Chapter 1: Meetup. Dark revelations.
Takashi, Rei and Hisashi soon met with Wakisube, whom was now zombified and wandering on the upper floors.
"That's Wakisube." Rei realized.
The zombie Wakisube was now making his way to Rei, forcing her to push the zombie man back.
"Stay away from me!" Rei spoke.
"Rei! Just stab him! Don't hold back for anything!" Hisashi realized.
Soon, the zombie Wakisube was pushing Rei down with surprising strength. Drawing her strength, she finally pushed the zombie man back.
"Don't underestimate me, the captain of the Sojutsu club!" Rei spoke with conviction.
She lunged forward and began using the weaponized broomstick with expert use, slamming it on Wakisube's body, pushing him back. Using the sharp end of the weapon, she pierced his heart, leaving him dangling.
"You got him!" Takashi spoke in approval.
However, Rei realized Wakisube was still moving and groaning. The zombie man began to shimmy down to the ground, much to the group's surprise. He then shook Rei off with the weapon still in his heart.
"How the hell is he still moving!? I stabbed his heart!" Rei exclaimed in surprise.
Hisashi soon grappled with the zombie Wakisube, holding him back, allowing Rei to pull out the improvised spear.
"Hisashi, get away from him!" Takashi spoke.
"Don't worry, I got this guy!" Hisashi reassured.
Soon, the zombie Wakisube began to show surprising strength, forcing Hisashi to struggle holding him. The zombie soon contorted his neck to reach to the arm that held him and managed to bite Hisashi's arm, holding him.
"What the fuck!?" Hisashi exclaimed.
Rei and Takashi tried to beat the zombie Wakisube up, but he didn't stop as he finally managed to chew through the clothing and bite into his skin.
"This guy is really dead… But this bastard is still moving!" Takashi realized.
Having enough, Takashi roared and held a baseball bat he found and swung hard, shattering the zombie Wakisube's skull. This finally killed the zombie, releasing Hisashi.
"Are you alright!?" Rei asked to Hisashi.
"That bastard bit my arm, but I'll be fine." Hisashi reassured.
Soon, the trio heard the pandemonium still happening. They soon noticed Yami walking calmly and killing the zombies one by one, holding the katana he found.
"We can handle one of them but a crowd won't be a good option. Yami seems to be killing them one by one without wasting any time. Has he gone insane or something?" Takashi observed.
"Worry about that later. Let's head to the roof." Hisashi reminded.
"Why the roof?" Rei asked.
"We can barricade ourselves up there and see the situation." Hisashi informed.
Yami kept his slaughter against the undead without hindering. It was as though he walked in possession from a spirit. Whenever a zombie got close to him, he moved swiftly and cut their heads off.
"Exquitse killing." The Darkness commented.
Several students were able to evade the zombies, allowing Yami to kill the ones chasing the people still alive. He only killed the zombies.
"Leave the cattle away. They are not worth our attention." The Darkness spoke.
Yami kept fighting, ignoring the students whom were safe from the zombie attacks that almost killed them. They watched as he kept killing them, providing some breathing space for them to escape. They were shocked to see a hallway filled with decapitated zombies, but felt safer than an infested area with them.
"Punish the abominations. Let me feed from this chaos." The Darkness requested.
Finally, Yami gained control of his body, now relinquished from the Darkness's control. He was shocked of the blood filled hallways, but he knew it had to be done. It didn't make him feel any better, but his instinct to survive ruled out any reason for him to hold back.
"I feel like I just became some kind of demon… This power is not threatening me, but I need its help to fight." Yami spoke to himself.
"Yes… You need my power. Your spirit drives me to grow strong upon you." The Darkness agreed.
"I'll ask about you again when I get the chance… Right now, let's move." Yami said.
The Darkness laughed in his mind before Yami heard it speak to him.
"You will know more in time, puppet. I will teach you to think how to control my powers." The Darkness spoke.
Yami kept his resolve as he fought off the increasing number of zombies. One by one, they fell. This time, Yami was willing to kill them, realizing they were all dead.
Up at the roof, Takashi, Rei, and Hisashi surveyed the neighborhood. Chaos was erupting as fires were burning across the city. The sound of the undead and panic was evident.
"The whole thing is happening all over the town." Takashi said.
"But how? This all happened so suddenly." Rei noted.
Soon , the trio noticed military helicopters flying above them. They were dispatched in lieu of the growing chaos.
