The battlefield had gone silent.
⸻
No screams.
No movement.
⸻
Only the smell of blood lingering in the air.
Bodies lay scattered everywhere—
Broken.
Lifeless.
⸻
Even the fire…
Had died.
⸻
At the center—
Two figures stood facing each other.
⸻
Ryuk.
Sky.
⸻
Both injured.
Both exhausted.
⸻
But neither one backing down.
⸻
Ryuk's voice broke the silence.
"…why?"
⸻
Sky tilted his head slightly.
"…why what?"
⸻
"…why did you betray her?"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
Then—
Sky laughed.
⸻
Low.
Unstable.
⸻
"…betrayal?"
⸻
He wiped the blood from his face.
⸻
"…that's funny."
⸻
"…betrayal isn't something I do."
⸻
His eyes darkened.
⸻
"…it's something I am."
⸻
A faint smirk.
⸻
"…trusting me…"
"…was her first mistake."
⸻
He glanced at the Queen's corpse.
⸻
"…you made it easier though."
"…kept her attention on you."
⸻
"…so I could finish what I started."
⸻
Ryuk's eyes narrowed.
"…your goal…"
"…what is it?"
⸻
Sky shrugged.
"…not your concern."
⸻
"…probably something messed up anyway," Ryuk muttered.
⸻
Sky chuckled.
"…maybe."
⸻
A brief silence.
⸻
Then—
Ryuk stepped forward.
⸻
"…let's end this."
⸻
Sky raised an eyebrow—
Then sighed.
⸻
"…nah."
⸻
"…not now."
⸻
"…you're barely standing."
"…and I'm not exactly fresh either."
⸻
Ryuk scoffed.
"…running away?"
⸻
Sky smirked.
⸻
"…no."
⸻
"…just saving the best for later."
⸻
"…next time we fight…"
"…we go all out."
⸻
"…full power."
⸻
"…no interruptions."
⸻
Ryuk opened his mouth to respond—
⸻
—but suddenly—
⸻
His body gave out.
⸻
THUD—
⸻
He dropped to one knee.
⸻
Blood dripping.
Breathing uneven.
⸻
Sky looked down at him.
⸻
"…yeah."
"…thought so."
⸻
"…rest up."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…oh—and while you're at it…"
⸻
"…finish off the remaining warriors for me."
⸻
Ryuk's eyes sharpened.
"…I'll be waiting."
⸻
"…next time we meet…"
"…I'm the one killing you."
⸻
Sky grinned.
⸻
"…good."
⸻
"…I'd be disappointed otherwise."
⸻
He turned.
⸻
"…heal up."
"…get stronger."
⸻
"…and don't die before I come back."
⸻
He paused—
⸻
"…friend."
⸻
Then—
⸻
He vanished.
⸻
Silence returned.
⸻
Ryuk exhaled slowly.
A faint smile forming.
⸻
"…idiot…"
⸻
"…I could've killed you right there."
⸻
"…but where's the fun in that?"
⸻
His eyes darkened.
⸻
"…I want to know your goal."
⸻
"…before I crush it."
A few minutes later—
The battlefield had gone quiet.
⸻
Ryuk sat beneath a shattered tree.
Blood dried across his body.
Breathing heavy.
⸻
For a moment—
Silence.
⸻
Then—
He exhaled.
⸻
"…heal."
⸻
A faint glow spread across his body.
Bones realigned.
Wounds closed.
Blood faded.
⸻
In seconds—
He was back.
⸻
Perfect.
⸻
Ryuk slowly stood up.
⸻
"…Veronica."
⸻
A soft mechanical voice echoed.
⸻
[SUMMON CONFIRMED]
⸻
"…how many are left?"
⸻
A screen materialized before Ryuk.
⸻
[WARRIORS ELIMINATED: 2]
[WARRIORS REMAINING: 8]
⸻
[REMAINING WARRIORS LIST:]
1. Sky – The Abandoned Warrior
2. Crimson Samurai
3. Shadow Huntress Lyra
4. Titan Brutus
5. Frost Mage Elric
6. Thunder Beast Raiga
7. Phantom Assassin Zev
8. Blade Dancer Kael
⸻
Names.
Titles.
Targets.
⸻
Each one—
A challenge.
⸻
Ryuk's eyes slowly scanned the list.
⸻
"…Sky…"
⸻
A faint smirk.
