Mea's POV:
Surely that's not the case, right? They could just heal their injuries back.
But the skeleton also mentioned about killing... is death possible? I won't be able to tell.
However, the building collapsing is real and there's no denying that. What's happened has happened and I've witnessed it with my own eyes.
"Rye, don't you ever become afraid when things don't go as planned?"
A memory of our conversation flashed in my head. This was before we died and got transported to the lobby.
"Of course I do. I'd be lying if I told you otherwise." He laid there relaxing on the grass field as he answered my question.
"Then how?"
"How what?" The single stalk of wheat waved on his mouth as he speak.
"How were you able to fight off those two minotaurs all by yourself? Why are you so reckless if you feel fear, too?"
"Well..." he had the serious face of someone trying to recollect their thought.
Rye was never the type to really think things through. Everything he does just magically solves itself by his instinct alone. It's as if he's born to fight.
"I don't really know." He gave a straight answer.
After all that wait and he gives me a "I don't know?"
"I'll smack you if you don't think harder." I raised a fist to threaten him.
"Calm down, Mea! Why would you want to know, anyways?!" He made some distance between us and was fully ready to defend himself.
"It's just..."
It's been on my head for so long now. Am I really gonna say it here?! Right here...?
"I li... like..."
"Why is your voice squeaky all of a sudden?" He sat upright to look at me.
"like..."
I can't say it. My head is spinning... I can feel my cheeks turning red...
"Are you okay? Your face is red, again."
He placed his hand on my forehead without warning and made eye contact with me.
"EEK! You're such a creep! Why are you touching me?!"
I reactively punched him on the gut. I don't mean it. It just always happened before I could restrain myself...
He has a high tolerance for pain but even a punch to the gut would still make someone drop to the ground like he did.
"Ouch..." his voice muffled on the grassy floor.
"I... I admire you, okay?! There's nothing more to that! Just pure admiration and nothing else! You got that?! Don't you dare misinterpret it! You hear?!"
Even saying this is making me embarrassed already. I can't look at him directly anymore...
"I admire that part of you... that's all..."
I mustered the remaining courage I had to say those last words.
He turned around and faced the sky. He was awfully silent.
Why did I punch him?! Idiot! I'm an idiot! I mean he deserved it for taking advantage of me in that situation! But what if I went too far?! He's that type of person and I knew! I'm an idiot!
I couldn't say it this time, too... what's wrong with me...
"I can't put it into words." Rye spoke.
This caught me off guard and left me speechless as I listened to him.
"It feels like... I'll lose something important again if I just cower in fear and do nothing. My body screams at me to move, do this and do that."
"But above all of them..."
I listened to him carefully. He rarely has this serious tone.
"I just wanted to protect you, you know?"
He gave me a big smile as he ended his sentence.
Just remembering this is making me feel embarrassed all over again. What he said... only made me fall for him even more. That idiot...
I stood up on my feet and faced the broken building.
Sitting here all day isn't going to accomplish anything.
For now, I have to go and check if anyone's still alive.
~~
Hajime's POV:
"Sir, there's nothing behind the wall." Hiruko stated it out for Kenji.
Kenji turned to face flat chest.
"You said there's a tunnel, right?" He proceeded to ask her.
"Yes... it's supposed to be here..." even she can't believe it.
The wall stayed there like it's always supposed to be there. This might be Hades' doing. It would not make sense that he'd make things easy for us.
"Should we dig it up?" Kenji wanted Hiruko's opinion on this.
"We do not have the necessary tools for that, sir. At most, it would take a day to finish with our manpower. There's also the chance our time will become wasted if there turns out to be nothing behind the wall, too."
"I see."
I could see flat chest lower her head. Is she feeling guilty? Even though she's just as confused as everyone else?
Kenji turned his face to flat chest, again.
"I was originally planning to have Hiruko learn the information for himself to lift some weight off your chest. But it looks like we'll be needing your help, again. I would be grateful if you can continue to cooperate with us."
Kenji bowed his head, again. He does that often despite having the highest position in the clan next to only Yamato.
"I'll do it!" She replied.
Her fists were clenched. She was more than ready to redeem herself.
"Let us return to our provisional camp for the time being. Hiruko, have you found a place?"
"I have just received the report earlier, sir! Our camp will be located in the central theme park. It's the largest theme park in this area. It's located right next to a park and two other theme parks. There are also enough lights to illuminate every corner."
