CH 27 part 2
Previous Chapter Reminder
So in the previous chapter, we saw parts of Manu's dream and past memories. Manu has now returned to reality.
NOW NEXT...
NARRATOR VOICE
The scene opens with Manu standing completely still.
He wasn't moving at all.
Manu was thinking about his dream and the memories from his past.
If someone observed him from a distance, they would think he was deep in thought.
Just then, Reika Kurotsuki walked over to him.
She called out to him and even shook him, but Manu refused to come out of his thoughts.
---
Reika Kurotsuki = Looks like you didn't leave me any other option.
NARRATOR VOICE
Without warning, Reika Kurotsuki bit Manu's hand.
The sudden pain snapped Manu back to reality.
He felt something wet on his hand.
When he looked down...
Reika Kurotsuki was literally biting his hand.
The moment she realized he was back, she immediately let go.
Manu stared at his hand.
A large bite mark was clearly visible.
Reika's saliva slowly dripped from his hand onto the ground.
A single blue droplet.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
The scene shifts.
A pond.
Fish swam peacefully through the clear water.
Beside it stood a massive tree.
The tree wasn't particularly tall, but it was incredibly wide.
Its branches stretched nearly 109 meters across.
Birds chirped endlessly among the leaves.
The sounds of birds, flowing water, and warm sunlight blended together, creating a melody that felt as if Mother Nature herself was singing.
Beneath the tree, a boy was sleeping.
A light-colored plain hat covered part of his face.
A woman stood nearby.
At that moment, Reika Kurotsuki and Manu arrived at the location.
---
Manu = You're a thief.
You've been hiding a place this amazing?
And wait a second...
If only the two of us know about this place...
Then what are those two doing here?
NARRATOR VOICE
Reika Kurotsuki walked toward the sleeping boy.
Her shadow fell over him.
---
Reika Kurotsuki = Om...
NARRATOR VOICE
The boy slightly lifted his hat.
---
Om = Let me sleep.
---
Reika Kurotsuki = This is related to the Forgotten Button.
NARRATOR VOICE
With an absent-minded expression, Om slowly stood up.
Finally revealing his face.
Manu was slightly shocked.
Because the fourth person standing there...
Was Nyra.
But she looked nothing like before.
Her face was pale and weak.
Dark circles hung beneath her eyes.
Her lips were dry.
As if someone had drained every ounce of energy from her body.
---
Scene Shift — Past
After Manu left.
Nyra's blood continued to spill onto the ground.
It had already spread nearly thirty centimeters around her.
Manu's words echoed through her mind.
---
Nyra (thought) =
Manu was right...
I'm nothing more than a tool.
A tool whose only purpose is to remain useful to its owner.
If Manu were in my position...
What would he do?
Even in painful situations...
He smiles.
Maybe that's what makes him different from everyone else.
These people are drowning in concepts like power...
Status...
Weak and strong.
I hate the way they look at others.
Those eyes that treat you like a worthless insect.
Those same people treat Manu the same way.
Yet Manu never runs around trying to prove himself.
He just keeps smiling.
If I die right now...
It would be good news for them.
And then they'll keep repeating this cycle forever.
No...
I won't die that easily.
Not until I teach them a lesson.
Look at me...
How stupid I am.
I was about to give up so quickly.
I'll stand again.
And this time...
I'll come back twice as strong.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Nyra could barely move her fingers.
Her body had stopped responding.
Her vision was becoming blurry.
With tremendous effort...
She grabbed the dagger buried in her stomach.
And pulled it out.
Blood poured from her mouth.
Yet she screamed.
A scream...
That sounded more like a victory cry than a cry of pain.
Moments later, she lost consciousness.
Before she could hit the ground...
Reika Kurotsuki caught her.
---
Reika Kurotsuki =
Welcome...
New Nyra.
You've made your choice.NARRATOR VOICE
Reika Kurotsuki immediately began healing Nyra.
Then she carefully placed her inside her car.
One hand was on the steering wheel.
The other hand was continuously casting healing magic.
Her goal was simple.
Keep Nyra alive until they reached the hospital.
---
Reika Kurotsuki finally arrived at the hospital.
Doctors rushed Nyra into the emergency room.
Without wasting any time, Reika headed toward the doctors.
---
Doctor = Her medical expenses will be extremely high.
And the medicine we need is currently in short supply.
Our stock has already run out.
---
Reika Kurotsuki = I have it.
Take this.
NARRATOR VOICE
Reika pulled out a small brown paper bag from her pocket.
The doctor's eyes widened slightly.
Without saying anything further, he grabbed it and rushed into the emergency room.
---
Four hours later...
The red emergency light finally turned off.
The doctor walked toward Reika with a smile on his face.
