[Ratatusk, Lv. 1 | Health: 100%]

  Dome Monsters.

  As their name suggested, these creatures were born from the Dome—manifestations of its mysterious and ever-shifting power. The Ratatusk was just one of many that roamed this sophisticated cage. A Dome Monster’s strength varied wildly. Some were weak enough for a Hero to take down alone, while others required three or more fighters working together to stand a chance.

  But one thing had always remained true: No one had ever seen a creep defeat a Dome Monster on their own.

  But defeating a Ratatusk wasn’t just a matter of survival for whoever encountered it—it was an opportunity for any Hero brave enough to face it. When a Dome Monster fell, the one who delivered the final blow would receive a temporary boost to their physical or magical abilities. In the Ratatusk’s case, that meant an increase in Strength and Agility that lasted for one hour.

  That made them valuable targets—prized kills for Heroes looking to gain an edge in the Game.

  But unfortunately for Adam, Grace, and Samantha…Well…

  They were no Heroes.

  “R… Run!”

  Adam thought Grace was too exhausted to run. They had stopped in this office building to rest, after all—to let her catch her breath, to let Samantha recover from the night’s chaos.

  But the moment the Ratatusk charged, Grace threw down her swords, scooped Samantha into her arms, and sprinted for the exit. She even had the strength to glance back at Adam, just to make sure he was running too.

  He wasn’t.

  “Adam!? What are you doing!? Run!” Grace screamed.

  Adam stood frozen. Chained to the floor by his own thoughts.

  Adam, Adam… what are you doing? Do you know how much pain this will bring? Why are you willing to sacrifice yourself… for people you barely know?

  Why are we even having this conversation again? And why am I even talking to you again… when you’ve already resolved yourself to help these people?

  Could it be… Are you still hesitating? Is that why you’re talking to yourself again?

  Are you hesitating… to save them? This woman, who admitted to using you? That's good, Adam. That's good.

  “No!” Adam gritted his teeth, snapping back to reality. He turned his gaze to Grace and Samantha, locking eyes with them for just a moment before shaking his head.

  “You guys go. I’ll… be fine.”

  “Adam—”

  “Go! Save your daughter!”

  Adam didn’t let Grace argue. He turned on his heels, jumping and waving his arms to grab the Ratatusk’s attention.

  “Over here! Come on, you overgrown rat! I’m right here!”

  Grace hesitated for only a millisecond before shutting her eyes and running for the exit.

  But both of their resolve, their split-second decisions, meant nothing. The Ratatusk completely ignored Adam.

  Instead, it charged straight for Grace and Samantha.

  “What the—” Adam’s eyes widened. “Hey! I’m here! Here! Grace, it’s after you!”

  He sprinted after the monster without thinking. But the Ratatusk was too fast.

  It leaped toward the mother and daughter, claws glinting in the dim office lights. Grace dropped to the ground, narrowly dodging its massive claws. But one of its jagged claws managed to graze her shoulder.

  But she didn’t cry out. She didn’t stumble. She only tightened her hold on Samantha.

  The Ratatusk, having missed its mark, lost balance in the air. Its massive, hulking body slammed into the glass doors, the impact sent shockwaves through the building. The glass shattered. The concrete cracked.

  And then—

  The entire entrance began to collapse on the giant rat.

  “No…”

  Grace gasped, her breath stammering as she stared at their only way out—completely blocked. But she had no time for hopelessness. She snapped herself out of it and rushed back to Adam, her legs moving before she could even think.

  “Adam! We need to find another exit!”

  Adam didn’t respond right away. His eyes flicked to the Ratatusk, which was thrashing violently beneath the rubble, squealing as it struggled to free itself.

  Then, he nodded, and without another word, the two bolted, desperate to find another way out. They ran to the back of the lobby, but found the door collapsed. They rushed to where the ratatusk came from, and the entire hallway was also collapsed—did it come from the upper floors?

  And from the sign that was now shattered on the floor, the elevators and stairs leading up were also part of that very hallway. That meant they also couldn’t go up, that meant they were… completely trapped.