⸻
"…of course you're still here."
⸻
His gaze shifted—
And stopped.
⸻
"…Crimson Samurai…"
⸻
For a brief second—
The air felt… different.
⸻
Ryuk narrowed his eyes.
⸻
"…this one…"
"…feels interesting."
⸻
He looked at the rest—
Unbothered.
⸻
"…the rest don't matter."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
He exhaled slowly.
⸻
"…eight targets huh?"
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Then—
⸻
Ryuk spoke again.
⸻
"…what if I finish this…"
⸻
"…in 24 hours?"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
[IMPOSSIBLE]
⸻
Ryuk smirked wider.
⸻
"…then let's make it interesting."
⸻
"…if I win…"
⸻
"…you give me a reward."
⸻
Another pause.
⸻
[CONDITION ACCEPTED]
⸻
"…deal."
⸻
Ryuk rolled his shoulders.
⸻
"…this is getting fun."
⸻
[COUNTDOWN INITIATED]
⸻
[24:00:00]
⸻
The timer started ticking.
⸻
Ryuk grabbed Wrathreaver.
⸻
Chains clinked softly.
⸻
A dark aura slowly rose around him.
⸻
"…let's begin."
⸻
He disappeared.
⸻
Like a predator released into the wild.
⸻
A shadow moved.
Silent.
Invisible.
⸻
A blade aimed for Ryuk's neck—
⸻
CLINK.
⸻
The chain stopped it mid-air.
⸻
"…found you."
⸻
Before Zev could react—
⸻
CRACK—!!
⸻
His body hit the ground.
Lifeless.
⸻
He didn't even look back.
⸻
"…too obvious."
⸻
Fast.
Elegant.
Deadly.
⸻
Spinning blades.
Perfect footwork.
⸻
A performance.
⸻
Ryuk watched.
Silently.
⸻
"…done?"
⸻
WHOOSH—!!
⸻
One chain.
One pull.
⸻
SNAP.
⸻
The dance ended.
Forever.
⸻
Arrows rained from the dark.
⸻
Precise.
Calculated.
Deadly.
⸻
Ryuk moved through them—
Without rushing.
⸻
Step.
Step.
Step.
⸻
An arrow grazed his cheek.
⸻
He stopped.
⸻
"…better."
⸻
Next second—
He vanished.
⸻
She didn't even see him.
⸻
THUD—!!
⸻
Her body dropped from the tree.
⸻
The ground froze instantly.
⸻
Ice spikes erupted.
⸻
Temperature dropped.
⸻
"…you won't move here."
Elric smirked.
⸻
Ryuk stepped forward—
⸻
CRACK.
⸻
The ice shattered under his feet.
⸻
"…then I'll break it."
⸻
Chains whipped—
Shattering spells mid-air.
⸻
A short clash.
⸻
Then—
⸻
BOOM—!!
⸻
Elric was buried under his own frozen field.
⸻
A roar split the sky.
⸻
Lightning crashed.
⸻
A beast—
Massive.
Covered in electricity.
⸻
Raiga charged.
⸻
BOOM—!!
⸻
Ryuk was pushed back.
For the first time—
⸻
"…good."
⸻
Lightning struck again.
And again.
⸻
Ryuk dodged—
Barely.
⸻
A claw tore through his side.
⸻
Blood spilled.
⸻
He smiled.
⸻
"…finally…"
"…something with power."
⸻
The fight intensified.
⸻
Chains vs lightning.
Force vs fury.
⸻
Until—
⸻
Ryuk wrapped both chains around Raiga's neck—
⸻
Pulled.
⸻
ROAR—!!
⸻
And slammed it into the ground—
Again.
And again.
⸻
Until—
Silence.
⸻
A giant stood before him.
⸻
Unmoving.
Unshaken.
⸻
"…you're not passing."
⸻
Ryuk didn't reply.
⸻
He attacked.
⸻
CLANG—!!
⸻
No damage.
⸻
Brutus punched—
⸻
BOOM—!!
⸻
Ryuk was sent flying.
⸻
"…tch."
⸻
For a moment—
He stopped.
Thinking.
Analyzing.
⸻
"…not breakable…"
"…then I'll tear you apart."
⸻
Chains wrapped—
Limbs locked—
⸻
Joint by joint—
Force applied.