"Good. Let's head there for now."
Kenji spotted my raised hand.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"Actually, I have somewhere else I want to go right now."
"I see. Well, you aren't part of our clan, anymore. We have no rights to restrict your movement. Just know that separating from us means we won't be there to aid you when something goes wrong, alright?"
"Got it."
"Hajime," Hiruto cut in before I could start walking out.
"If I remember correctly, you were also a person who discovered the archives. If possible, we would like your cooperation with out information gathering as well. In return we will provide you your own personal space and you only need to help us solve a few questions."
He glanced at Kenji, reminding him of this fact.
Is this his way of saying he'll squeeze every last information out of me? Having this passive-aggressive offer doesn't seem bad.
He mentioned getting my own space. This means space will be very limited in the central theme park and everyone would be sharing spaces together. Having my own space is definitely luxurious for our situation right now.
But the problem is the restrictions on my movement. Being under their care also mean I have to be around them for when they need information. This limits my freedom. That's the worst offer I could actually accept.
"Flat chest is the one who taught me everything I know. If it comes to knowledge, she's far more superior than I am. Are you trying to say you now doubt her honesty despite her intentions to help?"
"Flat chest?" Kenji repeated the word trying to understand it.
She stared at me with her face bright red. She's definitely angry. I could already imagine her extremely embarrassed inside and yelling "I told you not to call me that!"
And that's precisely why I said it.
"No, that's not what I mea-"
"Enough, Hiruko." Kenji cut in.
"That's not the case, Hajime. We are truly grateful to her for the information she's provided with us so far. I in believe her. Though, it may be better to have both of you with us, we will also not force you to. We will not use our authority for that."
"That's a relief. I'll be taking my leave then."
And so I was the first one to leave the library.
~~
Mea's POV:
Even though all the windows are broken and the whole building toppled, the light source on each room are still burning bright.
It fell facing the same direction. The balconies towards my direction. Because of this, I'm able to see inside the rooms on floor 3. Only the first few rooms, though. The rest of the rooms are just too tall for me to reach with my eyes.
So far, I don't see anyone. Not even bodies. I continued walking, working my way forward from floor 4 to 5 to 6 and so on.
Floor 8. There's still no signs of life form on each room.
Suddenly, something fell next to me.
"EEK!" The sound scared me.
I turned my head to see what it was.
A blanker. He seems fine. All his limbs are still attached and his head in perfect shape despite the fall.
No, something is wrong. Something is not right with his neck. Why is it crumpled like that? Another body fell from the higher sections of floor 9.
His neck wasn't injured but his chin was thoroughly smashed. It left a hole that allows a person to stare into his hollow head.
Are they killing each other?! There's no way a building would cause this sort of damage to their necks like that. Someone must be killing people. No, it's more accurate to say everyone is killing each other.
Another person fell. He quickly got up and started running in fear. Two other blankers emerged from the lower section of floor 9. The person behind chasing the person in front.
More bodies fell. More people emerged. More chaos. Screams. Cries. Thunder ringed in my ears.
What's happening?!
Someone walked out slowly. His hand was inside a detached head of a blanker. There's a hole from where the arm extends out. The neck wasn't just detached from it's body, it was torn away brutally.
The blanker began laughing hysterically, despite his body full of bruises. His voice was extremely raspy.
He stopped and stared at me creepily.
Huh?
Before I knew it, he had already sprinted towards me. His laugh was even more hysterical this time.
"KAKAKAKAKA!"
My body shouted at me to run. I ran as fast as I could away from him but his laugh is only getting louder and louder.
The detached head hit my ankle and caused me to fall over.
Get up! Get up!
"Kakakakaka."
A figure stood in front of me. He was laughing. Still laughing. His body twitched as he laughed.
What's happening?!
His fist flew at me without warning.
"Ah!" It caught me off guard.
I had to roll to the side to dodge that. But now I'm even more vulnerable.
He was quickly on me again and knocked me back against a tree with a kick of his foot.
It hurts. It's as if my spine broke.
I dropped from the impact whilst trying to hold my pain in.
"Kakakakaka!"
His laughing continued on. Why? Why is he laughing?!
I tried to lift my head to look at him but was greeted with a straight kick to the face before I could do that.
The impact knocked my head against the same tree. The force reflected his foot back but he quickly regained his balance.
