After their rest in the shed, Akira and Kana slipped out the back door, heading for the indoor pool. Akira gripped his rotary spear, while Kana clutched her hammer, trailing close behind. The night-wrapped school was eerily quiet, but distant creaks and skittering sounds kept them on edge.
Kana's footsteps faltered slightly, her exhaustion palpable, but Akira's sensors remained vigilant.
As they reached the passage to the pool, the air grew damp, tinged with a faint chlorine scent. The pool building's door loomed ahead, and Akira paused.
"Hostiles detected inside. Multiple entities confirmed. We proceed with caution."
Kana swallowed hard, tightening her grip on the hammer. "Something about water… it gives me a bad feeling."
"Water-based tactics are viable. Stay behind me."
Akira pushed the door open, and they stepped into the pool area.
The room was dim, the pool's surface shimmering under flickering fluorescent lights. Shadows from the bleachers and changing rooms stretched ominously, the silence unnaturally heavy.
As they neared the poolside, the water surged violently.
A gurgling roar echoed, and a massive shape rose from the depths—a kraken-like horror. Its black, slimy body pulsed, countless tentacles writhing, each tipped with razor-sharp suckers. Where a head should have been, a gaping maw bristled with fangs.
"New hostile confirmed. Engaging combat," Akira said, raising his spear and shielding Kana.
The creature thrashed the water, sending waves crashing against the poolside.
Without warning, a tentacle shot out, coiling around Kana's ankle.
She screamed, swinging her hammer wildly, but the tentacle's grip was ironclad. In an instant, it yanked her into the pool.
Water exploded upward as Kana thrashed, struggling to break free. Soaked and gasping, she clawed for the surface, but the tentacle dragged her deeper.
"Kana, I'm coming!" Akira shouted, diving in with his spear.
Underwater, he tracked the tentacle to the creature's core lurking at the pool's bottom. Activating the spear's rotary tip, he slashed through the limb, the drill churning the water as black ichor clouded the pool.
Kana broke free, kicking toward the surface.
Akira hauled her onto the poolside. "Kana, status report!"
She coughed, spitting water, her drenched uniform clinging to her. "Ugh… I'm okay. Barely. Thanks, Akira."
"Survival confirmed. Prioritizing enemy elimination."
He dove back in, facing the creature as it opened its maw to swallow him. Akira thrust the spear into its fangs, then lobbed an explosive into its throat before kicking upward.
A muffled blast erupted below, sending a column of water crashing against the ceiling.
The creature let out a dying wail, floating lifelessly to the surface.
"Threat neutralized. Temporary safety secured," Akira said, climbing out and standing beside Kana.
She shivered, wringing out her hair. "Freezing, soaked, and miserable… but you saved me. Again."
"My mission. I detect a drop in your body temperature. We need to get you warm."
He pointed to the changing room. "We'll rest and dry off there. Move quickly."
Kana, still trembling, nodded and gripped her hammer, following him toward the changing room.