Lacod Junyu
"I am Lacod Junyu, the captain of the Devil Horns. My crew needs me the most, but before I can lead them, I need to understand what I am trying to become."
Junyu traveled through the Numazon Forest for days before reaching a town surrounded by massive walls.
The name carved above the gate was Mokushin.
When he arrived, he left his belongings outside and walked toward the entrance. What shocked him was the complete absence of guards, checkpoints, or security.
"Anyone could enter this place," Junyu muttered. "Why would a sealed town leave its gates unguarded?"
Just as he stepped forward, an old woman from the nearby slums shouted,
"GO BACK!"
Junyu ignored the warning and continued inside.
The moment he crossed the gate, it slammed shut behind him.
A mechanical voice echoed across the entire town.
"Player Number 1000 has entered."
"The TACT GAMES will now begin."
A terrifying silence spread through the slums. Every person turned toward Junyu.
The old woman hurried to him.
"Why did you enter? I told you to leave!"
"Does it matter now?" Junyu asked calmly.
"Yes, it does. There are exactly one thousand players in the slums now. Because of you, the Tact Games have started again."
Junyu frowned.
"Tact Games? What is that?"
"It is a game created by the rich people who live on the other side of the town. One thousand of us are forced to fight. The last thirty survivors win."
Junyu crossed his arms.
"So the last thirty who aren't eliminated?"
The woman shook her head.
"No. The last thirty who are not killed."
Junyu's smile vanished.
"What? You're joking, right?"
"I'm not joking. And remember this—when the games begin, everyone here will attack you first, because you are the reason they started."
"I'm not playing. I'll just leave."
The old woman pointed upward.
"Look above you."
Junyu looked at the sky.
"I only see clouds."
"That isn't the sky. It is a barrier. If we disobey the rules, it drops bombs on the town."
Junyu took a step back.
"You're serious?"
The woman nodded.
"The Tact Games last seven days. They begin tomorrow."
Junyu noticed the hatred in the eyes of the people around him.
"Has no one ever tried to challenge the person controlling this game?"
"There were people who tried," she whispered. "A genocide followed. Everyone died."
Junyu stared at her.
"How can you talk about this so calmly?"
"Because it happens twice every year. I have survived these games for eleven years."
Junyu looked around the slums.
"Then tonight will be the last night these games exist. I'll save all of you."
The old woman shook her head.
"You can't. This town is doomed. I warned you to leave."
"I won't leave before I save everyone."
"Do the houses have speakers?" Junyu asked.
"No."
"Good. Then let's talk inside."
INSIDE THE ROOM
People whispered among themselves.
"This stranger is the reason we're going to die."
"Why does he think he can save us?"
Junyu raised his head.
"Silence."
A red aura spread around his body, and the room instantly became quiet.
"I need to know every danger besides the bombs."
"We don't know," someone answered. "No one has ever reached that stage."
Junyu smiled.
"Then today will be the first time."
The crowd looked confused.
"At midnight," Junyu continued, "all of you will move to the other side of the town. I checked the gates. There are no guards."
"Are you deaf?" a man shouted. "Didn't you hear what she said about the bombs?"
Junyu's aura burned brighter.
"I'm the reason this game started, so I'll be the reason you survive."
He looked around the room.
"There has to be one person left behind to take the bombs, right?"
A terrified voice answered.
"Yes."
Junyu pointed at himself.
"I'll stay."
The entire room froze.
"You'll take the bombing yourself?"
"Yes."
"That's suicide!"
Junyu smiled calmly.
"Waiting here and dying tomorrow is also suicide."
He walked toward the door.
"So choose. Die hiding… or live by running."
The room remained silent.
Junyu looked back one final time.
"I promised you something the moment I entered Mokushin."
His red aura flared like fire.
"I will save every single one of you."