  “Fuck!” Grace’s frustration boiled over in a single shout. But the second she felt Samantha whimper in her arms, she forced herself to breathe. She squeezed her daughter close, swallowing down her own panic.

  “S… sorry, sweetie,” she whispered, her voice softer. “Mommy’s just… Mommy’s just—What do we do, Adam?”

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  Adam’s breath was growing heavy too, his mind racing. But as his gaze swept across the room, it landed on the large window lining the office building.

  “We’re so stupid.”

  He took off toward the lounge.

  “Adam! What are you—”

  “Stand back!” he shouted.

  And Grace halted as she realized what Adam was about to do.

  He grabbed the nearest stool and charged straight at the window. He swung it with everything he had—only for the stool to bounce back like a rubber ball.

  “Kh—!”

  Adam staggered as a violent vibration ran up his arms.

  The window didn’t even crack. His literal enhanced strength was still no match for thick tempered glass.

  Modern technology: 1. Adam: 0.

  For a long second, he just stared at it, catching his breath.

  Then—he heard a squeal.

  A rumble.

  The Ratatusk was free. Adam turned sharply, watching as the massive rat shook off the last of the debris.

  His eyes flicked to Grace, and he sighed again.

  “You and Samantha should hide. I’ll… try to bait the rat into smashing the windows for us.”

  “Let me help!” Grace said immediately.

  “No.” Adam’s voice was firm. “You’re carrying Samantha. You’ll only get in the way.”

  Grace wanted to argue. But she didn’t. Instead, she nodded and hurried behind the receptionist’s counter, and gently rested Samantha on the floor. The little girl didn’t want to let go at first, but Grace reassured her that she would be alright, and that mommy needed to watch Adam’s back.

  “…Can I watch too?”

  Grace swallowed hard. “No, sweetie. This is only for adults, okay?”

  Samantha pouted. But as Grace turned away, the little girl still peeked over the counter. She only managed to glimpse Adam picking up a sword from the floor before Grace gently but firmly pushed her head back down.

  “Sit.”

  “But—”

  “Sit, Samantha.”

  Samantha whimpered again for a bit, but she ultimately gave up and sat down.

  “I… I can’t wait to become an adult so I can also help the mister.” She whispered.

  “I know, sweetie. I know,” Grace rolled her hands into fists. She wanted to scream at what was happening, but all she could do was bite her fist in frustration.

  And soon, the ratatusk squealed. Louder this time as it finally rushed toward Adam.

  "That's right," Adam whispered, thumping his chest.

  He had no idea if that actually helped lure the Ratatusk. Probably not, but he did it anyway. The Ratatusk squealed in response, its steps growing heavier, more violent. It was working. Spittle flew from its gaping maw as it barreled toward him, its beady, glowing eyes locked onto its prey.

  Grace’s fists tightened. She wanted to scream at Adam—to move, to jump away, to do something.

  But she didn’t. She couldn’t. If she so much as made a sound, the monster might turn its attention to her. To Samantha.

  So she just watched. And Adam didn’t move.

  "Huh?" Grace’s breath hitched.

  Adam just stood there, arms outstretched, teeth clenched so hard they might crack.

  What are you doing, Adam!?

  But Adam had already made his decision. If he dodged, the Ratatusk might not fully commit to the charge. It was strong enough to crash through concrete—tempered glass wouldn't stand a chance.

  The only problem?

  Adam's bones would be right in the middle of it. He would probably shatter every single one. His organs would rupture. The pain would be unbearable. Even just imagining it made his body shiver.

  But still, he stood tall, staring down the oncoming beast. He just had to hold his ground.

  The Ratatusk was seconds away.

  A foot away.

  And then it stopped.

  "...Huh?" Adam blinked, catching glimpses of the Ratatusk’s napkin-like fur swaying in his peripheral vision.

  Slowly, he looked up. The Ratatusk’s nose was fidgeting, sniffing the air. Its long, gnarled tusks dripped with some sort of viscous liquid, pooling onto the floor beneath them.

  Adam’s gaze locked with its glowing, soulless eyes. And then, before he could even take another breath—

  “Khhk!?”

