Something was wrong. Mikayla stood unnaturally still, her expression blank, her body rigid as if under some invisible force.
"Is she...?" Ryu whispered, his voice trailing off.
Yuki's jaw tightened, his fists clenching as he stepped forward. The faint glow of his bracelet caught the light, and Nazuyami turned her head slightly, as if sensing their presence.
Her lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes gleaming with dangerous delight. "Well, well," she said, her voice carrying through the clearing. "Look who decided to join the party."
The tension hung in the air like a coiled spring, ready to snap at any moment.
Nazuyami's sly smile widened as she turned fully to face Yuki and Ryu, her hand never leaving Mikayla's shoulder. "You two look determined," she said smoothly, her tone taunting. "But tell me-are you here for revenge, or just the gems?"
Yuki's fists clenched at her words, his gaze flicking to Mikayla, who remained unnaturally still under Nazuyami's control. Her blank expression made his stomach twist. "Let her go," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Nazuyami laughed softly. "Oh, Yuki. Always so noble. But I think she's better off with me right now, don't you?"
Ryu stepped forward, his broad shoulders tense. "You've taken enough. Marielle. Angel. And now Mikayla?" His voice cracked slightly, his fury barely contained. "This ends here."
Nazuyami's grip tightened on Mikayla's shoulder, her eyes narrowing. "Marielle and Angel were casualties of the game, Ryu. Just like everyone else will be."
Before she could say more, Yuki surged forward, his body radiating heat as he prepared to unleash his ability. Ryu wasn't far behind, his ironclad durability making him the perfect shield in close combat.
Nazuyami shoved Mikayla forward, using her as a human barrier. "Careful, Yuki," she cooed. "Wouldn't want to hurt your little friend, would you?"
Yuki froze for a split second, long enough for Nazuyami to lunge at him with a sharp, makeshift blade. He barely dodged, the blade grazing his arm. The heat from his hand flared, sending a burst of force toward her that knocked her back but left her unharmed.
Ryu charged next, his fists swinging in powerful arcs. Nazuyami ducked and weaved, her agility keeping her just out of reach. "You're both so predictable," she taunted, her movements almost graceful as she evaded their attacks.
Mikayla, still under Nazuyami's control, suddenly moved to block Ryu's next strike. Her strength surprised him, forcing him to hesitate.
"She's mine now," Nazuyami hissed, her voice dripping with malice.
"Not for long," Yuki growled. His hands flared with heat again, this time aimed carefully at the ground near Mikayla's feet. The small explosion sent a shockwave that staggered her, breaking her hold momentarily.
Mikayla stumbled, her blank eyes flickering with confusion as Nazuyami's control began to wane. "Yuki?" she murmured, her voice faint.
Ryu seized the opportunity, grabbing Mikayla and pulling her to safety. "Snap out of it!" he urged, shaking her slightly.
Nazuyami, now alone, glared at them, her confident facade cracking. She glanced at the jungle behind her, calculating her chances of escape.
"You're not running this time," Yuki said, stepping forward, his hands glowing with controlled fury.
Nazuyami gritted her teeth, her mind racing as Yuki and Ryu closed in. The clearing seemed to hold its breath, the tension ready to explode at any moment.
Nazuyami darted to the side, her blade flashing in the dappled sunlight as she aimed for Yuki's exposed flank. Yuki twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a blast of heat from his palm. The explosion wasn't as strong as he wanted-his exhaustion was catching up to him-but it was enough to throw Nazuyami off balance.
Ryu roared as he charged, his ironclad durability making him a battering ram. He swung a powerful punch, grazing her ribs, and the sickening crack of bone echoed through the clearing. Nazuyami stumbled but recovered quickly, her sharp eyes darting between her two opponents.
"You're persistent," she hissed, her voice laced with venom. "But persistence doesn't mean survival."
She lunged at Ryu, her blade aimed at his throat. Ryu blocked with his forearm, the weapon glancing off his hardened skin. He retaliated with a brutal elbow to her jaw, sending her reeling.