I feel dizzy. My body hurts. I'll get weaker at this point if he keeps beating me up.
He stretched his arm out aiming to grab my neck.
I slapped his hand away and struggled to created some distance between us as I pulled back from him on the ground.
"Kakakakaka!"
He laughed even more. Why?! Why is he laughing? Just why?!
He jumped preparing to stomp on me.
I reacted by rolling to the side. Now's my chance to get up on my feet.
I managed to get back up but the pain in my body is making it hard for me to move.
I then quickly turned around and ran into the forest.
"Kakakakaka!"
Another round of his hysterical laugh echoed in my head. It's as if he isn't even worried I'll escape.
"Kakakakaka!"
The laugh was quickly accompanied by his quick foot steps. It's getting louder! How?! How does he know my location?!
"KA!"
A hand reached out from a nearby bush to grab my foot but just barely missed.
"Kakaka!"
I'm almost there. I just have to bear with the pain a little longer.
"Kakakakaka!"
It's almost completely dark inside the forest. And that's what I was going for. With my lacking in combat skills, this is the only way for me to escape.
"Kakakakaka!"
The sound leaves rustled behind me and before I realize it, he had already jumped on me.
He pinned me on the ground.
"Keke..."
His hand slowly sliding across my back. I can hear his soft giggles. He's touching me all weirdly!
"Kekeke..."
I can feel his hand working it's way up my back.
"No..."
"Kakakakaka!"
His hand moved to my ribs. I can feel his touch getting closer. Still giggling as he brought his head next to mine.
"Stop it..."
You can't touch it. That's for Rye... You can't.
"Kakakakaka!"
No...
"No... please..."
He slid his finger up on my breast and continued until his palm was directly on the center of it.
"please..." my voice was filled with desperation as I plead him to stop.
"Kakakakaka!"
I would have been crying by now if tears exist within this body. I'm sobbing on the inside.
He dug his fingers into my breast without any warning. It caused a sharp pain on my chest. It hurts! It was painful but I held my squeal in.
"Kekeke..."
"Keke..."
"Kakakakaka!"
He slowly went from giggling to laughing. He didn't stop. It only grew louder and louder.
"KAKAKAKA!"
I took this chance to strike his ribs with the back of my elbow. It was weak but just enough to force him off me.
My body instinctively reacted by crawling away from me. I know he'll kill me. He'll kill me in the worst way I could imagine.
A hand grabbed on to my ankle. His pull was so strong. I struggled with my feet and caused him as much resistance as I can with my fragile body. Even digging my fingers into the soil.
"Kakakakaka!"
His grip is too strong. I was completely overpowered even with my fingers dug into the soil.
In desperation, I turned around and frantically tried to kick his head. My legs aren't long enough to hit his head. He pulled me even closer just enough for me to reach his head. I tried to kick him again but he blocked it.
None of it changed anything. He yanked my body off the ground and smacked me to a tree face first.
The impact made my vision blurry. My vision is all over the place. My head is dizzy...
His hand was still firmly gripping my ankle.
"Kakakakaka!"
He dragged me closer to him, and his body was slowly creeping towards mine. His laughing didn't stop. He had his head tilted to the side, like he's enjoying it.
He dug his nails into my belly and atrociously scratched it, tearing up my body's skin and leaving a huge mark.
I screamed out in pain. It's too much to bear. It hurts! It hurts!
Why are you doing this? Humiliating me before killing me... why?
He's now pinned me on the ground.
"Kakakakaka!"
Rye... I'm sorry...
I might not be able to see you again. We even promised... our promise...
Before he could completely pin my legs down, I landed a powerful kick to his stomach that sent his body towards the tree behind him.
"AHHHHHHH!"
I used all my remaining energy to lunge at his face and shoved his head back against a broken branch with all my might.
The branch's tip pierced through the back of his head and out my right palm.
It hurts! There's too much pain!
I pulled my hand out with my other one and fell on the floor.
"Huff... huff..."
The insane blanker isn't moving... is he dead?
The branch was sturdy enough to poke a hole into his head and my palm. It hurts. But my belly hurts even more. And my breast...
My body's a complete mess. Like a lacerated mannequin barely holding on with it's remaining weight.
All my strength left my body as I sat there, staring at the motionless blanker.
I did it... I killed him.
