Deon fell again, his body dropping from the Brute Crawler’s back like a broken toy, balance completely stolen by the rebound of his own failed attack.

For one horrifying second, Deon saw everything clearly. The Brute Crawler’s head was aimed straight at Zone M-4.

Ryker swayed, not because he was afraid, not because he was trying to dodge, but because there was barely anything left holding him upright.

Deon’s eyes widened.

"Ryker—!"

But it was too late.

ZRAAAAAAAAAAAK!

The beam swallowed him whole. His silhouette remained there, black against the light. A man standing in a glowing circle with both hands still wrapped around the handle of his axe.

Then even that disappeared as the beam passed through the broken trees behind the Zone. When it faded, nothing remained. Only a scorched mark burned into the ground where Ryker had been standing.

Deon hit the ground hard.

"Gah—!"

His shoulder smashed into the mud first, as pain rushed so suddenly that his vision almost gave out at the edges. But even through that, his eyes found the floating marker above the Zone.

[Claim Progress: 92%]

[Claim Progress: 91%]

[Claim Progress: 90%]

"FUCK!" Deon slammed his fist into the ground. "How did I not realize it?!"

Every spike corresponded to one of the Zones. As long as the spike remained active, the Brute Crawler could contest that Zone. It wasn’t just armor, but the Game’s structure itself.

"You stupid—" he choked, not even knowing if he was cursing himself or the game.

The monster started moving towards it again, dragging its heavy limbs through the scorched mud as it faced the Zone again.

It was going to fire another beam. The progress would keep dropping, and Ryker’s death would become meaningless.

Deon tried to push himself up, but his burned arm buckled beneath him immediately. His face hit the mud again.

"Damn it..."

His legs felt like they had forgotten how to stand. Hana was shouting something from behind him. Mina too. Their voices felt distant, like hearing them through a one-way mirror.

Then someone ran past him, neither Hana or Mina—it was Jin.

The high school boy sprinted toward Zone M-4 with his whole body hunched forward, both hands raised to shield his face from the heat still radiating off the scorched ground.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Deon shouted.

But the kid didn’t answer, stumbling once as his shoe hit the edge of the burned circle. His knees nearly gave out from the lingering heat but he forced himself to stand anyway.

The moment he crossed into the Zone, the marker above it flickered.

[Claim Progress: 89%]

[Claim Progress: 90%]

[Claim Progress: 91%]

Jin, who had been shaking since the moment they met.

Jin, who looked like he might collapse every time a monster got too close.

Jin, who had every reason to run.

That same Jin was standing where Ryker had died.

"Ha..." A laugh slipped out of Deon’s throat. "Seriously..."

He forced his knees to bend, right arm hanging uselessly at his side as his left searched the mud until it found the [Blade] Card. The katana reappeared in a flash of gray light. This time, Deon held it only with his left hand.

The Brute Crawler’s head began to turn toward Jin. Mouth opening as red light gathered again between its jagged teeth.

His hands moved over his system panel, quickly navigating towards the [Levels] tab.

[Current Points: 66]

[Purchase Level 6?]

[Cost: 32 Points]

"Yes."

[Level 6 Purchased.]

Deon felt it immediately. A sensation similar to adrenaline rushed into his chest as he felt his body lighten before he closed his eyes. He took in a sharp breath, letting the air fill his lungs before opening his eyes once more.

"Hey. I’m not done with you yet."

He sprinted toward it, cutting upward as he passed right underneath, katana carving a long line through the underside of one of its legs. The blade dragged through flesh, leaving a gash deep enough that the monster started swaying.

Deon twisted his body around, forcing his legs to keep moving. Even at Level 6, the pain was still there, draining at his stamina.

But right now, it didn’t matter.

The Brute Crawler turned its head away from Jin and toward him, clearly angry with what he had done.

Deon grinned. "Yeah, that’s right. Look at me."

The monster’s front leg came sweeping across the ground like a collapsing pillar. Deon ducked beneath it by instinct, feeling the wind pressure scrape over his back as the limb smashed through a broken section of pier behind him. Wood exploded into splinters, scattering across the lake like shrapnel.

The moment the leg passed him, Deon stepped in and slashed again, aiming for the same damaged joint. The katana bit into the old wound before dragging it wider.

The Brute Crawler roared and lifted its body higher, trying to crush him beneath its weight. Deon nearly overshot his own step, the sudden increase in physical strength throwing off the sense of distance he had gotten used to.

But he adjusted quickly, barely throwing his body out the way as the monster’s body slammed down.

BOOOOM!

Dirt and mud flew into the air, the shockwave nearly knocking him off balance. Deon caught himself with the katana, stabbing the blade into the ground for half a breath before ripping it free again.

But before he could catch himself, the Brute’s right claw caught him first.

CLANG!

Deon raised his katana to block the attack, only for the entire thing to shatter and send him flying backward. Pain exploded as his left hand now spasmed uselessly. The world spun before stopping violently as his back slammed against the base of a broken tree.

"Ggghhhk—!"

For a few seconds, he couldn’t breathe. His chest refused to expand no matter how desperately his body tried.

Deon tried to push himself up, but his left hand slipped in the mud. His burned right arm didn’t answer at all. His legs twitched, but the strength had been scattered out of them by the hit.

Damn it...move! Let me fucking move!

But just as Deon thought all hope was lost, that things were over and that everyone here would die—

Ding!

[Zone M-4 has been claimed.]

In that very moment, the hardened crystal protecting the last spike shattered, revealing the familiar cracks beneath.

"He did it..."

Ryker’s death had not been wasted.