Layers Of Nightmare

Once the creature got close to the broken door at the end of the left corridor, it picked up its speed and stormed in with a screech.

After noticing that the monster took the bait, William took the chance to move. He opened the garbage chute room's door slowly, sneaked out, then left the door open so as to avoid creating noises.

He had bet with his life that the creature did not have an acute smell or heat detection and won. Knowing that the creature was also s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e to light, William did not bother retrieving his phone. Fortunately, there was an emergency flashlight attached on the wall inside the garbage chute room to replace it.

Flashlight and sword in tow, William tiptoed to the collapsed emergency door. He placed his feet carefully around the rubble, one step at a time, then finally arrived before the flight of stairs again.

Thinking that his sandals would trigger the creature's acute hearing on the run, William decided to abandon them and hide them under the pile of rubble.

'Fifteen floors to go…' He took a deep breath, turned on the flashlight, then proceed to strode down the stairs for the second time.

His plan was actually really simple. First, William went on to each side corridor's end and slashed open one of the door there to give the impression that he went through it. After that, he put his phone on the ground with the flashlight on, face up, while leaning toward one side of the corridor. Other than allowing him to observe the creature's shadow, it tricked the creature on focusing on the side corridor instead of the garbage chute room.

'Three minutes at the very least… ten minutes if it's dumb enough to go through the door at the other corridor.'

Every two floors, William would leave the emergency door half open with the door stop for backup distractions. Soon, he had reached the 11th floor. Halfway to the 10th floor, the monster's scream returned.

"GYAAAARGH!"

William quickly turned off the flashlight, but still continued to stepped down slowly. Moments later, the scream was getting further and further away.

'It took the bait!' The first ever smile formed on his lips.

The creature seemed to run toward the other corridor after realizing that William was not in the first room. Switching on the flashlight once more, he made his way down the stairs. As long as he could keep the noise down and turning off the light at the right time, he believed that he can reach the ground floor this time around.

A couple of minutes later, William arrived at the 4th floor with no problem.

'So far so good.' His clothes had gone sticky from the sweat and dust. A minute ago, the monster roared out again and ran down the emergency stairs above him.

Words could not describe how nervous William was as he switched off the flashlight. But then, the roars went further away the second time.

This time, William had an urge to laugh complacently. Hook, line and sinker; the creature even took his tiny bait.

The door to the 2nd floor was right in front of him. Another two floors and he would reach the ground floor!

However, something unexpected happened at the next moment…

"[BEEP!]" A harsh alarm sound rang beside his ears, it was the wretched machine voice. "[The high number of people in the current Nightmare instance had attract more menacing entities and negative energies. Two Hallowed Emissary will arrive in five seconds!]"

William nearly fainted at the news. Even one of that monster would be able to kill him hundreds of times, not to mention three. Also, high number of people? He did not even see nor hear a single soul in his way!

Just as he thought that it could not get any worse, a series of warning rang in his ears.

"[Warning! The new threshold of negative energies caused the Hallowed Emissary to undergo a drastic mutation.]"

"[Warning! Host's power will not be able to contend with the Hallowed Menace. It is advised to complete the tasks immediately!]"

'What the f.u.c.k?!'

Before William could react further, a sudden sharp pain invaded his scalp. Letting out a muffled groan, he dropped his sword and used his right hand to reach for his hair.

His palm landed on a slimy patch, which seemed to be squirming. When he pulled it to the front of his face, William s.u.c.k.e.d on a cold air and swatted his hand in a panic.

SPLAT!

Five bigger-than-average leeches were smashed onto the ground. Where it came from? William had his guess already—the monster's blood from back then!

William was at least ninety percent sure that that was the source. He immediately took off his jacket, wiped his face clean with the inside part, then threw it away. Soon, he could see that hundreds of squirming organisms began to 'grow' from the black blood stains.

William's face went pale from the sight.

Suddenly, tiny cries could be heard from his jacket. "Aa… aa…"

"Huh?" He thought that he had heard wrong. However, the pile of leeches let out a screech similar to a baby cry the next moment.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"Shit!" The situation was dire. It was impossible for the monster to not hear the wails and sure enough, an earth-shattering roar shook the whole building.

"GUARRRGGGHHH!"

The single roar appeared to have a fear-inducing effect, the instant it passed through William, he was paralyzed.

'Shit!'

The sound of a falling debris was followed by a cracking ground in front of him as the monster landed. But this time, it landed on its feet, shattering the ground around. Just like what the machine voice said, the monster had become even more menacing!

Although it was shorter than before, its pincers and legs had transformed into claws covered in dripping black liquids. When the liquid fell onto the ground, a sizzling sound could be heard as a hole formed. Meanwhile, two pairs of flaming wings spread out from its back, threatening to melt the nearby handrail.

The monster pounced at William with a lightning-quick movement. After suffering the humiliation of being played around, it released an unrestrained rage at its prey.

That was when a single streak of light pierced through the wall behind him. A single glimmering silver bullet flew onto the creature's face.

Headshot!

"UARGH!" It let out a painful scream while staggering with its claws on its head. Simultaneously, William regained control over his body.

"RUN! NOW!"

The sudden yell caused William to snap out of it. He quickly made his move and jumped onto the platform between the 2nd floor and the 1st floor.