Dr. Chen yanked the electro-collar off the monster. The paralyzing current would last about thirty seconds—no time to waste. He spun and ran.

One glance told him everything: torn into five pieces, it still regenerated. His drill’s damage? Practically nothing. This thing was straight out of *Resident Evil*—disgusting, near-invincible, deadly.

“What the hell is this—a world of ghosts?” he cursed, kicking the door. Just as expected: locked tight.

Zzzzt—! He jammed the drill into the keyhole. Sparks flew. The cordless motor was weak; push too hard and it’d jam. Gotta go slow.

“Hurry! I don’t wanna be eaten and turned into fertilizer!” Stone-Face urged from behind. The female monster had stopped trembling—regeneration nearly complete.

“Done!”

*Click!* The lock gave way. Dr. Chen burst out, sprinting for the stairs. Reach the upper floor—escape!

“Run! She won’t dare follow upstairs!” He glanced back. The creature smashed through the door. The yellow talisman he’d placed earlier burned to ash in an instant, not slowing her a bit.

“You angered her! A Malevolent Ghost grows stronger with rage!” Stone-Face’s ghost—unhindered by wind or limp—overtook the stumbling doctor in seconds.

“Damn! Eat this hammer!” Dr. Chen hurled it. *Thud.* Dead center. The monster’s body jerked to a halt.

“Back to your room! Accept treatment…” it roared. Then—*whoosh*—it lunged again, crawling lightning-fast right behind him.

A cold gust. The thigh sprouting from its chest shot out, hooking his ankle. A brutal yank—balance gone. Dr. Chen flew, crashing hard onto the floor.

His gear scattered just ahead. Less than half a meter to safety. *Half a step.*

*Cough!* Blood splattered the ground. Old injuries flared. He crawled forward through the pain—but cold fingers seized him.

“Let me go—!!” He looked down. Its mouth stretched grotesquely wide, jagged teeth gleaming. Arms sprouting from its temples gripped his calf, dragging him toward that maw. The bell on its wrist hummed—a sound of pure despair.

Then—release. All four limbs clawed the floor wildly, frantic to move forward.

“My chance!” Confused but swift, Dr. Chen kicked its face. Recoil launched him to the stairwell. He snatched his gear and limped upward.

“Aaah—!” Its nails raked the floor, screeching, tearing deep grooves—as if dragged by unseen hands. To Dr. Chen, the thrashing monster receded into the darkness, wails fading… until silence swallowed everything. The corridor stood empty. Still. As if nothing had happened.

“I love you so much, my wife!” Breathless with relief, Dr. Chen shouted into the shadowy depths.