For the man known as "Old Ghost Guo", never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he'd be bested by some rookie kid—and in such a humiliating way.
CRACK!
Another punch from Takakai—this one shattering Guo's nose, flattening it grotesquely against his face.
["You're hurt badly, but don't worry—I'll save you."]
Takakai's voice dripped sincere concern as his fist descended again.
["Trust me, you'll be safe with me."]
THUD.
Guo's left eye socket fractured, the eyeball filling with blood.
["Come with me. I'll protect you."]
BAM.
This time, the blow caved in Guo's forehead, nearly knocking him unconscious.
There was no escape.
In his near-fully transformed state, Takakai's strength surpassed human limits. Guo—despite his enhanced physique—was utterly outmatched, like a child facing a heavyweight boxer.
CRUNCH.
Guo's face resembled minced meat, just like Mayama's had earlier.
If this continues... I'll die.
Guo tried to scream—
SLAP!
Takakai backhanded him, scattering the few remaining teeth in his mouth.
"Bastard...!"
Dazed and bleeding, Guo finally seized his chance—fumbling for a small vial in his pocket.
He dumped its contents—grayish powder—straight into Takakai's face.
ZZZT!
Takakai jerked backward, body locking up momentarily.
Guo rolled away, then—hesitating only a second—hurled the rest of the powder.
Cursed Bone Ash.
An incredibly rare cursed item that could temporarily suppress a corpse's transformation into an anomaly. Its effects on the living were weaker, and it was useless against full-fledged anomalies.
For players of the Sacrifice Game, this powder was priceless. In rule-based horror scenarios where the dead often returned as part of the curse, anything that could delay or prevent postmortem corruption was worth its weight in gold—especially in high-difficulty games like "Fixed" Nightmare-tier or Blood Moon-tier instances.
Guo wasn't supposed to waste it like this.
But survival trumped thrift.
The first dose had bought him three seconds. Without the second, Takakai would've pounced immediately.
Run. Get to the second floor. Rewind time.
Losing his Faceless Head—his most effective weapon against living players—was unacceptable. He had to recover it.
Staggering away, Guo tossed a wooden doll behind him.
It expanded midair, morphing into a corpse with wooden joint replacements—its arms locking around Takakai in a vise-like grip.
SHINK.
Takakai's scalpel sliced through the puppet's limbs effortlessly—
But the delay cost him.
The floor beneath him warped, turning into quicksand-like flesh.
Rotting hand-puppets clawed up from the muck, dragging him down.
Did I force out all his trump cards?
For the next loop, he needed to memorize Guo's tactics—but now, escape seemed impossible.
I... rescue team... I'm... Tak...
His mind frayed at the edges.
No matter how strong his will, his body was failing.
Ahead, Guo stopped abruptly—still within sight.
He pulled out a dark-red key, stabbing it into a nearby door.
It opened onto the second-floor hallway.
He's going after Maki and the others!
["Ah... oh..."]
Takakai's voice was gone, his throat too ruined for speech.
He lurched forward, dragging the clinging puppets with him.
Too slow.
Alone... can't catch him...
I'm... rescue team...
Then—
A large hand gripped his shoulder, yanking him free.
Figures in identical rescue gear stood beside him—silent, sodden, steadfast.
Of course.
Rescuers never work alone.
We move as one.
We save as one.
Takakai's consciousness teetered on oblivion.
Only one thought remained:
"Save" Guo.
Don't forget.
"Save" him.
Voices echoed from the second floor.
Maki's shout.
Guo's snarl.
His own footsteps.
Vision sharpened abruptly.
The hallway was dark, blood smeared near the ruined 206 door.
Green's fragmented face flickered in the air—a newborn anomaly—explaining why the group had fled.
Where are they now?
Takakai turned toward 208—where Guo had vanished.
Struggles. Impacts. Screams.
I'm rescue team... go to first floor...
No... I'm Takakai...
Have to stop him... can't let her die first...
He staggered forward—
Then pivoted, breaking away from the rescue team.
Into 208.
Into the living room.
Chaos.
Kaguya and Maki—both injured—faced off against Guo.
The frozen corpse from the kitchen lurked nearby, its dead eyes locked onto Takakai.
Gunfire flashed.
Guo howled.
Furniture splintered. Walls cracked.
Rescue team members followed Takakai inside—
["We're here to save you."]
Something cold and powerful intercepted them—
The frozen corpse.
RIP.
Takakai's rescue badge was torn away.
Clarity returned.
He saw:
Guo submerged in black water, dragged down by rescuer anomalies.
The blood-red key left behind.
The frozen corpse retreating to the kitchen.
"Takakai! Takakai!"
Maki's voice.
The room came into focus—utterly demolished.
Kaguya slumped in a corner, wounded.
Maki kneeled before him—
His head resting in her lap.
"Is Guo... dead?" Takakai rasped.
"The rescuers took him under," Maki confirmed, wincing as she adjusted the wooden splinter in her shoulder.
"A lap pillow? Isn't this too luxurious for me?"
Takakai managed a weak grin.
"Without you, we couldn't have beaten him. Consider it... a reward."
Maki turned her head, but not before he saw the blush.
"I'd rather misunderstand," he chuckled—then studied her face, watching the redness deepen.
"W-What? Stop staring! It's rude!"
Her protests lacked bite.
This was her first time giving a man a lap pillow—and despite her tsundere act, her heartbeat betrayed her.
Idiot! Why am I overthinking this?!
Just because he knew "future me" doesn't mean I owe him special treatment! This is just... a superior rewarding a subordinate!
...Do superiors even reward subordinates like this?!
"I don't have much time left..."
Takakai's words shattered her thoughts.
Maki jerked her gaze down—
Half his body was blistering, as if doused in boiling water.
The other half twisted unnaturally, features melting into someone else's.
"What... what's happening?!"
Kaguya limped over, eyes wary.
"I entered a forbidden zone. The curse is killing me. Soon, I'll become one of the rescuers. These cursed items... you can keep them."
He spoke calmly, though internally, he prepared to reload his save.
"How can this be... after you just came back..."
Maki's voice shook.
"That woman destroyed all second-floor clocks before acting. We can't rewind for you. If you have final words... say them now."
Kaguya's tone was flat, but her clenched fists trembled.
"...This game's teammate selection is brutal."
Takakai sighed.
He'd expected Mayama's sabotage.
No rewinds left.
But he'd taken both veterans down with him—a worthy trade.
Now, to memorize their abilities for the next loop:
Maeda: Two scalpels, a doll, identity theft.
Guo: Faceless Head, flesh puppets, bone ash, blood key, firearms.
If only I could steal their cursed items...
His gaze lingered on the red key.
Darkness encroached.
"Do you... have any last words?"
Maki's whisper was barely audible.
Takakai couldn't see her anymore—just blurry shapes.
Is she crying?
For someone she's known three days?
A mischievous impulse struck.
"A last wish... or maybe a selfish request."
He raised his left hand, tapping his ruined cheek.
"I've never been kissed. Dying alone... seems lonely. So... could you kiss me? I like you, Maki. If it's you... I'd have no regrets."
"Eh?!"
Her shocked squeak delighted him.
Ah, maybe this is too mean... but I'm dying here. She'll forgive me.
He braced for anger. For her to shove him off.
Instead—
"...I understand, Kai."
Her voice was soft, close—
Warm breath brushed his ear.
"Thank you... for liking me."
"If we'd met somewhere else... if I'd known you longer..."
Then—
A touch.
Light. Fleeting.
On his lips.
Takakai couldn't feel it—not really.
But in that moment, he swore he tasted—
Her warmth.
And it was—
Enchanting.