"Black Hawk copters? That's probably the Japanese Self Defense Forces." Hisashi spoke.
"Where did they come from? There isn't a military base here in this neighborhood." Takashi questioned.
Rei tried to wave to signal them, but Hisashi told her not to.
"Don't bother. It's pointless to waste your strength away. They must have been called in a mission, but they're not doing anything about them." Hisashi said, pointing to the groups of zombies that were moving to survivors.
Various zombies were seen feasting on the survivors with no hindrance. Some of the students went insane as they were being eaten alive. Others ended up committing suicide in a daze as they lost their minds
"Inside the school, it's much worse. Imagine out there in the city or worse, inside the residents and apartment buildings. The whole city will be overwhelmed." Hisashi continued.
Yami was keeping his fighting against the zombies. He roared in a warrior spirit while the Darkness relished in the carnage of the undead. So much so, it was now enjoying the dark energy it felt growing stronger from the chaos.
"This will be a time for the world to remember." The Darkness spoke.
"Yeah… Let's keep fighting them." Yami spoke to the Darkness.
"Excellent my puppet. You are growing stronger thanks to this relic with my essence. I can feel your strength." The Darkness spoke with glee.
While Yami fought off the zombies, he soon stumbled upon a female student. She was 17 years old and was quite tall for a Japanese woman. She had long purple hair with a triangle fringe on the front that barely touched her nose. Her eyes were a cold blue color as she watched the zombies. She held a wooden sword. This was Saeko Busujima.
"Yami-sensei?" Saeko asked, pointing her wooden sword to him.
"I know… They're not human anymore." Yami responded.
"How were you able to survive and how did you find that katana?" Saeko questioned him.
"It's very complicated, but luck was the key thing as to how I found this in our school no less. Someone must have misplaced it in the sports closet near the gym fields." Yami answered.
"I see. I never seen a katana in such a way though." Saeko admitted.
"It's a relic, but it has saved me and helped me fight them off. I feel bad, but it has since helped me make it this far." Yami noted.
"I can see that. I'm grateful that you managed to fight them off. Though I should ask, is there a reason why you're cutting them down so brutally?" Saeko asked.
Yami noticed another zombie and cut its head off with a swift slice.
"Either that, or get bitten." Yami responded.
"Fair point." Saeko responded.
The Darkness began speaking to Yami, much to his surprise.
"This girl holds a secret." The Darkness commented.
Yami ignored the statement, but made sure to remember what it said. Focusing on the zombies, he fought them off with little resistance. Saeko, despite holding a wooden blade was swift in taking them down, even knocking some to the ground, slamming their heads hard.
"Kill more of these abominations. Let me grow in strength." The Darkness spoke to Yami.
Yami didn't hesitate as he kept fighting. His reluctance was now no longer inhibited since the zombies were still prevalent. All were attacked by him, either stabbed or had their heads cut off with swift precision.
"Where are you going, Yami-sensei?" Saeko asked.
"The infirmary. Someone I know is there." Yami responded.
Saeko nodded and joined him to fight the zombies.
Takashi, Rei and Hisashi were at the roof, now realizing how grave the situation has become.
"Them?" Takashi asked.
"Yes. This is no different a disease caused by 'them'. They're no longer human or even alive and are attacking people left and right." Hisashi explained.
"So you're saying we have no reason to not fight them." Takashi realized.
"That means there's no point in holding back if we encounter them. A single one we can take down, but groups of them will be a problem. This isn't a movie or a game for that matter. The moment they bite the people and kill them, they come back as one of them. They're that dangerous." Hisashi continued.
"I noticed that all of our attacks on Wakisube didn't had any effects since it would kill a normal person." Takashi observed.
"Yeah, that's the point. The only thing that will stop them is by smashing their heads hard." Hisashi recalled.
Soon the trio noticed a group of zombies coming to them. Hisashi saw a section of the roof with a closet that held a staircase.
"Let's head up to that staircase so we can make a barricade." Hisashi said.
"Then let's charge forward." Takashi said.
The trio managed to push through the small group of zombies. Takashi managed to hit some with his bat on their heads, killing them. However, a zombie managed to grab Rei's weapon and pushed her to the stairs, leaving her open.
"Rei!" Hisashi responded, reflexively grabbing Takashi's bat and smashing the zombie's head.
The trio managed to make it up to the section of the roof. They barricaded the staircase with various desks and planks.