~~
Hajime's POV:
As I expected, the path to the dormitory is completely blocked off by darkness.
Well, I already knew. Despite that I still came here.
The entirety of the rescue team is here in the spawn point, but I wonder what's happening on the other side.
If I'm correct, things here should be settled peacefully and they'll be ready to head back by dawn.
What remained in my head is what Hades had said. I still remember the exact words.
"and don't even think about holing up in your dorm! It'll be impossible in a few seconds!"
After Hades reappeared, death became a possibility. Those bodies I saw lying on the floor. They're definitely dead.
Everyone in the dormitory is probably a complete chaos right now with the Eternal Flare gone. It wouldn't be impossible if half of them are already dead.
I'll never know since I'm still here in the spawn point. Which is why I'm going to check it out. And to that, I need a light source if I don't want to fall on some random landscape and get lost.
I walked over to a nearby street lamb.
These things are shorter than the street lamps I read in the library and instead of a big glass bulb surrounding the light source, they have frames. These frames are on all three sides, each having a hole in the middle per side.
And in the center lies the blue flame. This kind of flame can burn for a long time. Like a really long time. They're also very hot. It's a good thing they spread very slowly and are not very flammable.
They also cannot be extinguished with water. Nothing can extinguish these fire unless their fuel run out.
The fuel for these things are of the exact same material as the ground here in lobby. In theory, it's possible to completely set the entire lobby on fire with this but it would take years and years to accomplish that.
You can't make a torch with these blue flames because that will require you to excavate a chunk off the ground. That's impossible with bare hands alone. And there are no tools here. I even tried glass shards but they aren't sharp enough either.
So the only option I can think of to carry around this fire with me is this.
I extended my left hand into the direct center of the flame. It quickly engulfed my hand and my hand begun to heat up tremendously.
I could feel sharp strings growing stronger as more time pass by in the flame. My skin feels like it's tearing off, as well. And in just a minute, I completely lost all control over my left hand.
It definitely hurts, but I still have to keep it there. Until a good amount of them transfers to my hand.
Since they spread very slowly, the best bet is to move some of them into my hand. And what better way to convince the nature of fire if not use a brand new fuel source for it to move to?
That's right, our entire body is made of the same material that consist of the ground we stand on. Therefore it also works as a fuel for these blue flames.
With such a slowly fuel consumption rate, my hand could burn for a month and still continue burning. Why no one has tried this is the constant pain you're under if you use your own body as a medium to transport the flames.
A good five minutes have passed and I pulled my hand out. A good portion of the flames followed and now my entire left hand is engulfed in flames. It wasn't particularly strong but it was enough to completely cover it.
The blue flames grew a lot smaller compared to the other street lamps. Now that I think of it, this particular flame was already weaker than the rest before I came here.
I made my way to the darkness, the blue flames in my hand illuminated my path. Sweet, this will work.
Before I went on my way, I spotted something on the corner of my eye.
There are symbols on the ground. I recognize them. It's the exact same symbols in the simulation game I played back in the dorm. These symbols were created by another user and used as an entirely different language in the story.
Me and Rye learned this language during our preparation days for cases when we would need to leave each other a message or when something urgent came up.
He would usually type these out in my room's screen and provide me with the latest news on the dormitory and I would update him on informations regarding the lobby and the archives.
To think he would write out a sentence on the ground with a glass shard.
"Back. House. Enemy. 5. 5. 4. 3."
We knew the full language, it didn't take long to learn it. He made it short to avoid unnecessary attention from others. I got the gist of it, anyways.
We already talked it out and came to the conclusion that fighting alongside each other would be more effective than going alone. So he wouldn't have went to fight Hades by himself.
If I were to think of one reason he's heading back, it has to be Mea.
Since we fought Hades on room 5543, I guess that's Hades' choice of area for our fight.
No wonder the flame was smaller than the others when I first arrived here. I didn't expect him to do it, too.
Rye have the same idea as me.
~~
Mea's POV:
My wounds are slowly healing, which was a big relief. I was worried it'll stay like that after nothing happened in the three minutes I've waited.
For now I'm heading back to the dorm. I had originally planned to hide in the dark forest to shake off that insane blanker. Morning would come then I could ask for help. That wasn't necessary, anymore.
I slowly took my steps up the hill as the familiar scenery of the dormitory's park filled my view. I know I'd eventually get back If i just walk where there's light.
