Blood had run down the handle of the axe, reaching Ryuga's wrist.Every inch of his body felt as heavy as a tombstone.
Only three of them were left now.They stepped closer, walking right over the corpses of their fallen.
One of them was dragging a sword across the ground.The screech of rusted iron grated in Ryuga's ears like nails.
"You fought well," one of them said."But every game ends."
Ryuga didn't respond.He just looked.His lips were cracked dry.He was drawing his final breath before collapse.
Only a few seconds left.
And then—Something inside him ignited.
Not hope.Not rage.Not even revenge.
Just the instinct to resist.
"I'm not done," he whispered to himself."Not until you're done."
He raised the axe one last time.His shoulder was nothing but shredded flesh.But that arm… still rose.
The first man lunged.Ryuga tried to step back.But his foot— slipped.
[Misfortune Effect: Slippery Ground][Misfortune Points +2]
As he fell, he swung the axe.The man moved in too close.His neck cracked— split in two.
"What?!"
"That was too fast—"
The second one attacked.
Ryuga lifted the axe in his hand.But he was too late.
The sword stabbed into his ribs.One lung tore apart.
Ruptured lung.Internal bleeding.Mind fading.
[Reverse Fortune: Analyzing conditions…][…Success.][Effect: Attacker loses balance while withdrawing weapon.]
As the man pulled back, the hilt caught on Ryuga's torn clothing.He leaned in—just slightly.And Ryuga… drove the axe into him.
They both collapsed.Another corpse hit the floor.
The last one stepped back.Fear in his eyes.
"B-but… how is this possible…"
Ryuga tried to stand.
But… his legs locked.
[Muscle Failure – Movement Disabled][Misfortune Points +3][Body Functionality: 6%]
His vision went dark.The final attacker lunged.
Ryuga couldn't move anymore.
'It's over…'
But in that moment—
A sound like a blade slicing air pierced the silence.
An arrow flew from the shadows—And buried itself in the last man's neck.
A scream.A cough.Then… silence.
Ryuga tried to lift his head.But he couldn't.
The sound that escaped his throat was fainter than a whisper.
"Who…"
The last thing he saw—Was someone walking forward.Careful, slow steps.
A girl.
Rusty boots reaching her knees.A torn cargo jacket.A bow slung over one shoulder. A backpack on her back.
Her face… sharp-featured but worn.Her eyes… like a child's.But inside, she was dead.
She crouched beside him.Looked him in the face.
"I wanted to see how far you'd go to survive," she said."And… now I've seen it."
Before Ryuga's eyes closed, he whispered one last time:
"Your name…?"
The girl smiled faintly.Not mockingly.It was a bitter smile.
"Lucky."
And then Ryuga's consciousness… fell into darkness.