"How did this happen so suddenly? It was all fine since this morning." Rei questioned.
"There has to be an explanation. At any rate, even if we found the cause, it's already too late. I have a feeling it's not just here in Japan, but the world as well." Hisashi said.
"I have a feeling you're right about that, Hisashi… We should look for some supplies though. No telling when we might need them." Takashi said.
"Good idea. We should find some matches , lighters or fire starters. It'll be dangerous once the sun sets." Hisashi reminded.
The sun was now setting as hours have passed. Yami and Saeko made their way through the school to reach the next infirmary. He knew who he was looking for, since he didn't found the person yet.
"Where are you going?" The Darkness asked.
'Finding someone whom can help. We don't have much time.' Yami mentally told to the Darkness.
"Don't stop fighting the abominations." The Darkness reminded.
Yami and Saeko soon noticed a hallway that was crowded with zombies. Knowing of the sun's position, he soon manifested a dark tentacle that pushed the zombies back, much to Saeko's shock in seeing the tentacle.
"What the hell is that!?" Saeko exclaimed with surprise.
"It's a power that I possess now. It just came to me today and it has been with me since… I have to rely on it in order to fight these zombies." Yami responded.
"What is this power?" Saeko asked, now alert and kept her guard up with Yami.
"It calls itself the Darkness and it seems to have been awaiting me for who knows how long. Not even I know much about it." Yami answered.
This managed to satisfy Saeko, but she still kept her guard up near Yami as the tentacle retracted in his body. Much to his displeasure in forced to using his power, the entity relished in the brief panic she expressed.
"We are the stuff of nightmares, Yami. Do not stop killing them." The Darkness spoke.
Soon, the dark tentacles began appearing and began slicing the zombies down brutally while avoiding the setting sunlight. They all tripped due to the tentacle gripping their legs and pulling them, leaving them staggered. The tentacles pierced their heads, killing them without mercy.
"Yes… Dark essence grows from the actions you make. Feed me." The Darkness spoke with satisfaction.
Saeko noticed how the tentacles were avoiding the light. After they finished killing the zombies, they retracted in Yami's body, much to his discomfort.
"I really need to learn how to better use this power…" Yami spoke with discomfort.
"You will, my puppet. In time." The Darkness responded.
"You might be able to handle it if you know how to use it." Saeko reassured.
"Thanks. Let's hurry." Yami said.
At the roof, Takashi, Rei and Hisashi were on guard as they heard the zombies trying to push the barricade. It was heavy and secure enough for the undeads' efforts to be futile.
"Think this will hold them off for a while?" Takashi asked.
"It should. We're lucky we also found a fire hose here too." Hisashi said.
"Yeah…" Takashi agreed.
Soon, Hisashi began coughing and spat out blood. He was grunting in pain. Takashi realized his friend's fate was about to be sealed.
'Oh no…' Takashi thought.
Hisashi revealed his face was growing paler. He was now breathing heavily.
"You were bitten only once, but how did it happen so quickly?" Rei asked with uncertainty.
"It's just like the movies… The moment you're bitten by them, you're fucked." Hisashi revealed.
"But this isn't the movies." Rei said.
"It already happened and we can see it in front of us…" Hisashi countered.
He soon looked to Takashi, pointing to the fence.
"Takashi. Help me…" Hisashi asked.
"With what…?" Takashi reluctantly asked.
"Help me…over the rail of the fence. The fall will shatter my head." Hisashi said.
Takashi and Rei realized what he meant. He was intending to end his life swiftly before he turned into a zombie.
"What are you saying, Hisashi!?" Rei asked in shock.
"I don't want to become like them!!!" Hisashi spoke.
He soon began vomiting copious amounts of blood, much to Rei's and Takashi's horror. His voice was sounding weak and hoarse.
"Please… Let me have my last moments as me till the end…" Hisashi spoke.
Hisashi began screaming in pain as he felt his body failing. Rei screamed, begging him not to die. Soon, silence came as Hisashi died as a human. Rei was distraught while Takashi held a serious expression.
"Get away from him, Rei…" Takashi spoke with a cold tone.
Soon, Hisashi's body began moving. He held his bat, ready to attack.
"No! He's not becoming one of them! He's going to be fine!" Rei spoke in defiance.
Hisashi's body soon rose up, but his skin showed he was dead.
