Previous Chapter Reminder:
In the previous chapter, we saw that Manu and Nyra's plan worked perfectly and Frost Vein Academy was eliminated.
Now Next...
---
Scene Shift – Sun Academy
NARRATOR VOICE =
The scene opens inside Sun Academy.
Reika Kurotsuki was sitting in her office, casually cracking walnuts.
Suddenly, the office door opened.
Kael Draven rushed inside.
His entire body was covered in sweat. The tension on his face was impossible to miss.
Unlike him, Reika remained completely calm.
---
Kael Draven =
President Reika Kurotsuki...
We have bad news.
---
Reika Kurotsuki =
You always bring bad news.
---
Kael Draven =
Someone used a Forgotten Button during the tournament.
And...
Manu and Nyra were caught in its effect.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
For the first time, Reika immediately stood up from her seat.
The walnut slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
The walnut cracked.
And the scene shifted.
---
Nyra's Memory
NARRATOR VOICE =
We enter one of Nyra's memories.
A dark room.
A room so filthy that the word "dirty" couldn't properly describe it.
The walls were covered with mold.
The bed was rusty.
The floor was covered in filth.
A rotten smell filled the air.
Nyra was chained to the bed.
Rusty handcuffs restrained her hands.
Iron cuffs locked her legs to the bed frame.
Her body was covered in bruises and wounds.
Some old.
Some fresh.
Her clothes were torn and worn out.
---
The door opened.
An overweight boy entered.
He wore an expensive white suit.
His shoes were polished.
His face carried only disgust.
As if he wasn't looking at a human.
Only trash.
---
Fatty Boy =
Hello, dear big sister.
How tragic.
The pride of our family...
is now trapped inside this prison.
---
Nyra =
Keep dreaming.
---
Fatty Boy =
Dreaming?
Ha ha ha...
You still refuse to accept reality.
I am the future king.
Not you.
Your value was never more than a tool.
Marriage.
Political alliance.
Children.
That's all.
Enjoy your punishment.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
The boy left.
A few moments later, guards arrived.
They dragged Nyra into another room.
The door closed.
And after that...
only screams could be heard.
---
Stadium
NARRATOR VOICE =
The scene abruptly shifts.
The Slingshot Person was restrained on the ground.
Red energy ropes wrapped around his body.
Ruka stood nearby.
Beside her stood a mysterious man.
White and cyan clothes.
A black hat.
---
Ruka =
Hatman.
I'll leave this to you.
---
Hatman =
As you wish, my lady.
---
Hatman casually waved his hand.
The red particles transformed into ropes.
They tightened around the Slingshot Person.
---
Hatman =
Now tell us.
Who gave you the Forgotten Button?
Who is your master?
---
Slingshot Person =
You've already lost.
You'll never know.
Goodbye.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
He crushed a capsule hidden inside his mouth.
Purple gas exploded throughout the area.
Everyone covered their noses.
A minute later, the gas disappeared.
And...
the Slingshot Person was gone.
---
Falcon Team
NARRATOR VOICE =
Reika immediately approached Falcon Team.
Everyone was silent.
Especially Nyra.
---
Reika Kurotsuki =
Are all of you alright?
I shouldn't have sent you into this tournament.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Those words shocked everyone.
Nyra's eyes trembled.
The emotions she had been suppressing finally broke.
---
Nyra (shouting) =
This can't be happening!
I lost!
I should just die!
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Tears streamed down her face.
She pulled out a dagger.
And pressed it against her neck.
A thin line of blood appeared.
---
But...
Manu was smiling.
---
Manu =
Don't worry about me.
I'm perfectly fine.
Power can be regained.
Strength can be regained.
A life can be rebuilt.
---
Nyra =
Stop pretending!
You don't understand anything!
Power is everything!
If you have power, you have value!
Without power, you're nothing!
---
Manu (angry) =
Don't act like you're the only one who's suffered!
Like you're the only one with trauma!
Like you're the only lonely person in this world!
Everyone is fighting their own battle!
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
The entire stadium became silent.
---
Manu =
I hate people who measure their worth only through results.
People who see themselves as tools.
People who believe their value depends only on usefulness.
If you continue living with that mindset...
then dying will be easy.
But living?
Living will become impossible.
---
Manu slowly looked at Nyra.
And said:
«"If they wanna leave, I'll let them go,
The ones meant for me will find me on their own.
It doesn't break me anymore, can't you see?
'Cause I've fallen in love with who I am... me."»
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
Silence filled the stadium.
A heavy silence.
Manu turned around.
And walked away.
---
Elira, Lyra, and Darius stood frozen.
Reika simply watched Manu leave.
---
Reika (thought) =
His words are bitter...
But they're not wrong.
The decision is no longer mine.
Now it's Nyra's.
---
NARRATOR VOICE =
The dagger slipped from Nyra's hand.
Blood continued dripping onto the ground.
Her body had become weak.
And...
she collapsed onto her knees.
---
COMING SOON...
Hello readers.
Please don't start throwing abuse.
Today I genuinely need your help.
My dashboard isn't performing properly.
If this continues, I might have to throw this story into the graveyard.
I'm not forcing anyone.
If you don't want to help, that's completely fine.
But if you do want to support me, please share this novel with your friends, family, or anyone who might enjoy it.
That's all.
I don't really know how to use social media properly.
The reason chapters are arriving late is because time, circumstances, and luck have all been against me recently.
On top of that, college-related stress and money issues are also keeping me busy.
Anyway...
Take care.
See you in the next chapter.
What was your favorite part of this chapter?
Keep commenting because your comments give me motivation.
And if you enjoyed the story...
throw a Power Stone at it.
I mean the red one.