The evening sky bled hues of crimson, the sun setting as if retreating from the carnage about to unfold.
At the center of it all, Reona stood, her body messy and bloodied. Her hair was tangled, her gown torn, and her pale face bore the emptiness of defeat.
Her body trembled as she took a few more steps forward before her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the cold, blood-soaked ground.
"Why..."
Her voice was a faint whisper, carried away by the wind. Tears welled in her eyes, streaking her dirtied cheeks.
"Why! I tried my best! Why did I still lose?!"
The weight of her failure crushed her. Was it because the man before her was stronger? Or was it her tyranny that brought karma crashing down upon her?
"I told you... you can't win against me."
A voice spoke as if answering her frustration.
Reona turned her head weakly to face him. It was Kael, the rebel who had risen against her rule and shattered her reign.
Despite reaching her peak, and getting all the unique items, Reona still ended up losing to a commoner who was barely equipped well.
Kael knelt beside her, dropping his sword onto the ground. Reona's lips trembled as she prepared herself for the mockery or hatred she assumed would follow.
But instead, he leaned closer, his face calm, his eyes filled with something unexpected.
A kiss.
Reona froze as Kael's lips met hers. His hands supported her fragile body, and for a fleeting moment, the battlefield, the blood, and the bitterness seemed to dissolve into nothingness.
Their tongues met in each other, leaving her breathless and confused.
When he pulled away, her cheeks flushed a delicate red. Her eyes widened, and she struggled to speak.
"H-h-huh?!"
But before she receives his answer, Reona lost consciousness and as well...
her final breath.
****
Reona's eyes shut, her final breath escaping her lips. Yet… her thoughts didn't fade. Instead, her mind lingered, floating in a strange, liminal space.
'I could no longer feel anything.'
'Am... I really dead?'
Before she could muster another thought, the void around her shifted. The battlefield vanished, replaced by… a small, cozy room bathed in pink. Cushions were scattered across the floor, pastel curtains hung from the windows, and an overwhelmingly cutesy aroma wafted through the air.
'W-what is this place?' Reona's internal voice stammered. 'Who decorated this? A lovesick squirrel?'
She tried to move but found her limbs unresponsive. Her body sat in a comfy chair, holding a strange, glowing rectangle. It emitted light and displayed… images?
'What is this device? Some sort of magical artifact? Huh... its called... cellphone...? ugh why do I know this?!'
Her hands moved on their own, and her mouth—her mouth!—spoke words she didn't will.
"Finally~ That evil bitch died!"
'B-bitch?! Did I just call myself a bitch?' Reona's internal monologue screamed. 'Who is controlling me?!'
Her traitorous hands began scrolling through the glowing device. On its surface, she saw images of her final battle with Kael, rendered in stunning clarity. Each swing of his sword, each burst of her magic, it was all captured… and strangely dramatic.
'Wait a second. Is this… is this a picture of my life? Who was drawing this? And why does it look very realistic?!'
'Oh... wait... its called 'manhwa' huh... wait- why the fuck I knew about this again?!'
The picture continued, playing the fight between her and Kael.
She gritted her teeth waiting for that scene.
'The scene where her and Kael kissed' obviously.
They scrolled and scrolled, flipping through random images of mundane after-battle moments. There was Kael drinking water. Kael staring at a sunset. Kael trimming his stupid heroic beard. Kael marrying the saintess and having kids.
And then… nothing.
The screen froze, indicating the 'end of the archive.'
'W-what? That's it?!' Reona's mental voice screeched.
'W-where the kiss!'
'What are we?'
'Where's the continuation?!!'
'GODDAMMIT! I WAS HARASSED BEFORE I DIED!'
'WHY NO ONE MENTIONED THAT! FUCK!'