Two footsteps sounded faintly, cutting through the night forest. The night wind swayed their black cloaks, and the sounds of nocturnal animals accompanied their steps.
One of them spoke.
"What happened earlier? Why did Katarina look like she was crying after meeting you, Alex?"
Alex glanced to the side, one of his eyebrows raised.
"Why? It seems like you care about her a lot, Ken?"
Ken looked at Alex.
"Yes… actually I've known her for a long time. I'm just worried… maybe?"
Alex's eyes narrowed when he heard what Ken said. He nudged his shoulder and smiled.
"Do you like her? Katarina?"
Ken's eyes widened, his movements becoming stiff as he tried to deny it.
Alex chuckled when he saw that, then wrapped an arm around him.
"Hey, you know we just met this afternoon, right?"
Ken nodded.
"Let's take a look at you."
Alex released his arm and squeezed Ken's shoulders and arms.
"Your body is good, your personality is also okay, and you're even taller than me."
Alex stroked his chin.
"I guess you've never confessed your feelings?"
Ken nodded his head without enthusiasm.
"Then confess before it's too late, friend."
Ken repeatedly pressed his two index fingers together. He looked hesitant, and a sigh escaped his lips.
"It seems she… she likes Julian. You can see it in her eyes when she looks at him."
Alex nodded.
"Wow, it turns out you really like her, and that much."
Alex started walking again and Ken followed.
"That's why, in the end you have to defeat Julian and kick his butt."
Ken looked at Alex.
"Why me and not us?"
Alex looked at Ken and smiled.
"Because I will fight Arthur."
Ken's eyes narrowed.
"You just don't want to fight the strongest one, right? And instead you're telling me to fight him."
Alex chuckled.
"No way, friend. I'll defeat Arthur quickly, then help you as soon as possible."
Ken's gaze toward Alex only showed suspicion.
Their conversation continued for a while.
Suddenly Alex stopped walking, and Ken followed.
Alex looked toward the darkness of the forest ahead.
'Krystal, activate your skill.'
'Yo..'
A little of Alex's mana flowed into his eyes, and suddenly words appeared in the darkness before his sight.
'Ciya rina'
'Kinan mara'
'Bara joo'
'Shin shiki'
Alex looked at Ken and placed his index finger against his lips.
"Shuush."
Alex's finger moved to point upward toward the tree branches.
Ken nodded.
Ken channeled mana into the soles of his feet and jumped onto the tree branch above them.
Meanwhile Alex took out a small piece of paper with a symbol drawn on it.
A faint light came out from the symbol, and Alex directed it toward the branch where Ken was.
A rope wrapped around the branch and pulled Alex upward.
Ken looked at Alex and whispered.
"Why didn't you just use mana?"
Alex looked at Ken.
"To look cool…"
Ken looked at Alex blankly.
Silence enveloped the two of them above.
But the sound of footsteps soon began to be heard. Below, four people were walking toward the tree where they were hiding.
From above the tree, their conversation could be heard.
"Damn, we're really going to starve to death."
"Yeah… who would have thought this would turn into a survival simulation."
"Especially with Arthur rushing to finish everything, we'll really die once we get to the real world."
They all sighed.
"That cleanliness-loving psychopath has really gone crazy."
"Yeah… he's not the only one who wants to take a bath, we all want to take a bath!"
"Enough, enough. There's nothing to regret, right? Besides, only four classes remain, and maybe class 1C and 1F are destroying themselves right now."
They all nodded.
"The most difficult one is Julian's class."
"That's why we need to get logistics before the fight against them."
"Hopefully in that field there will be logistics that wi—"
Before he finished his words, the sound of wind was heard clearly. A spear pierced his head, causing him to collapse instantly.
Slash
The others around him could only watch as their friend died, and blood splattered onto their faces.
The remaining girl screamed when she saw her friend pierced by the white spear.
"HAAAAAH!"
Meanwhile the two other boys quickly took out their weapons from their smart bracelets.
"Calm down, Kinan!"
"We have to prepare."