  A massive, clawed hand slammed into him. The sharp talons dug deep into his arm, nearly ripping it apart before he was launched across the room.

  His sword clattered to the floor, abandoned. Adam's world became a blur of pain as he was sent violently rolling across the ground—bones cracking with each impact as he crashed through chairs, tables, anything in his way. There was no wall to stop him. His momentum only ceased when the twisted wreckage of a chair tangled around his body, dragging him to a stop.

  "Gurgh…"

  Adam lay sprawled on the floor, the sound of his fractured bones snapping back into place whispering in the air.

  He groaned. Then, as soon as his arms worked again, he reached down and began pulling out the debris impaled in his body.

  A broken wooden chair leg. A twisted metal rod. Something else he couldn’t identify.

  "Kukh." Adam spat out blood from his throat. He could feel everything—his flesh grinding against his bones as they forcefully reconnected and set themselves back together. His flesh reached out, weaving like threads, and he felt billions of needles piercing them back together. But perhaps more than the pain, there was one thing Adam dreaded feeling even more.

  It was his heart.

  Pounding violently as it worked overtime to propel all the blood his marrow produced in gallons instantly. The heat it generated felt like he was burning from the inside out. He should know; he'd literally been burned from the inside out when the Hospital people injected flammable fluid into him and then lit him up.

  For what? Well, science.

  But at least with what they did, the pain was instantaneous. It was always the pain that came when his body healed that truly got to him. It was continuous, constant.

  "Argh..." Even now that he could stand, he still felt himself burning.

  "It hurts," he whispered. He once again gritted his teeth, which cracked and snapped from the force, only to be instantly replaced by another. And then, with a hiss, he whispered—

  "It... fucking hurts!"

  He grabbed one of the metal stakes on the ground and, without thinking, rushed toward the ratatusk, which was already charging at him. He met it head-on, his roars of frustration drowning out even the monster's thunderous squeals. All he could think about was ending the source of his suffering—that was the only thing in his mind.

  He gripped the metal stake hard and, with another clench of his teeth, leaped toward the ratatusk.

  The two lunged at each other in midair, making Grace's eyes widen.

  This scene did not last long, however, as the ratatusk once again slammed its hands into Adam and pounded him to the ground.

  "N...no." Grace covered her mouth as the ratatusk gave Adam no time to recover, landing right on top of him and stomping him with its sharp claws. She watched as Adam's flesh was repeatedly torn apart, and when he could no longer move, the creature lifted him up and casually bit off his head.

  Grace held her breath, still believing that somehow Adam would survive as long as his brain remained whole...but she watched in horror as the ratatusk chewed Adam's head before swallowing it.

  "Oh no..." Grace covered her mouth, and as soon as she saw the ratatusk's nose fidgeting again in the air, she quickly dove back down and crouched in front of her daughter.

  "Listen, sweetie. Sam..." Grace grabbed her daughter's cheeks and looked into her eyes. "Mommy's going to distract the monster, okay? Mommy's going to the window like Adam—and when the monster breaks the window, you run. Okay?"

  "What... what about mommy?"

  "I'll follow you, okay? Mommy will be right behind you and—huh?"

  Before Grace could finish her lie, a slimy liquid landed on her hand. Red and frothy.

  She watched the fluid slide down her hand at first, then slowly looked up—only to see that the ratatusk was already behind the counter—no. It was already on them, its large hands on the counter, its glowing eyes looking down from above.

  Grace didn't think anymore and just jumped up, using her hands to push it away. She knew it was futile, but it was the only thing she could do.

  "Samantha! Run! Please, just run! You need to...huh?"

  Once again, Grace found herself confused and shocked as the ratatusk violently took several steps back after she pushed it, before dropping to the ground.

  Was... that a mother's strength? She thought momentarily, but she knew it was impossible—yet the alternative seemed equally impossible.

  She knew how fast Adam could heal and regenerate; she had witnessed it many times already. But his brain was mushed. Was it truly possible to recover from that? How? What sort of logic was that?

  Whatever logic it was, Grace was already getting her answer from the words hovering above the ratatusk.

  [Ratatusk, Lv. 1 | HP: 42%]