Leonard had been here yesterday. Back then, this area was clearly sealed off. There were no gaps, and certainly no medical room in sight.
He overheard the group ahead discussing.
"The medical room is right there, but how do we get across?"
"By my estimate, it's over seven meters. Only a trained athlete with a running start could make that kind of jump!"
"Jumping's not realistic. We'd better come up with another solution."
"I say we swing across with a rope."
"The problem is, we don't have a rope that long!"
"Let's tie everyone's clothes together, twist them tight. That might work."
Everyone was talking at once.
Leonard put away his weapon, walked over, and said, "Do you have a way to get across?"
The group turned to look at him. One glance at Leonard's appearance and they all froze in shock.
That was the reaction Leonard got everywhere he went lately—people instinctively kept their guard up.
"I just want to get to the other side. I mean no harm," Leonard said reassuringly.
Even so, the group backed away and pressed themselves against the wall, keeping their distance.
Leonard approached the edge and looked down.
Below was the second floor, littered with rubble and protruding steel bars.
A male corpse was impaled on one of the bars, face turned upward, limbs dangling. A steel rod had pierced through his mouth, and blood had dyed the ground below.
Leonard understood immediately.
There was no way to reach the other side from the lower level.
That corpse impaled on the steel was a clear warning.
No wonder no one dared try.
"Did you try going around?" Leonard asked, pointing to the other side.
"Of course we did. It's no use. There's no other path. It's this way or nothing," a young man replied.
"So the most straightforward method... is just to jump." Leonard flexed his legs, clearly eager to try.
"I'm telling you, don't be reckless! It's over seven meters! Do you realize how far that is? I'm an athletic student. My best jump is just over five meters. Six meters is elite level. Eight meters? That's world-class!"
The student was growing more animated. As someone with a sports background, he understood exactly what that distance meant.
He pointed at Leonard's shoes.
"Look at your shoes. We're all wearing the same flat soles. They're terrible for jumping. Plus, the low ceiling messes with your takeoff. Under these conditions, even five meters would be a miracle. Seven meters? Dream on! You fall, and those steel bars will skewer you!"
"It's too far... What if I place something in the middle to use as a stepping point?"
"A stepping point? Like what?"
"I'll find something and come back."
Leonard turned and searched nearby rooms, eventually finding one with a bed.
He dragged the entire single bed out and hauled it to the edge.
Then, with a mighty heave, he flung it toward the other side.
The onlookers were stunned. That strength was outrageous.
The bed flew several meters before crashing into the rubble and steel.
Crash!
It shattered completely, breaking apart with a loud bang. The fragments slowly vanished into thin air.
"What the hell?" the athletic student exclaimed.
"Under normal circumstances, a bed wouldn't break like that, let alone disappear. But don't forget.We're inside a game."
Leonard frowned.
So much for that plan.
There was no way to place a foothold below.
That meant he had no choice.He had to jump!
Leonard warmed up, eyes fixed on the opposite side, estimating the distance.
The athletic student tried to dissuade him again, repeating the same warnings.
But Leonard was unmoved. He was going to do it.
He was now Level 4, with 15 Strength and 12 Agility. Well beyond normal human limits.
He believed his explosive power gave him a real shot.
If he could make the jump, he'd reach the medical room and have it all to himself.
The temptation was huge.
But Leonard wasn't foolish enough to just leap straight across.
He measured the distance, drew a line in the hallway, and decided to practice within the safe zone first.
The others watched.
The athletic student kept shaking his head, muttering to his friends—clearly skeptical.
Leonard crouched low, sprinted forward, and launched himself from the marked line.
He soared through the air, brushing the ceiling light, suspended for a moment, then landed hard and rolled.
"Holy shit!"
That outburst came from the athletic student.
He ran over, checked the line and the landing point, and did a quick estimate.
"Six meters! That had to be six meters! In flat shoes, inside a corridor. You're insane!" the student exclaimed.
"Six meters... Still a bit short. Not enough," Leonard muttered, frowning.
"No worries. Your takeoff technique was all wrong totally unprofessional. Let me give you some pointers. I think you've got a shot."
The student taught Leonard some long jump techniques. How to use momentum, the ideal body posture, how to stay airborne longer. It was all very precise.
Leonard memorized everything and practiced two more times.
With the new technique, he made clear progress. He was finally able to jump over seven meters!
That was just enough to make it across but it was still risky.
Leonard considered leveling up once more before trying the jump for real. That would make success more certain.
But leveling up took time and that could give others a chance to beat him to it.
He couldn't risk it.
"Screw it!"
Leonard decided to go all in.
He cleared some space, told the others to move aside, and crouched down like a coiled predator.
Then dash!
Leonard burst forward, picking up speed, sprinting all the way to the edge, using the last bit of ground for extra momentum.
He leapt, legs tucked tight, crouched midair.
He soared closer and closer to the other side.
Just a bit more!
Leonard stretched his legs, his feet landed right on the edge and he rolled forward twice.
He made it!
"Wow! Incredible!" the athletic student cheered.
Leonard let out a breath. He'd barely made it.
He looked back. He had really jumped that far.
The medical room was right ahead.
There were other rooms on both sides too.
Leonard ignored the rest and headed straight for the medical room.
The others who doubted him now shouted from behind.
"Hey bro! If you get any medicine in there, share some with us! I'm hurt and still bleeding!"
Leonard didn't respond. He walked straight to the door.
Wary of danger, he gripped his chainsaw tightly, then slowly turned the doorknob.