After waking up, I found myself chained to the wall beside the old man. My eyes darted around frantically, searching for Shiori—until I finally spotted her across the room, sitting on a box. It looked like we were trapped in some kind of dungeon.
"Finally awake, huh? Heh… kid, I'm sorry. I just had to tell someone. Knowing too much… it really does numbers on you," the old man said with a laugh.
"How can you be so happy about this? We might end up dying, you insane freak!" I shouted, struggling to break free of the chains.
"Because our fates are sealed… because he's on the way."
"Who are you talking about?" I asked.
"His real name is Vixen. He's… the hero of this place. Or technically, you could call him the ruler. Pure evil—his ways are unpredictable, illogical."
'Hey, Shiori, you think you could help me out a little here?' I called out, but silence was my only reply. Then—
"Yawn… holy, what mess did you get yourself into now?" Shiori's voice rang out as she woke.
'Look, I need your help. I'm chained to this wall.'
"Okay, don't worry. I'll get you outta there."
The katana at my side began to shake, a white smoke rising from it. When the smoke cleared, Shiori stood in her human form. She rushed over, her hand morphing into a blade, slicing through the chains that bound me.
"Wait… kid, don't tell me—you have a divine artifact?" the old man asked, strangely unsurprised.
"Yeah, I do. But how do you know what an artifact is?"
"Because V has one. And some guys on the field team have some too," he answered.
"The field team? And who's V?" I pressed.
"It doesn't matter. We're gonna die either way," the old man muttered.
'Ugh, I hate this guy,' I thought, a vein pulsing on my forehead.
"Well, I'll help you down, even though you're the reason I ended up here…" I grumbled. But before I could move, footsteps echoed—slowly descending.
Talk about dramatic. A man with red hair and a mask bearing the letter "V" appeared at the end of the hall.
'Just one guy?' I thought.
But before I could blink, he was right in front of me.
"So, you're the kid who's been indulging Steve here?" he asked.
I froze, stunned by his speed. There was no way in hell I could fight this guy.
"So this is why you said we're walking corpses, huh, old man?"
"HAHAHAHA! I guess you finally get it, kid!" the old man laughed, slipping out of his chains. "I'll help you until the end. Young ones deserve to live longer anyway, right?"
"But you don't even have a weapon!" I shouted.
He pulled out a small combat knife. "This is all I'll need for little old vixen here but i guess he goes by v now" the old man said
"You're so weak, yet you choose to stand before death. I guess it doesn't matter. At least you'll be with your family soon," V said, clearly smiling behind his mask.
The old man's expression hardened. V's words sent him charging forward blindly, but V blocked it effortlessly.
"If that's all you've got, this won't take long," V said.
"Get out of here, kid! This is my last battle—not yours!" the old man roared, clashing with him blow for blow.
I grabbed Shiori's hand and ran for the exit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw V's hands twist into sharp bird-like claws as he dashed toward me—but the old man intercepted just in time.
'How is he so fast?' I thought.
"It's… a divine artifact. Phoenix Blood," Shiori whispered.
The two of them moved at impossible speed, sparks flying as blade met claw.
"Louis—wait for an opening. Follow my lead, like before. Trust me," Shiori said.
"…Alright. I trust you, Shiori."
The sparks drew closer, practically brushing against me. I stood still, heart pounding.
"NOW!" Shiori shouted.
I bolted for the exit with her, running as fast as I could. Behind us, the old man looked exhausted. I knew he wouldn't last much longer.
"Louis, don't—he didn't do all of this so you could die together," Shiori said.
"…You're right. Let's go."
We made it out of the dungeon, racing toward the house to grab our things and leave. But halfway there—
"One down, two to go… Mr. Louis."
Chills ran down my spine.
"Louis, keep going. I'll meet you at the house," Shiori said, turning to face him.
"Shiori…"
"GO! Trust me—I'm not as weak as you think!"
I didn't answer. I just ran, head down, ashamed. Finally, I saw the house—and Frank, running toward me.
"Frank!" I gasped.
"Dude, you alright? And where's your fancy sword? Actually—how'd you even get it?"
"Frank, not right now—we gotta g—"
"Tick… tick… tick…" A voice cut me off.
"Your time is up, Louis. Stop running from the inevitable." The masked man stepped closer.
"Who's this guy? I'm getting bad vibes," Frank muttered.
"He's dangerous. We gotta run—he's insane!" I warned.
"Louis, don't worry. Go get the others—I'll hold him off long enough," Frank said, drawing his pistol.
"…Alright, man. Just hold on—I'll be right back," I said, sprinting toward the house.
But not even ten steps later, a scream tore through the air.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
I turned. The masked man held Frank in the air, his hand buried in his chest.
"FRANK!! YOU BASTARD! DID YOU KILL SHIORI AND THE OLD MAN TOO?!" I screamed.
The masked man paused, glaring at me.
"Are you serious? It's people like YOU I despise the most."
"WHAT? I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU! YOU KILLED MY FRIEND FOR NO REASON!"
"You're pathetic. Letting your friends DIE so you can keep running!" he yelled, stalking toward me.
But I couldn't move. My body felt frozen.
'Why… why can't I move? It's like I'm stuck…'
"Do you feel it, Louis?" the masked man asked. "You're thinking, 'Why can't I move?'… It's something called… fear."
He stepped closer.
"I'd kill to have people willing to die for me. Yet here you are, shaking in fear, like a rodent waiting to be crushed. Pathetic."
"WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?! I'M WEAK, WORTHLESS—I CAN BARELY EVEN SEE YOU MOVE! I don't wanna die… I've felt the pain of being eaten alive, shot in the chest—it hurts so much…"
"So you choose to run? You choose to be weak? Stand up to me as a man."
"I don't choose to be weak… I just don't know how to be strong. Before I die… can you show me? Show me how to be strong?"
"Pathetic. A man begging another for strength. You don't deserve your life. Strength is only found through blood, sweat, and tears. Cry for those who died for you. Work for those who believe in you. And DIE for the people who'd die for you. Now—take this."
He tossed a bloodied katana at me.
"That's what she turned into after I killed her. Use it."
"You're telling me to use the dead body of my friend—no, my partner?! I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL RAVAGE YOUR VERY BEING! EVERYTHING YOU LOVE—YOUR PURPOSE FOR LIVING—I'LL TAKE IT ALL!" I roared, charging at him.
For the first time, it felt like I was holding a lifeless weapon it was a strange feeling as if i was holding a cold corpse
'I'm sorry, Shiori…' I thought as I swung.
But he dodged. Pain ripped through my side as his hand pierced my kidney. My body weakened, lifting into the air.
"Look me in the eyes. I'm the man who killed your friends as if their lives meant nothing. And you lost without even putting up a fight. Your life… was worthless from beginning to end. Now DIE."
His hand tore free from my stomach.
"I'll… I'll kill… you… you son of a—"