The wind on the rooftop whistled softly, gently stirring up the crisp air and blowing the students' hair as they stood over the edge of the railing. The sky was a deep blue, with the faintest of clouds beginning to form in the distance, the sun hidden behind its thin veil as it was beginning to get ready to set. Shadows slowly began to stretch out onto the ground from the few buildings around them, casting an elongated hue across the rooftop.
Two male figures stood on the rooftop, gazing down at the other students below them on the school grounds. The first of the two was leaned up against the railing, his back pressed to the cool metal as he leisurely savored a lollipop, his eyes trained out on the other students as he watched them with a bored look.
The second male was sitting on the railing, his legs dangling casually off the edge as he quietly munched on a snack that he held in his hands. The sound of chatter echoed softly around as the pair stood in relative silence up top.
The crisp wind blew across the school's rooftop, the clouds shifting and forming in the sky above as if they were dancing to the whims of the sky itself. The sight caused the male to pause in his lollipop-sucking for a moment, looking out at the sight with an apathetic expression on his face.
The wind softly blew through his hair, causing a few strands to brush across his face, giving him a bit of an unkempt appearance. The other male on the other hand remained seated, continuing to munch on his snack without a care in the world as he kept his eyes fixed on the view.
The scene below them was one of violence and chaos. Students were engaged in a bloody battle, fighting against one another with a ferocity that belied their otherwise peaceful nature.
The fighting was chaotic and frenzied, with students jumping in and out of the fray at random, their movements often wild and erratic.
Despite the intense fighting, the two boys at the railing appeared utterly bored and unimpressed by the display. They watched the battle with only mild interest, their expressions remaining neutral and detached from the carnage before them.
The blood battle was the culmination of a vicious feud between two rival schools. Word had spread that the rival school had initiated an invasion of their own school, and in response, a group of students from their own school had banded together to defend their territory.
The battle had erupted spontaneously, with students from both schools attacking one another with an intense and brutal fervor. The two boys on the railing watched the battle with a disinterested expression, their faces betraying no surprise or concern at the events unfolding.
The boy with the snacks suddenly turned to his companion with a smirk on his face and spoke up, his voice breaking the silence that had settled over the rooftop. "What do you think about this, Yeon Yin-shin?"
Yin-shin, who had been eating his lollipop, turned his attention to his companion. He looked down at the chaos and violence unfolding below them with nonchalant disinterest, a casual air about him. He spoke up in a slightly bored tone.
"It's just another typical day in the life of our school," he said. "Another pointless battle with another school, nothing out of the ordinary."
Beom Sang-ji, who was still munching away on a snack, let out a soft huff of agreement. "Well, it's pretty wild down there. But I guess it's just a way for the students to blow off some steam, huh?" He took another bite of his snack, a small smirk playing at the edge of his lips. "But I wonder what is Gyeon-suk high from Gangwon-do doing here in our Na-Seong high in Incheon…" He said as his voice turned slight serious.
Yin-shin's thoughts went deep as he regarded the battle unfolding below them. He was well aware of the reason why Gyeon-suk High had invaded their school. He knew that there was only one likely reason for the unexpected attack, that they must be here for the game... of death.
"Looks like they're here for the game or in other words 'Carnage'," Yin-shin said in an unbothered tone.
Sang-ji looked back down at the chaos below, his expression serious for the first time since the battle had begun.
"But Carnage isn't just a game, it's a death sentence," Sang-ji said, his voice laced with caution. "Is it really worth risking our lives for?
Yin-shin shrugged, seemingly unbothered by the danger that the game posed.
"That's the whole point of the game," Yin-shin replied. "It's about survival. Only the strongest will survive."
Sang-ji expression darkened as he considered Yin-shin's words. He knew the reputation of Gyeon High all too well, and the idea of them coming to their school in search of players for the game was a disquieting thought.
"This isn't good," he said, his voice low. "If they're looking for players, that means they're planning on starting another game. And with our school as the battleground..."
The rain began to fall in earnest now, soaking the ground and mixing with the blood that had already been spilled from the battle below. The sound of raindrops hitting the roof mixed with the dull clangs and thuds from the ongoing fighting, creating a cacophony of noise.
Yin-shin stood there, seemingly unfazed by the violence and weather around them. He took a moment to wipe some raindrops off his face before continuing to speak.
"Looks like we're not just bystanders in this one," he said, his tone still flippant.
Sang-ji expression darkened further as the gravity of the situation sank in. He knew that the game was no joke, and the idea of their school being caught up in it was not a pleasant one.
"What do we do?" he asked, his voice full of concern. "We can't just stand here and let them play the game on our school grounds."
Yin-sin continued to gaze down at the bloody battle unfolding below them, a hint of thoughtfulness in his expression.
"We shouldn't get involved in this sacrificial game," he said, his voice low and measured. "If we do, there's no way out. And I can't help but wonder who put our school as a sacrifice in this game...that so called school leader of ours?"
The Sang-ji let out a snort of frustration at Yin-sin's words.
"Of course it was the school leader," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Who else would have the authority to make such a decision? He probably sold out our school for some personal gain."
Yin-sin shrugged, his expression still nonchalant.
"It doesn't surprise me," he said. " That self-made school leader is known for his greed and self-interest. He would throw us all under the bus if it meant he would come out on top."
Sang-ji scoffed as he agreed with Yin-shin.
"Yeah, that guy is a real piece of work," he said. "I've never trusted him, and this only confirms my suspicions. I wouldn't be surprised if he was working with Gyeon High from the start."
Suddenly Yin-shin's gaze flickered down to the scene below, his expression hardening at the sight of the student from Gyeon-suk High dragging a girl from their school by her hair. He frowned as he saw the girl being thrown to the ground in the pouring rain.
The match was over, but the aftermath was far from it. The students from Na-Seong High had been defeated, their bodies sprawled on the ground, unconscious and brutally beaten. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the air almost suffocating as the victors loomed over their fallen opponents with a mix of triumph and malice.
The guy from Gyeon-suk high, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous smirk, stepped forward. He glanced down at the girl who stood trembling near her unconscious friends. His gaze was cold, filled with a twisted sense of power. Slowly, he began to unbutton his shirt, his intentions as clear as the predatory glint in his eyes.
The girl's heart raced, fear coursing through her veins, but she refused to let it paralyze her. Summoning all her courage, she pushed him away with all her might. Her hand struck his face in a resounding slap that echoed in the silent schoolyard. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
But the guy's shock quickly turned to anger. His eyes darkened, and without a word, he swung his fist at her. The punch landed hard, sending her staggering backward. Pain radiated through her cheek, but before she could recover, he was on her again, his hands reaching out, this time with even more aggression.
Laughter erupted from the group of students watching from the sidelines—those from Gyeon-suk High. They found the scene amusing, their chuckles laced with cruelty as they watched the horror unfold. They didn't move to help.
Instead the other students from Gyeon-suk High were no better. They began dragging out other girls from the crowd, their intentions clear and their laughter even louder. The air was thick with the scent of fear and violence, the schoolyard turning into a place of torment and helplessness.
The girl struggled against the boy's grip, her strength waning but her spirit unbroken. She knew she was outnumbered, but she wasn't going to give in without a fight. Not now. Not ever.
This was The Hell of Life….