"Look! He just got better…" Rei's voice soon dropped as she noticed Hisashi was now a zombie.
Takashi held his bat and managed to bring Rei back, away from the zombified Hisashi. Realizing this, Takashi steeled his spirit while Rei was in disbelief.
"This can't be happening…" She said.
"I know… But this Hell is happening to us right now… We can't turn a blind eye from this…" Takashi spoke coldly.
He made a warrior shout and smashed the bat in Hisashi's head, killing the zombie as Rei screamed.
A moment of silence passed as Takashi killed the zombified Hisashi. It was a heavy feeling for both him and Rei.
'I had no choice, but to kill him… My own friend… Damn it…' Takashi thought.
"I didn't ask you to save me." Rei spoke with distraught.
"He would have bitten you either way. He didn't want that." Takashi spoke.
"I rather be dead than be left alone now…" Rei said.
"Aren't you listening to yourself? Don't you hear what you're saying?" Takashi asked to Rei.
"You think I care about what I'm saying? You're not an expert. I know that you hated him because he was dating me." Rei said with a dark tone.
Takashi had enough of Rei's emotional slandering. He began moving to the barricade, ready to fight off the zombie horde behind it.
"Where are you going?" Rei asked.
"You're right about one thing… I'm no expert, and you also don't want me around. I'll be going downstairs to kill them." Takashi spoke.
Takashi soon began climbing up the barricade, ready to fight them. Rei realized her mistake and quickly pulled him back before he vaulted over the barricade.
"Wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it, I truly don't. Please don't leave me behind!" Rei spoke, fearing she was going to be alone.
Takashi stopped as Rei held him back. He soon left the barricade, but he held a heavy spirit.
'The day that everything began to end… I killed off my best friend… I'm now holding the girl I once loved… But this Hell on Earth won't stop getting worse…
Saya and Kohta were making their way to the carpentry class.
"Listen, fatso. I'm going to be frank. Nothing around the city will help us since the panic seems to have spread around the city." Saya informed.
"That means it's useless to rely on the police, or even the military to help us." Kohta realized.
"I see you noticed. It's just like what's happening here in the school. They don't know how to handle this situation since the people are now eating each other like ravenous dogs. Only they're more like undead dogs. Plus, there are over 180 million people here in Japan. Clearly, the military aren't equipped to handle this situation." Saya explained.
They soon heard a nearby zombie roaring behind them, forcing them to flee.
'Geez… I had to let Komuro out of my sight when he went with his friend and ex… Plus, we even lost the chance for extra protection from Yami-sensei, whom was near. Damn it…' Saya thought.
At one of the infirmaries, a blonde woman was seen collecting medical treatments and supplies. She had long blonde hair and hazel eyes. The woman is in her mid 20s, with a voluptuous body and was evidently concerned of the events happening. Her name was Shizuka Marikawa.
'Yami, I hope you're doing alright…' She thought with concern.
With her, a male student was seen holding a medical IV pole. He was shocked to see a friend of his suddenly become a zombie. The student had brown hair with matching eyes. He was wearing glasses and appeared panicked.
"O-Okada? Forgive me!" He said.
The male student began bashing his zombified friend on the head, apologizing profusely. Shizuka managed to gather the supplies she needed.
'This feels more like a horror movie… Whenever they get bit by them, they come back to life, but like a walking corpse…' Shizuka thought, analyzing the situation.
She managed to take what she needed and stuffed the supplies in a medical bag.
"We need to leave, Shizuka-sensei!" The male student said.
Soon, a crowd of zombies came in and broke the infirmary door. The male student tried to hold them off, but was overwhelmed and bitten. Shizuka was about to panic till a sharp blade pierced the zombies through their heads. It was Yami, whom began killing off the zombies, taking care not to harm Shizuka and the male student. Saeko also managed to help fight some of them as well, clearing the infirmary off.
"Looks like we got them, but not soon enough…" Yami spoke, hinting a forlorn tone.
He soon walked to the male student, whom knew his fate was sealed. Saeko knew what was about to happen.
"I'm Yami Taiyo, one of the teachers of the school. What is your name?" Yami asked to the male student.
The male student coughed blood, knowing he was at death's door. He decided to give his name.
"Ishii Kazu… Please… Help me…" The male student begged, knowing of his fate.
Yami knew he was asking him to kill the teen, knowing he would become of the zombies. The Darkness also sensed it.
"His fate is sealed. Take his life." The entity spoke.
