The night sky, covered in stars, illuminated Koloris's eyes. The lamps of the buildings blinked at regular intervals. Inside a building with its front wall partially collapsed, the starlight streamed through the space, dancing with the fresh breeze.
Revild clenched his fists tightly. His eyes shone a deep blue, like a predator facing its prey. His clothes fluttered in the wind, but his attention was 100% on Koloris.
The silence that had held for a few seconds was broken by the sound of her footsteps. Her black hair swayed, and the blades in her hands spun slowly between her fingers.
— As I said before... I can teach you more about resurrection. But you'll have to come with me — Koloris said, her voice sarcastic and firm, passing a blade through her hair.
Revild clenched his fists even more. For a moment he thought of charging forward, but he took a deep breath and released his attack stance. He remained focused on her, but his curiosity about resurrection was evident. Still, he didn't lower his guard.
His blue eyes fixed on every movement Koloris made, as she walked strangely, caressing her hair and neck with the blade.
— You said you don't want to face me. So what? — Revild spoke calmly, unhurried yet icy.
Koloris tilted her head, staring at the star-filled sky with an ambiguous smile. She seemed indifferent. Revild, in turn, was ready for battle or conversation.
— You get two minutes of my attention — Revild said, cold and calculating, hiding his curiosity.
— Two? Are you sure two are enough? Because you'll want to hear even more! — Koloris replied, excited, slowly running her tongue over her lips.
Without responding, Revild simply stared at her. The wind returned the night's silence. No insects, no animal roars—just flickering lamps and still buildings.
— You know... I've been counting since the moment you stole from Ragnoto — Koloris said, as if telling a joke.
Revild clenched his teeth. His fists tightened, but he kept his breathing under control. He had to listen.
— What exactly did you count? — he asked in a cold tone, still trying to maintain balance.
— When you fought Ragnoto, you imitated resurrection and used it to defeat him. That was the first time. — Koloris smiled, moving closer, trailing the blade grotesquely across her body. — When you faced me, you used it twice. That makes three.
Her smile twisted further. She moved dangerously close. With a distorted voice, she whispered:
— In summary... you died three times.
Those words hit Revild like an electric shock. His eyes widened. His hands trembled as he fought to maintain self-control.
In slow steps, Revild advanced, raising dust with each stride across the rubble. He swallowed hard. His eyes burned with tension.
— I can make you something special... the first human to master resurrection — Koloris whispered, lifting her blades with a near-deranged grin. Her pink lips contrasted with her black hair falling across her face.
Her words penetrated Revild's mind. Even trying to stay composed, "three times" echoed like a curse. He bit his lip, attempting to banish those words from his mind.
— What do you mean by that? — he asked, upright, arms trembling, voice cold and demanding.
— You already have what makes a demon special... the connection with the elixir — Koloris said seriously, staring at him closely.
Revild's eyebrows furrowed. Beads of sweat rolled down his temples, dropping to the ground.
— Ah! I almost forgot... — Koloris tilted her head with a crooked smile. — The barrier you humans placed to stop demons from entering the human world... it won't let you return either.
Her words were cruel, dripping with perverse pleasure. Revild didn't know what to think. It could be a lie, but… it didn't feel like one.
— What are you talking about...? What barrier...? — Revild murmured, feeling his predator posture falter. He needed answers.
Koloris's smile deepened, satisfied.
— Two minutes are up — she said, touching the blade's tip.
Her body began to fade slowly. Only her fingers remained, gesturing a mocking "byebye."
Revild reacted. The ground nearly cracked under his feet as he lunged forward, attempting to catch her. But it was too late. Koloris had vanished.
Silence reclaimed the space. Dust from his leap lingered in the air.
Fury erupted. Revild punched the wall with such force that it cracked wide open. Lamps flickered, some shattered.
He stared up at the sky again. The stars offered no answers, only reflections of that silent chaos.
Koloris's words echoed relentlessly in his mind: "You died three times..." and "The barrier won't let you return."
The wind ruffled his hair and clothes. Inside, however… only doubt and confusion remained.
Still, he clenched his fists and took a deep breath.
Revild left the building and headed toward the rest of the group. In the distance, he could already make out Otakura, Alya, Sasha, and Takimira.
— Whatever's waiting… I will win this game — he whispered to himself, eyes fixed on his arms.
---
In the human world...
A room with white walls and expensive decor. The scent of medicine hung in the air. On the bed, Okizonora's daughter lay unconscious. Her skin was pale, thin, unrecognizable. Chestnut hair spread across the mattress.
Beside her, the man in the white suit held his wife Yomy's hand as she quietly wept. Her red dress trailed on the floor. Her hands gripped their daughter's arm.
The man wiped his daughter's forehead, struggling to hold back tears.
— Honey... it will be okay. You will save our daughter — Yomy said, resting her head on the girl's body.
He inhaled deeply, dabbing at his own tears.
— You're right. I should be working to save her... — he replied, his voice choked with despair.
Pú... pú...
The door was knocked gently. The sound echoed in the room.
— Mister Okizonora, could you come here? — a voice spoke tremblingly.
He rose slowly, opened the door, and stepped out. A trembling employee stood waiting, tablet in hand.
— Why are you here? — asked Okizonora, adjusting his tie, attempting to conceal his fatigue.
The employee swallowed hard.
— Sir... I don't know how, but someone crossed the barrier.
Okizonora froze briefly. Then straightened his collar.
— What? That barrier was meant to block demons! So how... ? — His voice rose, echoed through the hallway, heard by Yomy inside.
The employee trembled even more.
— It wasn't a demon... it was a player. — He held up the tablet. — He's not someone recently sent. He was one of the first players sent into the demonic world.
Okizonora's eyes widened.
— Impossible. The first group was all killed!
The employee stepped forward, showing an image on the tablet.
A man. Tattered cape. White sword at his waist. A samurai.
Okizonora's face went pale. He squeezed the tablet in anger and hurled it at the wall.
Then he screamed, his voice echoing through the entire mansion:
— FIND HIM!