After the three fell into the pit, several minutes passed before Ken slowly began to open his eyes. His vision was blurry, and the lights around him were indistinct. As his awareness returned, he realized he was alone… There was no sign of Akio or Vico. He tried to stand but groaned in pain. The injury from the fall throbbed violently, yet he forced himself to rise, ignoring the burning sensation slicing through his chest.
Ken (weakly):
"Feels like I've got a fever… Lost a lot of blood."
Still, he walked forward with heavy steps, not knowing where the path would lead. Suddenly, he heard a girl screaming from behind a massive stone door ahead. The voice wasn't fearful—it was angry, defiant. He rushed forward and pushed the door open.
Inside, a teenage girl with short purple hair and glowing violet eyes was chained up, her mouth gagged with a cloth, but she still screamed through it. Surrounding her stood several short, stone-like soldiers with distorted, statue-like faces. They encircled her like guards awaiting orders.
At the back stood an irregular stone throne, and on it sat a translucent entity glowing with a pale green light. He had medium-length black hair that hung over a pale face, and he appeared to be in his mid-thirties. But his lifeless eyes revealed he no longer belonged to the world of the living.
The Black Ghost.
As Ken stepped in, everyone turned toward him simultaneously, staring at his wounded, sweat-drenched body. Yet still… he stood tall.
Black Ghost:
"Well, well… Look who graces us today. Yukaji Ken himself!"
Ken (breathing heavily):
"H-How do you know my name?"
Black Ghost (mocking laugh):
"Heh… Don't be naive. Your reputation precedes you—in the world of humans… and in mine. You're the boy who faced King Cirrus without fear. We know everything about you."
Ann looked toward Ken, shouting through her gag, trying to get his attention.
Ken (sharply):
"So this is Ann… If you won't hand her over, I'll take her by force. And I'll take the forbidden scroll too!"
The Black Ghost erupted into long, cruel laughter, then fixed his gaze on Ken.
Black Ghost:
"Trying to play the hero now, Yukaji Ken?"
Ken (lighting his cigarette with casual defiance):
"I'm not a hero. Just a guy doing a job for his team."
Ann (thinking):
"Oh… oh my god… Who is this handsome guy?! Red hair, glowing gray eyes… He's stolen my heart! My future husband… His name is Ken-san!"
Ken took a drag from his cigarette and calmly stepped toward Ann, eyeing the stone soldiers as they tensed to attack. He stared them down with contempt, then grabbed one with one hand—lifted it—and threw it across the room like a rag doll.
Ken (mocking):
"These pathetic things are what you plan to fight me with?"
Black Ghost (calmly):
"You're wounded—you can't fight. I know you're in pain and on the verge of screaming."
Ken (angrily):
"Nonsense! I'm at full strength!"
Ann (blushing, thinking):
"Is he going to save me…? This handsome guy… Is this a dream?! He's my future husband—Ken-san!"
Without warning, Ken drew his sword from his back and charged through the stone soldiers, cutting them down one by one with swift precision. He reached Ann and reached to undo her chains—when the Black Ghost suddenly materialized in front of him, blocking the way.
Black Ghost (coldly):
"You think this is a game, Yukaji Ken? You've beaten my guards… now you face me. I am a ghost. I do not die."
Ken (steadily):
"Then let's end this. Show me what you've got."
Black Ghost (grinning):
"You asked for it—prepare yourself."
Before Ken could react, the Black Ghost vanished like mist—then reappeared behind him, delivering a powerful punch to his back. Ken's body hit the ground hard, but he didn't let the pain consume him. He rose quickly, panting, trying to understand his opponent's style.
The ghost vanished and reappeared unpredictably, attacking and disappearing like a being from another realm. At first, Ken took hit after hit, unable to block them. The ghost's movements were too fast, too sudden. But then—Ken realized strength alone wouldn't win—he needed focus.
Ken (thinking, narrowing his eyes):
"I can't see him… but he's here. The air shifts… the sound… the smell… Focus, Ken. Use all your senses."
He closed his eyes, placed a hand on the ground, and concentrated on his surroundings. Faint breathing… soft footsteps… that slight burning smell whenever the ghost got close.