"Very well… You are aware of what happens if you get bit. But before I do, I have to thank you for protecting Marikawa. I won't forget that." Yami spoke.
"I'm glad I did… Please… Kill me…" Kazu spoke.
Yami wasted no time and sliced the student's head off. Shizuka watched as Yami swiftly done the deed. She felt bad for the man, whom was forced to kill off the young student.
"Why did you had to that?" Shizuka asked to Yami.
"I had to. Otherwise, he would have become a zombie against his will and hunt others." Yami answered.
He soon placed the student's body on a medical bed and placed a white cloth, covering Kazu's body. Shizuka watched as Yami showed a sense of humanity, but it was a brief moment of sullen spirit for the young man.
"He didn't want this, but there was no choice." Saeko spoke, reassuring Shizuka.
Soon, they heard more zombies coming in. Yami, gripping the katana on his hands, began slicing their heads off with brutal efficiency. He didn't waste any time killing them. Shizuka watched with slight horror as Yami began fighting them off. Saeko made sure to watch Shizuka as their path was being cleared of the zombies.
At a different classroom, Saya and Kohta were at the area searching for items.
"So, why are we searching inside the carpentry classroom?" Kohta asked.
"We need to search for means to defend ourselves. Lock the doors so we can keep them out." Saya answered.
Kohta did so. This allowed the two teens to search the classroom for tools to use as weapons. Soon, Saya procured several tools to use as weapons.
"Looks like we have no choice but to use them." Kohta said.
"Exactly. You're one of those military nerds. I'm sure you can make something with the resources available here." Saya said.
Kohta picked up a nail gun, examining it.
"This nail gun is gas powered." Kohta realized.
"Of course it is. It would be difficult to carry it if it had a compressor. This isn't the movies." Saya said.
"This isn't the movies. Still, I think I can make or modify this nail gun into something. The grip feels off." Kohta said.
Soon, the banging of the classroom doors was heard, alerting the teens. Kohta began examining the resources in what he was about to make.
'An extra gas canister and nails in a strip clip… Good. We got supplies.' He thought.
"Hey, hurry and make what you are doing! They're coming in from the hallways!" Saya reminded.
Kohta began examining the nail gun on its weight.
'This nail gun weighs about 9 pounds. Almost like an old assault rifle. However, my posture is off and it needs a stock and sight.' Kohta thought.
Using the tools and resources, Kohta managed to make a stock for the nail gun, using the tape to make an improvised stock and using a pencil as a sight. The process took minutes but Kohta managed to make the nail gun into a carbine, allowing him to aim it well. Soon the zombies broke through the doors, causing Saya to scream in terror. Before they could reach her, nails were seen piercing their heads, killing them.
"Gotcha!" Kohta spoke, showing a hint of sadistic satisfaction.
This surprised Saya, causing a sense of relief to briefly come to her.
"Hirano?" She said with surprise.
Kohta began shooting the nail gun, effectively killing them.
"Takagi, take the drill and the carpentry supplies and put them in the bag. Hurry!" Kohta spoke.
Saya was briefly annoyed while Kohta kept shooting down one zombie after another with remarkable accuracy. Each one fell as he took one shot to kill them in the head.
"Excuse me?! Why are you giving me orders all of a sudden?" Saya questioned.
Kohta turned and showed a sadistic smile, much to Saya's brief horror. This got her to gasp in response, before Kohta began answering.
"I'm the one fighting these guys off and you're the genius here. This is no time for arguing so please." Kohta reasoned.
Saya saw through Kohta's response and reluctantly agreed. She did find his sadistic smile rather unnerving, but she knew he was her best chance for survival at the moment.
"Alright then…" She responded.
She managed to gather the supplies and placed them in a bag for her to hold them.
"You should also help in carrying something too." Saya noted.
"One thing to ask before we move out. Why me in particular?" Kohta asked with uncertainty.
"It's nothing special in particular." Saya said.
"Figured you would say that." Kohta responded.
He soon loaded a fresh strip clip of nails in the nail gun. Saya noticed his posture looked serious, ready to fight.
"What's with the gun-ho attitude? Having a realization or something?" Saya asked comically.
"I can't tell what it is, but I just feel ready." Kohta responded.
They soon got out of the classroom, spotting three zombies. Kohta aimed with precision and took them down.
At the roof, Takashi was seen holding a fire hose.
