My eyes reflexively squinted when exposed to the bright sun. I don't know how long I've been inhaling the moist, hot afternoon like this brings its freshness.

The silhouette of a vast field spread out in front of me. I can also see the shadow of the high concrete wall that surrounds this place.

I rubbed my eyes a few times. Trying to get used to the new panorama as quickly as possible. After being cooped up in the dark ward for so long, I couldn't pass up this rare moment.

Light floating dust, an unobstructed roof, short grass tickling the soles of the feet, four CCTV cameras from all over, an iron pole in the middle of the Bustan, and two hanging LCDs at nine o'clock and three o'clock managed to bring my smile to the corner of my eye...

"What made you happy at the last moment?"

I turned to the left with my lips still curled. Amused satire was just thrown by the warden holding my left arm.

"Get out of jail." I gave a short laugh. "What is it?"

I could hear the hum of a sneer from behind the concrete. When I looked up a little from the television showing thousands of viewers, almost all of them whispered to each other while glaring furiously at me.

I bit my lip.

It is not surprising that my execution was witnessed in this crowd, given how horrific my trial was six months ago. Whoever the originator, I admit he is a genius. Or maybe my reputation has skyrocketed more than expected, to the point that people's enthusiasm is still this great.

I heard muffled laughter from the same warden. "At the same time leaving this world, right?"

I don't care. I turned my head forward again, just as my legs stopped being led.

I let out a short breath. Time flies so fast. The iron pole that seemed far away is now only one fathom from me.

What happens next is according to the final verdict. My punishment is shot to death. The implementation procedure has also been explained on the same day. Five minutes before noon, I will be led to a large area with an iron stake that has been provided. Next, my hands will be tied there with my back to the pole.

There will be four snipers carrying long-barreled weapons. They were standing ten meters in front of me. The fourth position had its back to the entrance I had passed. Of the four guns, only one contained bullets. When my head was shot, neither of them would know where the hot lead came from. So do I. Because after being tied up, my head will be covered with a white cloth.

The warden who was herding to my left had removed the headgear. The man with the name badge Agustiono is now facing me. From this close, I could see his scornful expression.

"I don't want to waste too much time, but I'll be considered a rebel if I don't." Agus ended his grunt by gritting his teeth.

The next second, hate hardened this man's face. "Any final request?"

I was stunned.

The question just now is too confusing for me to answer. How can I say if I have so many requests?

I want to hear the reason Danial betrayed me. I want to thank Irina for all the support she always gives. I also wish I could meet with Dad to apologize. And…

The saliva that I accidentally swallowed was tightening my throat.

…I want to meet that girl one last time.

I let out a laugh, realizing something. That perhaps, even one trivial request will not necessarily be granted.

I took a breath before returning a smile and looking back at Agus. "What date is it?"

Silence.

I sighed sincerely. As expected.

Agus wraps my head. Now my entire field of vision is filled with white.

The sound of his loafers rubbing against the grass was a sign that Agus had just resigned.

"December 31st."

A moment later, the air of the presence of the four guards who escorted me was no longer felt. I don't even care about my surroundings. Today is the end of the year that captured all my attention.

I don't know who pioneered this term. Still, it is said that if someone is very close to death, he will automatically remember the whole journey of his life, even for trivial things that were initially considered unimportant.

In the past, I did not believe in such nonsense because there were no scientific studies that proved it. But now, as the long cock had just been pulled in unison, I was confronted with the entire record of every memory of these thirty-eight years.

I feel various emotions, but regret and sadness are the most dominant.

What have I been doing all this time? How could I be so cruel to an older man? Did my conscience die when I tore down that building? Why am I cheering when I manage to get rid of some civilians?

When I realized all the pain that I managed to go through and created myself for others, my heart stung with pain.

"Based on the results of the last trial held on October 5, 2206, Judge Antonius Richard decided to shoot the defendant Adam Kusuma for all his crimes."

Loudspeakers echoed the baritone from one o'clock to all corners of the field, immediately greeted by a burst of cheers from the audience.

"The sanctions will be implemented today, December 31, 2206, at twelve o'clock in the afternoon Western Southeast Continent time."

