The server creature's monitor-eyes flickered as it loomed over them, wires and screens writhing across its massive body. Static crackled from its speakers, warping its voice into a grating hiss: "You… alr-ea-dy… lo-st…"
Kaito pressed his back against the wall, his head throbbing but his mind racing. "It's feeding on our doubt—every time we hesitate, it grows stronger," he gasped, flipping through his notebook. "But look—its core is connected to three main power cables. Cut all three at once, and it'll shut down."
"Easier said than done," Mika grunted, clutching her sprained wrist as a tangle of cables lunged at her. Ema stepped forward, her katana flashing gold as she sliced through them. "I'll draw its attention. Hiro—you take the left cable. Mika, the right. Kaito—you guide us to the exact spots. Kenji—when we give the signal, hit the emergency power cut switch by the door."
Kenji nodded shakily, his hand hovering over the rusted switch. "I—I can do that."
Ema turned to Hiro, her red eyes softening for just a moment. "Stay safe. I won't let anything touch you." Before he could respond, she charged forward, her katana singing through the air. She sliced through a cluster of screen-covered tendrils, and the creature roared—a sound like a thousand hard drives crashing at once. It turned its full attention to her, lashing out with massive wire limbs.
Hiro moved low, weaving through the sticky webs covering the floor. The left cable was thick as his arm, glowing with blue electricity. He gripped his metal bookend like a weapon, his heart pounding. Don't hesitate, he told himself, remembering Kaito's words.
Mika limped toward the right cable, using her pocket knife to cut away smaller wires blocking her path. A screen on the creature's body flickered to life, showing her a vision of her younger brother trapped in a burning classroom. "You couldn't save him then… you can't save anyone now," the static voice hissed.
"LIES!" she screamed, slamming her knife into the cable's casing. Sparks flew, and the vision shattered.
"NOW!" Kaito yelled, his finger pointing at the core.
Hiro brought the bookend down with all his strength, crushing the cable's connector. Mika sliced through hers with her knife. At the same moment, Kenji slammed his palm against the switch. The lights cut out—then Ema's katana blazed with golden light, illuminating the room as she drove it straight into the creature's core.
A deafening screech filled the air. The creature's body convulsed, wires sparking and falling limp. Its monitor-eyes flickered one last time, displaying the words "You… won…" before going dark. The basement fell silent, save for the group's heavy breathing.
Ema pulled her katana free, wiping it clean on her uniform. She walked over to Hiro and brushed a speck of dust from his shoulder, a small smile on her face. "I knew you could do it. You never give up."
Mika leaned against a wall, grinning despite the pain in her wrist. "Looks like we proved it wrong. We didn't lose."
Kaito closed his notebook, relief washing over his face. "With the server down, the illusions should fade. The main office should be clear now—we can finally get to the radio and call for help."
Kenji let out a shaky laugh, tears streaming down his face. "We… we actually did it."
As they made their way back up the stairs, the hallway looked different—no more warped walls or twisted creatures, just the quiet, damaged school they'd known before. But Hiro could feel Ema's hand resting lightly on his back, and he knew things would never be the same again.
We won this fight, he thought, looking toward the main office door. But the lockdown isn't over yet.