Kinan quickly calmed herself and took out her weapon.
They stood back to back. There was a small gap behind them, but only silence surrounded them.
Sweat ran down their bodies.
"Come out, damn it! Fight us bravely, you coward!"
Only silence responded, along with the sound of wind blowing above them.
They all looked up.
A black-cloaked figure holding a katana slowly descended. His face could not be seen, but his left eye glowed white.
A shout disrupted them.
"Just kill the girl!"
The katana was drawn from its sheath, its blade shining.
Slash
The girl's head was cleanly severed and fell to the ground together with the cloaked figure.
The two remaining people quickly retreated in opposite directions to keep their distance.
They had no words to say.
And another black-cloaked figure descended from the tree.
The newly descended figure looked at one of the boys, while the katana wielder looked at the other.
The new cloaked figure sighed.
"Switch places, I only want that one."
His words made the hair on the back of their necks stand.
The katana user looked confused.
"Why?"
"I don't like his name."
"Do you know him?"
"No."
Their conversation made the atmosphere even more tense.
The two boys looked at the change of opponents.
"Who are you?"
"Your grim reapers, so don't ask too many questions."
Those words marked the beginning of their battle.
The katana user dashed forward, his left eye turning white again.
The boy facing him swung his sword vertically.
But the katana user jumped and spun his body in the air.
The boy was stunned, but from that spin a hidden slash was launched.
Slash!
The boy's head fell to the ground, and his body slowly collapsed.
Thud.
Meanwhile on the other side at the same time.
The cloaked figure pointed his left hand toward the white spear. The spear shone and slowly transformed into a whip.
The cloaked figure held the whip and lashed it toward the other boy.
Sreet
The boy managed to dodge with all his ability.
But the next attack came. The following strike wrapped around the boy's left arm.
Sreet
The sound of teeth grinding came from the boy as he hurried to cut the whip.
The cloaked figure smiled and channeled mana into the whip. It glowed again.
On the part of the whip wrapped around the boy's arm, small blades appeared, piercing the skin of his hand.
A groan escaped his mouth.
"Argh.."
The cloaked figure pulled the whip with all his strength.
Slash!
The boy's left arm was torn off and dragged along with the whip.
The boy fell to the ground. Groans of pain echoed through the silent forest.
Sweat mixed with tears soaked his body.
Footsteps approached him.
The boy lifted his head while holding his severed left arm.
The face of the cloaked figure became visible.
A boy his age with short black hair, black eyes, and a terrifying smile revealed himself.
The boy swallowed.
"Damn… isn't this too much?"
The cloaked figure nodded.
"Yes… forgive me, and may you rest in peace."
Before the boy could reply, his head rolled onto the ground.
The cloaked figure yawned, and a voice sounded behind him.
"Are you done already, Alex?"
Alex turned around, but his heart immediately began pounding.
"Damn!... you didn't say you had already changed your form."
In front of him stood a cloaked boy with a bald head.
The bald boy shrugged.
"Hurry up."
Alex sighed.
"Be patient, Ken."
Alex picked up the head that had fallen to the ground and looked at it, then he channeled mana into the cloak he was wearing.
Slowly his face changed and his hair turned gray.
Alex threw the head back onto the ground.
Ken looked at him.
"Did you choose him because he's not bald?"
Alex shrugged.
"No. Of course not, friend."
Ken looked at him in disbelief.
Alex pointed at Ken.
"From now on you are Bara Joo."
Then Alex pointed at himself.
"And I am Shin Shiki."
Ken looked at Alex.
"How do you know their names? Do you know them?"
Alex chuckled.
"I just saw their names written above their heads."
Ken looked at Alex with a blank stare.
"Are you joking? It seems you've become even crazier after getting hit by Mira's virus."
Alex shrugged.
"No."
Ken sighed and didn't continue the conversation anymore.
The two of them slowly walked toward the direction where the four people had come from.
But suddenly Alex stopped walking again, and Ken turned.
"Why?"
Alex only looked at Ken blankly.