The constant clatter of a firing squad commander's feet was heard from the eleven o'clock corner. His feet stopped after five steps forward.

An eerie silence is here to silence the viewers. His dominance began to bring up sweat drops on my temples.

"Ready!"

The loud voice immediately rushed my cold sweat.

Time seemed to roll slower. Between the pauses that the troop commander deliberately created, I reflexively muttered the countdown starting at five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

My forehead wrinkled.

Why not yet? Is there any problem? Am I too fast?

I decided to recalculate—this time starting from number three.

"Shoot!"

I'm stunned.

My brain feels hollow. Less than a second had passed, and I lost consciousness, only to feel my throat being forced to swallow something.

I sat down. The air that poked my nose scrambled to fill my chest. Shortness of breath and a violent cough rushed at the same time. The simultaneous attack made me stagger until I fell backward.

"Good grief!"

The vocal owner just now rushed over to me who was now spitting out clear liquid.

"What the—hyperventilation?!"

My body is burning. I'm breathless. My vision is blurry. I could only catch the contours of a young man unpacking the nightstand in front of me.

"You know, bro!"

One hand held a piece of plastic wrapped around my nose and mouth, while the other supported my head's back.

"Breathe slowly." The same tone of voice gives instructions with a slightly quivering intonation.

I obeyed.

For a while I tried to control myself. Slowly but surely, the recesses of my chest gradually loosened. So is my vigilance. Later I realized that there was a soapy smell attached to this plastic.

"Very nice." The young man heaved a sigh of relief at the end. "Stay like this, bro."

I stayed in the same rhythm for the next ten seconds. Apparently, my heartbeat really subsided at the twentieth second. The stable condition managed to open my eyelids. Explaining the figure of a kind-hearted young man—

—which I quickly pushed away.

Unpreparedness made this man crash and hit the study table behind him.

He made a long groan.

"Why, brother?!" He rubbed the part that stumbled with his short blonde mane while frowning. "What did I do wrong?!"

I'm upset. My whole body stiffened.

What the hell?

I opened my eyes in all directions. I forced my mind to work as quickly as possible.

Aren't I dead? But why am I here?

I straighten myself while observing the surroundings.

The room's interior is decorated with light gray wall paint, all-black furniture and pure white marble floors—how can it be so similar to my apartment bedroom?

Even the king-size mattress wrapped in an ash-box bed cover behind me is precisely the same as my last memory. In front of the bed, there is a long black leather sofa. A 50-inch LED TV is attached to the wall opposite the sofa. While on the right, the large glass that usually presents the bustle of the city of Heroes is covered by a plain black curtain.

My brows dipped.

Didn't I change the curtains to beige?

My eye rolled quickly to the sofa and I immediately got up. With a bit of a rush, I approached it.

I remember adding a five-meter wide feather rug starting at the back of this lounger. I also added a low table under the television to place a home theater set—

—Wait. What do I think?

I winced as dizziness began to hit the left side of my head.

Actually, what is this?

I sat down at the far right of the sofa. I use my right hand to massage the throbbing temple gently.

Aren't I dead? I'm pretty sure it's dead!

"Are you okay, brother?"

I flinched when I felt my right shoulder being lightly touched. My vigilance increased as soon as I realized the existence of the other occupants who had been forgotten, especially when I found that my last memory of this young man was inversely proportional to his heroic actions earlier.

"Danial." My gaze is scorching. "What are you doing here?"

My interlocutor frowned in confusion. "What do you mean? You brought me here." His head tilted to the left. "You said you wanted to talk about Rose's loss of affiliate. But you fell asleep and suddenly," he gave a curt nod. "Yeah, like before."

Replace me who doesn't understand. " Affiliate Rose is missing?"

Affiliate incident happened five months before—

—I glared.

I gripped Danial's right arm. "What date is it?"

If I'm right, maybe...

"January 11." Danial raised an eyebrow.

A subtle tremor began to loosen my grip. "Year?"

I ignored this young man's strange gaze. "2204."

My shoulders are dropping.

Does it not make sense?!