---
Doctor = Nyra is out of danger now.
Thank you for providing the medicine.
With that amount, we could have saved more than a hundred people.
If she had arrived even four minutes later...
We wouldn't have been able to save her.
You can visit her now.
NARRATOR VOICE
Reika entered the room.
Nyra's body was connected to several injections and drips.
An oxygen mask covered her face.
Reika quietly walked to her bedside and held her hand.
Slowly...
Nyra opened her eyes.
Her voice was so weak that Reika had to lean closer just to hear her.
---
Nyra = You know the cure...
I need to become stronger now.
I have to go to that place too...
The place where Manu will find his cure...
NARRATOR VOICE
After saying those words, Nyra drifted back to sleep.
Reika stood up and quietly spoke before leaving.
---
Reika Kurotsuki = You will.
But first...
Focus on recovering.
You've fought hard enough.
Now rest.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Scene shifts back to the present.
When Manu hears the entire story, he looks genuinely shocked.
---
Manu = OH NO!
You lost that much blood?
Just look at yourself!
You look like a walking skeleton.
How did you become this weak in just a few days?
Come find me later.
I'll give you the ultimate food combination.
Even your soul will ask for a second serving.
And if we win the tournament...
I'll personally treat you with the prize soap.
If not, Reika Kurotsuki will pay for everything.
---
Reika Kurotsuki = I am absolutely not paying for anyone.
By the way, Om...
What's the cure?
You were targeted before.
After your reset, everything should have been gone.
So how did you achieve it again?
---
Om = Amazing.
The great Reika Kurotsuki actually knows how to compliment people.
I'll tell you the cure...
After you win the tournament.
---
Nyra = But we're weak.
Without our power and awakened abilities...
We can't win.
---
Om = If you're nothing without that power...
Then you don't deserve that power.
The most I can do is leave you a clue.
I wrote a song when the Eject Button was used.
---
Manu = Wait.
What's an Eject Button?
We were hit by a Reset Button.
---
Om = Reset Button is only one part of the Eject Button.
---
Nyra = What?
---
Om = Just listen carefully.
And remember these words forever.
"Some folk we never forget
Some kind we never forgive
Haven't seen the back of us yet
We'll fight as long as we live
All eyes on the hidden door
To the Lonely Mountain borne
We'll ride in the gathering storm
Until we get our long-forgotten gold."
NARRATOR VOICE
After hearing the song...
Everyone fell silent.
No one fully understood its meaning.
But all of them felt that Om wasn't singing a normal song.
It was a clue.
A message.
Or perhaps...
A warning.
---
Soon everyone left.
Only Om remained behind.
He quietly continued singing one line again and again.
---
"Until we get our long-forgotten gold..."
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Days passed.
Nyra focused on recovery.
Manu spent most of his free time playing chess.
Not for money.
Not for fame.
But for soap.
Every match had a soap bet.
If he won, he got soap.
If he lost, he still somehow ended up getting soap.
No one understood how.
---
The rest of Falcon Team spent their time differently.
Some trained.
Some rested.
Some played games.
Some tried to prepare mentally for the upcoming tournament.
---
Eventually...
Tournament Day arrived.
---
Falcon Team reached the stadium.
Outside the stadium entrance...
A familiar figure stood waiting.
---
It was Nyra.
NARRATOR VOICE
The moment everyone saw her...
Their faces lit up.
Lyra and Elira immediately rushed toward her.
---
Lyra = You're actually here!
---
Elira Windmark = How are you even alive?!
---
Darius = You should be resting!
You shouldn't be here yet!
---
Nyra = Don't worry.
I'm fine.
For now...
Let's focus on the tournament.
I'll explain how I survived later.
It's a long story.
NARRATOR VOICE
Nyra entered the stadium alongside Falcon Team.
But the moment she stepped inside...
Someone was already watching her.
---
A pair of black eyes.
---
Those eyes never left her.
Not even for a second.
The owner of those eyes quietly released pressure.
---
NARRATOR VOICE
Suddenly...
Blood began flowing from Nyra's nose.
One drop.
Then another.
Then another.
---
Nyra immediately froze.
Her instincts screamed.
Something dangerous was here.
Very dangerous.
---
Far away...
A mysterious figure continued staring at her.
Without blinking.
Without moving.
Without speaking.
---
Only watching.
---
COMING SOON...
Hello ji.
After disappearing for so long...
I have finally become visible again.
What should I even say?
The reason I disappeared is a story by itself.
Maybe someday I'll tell it.
Maybe not.
Anyway...
Tell me which part interested you the most.
Keep commenting because your comments genuinely motivate me.
And brothers...
If you're enjoying the story...
Throw a stone at it.
I mean a Power Stone.
The red one.
Take care...