"You ready with the valve?" Takashi asked.
"I am!" Rei answered.
"Then let it loose!" Takashi replied.
Soon, Rei turned the water valve on, causing the fire hose to squirt high pressured water. The sudden release briefly caused Takashi to stumble, but he soon got his footing and took control of the hose.
"You got it?" Rei asked.
"Yeah. They really like to cause a party. Let's see if they can handle this!" Takashi spoke.
He aimed the hose at the barricade, causing the water to push the zombies back. They landed on their heads, which killed them. Takashi laughed as he managed to push back the zombies.
"There a few left, but we can take them down. Good thinking about the fire hose." Takashi complimented.
"I thought about this idea thanks to the fire drills." Rei responded.
"It will be rough, are you ready?" Takashi asked.
"I am." Rei confirmed.
The two teens fought off the last remaining zombies, killing them by aiming their weapons at their heads. Takashi managed to smash their heads with the baseball bat while Rei aimed her improvised spear through their heads, even pushing them back to stagger them.
Back inside the school, Rei and Takashi began to make their way downstairs.
"Where are we heading, Takashi?" Rei asked.
"Home. We'll need to head back to our homes and help the survivors." Takashi responded.
"You're right. I know my father is safe. You should also contact your parents as well." Rei said.
"I will eventually. My father lives far away due to work and my mother is an elementary school teacher. They won't be home, but they would start talking to me endlessly with worry, given the situation." Takashi spoke with a joking tone.
Rei giggled in response.
"This is not the time for jokes." She replied, laughing.
However, Takashi knew he was lying. He was concerned for his parents.
'I knew what I said was lying… With how things are here, I'm worried with how my mother is handling things.' He thought.
In a different hallway, Saya and Kohta were silently observing a zombie wandering. Saya threw a wet rag at the zombie, which didn't react to the object.
"What are you doing?" Kohta whispered.
"Just watch." Saya responded.
She soon threw another wet rag at a nearby locker, which made an audible sound. This alerted the zombie and caused it to move to the locker. It didn't even stop, despite ramming its head to it.
"Do you see that? They don't react to physical trauma or anything that hits them, but they appear to react with sound. I can surmise that they're blind, otherwise that zombie would have not run into the locker." Saya observed.
"So they hunt with sound… Is it possible they respond to heat?" Kohta questioned.
"If there's a theory, we would have a chance to try. Let's get moving." Saya said.
"I'm not really that physical, but I'll keep up." Kohta said.
"This is why I don't like fat nerds. Not the time to complain about traveling if you can't drive yet." Saya said.
They soon heard more zombies coming to them. Saya and Kohta managed to sneak away from them.
Elsewhere, Yami, Saeko, and Shizuka were on their way to the staff room of the school.
"I can understand why we need to head there. It's an inconvenience though." Saeko commented.
"I agree. However, almost all the staff members leave their car keys there. However, I don't think we would have room to fit any survivors if we have a small crowd." Yami deduced.
Saeko managed to shove some zombies away. However, Yami wasted no effort in killing them.
"Yami, you don't have to waste your efforts in killing them. You can knock them aside." Saeko noted.
"You already seen what I can do. I'll explain further once we find the staff room so I can explain what I know about myself. Plus, I have this katana, which seems to have been a lost item in history. I've been using it and it hasn't been dulled nor it has been weakened." Yami explained.
"Alright then. Since you can take them down, I'll help, but don't get overwhelmed by them. Just don't get crowded by the zombies." Saeko said.
"Would it be better to avoid them?" Shizuka asked.
"It would be if they didn't get in our way. They're all over the school so we can't drop our guard." Yami said.
"They're also strong. They will be difficult to get them off if they grab on to you." Saeko noted.
"Figured that one out while I kept killing them." Yami commented.
"You two thought this one out…" Shizuka complimented.
Shizuka soon tripped on a loose carpet.
"Ouch… What was that?" She complained.
Saeko crouched down, noticing her attire.
"This kind of fashion is not suitable for running." Saeko said.
She soon ripped the skirt near Shizuka's hips, much to her chagrin. Yami kept watch for any approaching zombies when he heard the sound of clothing being ripped. He didn't bother to look back.
"This is a brand name skirt!" Shizuka complained.
"Your clothes or your life… Which one do you value?" Saeko asked.
"Both…!" Shizuka answered with a pout.
Yami shrugged his shoulders in response, till he heard the Darkness commenting.