Now navigating back to the dorm should be easy. I hope everyone's calmed down by now.
I could spot three blankers standing together. They're not attacking each other and are actually conversing.
This filled me up with excitement as I slowly ran toward them. My hand was waving and I prepared to call out to them. But something feels off.
As I get closer, the leftmost person's other side of the body came to view. His body was slit in half. It wasn't a clean cut, either. The edge of his wound were jagged like it was cut with a rusty knife.
As my excitement faded and I paid more attention to the scene, the other half was on the floor. The person split in half wasn't moving. It'd be weird if he could still move at that state.
The other two standing next to the split body had shorter titles. I was able to tell it's different contrary to the Beta-Tester title every blanker wore.
The taller guy had the word "Manslaughter" floating on his head and the other guy, who wasn't as tall but can't be considered short either, had the title "Survivor." They both had a large piece of sharp glass on their hand which I can only assume is what they used to cut the poor blanker with.
The taller blanker turned his head to my direction.
"Is something wrong, bro?"
"I feel like someone was behind us just now."
I reactively covered my mouth with my hands, begging every cell in my body to not make a noise. I managed to get into a nearby hedge.
I can hear their foot steps as they walk towards my direction.
"Are you sure you're not imagining things, bro?" The Survivor blanker confirmed with the taller blanker after the came to a halt next to the hedge I was hiding.
"Maybe I am imagining things."
I could hear their foot steps becoming fainter and fainter. They left.
I let out a sigh of relief. Things would've gone worse than the insane freak from earlier if I had been spotted. They're dangerous.
"Found you."
His head peeped through the hedge and looked down on me.
They spotted me!
I dashed through the hedges and out the other side.
I have to get out of here and get help from the dormitory.
The Survivor blanker blocked my path and tackled me to the ground.
I tried to resist but his hand is firmly locked on both my wrist as I was pinned down completely by his body weight.
"It's a woman, bro."
The Manslaughter blanker shortened the distance between us by steadily walking to me.
"I haven't had a woman in a long time."
"What do we do with her, bro?"
"I know you're only one more kill away from receiving the title but let's play with her a little before finishing her, what do you say?"
"I'm in, bro!"
I can't move. He's so heavy! My hands are still pinned down. His big body sat on me. It's so heavy!
He started groping me with his free hand.
"Hnnngn..."
I turned my face away. I don't want to see my body molested by anyone other than Rye. This is so humiliating.
"It's the same hardness as the other parts, bro. Like touching a bump."
"What's the fun in that? What we'll be playing is this one."
He pointed at my crotch.
What?! What is he talking about?!
"How are we gonna do that, bro?"
"Just cut a hole and insert your finger in it. It should make the same reaction out of her, if not better."
"Bro. That's a good idea, bro!"
No! Please no! He's going to cut it there and insert his finger?! That's... no way...
"Please stop... please."
My voice came out so fragile. I've completely lost every hope of escaping. I begged them to stop. My whimpering made my voice barely audible.
"My, she's got a good reaction." He pinched my cheeks and made me face him.
"please... i beg of you."
"Anyways, cut her hands off. We don't want her pulling anything funny."
"Got it, bro."
A sharp lasting pain filled my head and only grew worse with every rough slice on my wrist. I screamed and struggled in pain.
This went on for a few minutes. My screaming stopped. Both my hands are now separated from my body. I still hurts. My wrist hurts. I'm so tired.
"Now stretch her legs out, I'll cut us a nice fitting hole."
The other blanker forced my leg open.
"NO! STOP!"
"PLEASE NO MORE!"
"I BEG OF YOU!"
He's completely spread it open. I struggled and struggled. Even more than before. But his hands just kept still as the tall blanker stared at my embarrassing position.
I only fell deeper into despair as time moved on. I wanted Rye to be the one. Even if this isn't my body. This is so humiliating. So cruel. I'd rather die than go through this...
"Kill me... KILL ME! I'D RATHER DIE! KILL ME NOW! PLEASE I WANT TO DIE!
He ignored me and brought the sharp object close to my body.
"I just wanted to protect you, you know?"
A memory of Rye flashed in my head.
The tall blanker's brought the glass even closer.
"Rye..." I cried out for his name but my voice was too weak at this point to be barely audible.
"What's all this ruckus?!"
An irritated voice came from behind.
"Deadass."