DEATH REALM — FOREST
— There he is… our enemy.
Louis's voice was heavy with exhaustion.
In front of them, Rasfi stood upright, his gaze completely devoid of warmth.
Nakid spoke quietly, without taking his eyes off him.
— We wait for the others before acting.
Rasfi let out a dry laugh.
— No need.
Those two women aren't coming back.
He turned around and slowly shut the door behind him, as if sealing a grave.
— They can't survive what surrounds them.
You have to accept it. That's how life works.
Nakid's fists tightened.
— You bastard!
How can you be so insensitive?!
Do you not have a heart?!
Rasfi's eyes dimmed.
— In this world, trust is an illusion.
The one who gives the most… is always the one who loses.
He inhaled slowly.
— I was devoted to my king.
A kind king.
And yet… he betrayed me.
His voice barely trembled.
— I had to accept a simple truth:
Trust is a gift of the heart… and it is temporary.
It never lasts.
— And for that, you sacrifice innocent lives?! Louis shot back, disgusted.
— Who wouldn't have? Rasfi replied coldly.
— I'm no saint.
And they weren't strong enough. That's the truth.
— That's enough, Ryan growled.
One more word and you're dead.
Nakid raised his head.
— You're right about one thing, Rasfi.
The world is full of people who can kill us.
He placed a hand over his heart.
— But there are kind people too.
I refuse to live alone against everyone.
Even if my goal is to save my mother…
I will never betray.
I will never lie.
I will never kill just to survive.
— Well said, Chiyo smiled faintly.
Rasfi looked away.
— In one month, I'll regain my aura.
I'll go see the King.
And I'll ask him what he thinks of those ideals.
— Where is he? Nakid asked.
— In a clan, I imagine.
Rasfi walked away, disappearing into the trees.
Nakid watched him go.
— In the end… he stayed loyal to his King until the very end.
Then, more quietly—
— I believe in Ysabella and Yorelei.
They'll find a way.
Even if he wasn't certain.
He had to believe.
To survive the thought of losing them.
LABYRINTH
Yorelei now wielded Onimaru's katana.
Clint held a corroded saber.
Ysabella carried Clint's pistol.
Onimaru… had nothing left.
He whispered toward the katana:
Do not strike her.
But do not protect her either.
— Perfect, Yorelei said.
I more or less know how to use it.
— GIVE ME BACK MY WEAPON! Clint roared.
But the gun refused to leave Ysabella's hand.
Then—
The baby drooled.
A rain of acid fell from above.
Chaos erupted.
Bodies were pierced.
Limbs dissolved.
Screams filled the labyrinth.
Yorelei was struck again and again.
When it ended—
Only twelve survivors remained.
Among them:
Clint (immune)
The hooded man
The baby
Kelly
Kelly appeared in front of Yorelei.
— Well, well… greetings, princess.
— I… I'm glad… you're here, Kelly…
— The mission? he said.
A complete disaster.
He smiled.
— Because of you, Angelo is between life and death.
— …Sorry.
Are you going to kill me?
— No.
You're going to die alone.
He pointed at her armor.
— Your crest is gone.
You are nothing now.
— …Weren't you… just… a dog…? she whispered.
Kelly chuckled.
— Even a dog has instinct.
Better a free outcast than a gilded slave.
Yorelei felt her strength fading.
— I only wanted… to help those children…
What will my brother think…?
A memory echoed inside her mind:
I made your favorite meal…
My sister is amazing…
Kelly looked at her silently.
— At least, he murmured, you mattered to someone.
— I accept it… if this is my end…
The acid consumed her.
Yorelei disappeared—
Leaving behind nothing but a princess's smile.
THE LAST PLAYER
Ysabella could barely stand. Both legs were injured.
A monstrous shark-like entity pursued her through the collapsing floor.
— Only eleven players remain…
It attacked.
She was dying.
But inside her mind—
A baby.
A husband.
A door waiting to be opened.
— This… is the end…
— THIS IS THE END THE GAME, declared the MazeBoy.
Ysabella was teleported.
Alive.
OUTSIDE
Nakid shouted as he caught her. His aura flickered violently.
— Why did you let her live? Onimaru asked.
— I've eaten enough for a thousand years, MazeBoy replied.
— And… she was special.
Nakid wept as he healed her wounds.
— Don't cry… Ysabella smiled weakly. I'm here.
Then—
— …Yorelei?
Nakid froze.
— I'm sorry.
Silence fell.
— How…
How are we going to tell Yoreru…?
Ysabella didn't answer.
END OF THE LABYRINTH ARC