"I will remain unlucky until I die.""In that case... I'll take down everyone who dies because of this misfortune with me."
Ryuga's voice echoed through the dark subway tunnel.
But the words… were only for himself.
Seven pairs of eyes watched the blood-soaked figure crouched in the middle of the broken concrete.
Silence.
But this wasn't peaceful silence.This… was the silence of a predator watching its prey.
Ryuga's breathing was erratic.If someone nudged him, he might have collapsed.But the axe in his hand was still bloody.And an enemy corpse still lay on the ground.
"...Unbelievable," muttered one of them — a tall one, with a massive gash on his left cheek."He really took one down."Another sniffed."Just got lucky. The guy was stunned. Otherwise, he wouldn't have even managed that."
Ryuga lifted his head. His eyes were bloodshot.But he could still see their faces.
Rotten teeth.Blackened eyeballs.Filthy chains dangling from beneath melting flesh.
"Humans…" Ryuga whispered."Ones who used to be human…"
They laughed.
"Human? Hah!""We're the new rulers of this place, weakling."
One of them stepped forward, holding a sharpened bone like a knife.
"Meatbags like you are at the bottom of the food chain. Got it?"
Ryuga didn't speak.He couldn't.His tongue felt numb. Blood in his mouth left a metallic taste.
"Should we make it hurt a little more?""He's gonna die anyway — shame not to have a little fun.""Look, he's still holding the axe. Isn't that hilarious?"
Another laugh.And another…
Footsteps.
The sound of bare feet slapping against the wet ground.
They were getting closer.
'I can't move…'
Ryuga clenched his teeth.But his body… didn't respond.
[Status: Blood Loss, Muscle Damage, Fractured Bones – Bodily Functions at 34%][Misfortune Effect: Stunned][Misfortune Points +3]
'How much longer… is this torture going to last?'
One of them kicked his knee.Ryuga couldn't even scream. The only sound he made was the shattered gasp of breath.
"You won't resist, will you?""Then let's grab his clothes. I'll take the axe.""No way! I hit him — the axe is mine!"
They started arguing… around Ryuga.Like jackals fighting over a carcass.
'Is this it? Is it really going to end like this?'
His wrists trembled.The fracture in his shoulder screamed.
But…
No.No, this wasn't death.This was the moment before death.And Ryuga… wasn't going to cross that line.
Not yet.
He collapsed.But as he fell, he pulled the axe tight against his chest.His fingers dug into the slick, blood-covered handle to keep it from slipping.
"Enough," one of them said."We're wasting too much time."
The one in front stepped forward.He bent down to grab the axe—
And at that very moment—
His foot slipped on the mud-covered concrete.He fell to his knees. When he looked up… he met Ryuga's eyes.
[Reverse Fortune activated.][Effect: Enemy Loses Balance – Exposed Target][Misfortune Points: 26]
A moment.Just a single moment.
Ryuga lifted the axe.
A scream.
In the dim light, a head split in two.
Blood burst into the air — warm, heavy, and salty like a suffocating mist.
The others took a step back.
"He did it again!""How…?""Impossible… twice?!"
Ryuga remained on his knees.
Injured.Broken.Exhausted.
But there was no tremble in his eyes.
His voice was nearly a whisper.
"I'm going to die… I know that.""Every day… with every step, I feel it.""But today… is not that day."
He lifted the axe again.His grip was weak.But his resolve… was iron.
"No one's going to save me.""Even the system has turned its back on me… I have no one to rely on but myself."
He took a step forward.His bones ached as his foot hit the ground.But he walked.
For the first time… the monsters in front of him stepped back.
"This… he's gone mad.""Fall back!""This bastard… he wants to die!"
Ryuga smiled.
"Yes.""But only after you."