"I'm sorry, friend. I can't stand the pain, so it's better if it's you."
Ken's face turned confused.
Alex picked up the whip lying on the ground. Light came out of it and it transformed into a small knife.
Alex hugged Ken, while Ken swallowed, unable to react.
Slash!
Alex stabbed Ken in the stomach with the knife.
Ken's eyes widened, veins bulged on his forehead as he grabbed Alex's back.
Alex chuckled and patted his back.
"Endure it, friend. This is so they won't be suspicious."
Alex's laughter echoed through the silent forest, while Ken's voice could not be heard.
Inside the observation room, Arkan, Kartika, and even the operators could only stare in shock as Alex stabbed Ken.
Arkan pointed at the screen and looked at Kartika.
"Isn't he crazy?"
Kartika swallowed.
"Yes… he really is crazy."
Arkan covered his mouth.
"We need to prevent him from hanging out with innocent Ken."
Arkan asked the operator.
"Sir, who exactly is that boy?"
The operator began checking Alex's face briefly.
"He is Alex Sander, the representative of class 1C."
Arkan nodded.
"So he's the class representative, Alex Sander… I feel like I've heard his name before."
Kartika looked at Arkan.
"Isn't he the one who was with Rina and Reva during the train incident?"
Arkan snapped his fingers.
"Ah right, I can't believe a crazy person is actually close to Rina."
Kartika chuckled.
"I think we should prevent Rina from getting close to that Alex."
Arkan nodded.
Arkan's gaze now shifted to a smaller screen.
"Sir, try displaying that image."
The operator followed Arkan's instruction.
The image that was previously on the smaller screen was now displayed on the main screen.
There, Katarina stood at the edge of a meadow. Her dark red hair flowed every time the night wind blew.
Her gaze was fixed on the activity of her classmates who were moving logistics to the center of the meadow. Shouts occasionally reached her ears, but her gaze did not change. There was only emptiness in her eyes.
Her right hand stroked the red crystal necklace around her neck, her thoughts in turmoil.
'That necklace should be found by Julian later, and then he would give it to me.'
Katarina sighed as she imagined Julian putting the necklace on her.
'Julian didn't know the name of the necklace. He only took it because its red color reminded him of my hair.'
Katarina bit her nail.
'But what is the actual name of this necklace? And what is its use?'
'Does Alex know something? Should I ask him?'
Katarina sighed, looked at the night sky that was slowly brightening, and closed her eyes.
'All I remember is this necklace shining in my dream when I died.'
A touch was felt on Katarina's shoulder. Katarina opened her eyes and looked to the left.
"Are you alright, Rina?"
Katarina nodded slightly.
"I'm fine, Mira."
"Are you sick?"
Katarina shook her head.
Mira wrapped an arm around Katarina's shoulder.
"Is it because of that trickster?"
Katarina rested her head on Mira's shoulder.
"No…"
Mira stroked Katarina's head.
"If he does anything strange just tell me, I'll scratch him again."
Katarina smiled faintly.
Mira sighed.
"By the way I just noticed that necklace. It's very beautiful."
Katarina smiled faintly again, stroking the necklace.
"Yes… it's beautiful, very beautiful."
Katarina sighed.
"Are the preparations finished? Is the digging done?"
Mira nodded.
"Yes… thanks to everyone working together, the digging is finished."
Katarina smiled.
Slowly the dark sky faded into white.
Yellow light gradually illuminated the meadow and forest, reaching Katarina and Mira.
Katarina took a deep breath. Her smile now felt warmer.
Suddenly Katarina remembered something.
"Ah I forgot to send the challenge message to Julian."
Katarina raised her hand, mana flowing into it.
An eagle formed from Katarina's blue fire.
"Go, to Julian."
The eagle flew, cutting through the sky that was slowly brightening.
Katarina and Mira watched the eagle fly away.
A sigh escaped Katarina's lips.
"This time let's beat Julian and Arthur, Mira."
Mira nodded.
"Don't forget Eve."
A small laugh escaped Katarina's lips.
"Yes… Eve too."