The hallway shook as the creature lunged, its body scraping against the narrow walls. Chunks of plaster exploded, dust filling the air like smoke.
Eliel barely had time to raise his sword. The impact sent him crashing into the wall, the air knocked from his lungs.
"Son of a—" he wheezed.
Eliel felt like he had been hit in the gut with a sucker punch.
"ELIEL!" Patoa's shout echoed, and he swung his machete at the creature's leg. The blade bit in halfway before jamming against sinew as thick as rope.
The monster didn't even flinch.
It turned its crimson eyes on Patoa, mouth splitting wider until the corners tore. Rows of broken teeth lined its jaw like a bear trap. Its roar was loud enough to make Eliel's ears ring.
Patoa stumbled back, clutching his machete. "Mi swear to God, dat ting jus' look like it eat weights fi breakfast!"
Eliel forced himself up, shaking the dizziness away. The greatsword shimmered faintly in his hand, still humming with the energy of his last strike.
"Keep it distracted!" he yelled.
"Distraction mi name, mi boss!" Patoa replied, ducking as the creature's clawed hand swept through the air and demolished the wall beside him.
Dust and concrete rained down. Patoa rolled, sprang up, and swung again—this time at its knee. The machete cracked through flesh, drawing a shriek from the monster. For the first time, it staggered.
Eliel seized the opening. He darted forward, pivoted on his heel, and swung the greatsword in a heavy arc.
The blade met the creature's torso, cleaving a glowing line across it. Black blood sprayed like tar, sizzling as it hit the floor.
The monster roared again and slammed its claw down. Eliel barely blocked, his sword trembling under the force. The shock traveled up his arm, and his knees almost buckled.
"Damn thing hits like a truck!"
"Mi seh, nuh truck—dat's a bulldozer!" Patoa shouted back, eyes wide.
Eliel gritted his teeth. He needed to end this fast before fatigue set in. He could feel his stamina bar—if such a thing existed—bleeding out with every swing.
"Patoa! Aim for the eyes!"
"Eyes? Bredda, mi cyaan even see him face through di dust!"
"Then swing higher and hope for luck!"
Patoa laughed despite himself. "Luck? Mi haffi make mi own luck then!"
The creature charged again, smashing through another wall. Eliel dodged to the left, rolled, and came up beside Patoa. They pressed their backs together instinctively—years of friendship turning into battle instinct.
"Alright, one clean hit," Eliel muttered.
"Yuh go high, mi go low?"
"Deal."
Eliel surged forward first, blade raised overhead. Patoa crouched low, machete ready. The monster swung wide—Eliel ducked, felt the wind rush past his head, and drove his sword upward with all his strength.
The greatsword buried itself in the creature's shoulder, slicing deep. Patoa took the chance to slash at its leg again, this time severing a tendon. The monster howled, stumbled—and Eliel tore his blade free in a spray of dark fluid.
"Not dead yet!" Eliel grunted.
"Mi tink mi just mek him vex!" Patoa cried, dodging a wild swing that sent him tumbling across the hallway.
The monster turned to finish him, claws raised. Eliel ran forward, roaring wordlessly, and jumped, his sword glowing faintly golden as if responding to his will. He brought it down with all his weight. It hummed along the wind whilst crashing towards the creature.
The blade struck the creature's neck. For a moment, it resisted—then gave way. The monster's head rolled to the side, body collapsing with a ground-shaking thud.
Silence.
Eliel stood there, chest heaving, sword dripping black blood. Then the system's familiar chime echoed in his head.
[Level Up!]
[Eliel Jojo Cross Rorschach – Level 3]
[+10 Stat Points]
He exhaled shakily. "That… was ridiculous."
Patoa coughed, sitting up from where he'd fallen. "Ridiculous? Dat was mad, mi boss! Di ting nearly flatten mi like pancake!"
Eliel laughed weakly and helped him up. "Still breathing though. You good?"
"Barely. Mi arm feel like spaghetti."
