abilities, I could surpass anyone—infected, human, or otherwise.
Cheong-san's gaze swept the hallway. "We survive together. One fight, one step, one day at a time."
We continued toward the cafeteria, careful with every movement. The doors were barricaded, but the groans on the other side were relentless. I tested my kagune, sending a thin lash through a crack in the door. One zombie staggered, surprised, but the others pressed closer. Cheong-san struck first, followed by Su-hyeok and Seok-yoon. I swung again, more confidently this time, my kagune moving faster, stronger, more precise.
Inside, the cafeteria was a small battlefield. Tables and chairs had been overturned, food scattered, and blood smeared across the walls. But the supplies were here: water bottles, energy bars, and medical kits. Each piece was a lifeline, a small victory against the chaos.
We divided the supplies carefully, rations measured and distributed. Nam On-jo helped the younger students eat and drink, while Cheong-san and the others prepared for the next move. Outside, the infected moaned endlessly, a constant reminder that this sanctuary was temporary.
I flexed my kagune, feeling the pulse beneath my skin. Hunger whispered, faint but persistent. I suppressed it, focusing on control. Slowly, unpredictably, my power responded to my will, growing with every fight, every obstacle, every heartbeat of fear around me.
Hyosan High was no longer a school—it was a battlefield. Every hallway, every classroom, every shadow could mean life or death. And in this collapsing world, with the government experimenting on humans and the infected growing in number, the slow awakening of my ghoul powers might be the only hope—my only chance to protect my friends and survive.
The adventure had only just begun. Every step, every fight, every decision would test us. And slowly, I was learning not only to survive, but to awaken into a power that could one day rival even the strongest legends—a ghoul capable of facing infected, humans, and a world turning against itself.