Just as our conversation drifted into silence, Celestina burst through the doorway like a beam of sunlight.
"Ta-da!" she beamed, spinning lightly on her heel with her usual bright grin. "Hehe, alright, listen up! I've got news about the next game. There's one good and one bad. Which do you want first?"
Sota leaned back, resting his arms behind his head. "We always cry first and chill later. Kinda boring, don't you think? Let's chill first this time. Cry later."
Celestina gave him a playful salute. "Got it! So, good news first: you've got seven whole days to prepare for the next game."
A collective sigh of relief echoed lightly through the room.
"But," she continued with an exaggerated pout, "the bad news is... you'll be training way harder than before."
Brother Cheng Hao raised an eyebrow, his voice calm and steady. "That's hardly news at this point. So how do we train this time? What are the rules?"
I was about to echo his curiosity, but my thoughts slipped—Inaya. I had forgotten for a moment.
Celestina clasped her hands and began, "The next game is called 'Find the Magic Card'. Five groups, including yours, will be participating. Somewhere in the playing field, there's a special card hidden. Think of it like a lottery—whoever finds it will be granted direct access to the mainland of this dimension."
"The mainland?" Satoru questioned.
Celestina nodded. "Yup! It's called Dagahra. That's where the royals and the ordinary citizens live. Right now, we're in Danish, which is basically the economic zone of this dimension—created specifically to feed by the system."
"And our training?" Sota asked again.
She pointed around the room with her finger like she was assigning chores. "Running, hiding, and swordplay—those are minor focuses for now. Sota, Cheng Hao, and Inaya, will continue with physical impact training, just like before. Don't worry, I've already spoken with your trainers. Hana and Satoru, you'll stay in intelligence impact."
Sota stretched, a flicker of excitement returning to his eyes. "Good. I was getting bored. Oh—by the way, anyone seen Riku? I haven't since I woke up. I was hoping to spar with him again... He's just so perfect at what he does."
A tense silence settled in the air.
Celestina opened her mouth but hesitated. I saw it in her eyes—the heaviness she couldn't bear to say aloud.
So I did it for her.
"Riku is dead."
The words fell like a blade on stone. For a heartbeat, no one moved.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Sota snapped. "Hey, Shin! This isn't funny, alright? I'm being serious."
He was. And in that moment, I realized how much admiration had quietly bloomed in Sota's heart for Riku—how deeply he had come to respect him, even look up to him. But he hadn't known. He hadn't seen the monster behind the mask. He didn't know why Inaya had chosen to end it.
"Inaya killed him," I said flatly, the weight of the truth sitting heavy in my chest.
"You say that with such a straight face..." Sota's voice cracked with disbelief. "How could you say something like that—like it's nothing?"
A pause.
Then Sergio's voice rang through the room—measured, regal, and unwavering.
"Shin is speaking the truth. Your cherished Riku met his end by her hand. Whether you approve or not, the deed is done."
The room fell into stunned silence. Even the air felt still. They had no words. No breath. Just the crushing weight of a reality they weren't prepared to face.
To defuse the tension that was steadily rising in the room, Celestina stepped forward, her smile soft but her voice steady.
"Guys, let's not jump to conclusions so easily," she said gently, yet firmly. "We should hear the full story from her later. For now, let's head to the training hall. No more delays."
The others hesitated, then slowly began to move, the weight of uncertainty still hanging in the air.
I turned toward Sergio, who remained motionless by the door. "Are you coming with us?" I asked.
He glanced at me with his usual calm seriousness, eyes sharp like always.
"I shall not be accompanying them," he said, his voice composed and noble. "And neither shall you. Once matters are settled here, meet me behind the mansion."
I blinked, surprised. "You're going to train me again?"
He gave the smallest nod, the kind only a man of quiet authority would offer.
"Indeed. I shall teach you not merely to defend—but to triumph. Until the day arrives when I have nothing left to give, I shall remain your guide."
His words filled me with a mix of reassurance and purpose. As the others filed out with Celestina leading the way, I stayed behind for a moment, already feeling the anticipation build for what Sergio would reveal next.
The day had been long and uneventful, with Inaya remaining asleep throughout. As night fell, the training hall buzzed with anticipation. Celestina stood at the front, her usual radiant smile lighting up the room as she prepared to teach us the basics for the upcoming game.
Just as she began, the door creaked open. Inaya stepped in, her movements slow and deliberate. Her face was pale, almost ghostly, and a sheen of sweat clung to her brow. Despite her evident frailty, she insisted on joining the session.
"I'm fine," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I want to learn."
Celestina hesitated but nodded, allowing her to participate. The room was filled with laughter and camaraderie as Celestina's friendly teaching style kept everyone engaged. Inaya tried to follow along, mimicking the stances and moves demonstrated.
Suddenly, a crimson drop fell onto the wooden floor. Then another. Inaya's nose was bleeding. Her eyes widened in surprise, and before anyone could react, she collapsed.