"She reeks of innocence…!" The entity spoke, hinting some distasteful humor.
Yami snorted, but kept the Darkness hidden. Due to the sun setting, he was able to have his powers near his full potential.
"The light grows dim, Yami." The Darkness said.
'I know… We might have the upper hand here, but the others…' Yami mentally spoke.
"Your power will grow. Go, my puppet." The Darkness said.
The trio soon heard what sounded like a nail gun firing.
"Did that come from the staff room?" Saeko questioned.
"We better take a look and fast…" Yami said.
They began running behind Yami as he kept cutting down the zombies that got in his way.
(Play the Darkness OST - Lower East Side Combat mix)
Near the staff room, Kohta was fighting off the zombies with his modified nail gun. Their numbers were beginning to be overwhelming.
"Why did we have to start fighting them off like this? We could have figured more about them!" Saya commented.
"Would you want to be their next meal?" Kohta asked.
"No! And why should I fight?" Saya questioned.
"My nail gun is almost out and behind you…" Kohta pointed behind Saya.
She turned to see a zombie up close to her. This caused Saya to scream, alerting everyone in the school. Soon, Yami arrived and began killing the zombies in a brutal fashion. The two teens watched with shock as the young man killed the zombies with his katana. His eyes held a cold expression as he hunted the zombies with relentless brutality. Some were brutally dismembered before being decapitated. Yami displayed his supernatural strength by cleaving an entire zombie in half from the head down to the groin. The brutal display was enough for the two teens to panic from the display. Soon, Takashi, Rei, Saeko, and Shizuka arrived and saw Yami killing what remained of the zombies. He stabbed the last one through the head after kicking it down to the floor. The katana pierced more than just the head and through the concrete floor before Yami pulled it out.
"What the hell happened here…?" Takashi questioned.
Yami flicked the katana before placing it back in its sheathe. He didn't feel exhausted, but his actions made him question of his brutal display.
'I have a lot to explain, but I don't know how to voice this…' He thought.
"Do not be hindered, puppet. You are mine and I will keep you from death." The Darkness spoke.
Yami looked to the group that arrived. He calmed himself as he got himself composed.
"Everyone, get in the staff room, hurry." Yami ordered.
Saya was evidently in shock, both from the close call of the zombies and the brutal display Yami demonstrated. She shivered as she noticed her school uniform was bloodstained due to the massacre.
(Lower East Side Combat Mix OST ends here)
(Play The Darkness OST - Jenny's theme)
Inside the staff room, they were able to catch a breather. The doors were barricaded. Introductions were given to everyone.
"Are you alright, Takagi?" Rei asked to Saya.
Saya was still in distraught. She couldn't answer due to her shock. Saeko began giving introductions.
"Everyone is acquainted of Marikawa and Taiyo. I'm Busujima Saeko from 3-A." Saeko introduced.
"I'm Komuro Takashi from 2-B." Takashi followed.
"Wait, Busujima from the kendo club? I'm Rei Miyamoto from the Sojutsu club." Rei replied.
"I'm Hirano Kohta from 2-B." Kohta followed.
"Pleased to meet you all." Saeko said.
"More importantly, Yami-sensei… You said you will explain to me about what you are right now and how did you get there so fast and cut down those zombies so swiftly." Saeko said.
"I know. Sit down because even I'm uncertain as to what I possess." Yami said.
Soon, Saya began pointing to Yami. She was evidently shaken, but stood her ground.
"So now you're all acquainted and you expect Yami-sensei to reveal something about himself!? He did things no normal person could do!" Saya shouted.
"Easy there, Takagi." Takashi said.
"Cut the crap! I'm a fucking genius! I can do anything once I put my mind to it!" Saya shouted to Takashi.
Yami sighed before he moved to Saya and gently placed his hand on her head.
"Cool your head, Takagi. That's enough…" Yami spoke, showing a soft tone.
Saya looked to Yami, whom held a soft but serious expression. She paused, and soon looked to a mirror. She noticed her bloodstained state.
"Look how filthy I am… I need to get it cleaned…" Saya spoke, hinting some mental degradation.
Saya soon broke down, holding Yami as she cried. Shizuka watched as the young man began to help Saya calm down. She saw his face etched with pain, knowing what the girl felt was terrifying.
'Even after the years have passed, he hasn't changed… I'm glad for that, Yami. He always cared for others than himself…' Shizuka thought.