Yuki seized the moment, charging in with another explosive strike. The blast hit Nazuyami squarely, the force hurling her against a tree. She gasped for air, her body trembling from the impact, but her gaze remained defiant.
"You can't win," she spat, blood dripping from her lips.
"Watch me," Yuki growled, his voice cold.
Nazuyami pushed off the tree, her movements slower but no less dangerous. She feigned a retreat, only to whirl around and slash at Ryu with a hidden blade. This time, her strike found its mark-a gap in his ironclad defenses. The blade pierced his side, blood blossoming across his shirt.
Ryu staggered, his face contorted in pain, but he didn't fall. With a guttural roar, he grabbed Nazuyami's arm, locking her in place. "You're done," he said through gritted teeth.
Yuki didn't hesitate. He raised his hand, the heat building until it burned the air around him. The explosion that followed was deafening, engulfing Nazuyami in a fiery blast.
When the smoke cleared, Nazuyami lay crumpled on the ground, her body still and lifeless. The faint glow of her bracelet flickered before fading completely.
Yuki turned to Ryu, whose knees buckled as he clutched his wound. Blood seeped through his fingers, pooling at his feet.
"Ryu!" Yuki rushed to his side, catching him before he fell.
Ryu smiled weakly, his breathing shallow. "It's okay... I'm done."
"No," Yuki said firmly, his voice shaking. "We can fix this. Just hold on."
Ryu shook his head, his gaze distant but peaceful. "I... I avenged them. Marielle, Angel... they're at peace now. And so am I."
He reached for his bracelet, unfastening it with trembling hands. "Take them," he whispered, pressing it into Yuki's palm.
Yuki stared at the bracelet, his chest tight with emotion. "Ryu..."
"Finish this," Ryu said softly, his voice fading.
With that, Ryu's body went limp, his eyes closing as he let out one final breath.
Yuki sat there for a moment, the weight of loss pressing down on him. Slowly, he stood, his hands trembling as he gathered the bracelets from Nazuyami and Ryu.
He now held a total of 10 gems -enough not just to survive, but to dominate the final days of the game.
The jungle was silent once more, the clearing marked by blood and ash. Yuki clenched his fists, his gaze hardening.
-----
Two icons dimmed and disappeared-Nazuyami and Ryu.
Ms. Ariancie leaned forward, her sharp eyes narrowing at the now-empty spaces on the map. "Well, there goes the snake," she said, her voice dripping with mock amusement. "Nazuyami's cunning could only take her so far. It seems her manipulations finally caught up to her."
Mr. Ulysses nodded slowly, his expression calm. "A fitting end for someone who thrived on deception. She played the game well, but not well enough."
"And Ryu?" Ms. Ariancie tilted her head, her tone softening slightly. "The ironclad beetle cracks at last. He was strong, determined... but his heart was always his weakness."
Mr. Ulysses smirked faintly, his fingers steepling. "Weakness? Or strength? He lasted longer than most, fueled by loyalty and vengeance. But such emotions are double-edged swords. He avenged his fallen friends, and in doing so, found his peace."
Ms. Ariancie tapped the screen, bringing up Yuki's profile. His icon glowed brighter, his bracelet now holding ten gems. "And yet, it's Yuki who walks away with the spoils. Ten gems-he's not just surviving anymore. He's building dominance."
"Dominance is dangerous," Mr. Ulysses mused, his voice tinged with intrigue. "Yuki is no longer the hesitant boy we saw at the start of this experiment. Rainne's death, this partnership with Ryu, and now his decisive victory over Nazuyami... he's evolving."
Ms. Ariancie's lips curled into a faint smile. "The snake has fallen. The ironclad beetle is gone. And now, the boy with the fire in his hands rises."
Mr. Ulysses leaned back, his eyes fixed on Yuki's glowing icon. "The question is, how much farther can he rise before he burns himself out?"
The two fell silent, their gazes locked on the map as the final stages of the game drew closer. Seven had become five. The game was nearing its crescendo, and they both knew that the most dangerous players had yet to make their final moves.