The room fell silent. The laughter ceased.
"Inaya!" I shouted, rushing to her side. Her body was limp, her breathing shallow. Without hesitation, I lifted her onto my shoulders and carried her to her room, laying her gently on the bed.
That night, the atmosphere in the mansion shifted. The incident overshadowed the earlier events, including the unresolved questions about Riku. Concern for Inaya's health took precedence, and the group refrained from probing her about the past. The weight of her actions lingered, but compassion held our tongues.
As the night deepened, a somber mood settled over us. The training continued, but a sense of unease remained. Inaya's condition was a mystery, and the shadows of the past loomed large, waiting to be addressed.
It wasn't long before the events of the previous day faded into the background, replaced by the routine of their harsh training. But that night, things were about to take a terrifying turn.
As the night deepened and the moon cast a pale light through the windows, a cold shiver ran through the house. A person who looked like Riku appeared but how can that happen didn't he already die? so what is there? his lost soul? This was the second night since the start of the training, and things felt... different.
It started with an unsettling feeling, an oppressive silence in the air. The first sign was a soft sound, almost like a whisper of footsteps, which grew louder and more ominous. The first to notice was Hana, who had been in the kitchen with Satoru, nursing a sore muscle from the day's practice. She froze, eyes darting around as a chill swept over her.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Satoru, wiping sweat from his brow, looked up from his drink. "Hear what?"
Before he could answer, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The temperature plummeted, and the very air around them seemed to grow heavy. The lights flickered briefly before plunging the house into an unnatural darkness.
"Who's there?" Satoru's voice was cautious, as he stood up, trying to calm the growing unease within him.
A flicker of movement in the shadows... and then a figure appeared.
It was Riku.
His ghostly form was translucent, his eyes burning with fury. His body flickered in and out of sight, like a glitch in reality itself. No longer confined to the shadows, Riku had fully manifested, standing before them with a twisted, haunting expression on his face. His very presence was enough to make the air feel as though it was suffocating.
Hana gasped, taking a step back. Her heart pounded in her chest, terror gripping her.
"Riku...?" Satoru asked, his voice trembling. But it was more a statement than a question. They could all feel it—this wasn't the same man they'd known. The man who had killed so many without hesitation. The ghost that stood before them had one purpose now, vengeance.
Riku's gaze flicked over them, a chilling sneer on his lips as he slowly stepped forward, his eyes locking on Hana first.
Before anyone could react, he lunged. His form was unnaturally fast, and his hand shot out, grabbing Hana by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
"No!" Satoru shouted, rushing forward, but Riku swatted him away effortlessly.
In an instant, Hana's face twisted in pain as blood started to pour from her nose. The sight was horrifying, and yet, Riku didn't seem to care. His hand tightened around her throat, and her vision blurred. Satoru tried again to intervene, but Riku was too powerful—he was a ghost, an embodiment of rage, and the physical limitations that once confined him no longer applied.
Hana crumpled to the ground, her body falling limp as Riku released her with a flick of his hand. Satoru caught her just in time before her head hit the ground.
"Satoru..." Hana whispered weakly, her eyes fluttering open, as blood continued to drip from her nose.
"We need to get help," Satoru muttered, his voice strained, as he helped Hana to her feet.
The rest of the group arrived just then, drawn by the commotion.
"What happened?" Brother Cheng Hao asked, his expression filled with concern as he rushed over to Hana.
Hana could only shake her head, still in shock, unable to speak. Her nose continued to bleed, staining her shirt with crimson.
But it was then that Celestina entered, her demeanor calm despite the chaos. She had been in another room, monitoring the situation through her magical senses. Without saying a word, she raised her hand, and Riku's soul flickered in the air, his form shimmering as if it could disappear at any moment.
"You're back again, huh?" Celestina muttered, her voice carrying a mix of annoyance and indifference. "Riku's soul, just like I thought. But why now?"
Riku's image wavered, almost as if confused by her lack of fear. His gaze fixed on Inaya's sleeping form.
"That's because she's the one who killed me..." Riku's voice echoed in the room, distorted and eerie. He pointed a finger at Inaya, but his eyes were still burning with hatred. "Her."
Celestina turned to the group, her gaze unwavering. "This is what happens when a player dies at the hands of another player outside the game," she explained, her tone growing serious.
"Riku was murdered by Inaya, and because of that, the system has given him a chance to seek revenge. He can't kill, but he can hurt those who are alive."
Everyone's eyes widened in understanding, but Satoru, still holding Hana, frowned. "But why hasn't he attacked Inaya? She's the one who killed him."
Celestina's gaze flicked to Inaya, then to Riku's ghost. "Maybe even if the system gives him the ability to take revenge, he can't hurt those who have directly caused his death if they've been deemed 'justified' by the system. " Her voice trailed off as she looked at the injured members of the group.
Riku's ghost let out a chilling laugh before fading into the shadows, leaving behind an eerie silence.
