Death or Survival

After the battle, Ji stood silently, staring at the disfigured, lifeless girl. A deep sadness consumed him—not just because he couldn't save her, but because all his efforts had been in vain, and he hadn't found Lina as he had hoped. Overwhelmed with frustration, he turned to Takai and the old woman and said, "I'm going to rest for a while…"

He left for his room, leaving the others behind. In the opposite room, the old woman, Miregina, whispered to herself, "The time has come…"

Takai, carrying a tray of food, knocked on the door. "Grandma, I've brought dinner. Come on, let's eat!"

Miregina replied, "Alright, I'll come, but I need to speak with you about something important after dinner."

Takai felt a wave of unease. "W-what is it? Alright, we'll talk after we eat," she said nervously.

After they finished their meal, Miregina called Takai into her room. Shutting the door behind her, she gestured for Takai to sit. Her tone was grave as she began, "Takai, do you remember… Don?"

Takai froze for a moment. "Who do you mean?"

Miregina leaned forward, her voice sharp. "Don. The serial killer. He was sealed away seven days ago, wasn't he?"

Takai nodded hesitantly. "Yes, but… what does that have to do with anything?"

Miregina's gaze hardened. "Have you noticed that after his disappearance, the number of crimes dropped dramatically? And now, ever since you brought that boy here, they've stopped entirely!"

Takai's heart raced. "But Ji doesn't know anything about magic! He couldn't possibly—"

Miregina interrupted, her voice stern and unwavering. "I've seen it with my own eyes! He has Don's aura. He is likely harboring Don inside him! That boy is a danger to both monsters and humans alike. He must be killed."

Takai recoiled in shock. "You're suggesting we kill Ji? No… I won't let that happen!"

Miregina's tone became icy. "If he can't answer two questions truthfully, you'll have to remove him yourself. If you don't, I will end him."

Reluctantly, Takai agreed, though dread filled her heart. Meanwhile, Ji was in his room, consumed by a nightmare that shook him to his core.

In his dream, Ji found himself in a pitch-black void. "Where am I?" he muttered.

Turning around, he came face-to-face with a figure that looked exactly like him, except its eyes were empty with glowing red dots inside. A chill ran down Ji's spine as he stammered, "W-who are you?"

The figure gave him a menacing smile but didn't answer. Ji pressed further, "Is this a dream?"

Finally, the figure spoke, its tone mocking and unsettling. "No, this is your consciousness, Ji. What a coincidence… you are Ji, right?"

Ji froze, memories flooding back. "That… that voice! It's the same one that cast the spell that burned me alive!"

The figure grinned. "Ah, so you remember. Good. Listen, I've come to offer you a little… gift. A new feature, if you will. You'll gain the ability to manipulate bone and see attacks before they reach you. You'll also learn a technique called Zankai."

Ji hesitated, his voice wary. "Zankai?"

The figure's smile widened. "A powerful ability that traps your opponent in a phantom zone where your strength is exponentially amplified. Each user's Zankai manifests differently. Mine, for instance, lets me play with my enemies like puppets, slicing them apart piece by piece. Isn't that fun?"

Ji shouted, "What's fun about killing?!"

The figure laughed coldly. "You kill for your friends. I kill for pleasure. Isn't that what makes us different?"

"You're insane!" Ji snapped.

"Maybe," the figure replied with a shrug. "But if you want to protect your friends and grow stronger, you'll need to collect seven blue crystals. Each is guarded by rare monsters with Zankai abilities. Your first target… is that old hag."

"No!" Ji shouted, his voice filled with defiance.

The figure's tone grew indifferent. "Doesn't matter. She's going to kill you in the end."

Ji jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat. Determined to find answers, he left his room and headed downstairs, where Takai was waiting for him at the entrance. Her expression was a mix of worry and hesitation. "Ji, I need to talk to you. Please, come with me."

Ji's eyes burned with anger. "No, I don't want to talk. Where is the old woman? I need to see her now."

Miregina emerged from the shadows, her face cold and unreadable. The three sat down, tension thick in the air.

Takai's voice was steady but uneasy. "Ji, I need to ask you two questions. Please answer truthfully."

Ji nodded. "Go ahead."

Takai took a deep breath. "Do you know anything about this world… or about me?"

Ji's voice was firm. "No. I don't know anything about either."

Miregina scoffed, her tone cutting. "Liar! You know more than you're admitting. You've made a pact with Don, haven't you? You came here to spread chaos and destroy this world, didn't you? Admit it!"

Ji shot up from his seat, his voice rising in frustration. "Enough! You're accusing me without any proof. I'm not the monster you think I am!"

Miregina smirked, her voice dripping with disdain. "We'll see about that." She raised her staff, casting a powerful spell that sent Ji flying across the room, crashing through the wall.

Ji lay on the ground, his body wracked with pain. He looked up at Miregina with tear-filled eyes and said, "Why? What did I do to deserve this?"

But Miregina didn't stop. She approached him, her staff glowing with deadly energy, ready to strike again. Takai stepped in between them, shouting, "No! Don't kill him!"

Miregina pushed her aside with a powerful blow. Takai's head struck a large rock, and she collapsed, unconscious.

Seeing Takai fall, Ji's eyes burned with rage. His voice, though strained, was filled with resolve. "If you want to kill me, fine. But if you hurt my friends… I won't forgive you!"

Inside his mind, Don's voice was calm and mocking. "Oh, things are heating up. As expected."

Ji growled, "What do you want now? Can't you see what's happening?"

Don chuckled, his tone nonchalant. "Of course, I can see. It's entertaining. But you're too weak to handle this on your own. So… how about I lend you a little help?"

Ji shouted, "I don't want your help!"

Don's voice was eerily calm. "It's not up to you."

Suddenly, a blue crystal materialized inside Ji, enveloping him in searing blue flames. His body began to change, bones emerging from beneath his skin, glowing with an ominous light.

Ji stood, his body now encased in a skeletal armor, his aura blazing. His voice was cold and unyielding. "I won't let you hurt anyone else. Prepare yourself."

Inside his mind, Don spoke again, his voice laced with amusement. "Ah, you look magnificent now. Good luck, Ji. I'll just sit back and enjoy the show."

And so, the decisive battle between Ji and Miregina began—a clash that would uncover buried truths and decide the fate of this dark world.

End of chapter...