The classroom door groaned as it swung open, revealing a labyrinth of crumbling ruins beyond. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something darker—something that made the hair on the back of Ayato's neck stand on end.
Yui stepped forward, her blue aura pulsing with determination. "We need to stay together. We'll split into groups—defensive, offensive, and scouting. That way, we can cover more ground and protect each other."
She divided the survivors:
Group A (Defensive): Yui, Hana, and the healers.
Group B (Offensive): Ren, Riku, and the fighters.
Group C (Scouting): Ayato, Mio, and Haru.
"Stick to your paths," Yui ordered. "Regroup at the central obelisk. If you get into trouble, signal for help."
The groups set out, their footsteps echoing through the ruined halls.
The Ruins Beyond
Group C—Ayato, Mio, and Haru—crept through a collapsed library, the shelves toppled, books scattered and rotting. Mio scanned the glyphs carved into the walls, her glowing tome illuminating the darkness.
"This corridor reacts to Karma," she whispered. "The lower your score, the stronger the monsters you attract."
Ayato nodded, watching the shadows. He could see the Karma scores floating above each of his companions: Mio's was steady, but Haru's was plummeting with every step, his fear feeding the darkness.
Ahead, the floor was littered with bones and shattered glass. The air grew colder.
Suddenly, a ceiling trap snapped—stone jaws aimed straight for Mio.
Ayato moved. Fade into Shadows carried him forward in a blur, Backstab activated as he severed the trap's chain with a shadow-knife. The jaws clattered to the ground, inches from Mio's head.
Mio stared at him, her eyes wide. "You moved faster than light. What are you?"
Ayato said nothing, but his silence only deepened her suspicion.
At the central obelisk, Group B was already engaged in battle. Ren roared as he tore through bone-rats, his fists wreathed in crimson energy. Riku, the Executioner, hung back, his axe gleaming in the dim light.
Then, from the shadows, a monstrous shape emerged—a three-headed hound, its fur matted with blood, its eyes burning like coals.
Crimson Maw Hound
HP: 300/300
Skill: Corrupting Bite (Lowers Karma)
The hound lunged, its jaws snapping at Kenji, who was still recovering from the illusions he'd cast earlier. Riku hesitated, then turned and fled, abandoning Kenji to his fate.
Ren didn't hesitate. He threw himself between Kenji and the hound, taking the full force of the attack. The hound's teeth sank into his shoulder, blood spraying across the stone.
Ren's HP dropped to 20/100, but his Karma surged to +50—his selfless act recognized by the system.
The hound turned, its three heads snarling, saliva dripping from its jaws.
Ayato emerged from the darkness, Silent Step carrying him onto the hound's back. Mio shouted, "Its hearts! One in each head!"
Ayato's blades flashed:
1. Backstab—left heart pierced.
2. Fade—reappear—right heart severed.
3. Shadow Ambush—final heart destroyed.
The hound let out a final, echoing howl before dissolving into black mist.
The ruins fell silent, the only sound the ragged breathing of the survivors.
The Price of Survival
Yui's group arrived, healing Ren as best they could. Riku slunk back, his Karma now -70, his face twisted with shame.
The system's voice boomed through the ruins:
[Floor One Clear. Casualties: 4/30. Returning to Hub Room.]
The world blurred, the ruins dissolving into the familiar stone classroom—but something had changed. A Karma Well glowed in the corner, its waters dark and swirling. The chalkboard displayed a new message:
[Prepare for Floor Two… Judgment Pending.]
Ayato watched as Mio studied him, suspicion in her eyes. Koji approached the Karma Well, whispering to its dark waters, his Karma dropping even lower.
The class had survived the first floor—but the real trials were just beginning.
(Chapter 5 End)