Kairo stared at Elya. Her words echoed in his head like a slow explosion.
> "You died because you fell in love."
"What does that mean?" he asked.
But she didn't answer—because the sky cracked open.
A loud chime rang out, as if a giant clock had struck something invisible. Time around them trembled. The air shimmered. And suddenly—
> 🕰 [2:17 AM] EVENT: "First Blood" Has Begun
Target: Kairo Eren
Survive for 7 minutes
💀 Fail = Death + Diary Reset
He barely had time to read it before something slammed into the pavement beside them.
It was tall, inhuman—like a shadow sewn from broken limbs and wires. Its eyes glowed red. A monstrous voice hissed:
> "One of you dies. The clock decides."
Elya shoved Kairo behind her. "Run."
"No!" he yelled. "You'll get hurt—"
"Then stop wasting time!" she snapped.
Kairo's diary glowed. A new entry burned onto the page:
> 📖 [2:18 AM] – "The kiss that saves or kills."
He didn't understand. He didn't have time to understand.
The monster lunged.
Kairo tackled Elya to the ground just in time, the creature's claw slicing air inches above them. They rolled, breathless, hearts racing.
"Your page—" she gasped. "What did it say?"
He looked at her. "A kiss."
She blinked. "Seriously? That's your entry?!"
"I think it's the only way to survive."
They were cornered now. The monster crept forward, dragging a blade made of shattered glass across the ground.
Elya laughed bitterly, cheeks flushed, eyes locked onto his. "Figures. The only way out is something stupid like this."
She leaned in fast, lips brushing his.
It was gentle.
Terrifying.
And the moment they kissed, the monster screamed—and exploded into static.
The world paused.
A message hovered before them.
> 🕰 [2:24 AM] – "Survived."
💋 "Romance is a weapon."
📖 Kairo Eren: Life 3/4
📖 Elya Mirren: Life 2/4
They pulled apart, breathless and dazed.
"You lost a life," Elya whispered. "Just like the diary said."
Kairo didn't answer.
He was too busy looking at her lips.
---