Rain fell relentlessly from the somber sky, its steady rhythm, a mournful backdrop to the heart-wrenching scene unfolding in the courtyard. Amidst the downpour, Rion stood resolute, his heart a tempest of fear and determination that seemed to resonate with the heavy atmosphere. Across the rain-slicked ground, Kyle strode forward, flanked by his two loyal henchmen, his demeanor a toxic blend of arrogance and cruelty. Drawn to the impending clash, other students emerged from the shadows, forming a cautious, hesitant circle around the brewing confrontation.
"Well, well, if it isn't the audacious Rion, finally showing up to face the consequences," Kyle sneered, his voice dripping with scorn. "Did you truly believe I'd let your insolence slide? You've surprised me by stepping up, but it's unfortunate that your timing couldn't have been worse."
Marcus and Darren, the unquestioning enforcers of Kyle's dominion, lunged at Rion with a grip as unyielding as their loyalty. Yet in Rion's eyes blazed an unrelenting spirit, a determination that matched the storm's intensity. Tapping into a wellspring of adrenaline, he summoned a strength he never knew he had, breaking free from Marcus and Darren's clutches. Desperation transformed into a whirlwind of strikes as he fought with a raw, unrefined courage.
The odds, however, were starkly against him. Fueled by an unwavering allegiance to Kyle, Marcus and Darren retaliated with a savage ferocity that left no room for mercy. Blow after blow rained upon Rion, each impact an agonizing note in a symphony of pain. The ruthless choreography of violence reduced Rion's defenses to rubble, his body a canvas of bruises and welts.
Stepping closer, Kyle's eyes gleamed with a sadistic fervor, the knife in his hand a sinister extension of his malevolence. The blade caught the muted light, a chilling reflection of his sinister intent. "You should have known better, Rion," he hissed, his voice carrying the weight of grim finality. "This is what transpires when you dare challenge my authority. And I'll make sure this lesson leaves a lasting mark."
In a swift, calculated motion, Kyle's blade sliced through the air, an arc of steel that culminated in a strike across Rion's neck. Time seemed to hold its breath as shock and disbelief contorted Rion's features, his anguished expression painted with stark contrast against the gloomy backdrop. Blood surged from the wound, mingling with the rain to paint the ground in a morbid tableau of life's fragility and the stark brutality of power unchecked.
Collapsed upon the rain-soaked earth, his strength waning like the storm's ebb, Rion seemed to merge with the ground beneath him, a poignant metaphor for the countless souls who had fought their battles upon the same land. The courtyard bore witness to history repeating itself, echoes of struggles long gone resurfacing in Rion's tragic downfall.
The students who had gathered as spectators, caught between horror and shock, scattered like leaves in a gust of wind, their unity shattered. They fled the scene, leaving Rion alone in his most vulnerable moment, abandoned by those he once called peers.
Struggling for breath, the remnants of life slipping through his trembling form, Rion's gaze turned skyward, seeking solace from the storm-laden heavens. In his final moments, a cascade of questions flooded his mind, his voice a fragile whisper of despair.
"Why...? What was the point of my suffering? Is this where it all ends...? Is there no redemption or escape from this relentless world?" Rion's voice trembled, his words echoing the shattered dreams that now held him in their cold embrace. As his consciousness waned, he found himself transported to a different realm—a world where joyful memories intermingled with the immersive embrace of Goblin Tale, a childhood game where Rion recalls having his best memories, a sanctuary of happiness amid the ruins of reality.