"Some final advice," the doctor said, flicking ash toward a cracked dish full of teeth. "Don't trust anyone. Even kids."
Kai didn't reply. He was finishing the last button on the too-big, too-worn shirt the man had given him. His ribs still burned beneath the gauze. The salve on his side itched, crusting over the place where his kidney used to be.
"Thanks," Kai said flatly, voice hoarse. "I will."
He left.
The streets hit like heat from a furnace. No breeze. Just thick, metallic air. Buildings leaned over each other like they'd collapsed mid-fight and got stuck. Rusted ladders climbed to nowhere. A row of neon signs buzzed with fractured symbols — some for rations, some for weapons, some for services Kai didn't want to understand.
People didn't walk here. They slithered. Moved in clumps. Talked without sound. Laughed without smiling. No one met anyone's eyes unless they were picking a fight.
Kai moved carefully. Head down. Every footstep on cracked cement echoed too loud in his ears.
Then—
"Sir! Sir, please!"
A child's voice.
He stopped before thinking.
A boy — small, maybe ten or eleven — scrambled toward him, eyes wide and wild. His hoodie was three sizes too big and stained with something dark.
"Please," the boy begged. "My mom, she's sick! She collapsed, I can't carry her, please—"
Kai hesitated.
Don't trust anyone. Even kids.
But the boy was shaking. Eyes red. His voice cracked just right.
"…Fine," Kai muttered.
He followed.
They cut down a narrow alley, past walls strung with wire and faded chalk sigils. The building they entered had no door — just a tarp acting like one. Inside, it smelled like wet metal and mold.
"She's just upstairs," the boy said.
Kai climbed.
The hallway was narrow. Too narrow.
As he reached the top step—
Hands grabbed him.
A fist slammed into his gut. Another into his jaw. He hit the floor, dazed, his wound flaring bright pain through his side. The moment he tried to rise, they shoved him down again — into a metal chair bolted to the floor.
Someone pulled a cord tight around his chest. His arms were free, but his torso couldn't move.
Three other men sat at the table already.
No words. No introductions.
A fourth man stepped into view. Bald, scar above one eye, sleeves rolled to show gang brands inked into his forearms.
"Lucky you," he said. "Last seat of the night."
Kai's breathing slowed. He didn't speak.
A revolver was placed on the table.
One bullet was set in with exaggerated care. The bald man spun the cylinder, clicked it shut, then slid the gun toward the first man.
"You know the rules," he said. "Pull the trigger. Pass it on."
The man didn't hesitate. Lifted the gun. Click.
Nothing.
Passed it to the next.
Kai watched in silence. His jaw throbbed. Blood dripped slowly from his lip from how hard he bit his lip.
Bang.
The second man slumped sideways. His chair tipped, body hitting the ground with a soft thud. No one reacted.
A boot dragged him out of the way.
Next man. Spin. Click.
Then the gun was in front of Kai.
His fingers hovered just above the cold steel.
"I'm not—" he started.
The bald man's eyes narrowed. "We don't care. You sit at the table, you play."
Kai picked up the gun.
His hands didn't shake. Maybe they should've.
He spun the chamber. Let it settle.
Held it to the side of his head.
He could hear the silence. Not just in the room — in his own mind. No voice told him to fight. No thought screamed to run. Just… stillness.
He pulled the trigger.
Click.
Nothing.
He slid it across.
Bang.
Another down.
They didn't even clear the body this time.
The gun came back around. Two players left.
Kai again.
He didn't spin it this time. Just lifted it, barrel brushing his cheekbone.
Click.
The last man — the bald one — gave a crooked smile.
"Tough kid."
He took the gun.
Aimed it between his eyes.
Bang.
His body hit the table hard, face slamming the metal. He didn't move.
Kai sat motionless.
Blood pooled toward him.
The silence stretched.
Then a hand unlocked the strap around his chest.
He stood slowly.
No one stopped him.
He walked down the stairs like he was weightless.
At the bottom, the boy from before stood waiting — holding a small stack of credit chips and a sandwich.
"Sorry," the kid said. "Didn't think you'd live."
Kai didn't reply.
He stepped past him, down the alley, back into the crooked, hungry city.
He didn't look back.
He didn't run.
He just kept walking free to leave.
He had survived another trial
[Your spirit guardian has completed his quest, kill 15 humans, next soulprint trial unlocked. Guardian workshop fully unlocked]
Huh... If everything didn't hurt I'll be shocked by that.
Interesting Velnix is free?