The night was cool and still, as if the air itself had become water. From the corridor, the shadows and outlines swaying in the wind seemed unreal, their forms distorted by the darkness. Beyond the walls, the world outside was in a frenzy, like a procession of ghosts, unseen but ominously audible. This only accentuated the unnatural calm within the building.

The newly arrived monster lingered on the third floor for a while, then paused right above us, where Fuji and I held our breath. We looked up, straining to see it as though we could peer through the thick concrete. It remained completely still, its silence not bringing any sense of security.

Fuji gestured for us to move forward, lifting her axe in a way that suggested she was ready to spring into action at any moment. I followed closely behind, casting wary glances at the hallway outside and behind us. When we reached the staircase, there was a sudden rustle, and a shadow flickered across the hall.

It had fallen from the third floor.

We froze, exchanging a quick glance of shock. I stepped forward, raising my crossbow and assuming a firing stance, peering over the railing.

There was nothing below.

I scanned the area to the left and behind, still no sign of movement.

The building fell eerily silent, but I was certain the creature had noticed us. It was hiding somewhere in the shadows, like a skilled hunter, watching us without a sound. Its movements were unpredictable, which unnerved me deeply.

I took a few cautious steps back, away from the hallway. I dared not turn around, fearing that a careless moment would mean my life. It was only the second floor, but the creature could easily leap over the walls or even climb up, perhaps waiting just below, ready to strike the moment I let my guard down.

Pressing my back to the wall by the stairs, I subtly glanced at Fuji, who was also leaning against the wall opposite me. I shook my head. She looked down the stairs and quickly pulled back, shaking her head as well.

She held up two fingers, signaling that we should go down.

I had the same thought. Unlike the ghost dogs, this monster didn’t seem to be able to turn invisible. The courtyard offered more space to maneuver and evade than the hallway, which was littered with obstacles.

I felt like I was caught in a trap of my own making, but who knew what kind of monster we might face? Without the traps and barricades in the building, we wouldn’t have been able to track its movements so quickly.

Fuji motioned for me to stay put while she picked up an empty can from the ground and tossed it down the stairs.

The can bounced and rolled, clattering noisily.

I leaned out slightly, just enough to see the zigzagging stairwell below.

The monster had been startled, its shadow flickering. I exhaled in relief; it was still an instinct-driven creature, not very intelligent.

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It charged quickly, and in the dimness of the night, I could only make out a bulky shape, nearly filling the entire staircase.

Such a large figure was impossible to miss.

Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger, the strong recoil thudding into my shoulder. The bolt struck the shadow with a muffled "thud."

There was no need to check its wounds. I withdrew behind the wall and nocked another bolt.

It didn’t seem injured, but the attack had provoked the creature. It let out a high-pitched scream—surprisingly sharp and piercing for such a massive, heavy body. The sound was unsettling.

Fuji leapt into action as I retreated. She stood at the center of the staircase, her axe in hand, ready to face the creature head-on.

At that moment, I could do nothing but watch. As the bolt slid into place, the monster’s furious screech echoed as it charged. Before I could react, Fuji swung her axe with a battle cry, crashing into the oncoming monster.

In the blink of an eye, the two figures were sent tumbling out of the hallway.

They fell from a height of less than five meters, and I rushed to the railing. Below, the two figures were entangled, the smaller, agile form of Fuji twisting and flipping onto the monster's massive body. Like a cowboy on horseback, she used only her legs to steady herself, raising her axe high and hacking at its back with all her strength.

It wasn’t until the fourth strike that the axe finally pierced its tough hide. Blood sprayed like a fountain, drenching her in red. The creature bucked in pain, nearly throwing Fuji off.

My heart was in my throat as I tracked them with my sights, hesitant to fire in case I hit Fuji.

Finally, I got a clear view of the monster.

It had the body of a four-legged animal, though no real creature resembled it. It had no tail, its body a thick inverted triangle, with a broad chest and a narrow waist, like one of those exaggerated muscle-bound comic book characters. Its head lacked eyes but bore a horn a foot long, and its jaw jutted out like an alligator’s, with two exposed tusks hanging downward.

Its neck was short, more like a human’s, and was currently slashed open by Fuji’s axe, revealing glimpses of bone.

The creature surged forward, charging at Fuji. If it collided with her, she would be crushed under its weight. In a split second, she leapt off, rolling onto the grass. The fountain and the rock formation collapsed as the creature crashed into them, sending debris flying and splashing into the water below.

The sound of the battle attracted the zombies outside, who began to gather by the iron gate, pressing against the bars and moaning in hunger.

Covered in blood, Fuji stood motionless, her clothes clinging to her body, accentuating her powerful form, but there was nothing alluring about it. She held her axe, staring coldly at the water pool, looking more like a butcher or a serial killer than a warrior.

After a brief pause, the creature surged up from the water, letting out a high-pitched scream as the water splashed out in torrents.

Fuji didn’t flinch. Instead, she roared back, her voice filled with a dominating fury that made the creature’s screams seem like the dying struggles of a cornered animal.

"It’s insane," I thought, watching Fuji with a sense of dread. I couldn’t read her expression, but I knew she was losing her grip on sanity. Yet there was no denying that Fuji now possessed more strength than ever before.

Concern for Fuji's safety gnawed at me, and before she made her next move, I took aim at the creature’s open mouth and fired a bolt.

The creature’s tough hide absorbed the first shot without issue, so I aimed for its mouth this time. The size of the target and the distance made it a difficult shot for a novice, but for some reason, I had a strange confidence in my aim.

It was as if, in that moment, I knew exactly what to do.

A slight whistle of the bolt, and the roar of the creature was cut short.

In the blink of an eye, the bolt drove deep into the creature’s throat.

Its scream turned into a choking wail, blood pouring from its mouth.

The creature’s head bowed down before Fuji, as if in agony—or perhaps submission.

Fuji stepped forward, her body leaning as though she might fall.

But she didn’t fall. Her first step was full of power, crushing the grass beneath her as she surged forward like a cannonball. The speed she reached in an instant was beyond anything a human could achieve.