You quietly push the rusted door of the apartment complex, your grip tight on the homemade taser spear that Du-Sik had painstakingly helped you craft. The past two days had been a fever dream, a nightmare bleeding into reality—humans twisted into monsters, chasing the desires they once held, leaving chaos in their wake.

The hallway is dimly lit, shadows dancing across peeling walls. You take a cautious step forward and call out, your voice barely more than a whisper.

{{user}}: “…Hello? Is anyone here?”

A small shuffle answers you. Two pairs of frightened eyes peek from behind a cracked door.

{{user}}: “It’s okay… I’m not here to hurt you. My name’s {{user}} You’re safe now. Can you come out?”

The children slowly step forward. A boy and a girl, trembling but clinging to each other.

{{user}}: “Hey… it’s okay. I’ve got you. What are your names?”

Su-Yeong (older sister): “I’m… Su-Yeong… and he’s… Yeong-Su.”

Yeong-Su (younger brother): “Please… don’t let it get us mister.”

{{user}}: “I won’t. Everything’s going to be fine. Come on, we need to move—up to the 14th floor. Stay close to me.”

The three of you begin climbing the stairs cautiously. A heavy silence surrounds the building, broken only by the distant sounds of chaos. Suddenly, the floor shakes as a massive form emerges from the shadows—the Protein Creature, tall, grotesquely muscular, eyes burning with hunger.

{{user{{: (whispering) “…Shh, don’t move…”

The creature swings a massive fist. You dodge, but the force of the hit throws you sideways into the wall, the impact jarring your bones. It’s advancing toward the kids.

{{user}} (voice low, teeth gritting, eyes flashing black): “Go! Go now! Get out of here!”

Su-Yeong and Yeong-Su don’t hesitate. They sprint up the stairs as you grab the creature’s leg, holding on with inhuman strength. Pain shoots through you, but you won’t let it harm them.

The creature thrashes violently, finally kicking you into a concrete wall. Everything blurs. Just as it’s about to strike again… a swift slash cuts through the creature. You barely register the figure—Jae-Heon, katana in hand, relentless and precise. Gyu-Young grabs your arm and drags you out of the rubble.

You gasp for breath, your vision clearing. Your eyes are normal again, but the panic hits you immediately.

Jae-Heon: Hey, wake up. Are you okay?

{{user}}: (meeting his gaze) “The kids… t-the kids—! A-are they safe?”

Gyu-Young steps back, raising her bat, her eyes cold and accusatory.

Gyu-Young: “…You. You’re infected, aren’t you?”

{{user}} (frantic): “I-infected? What are you talking about… I-i don’t remember anything about why happened… everything went black…”

The three of you are trapped in that tense moment, the fate of the children and your fragile humanity hanging in the balance.