Leaving the infirmary, Akira and Kana navigated the school's corridors toward the clubroom building. The night-soaked school was heavy with an oppressive air, punctuated by distant skittering sounds.
Kana whispered to Akira, "The clubroom building's got all kinds of gear, right? Think we'll find anything good for weapons?"
"Affirmative. We'll use equipment to enhance combat capabilities and search for clues about the mastermind," Akira replied, his sensors scanning as he spoke.
They neared the clubroom building at the school's rear, and Akira halted. "Hostiles detected. Multiple entities inside. Prepare for combat."
Kana raised her hammer, steadying herself. "I'm used to this by now. Let's fight!"
"Understood. We'll neutralize threats and proceed. Stay behind me."
Akira pushed open the door, and they stepped inside.
The clubroom building's interior was dim, its narrow hallway lined with rooms for various clubs. Baseball bats and archery bows hung on walls, cloaked in dusty air.
But the atmosphere tightened in an instant.
From deeper within, a slick, slithering sound and low growls approached.
"Engaging combat!" Akira declared, gripping his saw-sword.
Two creatures emerged. One was a massive, serpent-like horror, its greenish scales glinting as its thick body dragged across the floor. Its flat head bore a gaping maw, two long, pointed tongues dangling, dripping slime that sizzled on contact with the ground.
The other resembled a lizard, but its limbs were unnaturally elongated, its back bristling with serrated spines. Yellow eyes glowed, and its whip-like tail cracked against a wall, splintering concrete.
Akira charged the serpent, slashing with his saw-sword. The blade tore through scales, spraying corrosive slime. The creature writhed, lashing its tongues at him. Akira fired his flamethrower, incinerating the tongues. It screeched, coiling to crush him, but he carved into its side, halting it.
Kana swung her hammer at the lizard-creature. "Take this!"
Her strike shattered a leg, staggering it. The creature's tail whipped toward her, but she ducked, the blow smashing into the wall with a crunch. Kana hammered again, crushing its head. "Down you go!"
The serpent made a final stand, spewing slime at Akira. It splashed his uniform, hissing as it burned through, but he drove his sword through its core, unfazed. The creature collapsed.
"Threats neutralized. Advancing deeper," Akira said, glancing at Kana.
She grimaced. "Now it's freaking reptiles? I'm so not a fan. But nice work, Akira."
"Your assistance is appreciated. We'll search for the mastermind's trail further in."
They moved down the hall, entering a kendo clubroom.