"Don't worry," Celestina said, her voice firm. "We'll figure this out. Just be careful. Riku will try again."
But the damage was already done. Hana's face remained pale, the blood still dripping from her nose. The rest of the group could only stand in stunned silence, trying to process what had just happened.
And now, with each passing night, they would have to prepare not just for the upcoming game—but for the ghosts of the past, who would stop at nothing to make them suffer.
The following nights passed in a haze of tension and fear. As the days wore on, Celestina's training continued, each morning demanding more from the group, pushing us further in our physical and mental limits. But when the moon rose high, the real terror began.
Riku, the ghost of a man wronged, tormented us in the shadows. No one was spared. He struck without warning, delivering blows that left us bruised and broken.
His attacks grew harsher, more violent, and every night, the members of our group grew weaker. Hana's nose bled after one particularly brutal encounter, and Satoru limped back to the dorm, his body aching from Riku's relentless assault.
Through all of this, Inaya remained eerily silent, an unsettling quiet that no one could quite place. She was watching, observing, but never speaking.
Her once-pale face, the result of her sickness, now seemed more vibrant, though still weary. There was something different about her — her eyes held a quiet intensity as if she had been preparing for something, but no one dared ask her what.
On the fifth night, as Celestina finished up the day's training and the others began to rest, Riku appeared once again. His figure materialized out of the darkness like a shadow made flesh, his eyes burning with an unholy anger.
He moved swiftly, attacking Sota with a ferocity that left the group paralyzed with shock. Sota's body crumpled under the force of Riku's blows, his blood staining the cold stone floor beneath him. The rest of the group tried to intervene, but Riku was relentless.
"Why are you even doing this to us?!" Hana cried out, her voice breaking with desperation. Her face was streaked with tears, her hands shaking as she tried to drag Sota out of the way. "Wasn't it Inaya who killed you? When you learned that you can't go near her, now you started to beat us up instead. Do you want us to die with you? Why? What have we ever done to you? Isn't it too selfish? Or are you beating us up for your own entertainment?!"
Her words hung in the air like a dagger, the weight of them settling into the night. Riku paused, his ethereal form flickering as though her words had pierced through the anger that had consumed him. For a moment, he stood motionless, as if lost in thought.
"No," Riku's voice was harsh, bitter, and filled with sorrow. His gaze flickered toward Hana, and the intensity of his pain was evident in his eyes. "No... you tell me, what have I ever done to you? Why did she even kill me? From the day I was born, I never lived peacefully. I had to fight for everything. Every single day was a struggle for survival. And then, this damn portal..." He paused, looking around at them, his eyes clouded with confusion and sorrow. "It sucked me into this madness. I left my only family, my brother, behind, not knowing what happened to him, if he's alive or dead. I don't understand why. Why did it have to be me?"
Riku's voice cracked, the raw emotion in his words making the air feel heavy. His form flickered once more as if caught between two worlds. The realization hit them all at once: Riku wasn't just angry at them; he was a man lost, someone who had been torn from everything he knew, thrust into a world where he was forced to fight for a cause he never understood.
As the echoes of Riku's anguished words faded, a heavy silence enveloped the group. From the shadows behind them, Inaya stepped forward, her presence commanding attention. Her voice, calm yet resolute, pierced the stillness:
"Stop it already. Your backstory has nothing to do with betraying Ryu in the previous game."
She raised both hands. Her right hand remained steady, while her left moved gracefully, fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. A soft, radiant light emanated from her hands as she pulled them apart, revealing a gleaming sword materializing between them.
In that moment, a transformation overtook her. From her back sprouted majestic, white, feathery wings, their texture reminiscent of soft fur, exuding an ethereal glow. Her attire shifted into a pristine white shift dress, its fur-like fabric shimmering subtly. The dress was complemented by thigh-high, flat white boots adorned with delicate gold lines. Long white gloves extended past her elbows, leaving her pinky, ring finger, and thumb exposed. A sheer white net fabric draped from her neck to her toes, interlaced with gold jewels encircling her waist and arms. Her signature green four-leaf necklace remained unchanged, resting above a thin gold vine that crowned her forehead, connecting to two petite white wings resembling horns atop her head.
The group watched in awe as Inaya confronted Riku. Sergio's eyes widened in recognition upon seeing the sword in her hand.
"Back on Earth, you were a professional assassin who killed for money," she declared, her voice unwavering. "And then you pulled Ryu in to save yourself that night. How can we trust you? How can we rest assured knowing you won't do the same to us? Your tragic backstory doesn't excuse your actions. I know Ryu won't forgive you either. So, you better be gone."
With those words, she thrust the sword into Riku's spectral form. His essence dissipated instantly, leaving behind a void. The system's voice resonated in the air:
'A NEW CITIZEN HAS BEEN BORN.'
And in that fleeting moment of silence, as the last echo of her words faded into the night, Inaya's body gave in—she collapsed before our eyes.