Garu left the throne room, gently opening and closing the door.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the surroundings of the hall decorated in red.
His green hair covered half of his face, some strands swaying with each step, and the black circles on his forehead were hidden beneath the strands.
With each step he took, it was as if he was already closer to his revenge.
Ping!
Small tears, like green-colored crystals, streamed from his striking eyes. The dark arms squeezed his normal arms tightly with each tear shed.
Without looking at the walls or the ceiling of the corridors, he focused solely on his heavy steps, marked by loss and the urgency of finding those responsible for the act.
— Ė, æ, ca, tœ, uro… — Garu whispered, containing his frustration. (Translation: "I will kill them all!")
∆∆∆∆∆∆
On the other side of the city…
The smell of dust was noticeable. The walls of some broken buildings were visibly cracked. The ground, fissured all around, reflected the aftermath of the battle against the samurai and the appearance of Ereimode.
Kinetsa's black hair brushed against her shoulder.
Her gaze was fixed on Nina, who was crouched down, holding the body of Sasuke, still unconscious.
Nina's hands glowed with a golden light over his body, trying to heal him. The light pulsed, attempting to enter, but after a few seconds, it dissipated.
After so many attempts, Nina's magic had been exhausted. Her face was strained from exhaustion. Holding her long black hair, her golden eyes overflowed with fatigue.
Sora's short white hair fluttered in the gentle breeze. Holding Nina's shoulders, he looked at her seriously.
— You don't need to push yourself so hard — said Sora, with respect and deep gratitude. — When you recover your strength, you can try again. For now… why don't you rest a little?
Holding Sora's arms on her shoulders, Nina raised her tired gaze to him.
— I don't know what's happening… — the words were calm and weak, but full of questions. — No matter how much I try… it doesn't work. It's as if my magic doesn't work on him.
Widening his eyes, Sora was surprised, holding his breath.
Before he could ask a question…
Nina stood up, brushing aside the hair that covered her eyes, throwing the strands back.
Looking at Sasuke's body — still unconscious after being thrown by Ereimode's power — she remained silent.
The sun had gradually disappeared. The night was preparing to rise.
Hours passed in the blink of an eye. The starry night had risen, and the bright stars illuminated the place.
On that cold and damp ground, Sasuke's body remained motionless.
Unconscious, his mind dragged him into a past memory.
∆∆∆∆∆∆
Two weeks earlier, before the game even began…
In a hospital room, with iron bars covering the door like a prison, Sasuke was confined in an asylum.
The suffocating smell of medicine and the disturbing sounds from other rooms echoed. It was maddening.
A silver-haired lady — just like Sasuke's — stood in front of the room.
Her body was thin, and tears streamed down her face. Her worried expression bordered on despair.
Around her, guards dressed in black stood silently.
In front of Sasuke, she held the iron bars, staring directly at her son.
— I'm so sorry, son… — the tears streamed as she spoke. — Your father and I had no choice… But you're going to be okay. When that happens, you'll be able to come home… and we'll wait for that day.
Sasuke slammed hard against the bars, the sound echoing through the entire psychiatric hospital.
His expression was deranged. Within those white walls, he seemed on the verge of collapse.
— You don't love me! Just like dad! You both betrayed me! — Sasuke's distorted words came loaded with hatred and resentment. He felt betrayed by his own mother, for having been placed in that place where he didn't belong.
The lady wiped away her tears, but more soon followed.
— No, son… I didn't betray you. This is all… so you can get better… I love you, my son.
Her voice trembled.
Sasuke hit the bars even harder, injuring his own arms, which began to bleed.
— If you love me, why did you bring me here?! — he shouted loudly, as his hands filled with small wounds.
— Son, you took someone's life! You should show remorse… but you don't want to. You're sick, my son… that's why you're here. To be treated!
The lady's words were painful even for herself. She tried to hold back the tears, but it was impossible.
Sasuke's eyes widened, overtaken by a sickly nervousness.
— You think I should feel sorry?! That's why you're a traitor! — his words were pure rage. — He stole my name! He used the name that dad gave me! The demon name that dad chose… just for me!
∆∆∆∆∆∆
Back to reality, under that starry night…
Sasuke's body was still lying on the ground. His left arm moved slowly. Reopening his eyes little by little, he saw the people around him, even though his vision was blurry.
Fully standing up, his silver hair fluttered. His eyes lifted, fixing on the stars.
Nina, observing everything, approached, still worried.
— You… seem to be okay. I tried to heal you with my magic, but it didn't work. I don't know how… but you look fine!
Turning his face, Sasuke looked directly at her, flashing a crooked, ambiguous smile.
— Your body is so beautiful… and those breasts… you're so beautiful!
Sasuke's perverted and sick words left Nina completely uncomfortable, speechless.
In a quick move, Kinetsa pulled Nina away, leaving Sasuke standing there.
— Don't mind him… he's just a pervert. I don't even know why he joined this game.
Kinetsa smiled at Nina, trying to ease the discomfort.
Before she could say anything else, her eyes widened as she saw a child, who appeared to be about six years old.
In the middle of the night, the child was sitting in the middle of the street. Her hair was bicolor: red with a few green strands. She was barefoot on that cold ground.
She hid her face against her knees, frightened.
Kinetsa let go of Nina's arm and slowly began walking toward the child.
The look of surprise was evident: a child here… in a game where death was real… it was frightening.
The child let out small sobs of crying.
Kinetsa approached, gently holding the child's hand.
— Hey… are you okay? — Kinetsa asked, smiling with empathy.
Slowly raising her face, the child's eyes shone like blue crystals. Even holding back the tears, she remained firm.
— Promise… promise me you'll help me go to the human world… — the child said, with a trembling voice. — I know you're looking for your brother. His name is Revild, right? If you help me… I'll help you find him!
Swallowing hard, Kinetsa slowly let go of the child's head, her arms trembling.
Thoughtful, her mind could only wonder:
Who is this little girl…?