They both slumped against the cracked wall, breathing heavily. The hallway was silent now except for the faint hum of the greatsword and the dripping of monster blood.
For a brief moment, the absurdity of it all hit them.
"Yesterday mi wake up late fi class," Patoa muttered, shaking his head. "Now mi a zombie slayer. Mi teacher owe mi extra credit fi dis."
Eliel snorted. "If the world's still around by exam week, I'll remind her."
Their laughter echoed softly, cutting through the tension. But it didn't last.
The corpse of the creature twitched. Just slightly.
Both froze.
"...You saw that, right?" Eliel asked slowly.
"Mi wish mi never did."
The creature's body convulsed, and a faint purple glow pulsed from its chest before fading. Then—silence again.
No movement. No sound.
Eliel waited another few seconds before sighing in relief. "Dead for real this time."
He looked down at the corpse, curious. "Guessing this one wasn't a regular zombie. Maybe a mutation?"
Patoa wiped his forehead. "Whatever him be, mi nuh want part two."
Eliel nodded, turning his focus inward. "Status."
The holographic window appeared again.
[ Name: Eliel Jojo Cross Rorschach ]
[ Level: 3 ]
[ Strength: 15 ]
[ Agility: 13 ]
[ Endurance: 13 ]
[ Willpower: 12 ]
[ Intelligence: 9 ]
[ Available Stats: 20 ]
[ Skill: Swordsmanship ( Level 1) ]
[ Inventory: Greatsword of the Fallen Dawn ]
Nothing new beyond the level up. He closed it and looked toward Patoa, who was staring into space, brow furrowed.
"Patoa? You good?"
Patoa didn't answer immediately. His eyes were distant, unfocused, as if he were hearing something Eliel couldn't. Then he flinched.
"Wha—what the hell was dat voice?"
Eliel frowned. "Voice?"
"Yea, mi jus' hear someting… like one whisper inna mi head say, 'You adapt fast, child of rhythm.'"
Eliel blinked. "That's… specific."
Patoa rubbed his temples. "Mi nuh like dis, Eliel. First dem send text message inna mi brain, now whisper too?"
Before Eliel could reply, a faint blue light shimmered around Patoa's hands. He stumbled back, eyes wide.
"Oi, what's happening?!"
The system chimed.
[ Congratulations! Unique talent unlocked: ??? ]
[ Talent successfully bound to user: Roy Williams. ]
[ Effect: Partial synchronization in progress... ]
Eliel took a cautious step closer. "Patoa…?"
The light faded slowly, leaving faint traces like tattoos glowing under his skin before vanishing completely.
Patoa flexed his fingers. "Mi feel… strange. Stronger somehow. Like mi body lighter."
"Check your status," Eliel suggested.
Patoa hesitated, then muttered, "Status."
The faint hologram appeared, but most of it was obscured by static. Only one line stood out clearly.
[ Talent: Way of the Pulse (???) ]
Eliel frowned. "Way of the Pulse?"
"Mi nuh know, but mi feel mi could move faster if mi try."
As if testing instinct, Patoa took a quick stance—knees bent, one arm forward. His movements looked sharper, more fluid. Then, without warning, he struck the air with his palm.
A faint ripple shot forward, dispersing dust from the floor.
Both men froze.
"Did… did you just punch wind?" Eliel asked, astonished.
Patoa stared at his hand. "Bredda… mi tink mi jus' unlock kung fu."
The system's tone chimed again, softer this time.
[ New Skill Acquired: Martial Art (Basic) ]
The notification lingered briefly before fading, leaving both men staring at each other in stunned silence.
Then Patoa grinned, eyes gleaming. "Eliel, mi a tell yuh right now… if zombie waan fight, mi ready fi buss dem style."
Eliel sighed, half amused, half exhausted. "Let's just not test that indoors."
A low, distant groan echoed through the building—dozens of them this time.
Both turned toward the dark hallway.
Patoa's grin faded. "Dem sound close, mi boss."
Eliel lifted his greatsword again, expression tightening. "Yeah," he murmured. "And I don't think they're alone."