⸻
CRACK—!!
⸻
The titan fell.
⸻
[REMAINING: 2]
⸻
Only two names remained.
⸻
Sky.
⸻
…and—
⸻
Crimson Samurai.
⸻
The wind slowed.
⸻
Ryuk stood still.
⸻
Breathing steady.
⸻
"…finally."
⸻
"…now it gets interesting."
After a moment—
Ryuk looked at his hands.
Chains… still dripping with blood.
⸻
His gaze slowly shifted—
Toward Wrathreaver.
Still resting.
Unused.
⸻
A faint smirk appeared.
⸻
"…not a single one…"
"…was worth drawing you for."
⸻
He turned away.
⸻
"…I didn't need my blade."
"…chains were enough."
A voice echoed in the silence.
⸻
[NOTICE]
⸻
[REMAINING TIME: 03:00:00]
⸻
[REMAINING TARGETS: 2]
⸻
[WARNING]
[FAILURE TO COMPLETE OBJECTIVE WITHIN TIME LIMIT WILL RESULT IN PENALTY]
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Ryuk let out a slow breath.
⸻
"…three hours."
⸻
His eyes narrowed slightly.
⸻
"…and still only two left?"
⸻
A faint smirk appeared.
⸻
"…guess I've been holding back."
The sun was dying.
⸻
The sky burned in crimson and gold—
As if the world itself had been set on fire.
⸻
The forest stood silent.
Too silent.
⸻
Ryuk walked forward—
Slow.
Unhurried.
⸻
But his eyes—
Were sharp.
⸻
"…someone's here."
⸻
He stopped.
⸻
The wind shifted.
⸻
Presence.
Heavy.
Watching.
⸻
Ryuk didn't look around.
Didn't panic.
⸻
He simply spoke—
Cold.
Commanding.
⸻
"…no point hiding."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Then—
⸻
A shadow moved.
⸻
Above him.
⸻
Ryuk's gaze lifted—
⸻
—and locked.
⸻
A man sat on a high branch.
⸻
Crouched low.
Balanced perfectly.
⸻
Like a predator waiting for the exact moment to strike.
⸻
The setting sun behind him—
Turned his entire figure into a dark silhouette.
⸻
Only his eyes were visible.
⸻
Sharp.
Unshaken.
⸻
A long chained blade rested across his back—
Curved.
Elegant.
Deadly.
⸻
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
⸻
Just stared.
⸻
Measuring.
⸻
Then—
⸻
The man stood up.
⸻
One step forward—
⸻
—and he dropped.
⸻
WHOOSH—!!
⸻
Mid-air—
He twisted his body.
⸻
The chained blade unraveled—
Like something alive.
⸻
CLINK—!!
⸻
He landed in front of Ryuk.
⸻
No wasted movement.
No sound—
Except the chains settling.
⸻
His stance shifted.
⸻
Perfect.
Disciplined.
Lethal.
⸻
A true warrior.
⸻
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
⸻
"…so it's you."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…the one causing all this noise."
⸻
Ryuk's expression didn't change.
⸻
But his eyes—
Locked in.
⸻
"…and you are?"
⸻
The man exhaled softly.
⸻
Then—
Tilted his head.
⸻
"…someone who's been waiting."
⸻
A step forward.
⸻
Chains dragged slightly across the ground.
⸻
"…tell me something."
⸻
His gaze sharpened.
⸻
"…are you worth killing?"
⸻
Silence.
⸻
The wind picked up.
⸻
The space between them—
Tightened.
⸻
Ryuk slowly raised his hand—
⸻
Resting it on Wrathreaver.
⸻
A faint smirk formed.
⸻
"…you'll find out."
⸻
The samurai's smile widened slightly.
⸻
"…good."
⸻
"…I hate wasting time on weak opponents."
⸻
The air grew heavier.
⸻
Two killers.
⸻
Standing still—
Yet ready to explode.
⸻
For the first time—
⸻
Ryuk wasn't bored.
⸻
He was—
Interested.
⸻
The samurai lowered his stance.
⸻
Chains tightened.
⸻
Ryuk's grip on Wrathreaver firmed.
⸻
Aura rising.
⸻
The ground beneath them felt it.
⸻
Tension.
Pressure.
Intent.
⸻
And in that moment—
⸻
Without a single strike—
⸻
The battle had already begun.
⸻