Everyone watched as Saya was able to calm down thanks to Yami's help. After some time, Saya was now calm and level headed. She was reflexively avoiding Yami due to his inhumane display. The male teacher couldn't fault her, seeing how terrified she still was of him. She soon heard him groan in disdain as he began his explanation.
"I don't know how to explain this to make sense of things… All I do know at the moment is what I now have within me…" Yami started.
"What do you mean?" Takashi asked.
"What you have within you?" Rei followed.
"Apparently, I'm now holding this weird power which holds an entity called the Darkness. Whatever it is, it has been dormant in me till now." Yami revealed.
"The Darkness? Like some kind of being?" Kohta asked.
"Yeah. It's sentient and it also gave me this supernatural strength to help me fight off the zombies. The entity was fully awakened when I found this katana. It somehow contains traces of its power, which can be channeled to the blade. Apparently, I can use the Darkness and its power in conjunction with the sword." Yami continued.
"This doesn't make any sense whatsoever to me. You're telling me that you're in possession of some cosmic entity and it now rests inside you? I don't believe it till I see it." Saya said.
"Don't say I didn't warn you…" Yami warned.
He soon showed two serpentine heads that sprouted from his back. They were breathing and had sharp teeth shown. The serpents held glowing eyes as they stared at the group. This frightened them for a moment as Yami revealed the Darkness to them.
"Let me feed! Kill the abominations!" The Darkness requested, voicing its thoughts out.
"Settle down. We will fight the zombies again. We need rest for now." Yami reasoned to the Darkness.
"Very well, puppet. Live up to your deal, Yami." The Darkness responded with laughter.
Soon, the entity disappeared within Yami. This got the group startled though they were now aware of Yami's power.
"So that's the Darkness…" Saeko realized.
"Yes. It has since helped me fight the zombies since they showed up. It began to manifest sometime this morning. Since I started hearing its calling and got this katana, now I hold a powerful force." Yami said.
Shizuka walked up to Yami, much to his surprise. He looked away in shame, not knowing what to expect to hear. He was expecting her to berate him, till he felt Shizuka hugging him.
"You always were selfless, even as childhood friends, Yami. I'm glad that you're still here." Shizuka spoke.
Yami didn't expect the hug, but he slowly brought his hands up and held Shizuka in a calm manner. The students smiled in response from the warm moment.
(Jenny's theme OST ends here)
It took time for the group to process Yami's explanation. However, they all agreed that he proved helpful to them. They were resting as they felt exhausted from the ordeal.
"We can trust you in this, Yami. You told us about what you now hold so we can accept you." Shizuka said.
"Alright then. I hope it doesn't scare you guys. I'm still new to this power." Yami reasoned.
"So you can manipulate the darkness or it helps you in any way?" Kohta asked.
"Yeah… I can somehow manipulate the shadows, even using them to recharge my powers. I can't go in the light since it'll weaken the Darkness to the point of disorientation. Since night is about to show, it'll be beneficial for me. However, I don't want to put you guys in danger due to the large crowd of zombies out there." Yami explained.
"So you get stronger when it's dark, but weaker when it's daylight." Saya surmised.
"Pretty much. However, this katana houses portions of the Darkness's power. It can hide in it, strengthening the weapon to make it powerful while allowing me to wield its power even in daylight. Once the sun sets, I'll be able to unleash the Darkness at will." Yami continued.
"Good thing too. The sun's setting." Takashi said.
Kohta went to Saya, whom was washing her face. He was worried for her due to her breakdown.
"Hey Takagi. You're okay?" He asked.
Saya soon showed her face and was wearing glasses, much to Kohta's surprise.
"My contacts keep falling off." Saya commented.
"Sorry…" Kohta commented comically.
Soon the group began to realize on the body count.
"Now that I think about it, I don't think a simple four seat car would fit us all. We might need to use the school buses to get around." Yami suggested.
"The minibuses for the club activities? Not a bad option. The keys hang from the wall in here." Saeko realized.
"The buses are here in the sunlight though." Kohta said, peering out of the window sill.
"They should work. However, where will we go?" Shizuka asked.
"We need to find our parents. We'll stop from the closest to the furthest to reach our parents and find a place to stay in." Takashi said.
Saya soon noticed Rei looking at a television screen in shock.
"What's the matter?" She asked to Rei.
"It can't be…" Rei responded, looking shocked at the television.