In a deep slumber, the body feels like they were floating in the air. As if they've gone to rest forever fully.
Ryuma opened his eyes. Not knowing what happened, he was almost panic since none of his body parts touched the ground and instead floated in the air.
"Yo, White-haired guy. I thought you'd never wake up."
It was the sniper, greeting as she's floating not far from him. Ryuma looked down and saw the landscape of the forest. Seeing himself in the current situation, he is confused and asks the sniper a question.
"Where were we?"
"The afterlife. Or so I was gonna say. We both died. And those two too."
The sniper pointed her finger in the direction behind Ryuma. Ryuma looked over his back and saw the other two people floating in the air. Rio and Jamis. They didn't seem to be waking up by their expression.
"So, is this the ability of the Deathless World?"
"You caught on quick. Yes, it is. I'm gonna ask a question... Uh, whatever your name is."
"Ryuma. Ryuma Ochirou. And what is it?"
"Do you... remember how you died?"
Hearing a question from the sniper, Ryuma tried to remember a thing or two before he died. But it was no use. He can't remember it.
"Figures. That's probably the side effect of Deathless World. You might remember the memories before you died. You might not. Well, I only vividly remember how I died in the first round."
The sniper showed her bare back. Ryuma can see her bra strap. But it was not important at the moment.
"You might not see it, but I can still fill it. The stabbing feeling on my back. Pierced through my heart to the front chest. Until he pulls out the deep thrust. By the guy... Hmm, what was his name again? Ten?"
Ryuma realized it just now, but he instinctively held his left rib.
"I... remember it just now too..."
The sniper then smiled while floating upside down.
"Well, good for you. But I'm gonna ask you another question. How does it feel to be dying?"
Ryuma looked away from the sniper's eyes and gave it a deep thought.
"At first, it hurts like hell. As if something has gouged out every organ of my body. That's until... I was on the death door. As if... I was released from a thousand chains. Until I become one of the stars in the sky."
"Damn shit, I've never given it that really of thought. I was only pissed because I couldn't see it coming. But you just made the whole paragraph."
"Honest opinion, okay? You asked for it."
("Ten? Isn't that my room neighbor?")
Ryuma asked the sniper a question…
"So... Zoya."
"Zoey is fine, that's what everyone calls me."
"Then Zoey, do you happen to see this Ten guy's ability? Or the way he's fighting?"
"Nope, I couldn't even hear him coming from behind me. It's as if he erased his existence. I planted about 10 landmines behind me. But he got past them just like that. That's why I use 30 this time."
"Erasing his existence... So is he like an assassin or a ninja? Because he told me he's half Shinjukan. Either way, I'm gonna observe him to acknowledge his strength."
("From the first time we met, I still got this goosebump. It's as if I were looking at the big, dark wall. A really huge wall.")
"Well, good luck with that. By the way, just to tell you about the side effects. We both might not remember this conversation as our memory might not be in contact with our body."
Hearing Zoey's words, Ryuma fell silent.
"..... For real?"
"Yes, yes. For real. So just in case I forgot to tell you, Ryuma Ochirou... Next time, I will crush you..."
Hearing threatening words from Zoey, Ryuma smirks.
"Well, you're welcome to try that. Any weapon, any dirty tricks, I will crush them all."
"Well, I'd like to see that."
They both fell silent. Gazing at the sky or the landscape of the forest. Minutes later, Zoey is the one who broke the silence.
"This reminds me, aren't these forests the same as the famous hunting spot at Weisgen? I only just recognized the cliff and the signs at the entrance. You might not see it because it's far away, but I'm certain this is the same forest. You know, Jamis and the others always come here..."
At the same time, Ryuma felt like he was about to sleep. But he tried to preserve it because of his interest in Zoey's story. But it was no use. The world around him went completely dark.
…
The next time Ryuma opened his eyes, he was in the infirmary. Staring at the ceiling.
Ryuma looked around to find that there were only a few people who were lying on the bed. Zoey and Jamis were not in the room. That goes the same for Rio, Kiyo, and Line. And there's Mika, lie in upside down. Staring at him.
"Why do you look at me like that?"
"Nothing, just bored."
Ryuma seems suspicious of Mika. A second later, Line entered the room. As she looked at Ryuma, she immediately looked away. Ryuma is incredibly suspicious and checks his face on the window. A scribble of mustache and such. He immediately knew the culprit.
Ryuma takes a deep breath as Mika silently tries to walk out of the room. And in an instant, he immediately throws any object near him towards Mika. A direct hit, as Mika collapsed on the floor, Ryuma immediately went to pounce on him.
…
Minutes later, A few bulges can be found on Mika's head. Ryuma, on the other hand, went to wash his face. As he was about to finish, A loud sound echoed through the room. As Ryuma saw the crack on the wall made by Michail.
Michail glared at Mika and walked towards him. Mika glared back and sent a few words to him.
"Ahh~ What?! Wanna fight?!!"
Mika is confident in defeating Michail in 1v1. As Michail stood in front of Mika, he looked around.
"Where is that guy?"
"Aah?~ I dunno any guy~ Too many guys in this school."
"It's fine. I'm just gonna ask for a favor. And make sure to warn that guy."
Michail bowed to Mika.
"Please, in these three years, please leave Fimana alone."
Mika couldn't have ever predicted this was going to happen. The same goes for Ryuma. The son of a noble just bowed down to Mika.
Mika looked to Ryuma with a clueless face.
"Hey, what am I supposed to do with this?"
Ryuma looked at Fimana, who was still sleeping, and then opened his mouth.
"So, just ignore your little sister... Is that only it? Well, we don't have any interest in her anyway, so we can elaborate. In exchange, stop being hot-tempered if you still wanna change yourself at least."
"In that case... Sorry, I can't trust anyone, especially a stranger."
Mika stands up and stands in front of Michail. Their height is recognizable, and Michail is taller than Mika.
"You're honestly a strong opponent. But, the current me can defeat the current you. And the current you can defeat the current Kiyo, and the current Kiyo can't defeat the current me. So, in the future, I will become stronger and hold the highest ranking of the three of us."
Mika gives a thumb on Michail's chest as a sign of rivalry.
"Kiyo just ran off the moment Nurse Line finished examining him. Don't know where he's going, though."
"That's fine. I will search for him until the end of the world."
As Michail was about to leave the room, Ryuma called for him.
"I don't know what he's done, but I'll just say it to you. Keep it in moderation. I don't wanna see any blood splatter."
Ryuma said that as he glared at Michail. But Mika broke the tension between the two.
"Well, Ryuma, the truth is… The moment I arrived at the crime scene, Kiyo had already embraced Fimana half-naked while her brother was out cold."
"You know what? Just fucking kill him. Make sure the blood splatters every corner."
Ryuma just turned a 180. As Michail leaves, another figure comes in. The first one to speak is Line.
"Huh? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Sorry, sorry, can I meet with Ryuma's team right now?
"What?" The guy in a white lab coat. Rudy. Comes in to meet Ryuma all of a sudden.