Ken (whispering to himself):
"I won't let you vanish from me again…"
Elsewhere in the cave, Akio wandered alone, calling out:
Akio (increasingly worried):
"Ken? Vico? Where are you guys?!"
Suddenly, he stepped on a hidden pressure plate, and a large mechanical sound groaned from a stone gate ahead—it opened slowly. A dim light illuminated a new room. At the center was the forbidden scroll, sealed in a thick glass container, surrounded by crisscrossing laser beams.
Akio (smirking):
"Hah. What is this?"
He crept to the edge of the laser lines, spotted a small button on the far wall, and pointed his finger.
Akio (confidently):
"Let's finish this in one move."
A tiny spark shot from his fingertip, hitting the button perfectly. The lasers powered down. He laughed proudly and stepped toward the scroll.
Akio (smug):
"Made it easy for yourself, hero. Just gotta break the glass now."
He drew his sword and struck the container—but the moment the glass cracked, a trapdoor opened beneath him.
Akio (screaming):
"AAAAAH!! THE SCRRROOOOLL!!!"
His voice vanished into the depths… the scroll remained behind, untouched—as if the room had waited for someone to slip.
—
Elsewhere, Vico awoke in a cold, dark chamber, faint light barely revealing his surroundings. Before him stood three massive stone doors, each marked with a mysterious sigil… clearly representing his friends: Ken, Akio, and his sister Ann.
In front of each door stood a stone statue resembling the person it represented, so lifelike it seemed about to move. As Vico looked around in confusion, a cloaked figure emerged from the darkness. His black robes billowed, face completely obscured—nothing visible but a shadow.
The cloaked being (cold, ominous voice):
"You're finally awake, Vico… Your test is simple: choose who survives. Only one… The other two will be erased."
Vico froze, eyes wide in shock. He tried to run toward the statues, but the moment he got close, they glowed brightly and repelled him with invisible force.
Vico (trembling with fury):
"Are you mocking me?! Where's my sister?! Where are my friends?! Give them back!"
Cloaked being:
"If you don't choose, they all die."
Vico (voice rising):
"Where's my sister?!"
The figure stepped closer and pulled a small crystal orb from his cloak. Inside, an image of Ann appeared—chained and screaming, struggling inside the Black Ghost's chamber. Her face was soaked in sweat, furious, and terrified.
Vico (screaming):
"ANN!!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER?! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!!"
Cloaked being (demonic voice):
"We could release her easily. Just choose to protect her… and the others will vanish."
Vico (choking on emotion):
"No… Ken and Akio can't die. They carry dreams, destinies… Me? I have no dream worth fighting for."
Cloaked being:
"Then you must choose one of the boys at your sister's expense."
A heavy silence followed, then Vico shouted:
Vico:
"Enough… If someone has to die… let it be me!"
Cloaked being (genuinely surprised):
"You'd sacrifice yourself? For them? You're a foolish boy…"
Vico's body shook, cold sweat dripping down his face, but his eyes stayed focused, defiant against the rising dread.
Vico (strained but resolute):
"I'm just a dumb kid… no big dreams… but Ken, Akio, Ann—they're the future. If you're taking someone… take me."
Cloaked being:
"But you've only known Ken and Akio for one day. Why would you die for them?"
Vico (voice breaking but sincere):
"Because I felt something different… something I've never felt before. Like we've known each other for years. Like there's a bond we can't explain. Maybe I was just a small piece of their journey… but I was proud to be that piece."
The cloaked figure approached, then pulled out a dark sword, placing the blade at Vico's throat. Vico trembled, staring at the gleaming steel as it inched closer. He did not move. He was ready.
But just before the blade touched him… the figure paused.
Cloaked being (coldly):
"Well done… You passed the test. You may proceed."
Vico (shaking, stunned):
R-Really?! You're not going to kill me?!"
Cloaked being (indifferent):
"Death was never part of the trial. Therefore… you live. And so do they."
Vico collapsed to the floor, sobbing, a flood of tears, sweat, and overwhelming relief.
Cloaked being (as he retreated into the shadows):
"By the way… you cry too much. You've soaked half the cave since you got here."
He vanished into the dark… leaving Vico on the cold stone floor, crying in bitter silence.
To be continued…