There was no fear.Because he no longer had the strength to be afraid.
The bloody axe was slipping from Ryuga's hand.His fingers were numb. His grip loose.But he still didn't let go.
Two corpses...Five remained.
"This kid… he's cursed," muttered one of them, unwrapping the chains around his arms."Not just cursed," hissed another. "He can't even fight properly. But he's still standing. This… this is broken. It's not normal."
Ryuga didn't answer.He tried to open his eyes. His eyelids felt sealed shut.Breathing was no longer like drawing air.Each breath… was a dagger in his chest.
[Status: Severe Internal Bleeding, Fatigue Threshold Exceeded][Body Functionality: 21%][Misfortune Effect: Dizziness][Misfortune Points +2]
Someone spoke.
"It's over… and he's still trying to walk. Look at him. Poor thing."
Footsteps.Slow. Heavy. As inevitable as death itself.
"Lay him down. No need to let him suffer. Let's end it quickly."
A pair of arms reached for Ryuga's shoulders.
And Ryuga, on reflex, swung the axe.
But...
He lost his balance.His wrist twisted.He fell face-first with the axe, crashing into the ground.
[Attempt Failed: Balance Lost Due to Misfortune][Misfortune Points +1]
Crack.Was that… his wrist bones?
No scream came from his mouth — only blood.While writhing on the ground, a knee pressed down on his chest.
All the air left his lungs.
"It's over," said the man pressing him down.There was no anger in his voice. No mercy.Only… exhaustion.
"I don't even pity you."
He took the axe from Ryuga's hand.Pressed his weight down on his shoulder.Right where the break was.
Something snapped inside.
Ryuga's eyes shot open.It felt like he was drowning in a dark ocean.But… a voice inside him spoke again.
"Get up. It's not over yet.""Even filth like you has the right to fight back."
'I've heard this before…'
That voice.A whisper caked in mud, flowing through his blood.An anger that didn't even belong to him.
A hand reached for the axe.But it wasn't Ryuga's hand.
It was a blade.Stabbed into the man's gut — the one with the knee on his chest.
Someone screamed from behind."WHA—?!"
The man in front… staggered.His face twisted in shock.He tried to turn around.
But Ryuga rose — one last time.His knees shook.His shoulder was shattered.His body… no longer felt like his own.
But he reclaimed the axe.
And he raised it.
"Go… talk in hell."
The blow landed.
The skull split open once again.Blood splashed across his face.His eyes burned — but he didn't cry.
For a few seconds… silence.
Four remained.
But one of them turned to the others.
"Enough.""Let's not leave this cursed freak alive. End it. All of us.""If he's left alone, he might take out another one."
They all turned toward Ryuga — at once.
Four steps. Four threats. Four deaths looming.
Ryuga almost laughed at himself.
'Ah… I think this really is the end.'
And then the system spoke.
[Reverse Fortune: Analyzing appropriate conditions...][Calculating within 10% probability...][…Failed.]
Ryuga laughed.He truly laughed.
A broken, shattered, crumbling laugh.
"Even the system's given up, huh?""Good. At least you're honest."
The first man charged.
Ryuga raised his hand.But he could no longer feel the arm holding the axe.
And then—
The sound of the blow landing.