As they stepped into the final level's facility, the entire environment dimmed once again.
The previous levels had all been shrouded in darkness, but at least there were faint lights scattered around—just enough to illuminate the path forward. This time, however, even that small mercy was taken away. The oppressive blackness swallowed everything, leaving them with only the weak glow of their handheld flashlights to guide the way.
Natsukawa Kanade tightened his grip on the flashlight, sweeping its faint beam over the surroundings. As their eyes adjusted, the outline of their environment gradually became clearer. At the end of the descending stairs lay a spacious hall, its eerie stillness amplifying the tension in the air.
A dim flickering glow soon caught Kanade's attention. As he looked closer, he realized that the light came from old-fashioned glow sticks hanging along the walls. They were weak, barely clinging to life, but their wavering luminescence brought a surprising sense of security—however small it was.
In the center of the hall stood an aged wooden table. Embedded in its surface was an old, sunken metal compass with four notches of different shapes surrounding a small, bead-like protrusion at its center.
Kanade extended his hand and waved it over the compass. Nothing happened.
His gaze then shifted to the room's layout. There were five passageways leading out of the hall. The one directly opposite him was blocked by a large, closed door, while the other four were wide open, leading into an abyss of absolute darkness.
"..."
After a moment of contemplation, Kanade pieced together the mechanics of this level.
It was likely similar to the previous challenges. He would need to explore the four open paths, retrieve whatever was missing from the compass, and slot them into the notches to unlock the central gate.
Understanding this, Kanade gently set Shinomiya Kaguya down, helping her sit atop the wooden table before addressing her.
"I think I get how this works now."
He explained his theory, breaking down the process step by step.
"Based on the structure, this hall is probably a 'safe zone' or a checkpoint," he continued. "I asked the staff earlier—there are no surveillance cameras in these facilities, so we won't fail the challenge just for letting go of each other's hands. That means we can move separately if needed. More importantly, since this is a designated safe area, nothing should attack you here, even if you stay alone."
Kanade paused for a moment, considering his next words carefully.
He almost added, "That way, I can move more efficiently," but something stopped him. It felt wrong—like he was indirectly implying that Kaguya would be a burden. That was the last thing he wanted, especially considering how much she valued being involved in the challenge despite her injury.
More than that, she had already switched into her 'Young Kaguya' persona, which meant logical discussion was basically out the window. If he phrased things the wrong way, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings. And if, by some chance, she actually recalled this moment after reverting to her usual self, it could make things... awkward.
He needed to be careful.
"Kaguya, what do you think?" he asked, his tone as neutral as possible. "Would you rather wait here for me to come back, or... do you want to come along?"
"Of course we're going together!" Kaguya shot back immediately, her response practically instant. "What are you worried about, President? Haven't we been doing great so far? Obviously, I'm fine! So quit overthinking and carry me already! Let's finish this in one go!"
"...Alright, alright." Kanade sighed in surrender.
He should've known better. Trying to reason with 'Young Kaguya' was like trying to convince a cat to take a bath—it wasn't happening. She was full speed ahead, no brakes.
Still, at least he now had official confirmation: backing out wasn't an option.
Accepting his fate, Kanade hoisted Kaguya onto his back once more and stepped toward the nearest passage.
As they advanced, the air around them seemed to shift. The once plain and unremarkable walls began to change, grotesque graffiti appearing out of nowhere, smeared with splashes of what looked disturbingly like dried blood—or something worse.
The changes weren't just visual. A thin mist crept through the air, curling at their feet and weaving through the dimly lit passage. Though not dense, it carried an acrid stench—an unsettling mix of rust and decay—that immediately assaulted the senses. An occasional gust of frigid air snaked through the hall, sending an involuntary shiver down Kanade's spine.
"If the smell is too much, just lower your head or cover your nose with your sleeves." Natsukawa Kanade murmured, his voice steady despite the eerie atmosphere.
"Mm." Miss Shinomiya Kaguya nodded against his back, pressing her face further into the crook of his shoulder.
The warmth of her breath against his skin sent a ticklish sensation through him, making Kanade reflexively shrink his neck slightly.
"…."
But he had no time to focus on such things. A faint noise stirred in the distance, breaking through the unsettling quiet.
Kanade immediately slowed his steps, moving forward with quiet caution. He exhaled in relief when the source of the sound came into view—just an old wheelchair, gently bumping against the wall at the end of the hall, as if moved by an unseen force.
At least it wasn't another chase sequence. Kanade had already experienced more than enough of those for one lifetime.
Sweeping his flashlight around, his gaze landed on a tightly shut door to the right. Surrounding it were various aged medical records, haphazardly pasted across the walls, their ink faded and curling at the edges. In the dim glow of the flashlight, he could make out ominous words scrawled in the margins—illegible warnings or cryptic notes from long-gone hands.
Not far from the door, a pile of skeletal remains lay crumpled in a corner, their tattered hospital gowns draped over brittle bones.
"…."
Kanade frowned but stepped forward, carefully peering inside the room. His breath hitched at the sight.
A single, flickering chandelier hung from the ceiling, swaying slightly as if disturbed by an unseen force. Beneath it stood an old operating table. A man in a stained white coat loomed over it, his back turned to them. He clutched a bloodied scalpel in one hand, and atop his head sat a crow mask—its beady eyes seemingly peering straight into Kanade's soul.
On the table lay a cold, lifeless body, its head tilted unnaturally to the side. Despite being unmoving, its vacant eyes seemed fixated on the doorway—on them.
Kanade's pulse spiked.
Had he triggered something? Was this an event cutscene?
Just as he was about to react, Kaguya's voice—soft but dangerously ill-timed—sounded in his ear.
"What is it, President? Let me see too."
The warning had come too late.
In the eerie silence of the room, even the slightest whisper rang out like a gunshot.
Kanade stiffened as the figure at the operating table abruptly stopped moving.
A cold dread crept into his bones.
Then, with deliberate slowness, the masked man turned his head towards the door.
Kanade barely had time to signal Kaguya to stay quiet before the man took a single, heavy step forward—scalpel still clutched tightly in his hand.
The air grew heavy.