The monster had already targeted me as its next prey as it glared in my direction. While that happened, a voice coming from Hina’s classroom shrieked and sprinted outside. The girl wasn’t Hina, but she wore the same uniform as my step-sister. Tears fell from her eyes as she careened as far away as possible. I could only guess she was a classmate Hina talked about from her earlier message. But I had no relationship with her besides from Hina.

“I-I thought help arrived! I-I don’t wanna die! I don’t wanna!” The girl kept yelling at the top of her lungs and booked it.

I couldn’t blame her. If I were in her position, I would’ve also run away. However, I wanted to protect Hina with my life. So I stayed and hoped I could save her with everything I had.

The student ran across the hallway’s opposite side without caring for the world. Woefully, that just gave the monster an opportunity to take her out. And that girl that ran away brought her demise to herself and courted death.

“What are you doing, you idiot?! Get back here! Eek!”

Another recognisable voice resounded on the side. I was sure about it. That was Hina, who was inside the classroom, telling his friend to hide back inside a safer place. Hina peeked from the room and waved her hand for her friend, but immediately returned to her hiding hole. She had the eyes of a rabbit that saw a lion in the forest. And like a mammal lost in the forest, Hina returned to her hiding spot and curled like a ball. The opened door showed me everything, including the area where Hina stayed.

However, it was already too late. Hina’s friend had already raced away into the darkened abyss. And when the reptile shifted its head and chased down the unfortunate girl. Everything went still as the monster grabbed the girl.

The beast finally caught the poor girl and clobbered her to death. A pool of blood formed beside the girl’s feet and drenched her shoes. That reptile extended its claws and pierced through the student’s body. The girl continued begging for someone to help her, but nobody came. Even though I was there, I couldn’t help her. I wanted to, but I couldn’t… I just couldn’t.

I hated to admit it, but I wouldn’t risk my life for this girl. I barely knew her. And that girl did this on her own, even though she could have stayed with Hina. Maybe, just maybe, I could buy time and distract the monster. But the chance was long overdue.

The girl’s screams were the only sounds that resonated through the hallway. But those shrieks ceased to exist after a few seconds. Silence came afterward. And when the monster was done with her, it devoured the student's head and crushed her skull into a billion pieces. That monster did it as if the girl was just a branch from a dying tree.

It was a horrifying scene. I couldn’t do anything even though I had a weapon and obtained extraordinary power from the system. My hands refused to heed my instructions. However, the lost student was the least of my problems. I was useless.

Thanks to the monster’s strength, the entire walls and the floor broke. The creature also created cracks on the floor and made the platform feeble like a twig. If this beast planned on doing something soon, the building would collapse. And if that happens, the structure would take all of us down, together with the reptile.

However, the monster didn’t feel full from his meal. And the building still stood on its ground. When the beast gobbled the remains of that student, it turned on the side where Hina hid earlier and bared its teeth. It wanted more. That beast was like a famished wolf thrown into the desert. And the two of us were the last dish that the monster could dig in for the rest of the day.

Crimson liquid covered the beast’s fangs, which came from the student that died moments ago. And if I don’t do anything for the next few seconds, we would also perish the same way as the girl.

“I need to save Hina… I need to save my family,” I mumbled, and gripped the rifle tighter.

The beast trundled towards the classroom and smashed the door into pieces. It sensed Hina’s fear. Shards of broken stones and wood showered the room and eventually reached my side. And a cowering sound echoed inside the classroom, bringing me back to my senses. Hina was calling for me. She needed my help.

“HINA! RUN AWAY!” I cried, and made my way closer to Hina. “RUN AWAY AND I’LL CAUSE A DISTRACTION!”

It was a ludicrous idea. But did I have a choice for this situation? The walls had already shown signs of giving up anytime soon. And if we continued this endeavour, this place would turn upside down and kill us all. We only had two options. It was either we would die from the monster or the building would be our grave. I needed to seize every opportunity and slip our way from this monster. The exit was right beside me, after all.

“HEY, YOU PIECE OF SHIT! FIGHT ME, NOT HER! I’M THE ONE WHO HAS A GUN!” I yelled, and tried aiming my sniper at the monster.

I had no other choice but to fight the monster head-on, or else Hina and I would die. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t lift my gun. The trauma I had experienced from the past hindered me to use the rifle. It was as if my hands were allergic at rhe trigger or even at the thought of wielding this firearm. The only saving grace we had was the distraction I caused to the monster.

As it had turned out, the beast faced me and growled like a tiger. My legs continued vibrating like a spring, ready to fling themselves away from anywhere but here. However, I was prepared to die to save Hina.

Hina followed my command and left the table inside the classroom. She rushed out from the scene and tried her best to avoid the monster’s line of sight. However, she failed. When Hina made it out of the classroom, the beast pursued her tail and threw every chair in her direction. The monster didn’t want me. It wanted Hina! That bastard did everything in its power to chase Hina down like a predator hunting for its prey. And I couldn't do anything about it.

With every step Hina made, the monster followed her. The beast was like a shadow of death hunting down for Hina’s soul. But Hina’s agility was superb as she rolled her way towards a number of obstacles and fit through the holes that the creature couldn’t.

As luck would have it, Hina made it out of the classroom and hid behind me. When the monster threw those chairs and tables at Hina inside the classroom, the walls and the ceiling fell upon it. The destruction it caused slowed the creature down, allowing Hina to reach the staircase. Fortune was on our side.

“B-Brother… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Hina said, and squeezed her hands around my waist." I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I should’ve gone home with you. This wouldn't happen if just… I'm sorry!"

It wasn’t her fault. It wasn't. And yet, Hina kept apologising to me as if she caused this madness to happen. I caressed her forehead and wrapped my arms around her quivering body. Hina also wrapped her arms around mine and sank her face into my chest. She wept a river of tears and became like a little girl lost in the park. But I became a pillow for her to cushion and a wall to protect her from danger.

How long had it been since the two of us hugged each other? Ah, yes. It had already been twelve years. After all those years, I was finally worthy of becoming Hina’s brother again.

Thankfully, Hina didn’t suffer any wounds from the monster or the classroom caving in. But as I turned around, the problem still glued itself to us. Even though Hina and I were finally together, we couldn’t race down the stairs and book it. If we forced ourselves on the staircase, the creature would chase us down and snatch our bodies. That monster had four limbs, while we only had two. Hina had outrun the creature earlier, but there was no way for us to do it again.

There was also an exit on the other side of this hallway, and we could jump through the open window. We were just on the third floor, so it wouldn’t hurt that badly if we landed on our feet. I could also use myself as a pillow and shield her from falling. However, that thought was also farfetched.

We also couldn’t just sneak inside the classroom and hope for the best to reach the other side. The walls and the ceiling had already given up, together with the monster waiting for us in the hallway. Hina and I had no way of outrunning the beast with our condition. So the window wasn’t an option. When Hina hid behind me, she was already catching her breath. I doubted Hina could still sprint towards the hallway and reach the other side without tumbling out of exhaustion.

We only had one way to deal with this problem. I had to use my system and gun against the monster obstructing our way. It was my gift. And like the adventurers who entered portals and cleared them, I could finally do the same.

But how could I? Even though I wanted to, my hands couldn’t grip the sniper. I couldn’t aim my rifle at the monster before. How could I do it right now?

As my train of thoughts flooded my brain, I forced myself to raise my gun and pull the trigger. Eventually, the monster was right in front of us. However, despite my posture, my fingers couldn’t push the trigger. My heart had beat a thousand times, and yet… I couldn’t.

Maybe this was the end for the two of us…