The monster lunged.
Its claws tore across a desk, splitting the wood like paper.
Students screamed and scattered in every direction.
One boy tripped and fell beside the front row.
The creature turned toward him instantly.
Its mouth stretched wider.
Rows of needle-like teeth gleamed with saliva.
The boy screamed and tried to crawl away.
Ethan moved.
Before he could think.
His legs carried him forward as adrenaline flooded his body.
"HEY!"
The shout echoed through the classroom.
The monster stopped.
Its twisted head slowly turned.
Its pale eyes locked onto Ethan.
For a brief second, the room went silent.
Ethan tightened his grip on the metal chair leg.
His hands were shaking.
His heart pounded so loudly it almost drowned out everything else.
But the system message echoed in his mind.
Killing monsters grants EXP.
"If this is a game…"
He swallowed.
"Then I have to play."
The monster hissed.
Then it rushed toward him.
Fast.
Far too fast.
Ethan barely raised the metal rod in time.
CLANG!
The creature's claws slammed against the metal with terrifying force.
The impact sent Ethan stumbling backward.
His arms nearly went numb.
"Shit!"
The monster attacked again.
Claws slashed through the air toward his chest.
Ethan ducked instinctively.
The claws missed his face by inches.
He swung the metal rod wildly.
CRACK!
The rod struck the monster's side.
The creature screeched in pain.
Black blood splattered across the floor.
Ethan stared for a split second.
"I… hurt it?"
The monster grew furious.
Its limbs slammed against the floor as it lunged again.
This time Ethan didn't freeze.
He stepped sideways just as the creature pounced.
The monster crashed into a desk behind him.
Wood shattered.
Before it could recover—
Ethan swung again.
CRACK!
The metal rod slammed directly into the side of its head.
The creature shrieked.
Ethan hit it again.
And again.
And again.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
The monster's movements became slower.
Its body twitched violently.
With a final desperate swing, Ethan drove the metal rod straight down onto its skull.
CRUNCH.
The creature collapsed.
Its limbs twitched twice.
Then stopped moving.
The classroom went silent.
Ethan stood there, breathing heavily.
His arms trembled.
His entire body felt like it was vibrating from adrenaline.
"Did I…"
He looked down at the motionless creature.
"...kill it?"
The system answered immediately.
A bright blue notification appeared in front of him.
---
[Monster Eliminated]
Crawler – Level 2
---
Another message followed.
---
[EXP Gained: 40]
[Level Up!]
---
Ethan blinked.
"Level… up?"
The system screen expanded.
New information appeared.
---
Player: Ethan Cole
Level: 1
Strength: 6
Agility: 7
Vitality: 6
Intelligence: 8
Free Stat Points: 5
---
Ethan stared at the numbers.
"This really is a game…"
A final notification appeared.
---
[First Kill Achievement Unlocked]
Reward: Beginner Supply Box
---
A small glowing cube materialized in the air in front of him.
It slowly floated downward.
The students in the classroom stared at it in shock.
One girl whispered.
"Did… did he just kill that thing?"
Ethan barely heard them.
His eyes were locked on the glowing cube.
His first reward.
But before he could touch it—
Another scream echoed from the hallway.
Then another.
And another.
The system screen flickered again.
---
[Warning]
Multiple Monsters Detected.
---
Heavy footsteps echoed outside the classroom door.
Something slammed against the wall.
Another inhuman scream filled the corridor.
Ethan slowly looked toward the entrance.
His grip tightened around the metal rod.
The system message remained floating in front of him.
Survive the First Night.
Outside the door—
Something began scratching.
Not one monster.
Several.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"...This is only the beginning."