Rei and Ren sped toward the house.
The engine roared, tires screeching as they cut corners and flew through intersections.
"He has to be safe," Ren said, gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"I left Naoki with the babysitter."
With every passing block, the streets grew more and more deserted.
Creatures — twisted humanoids of stone and darkness — flooded the city like waves of destruction, consuming everything in their path.
Meanwhile, on top of a skyscraper…
Akito stood face to face with Zalgroom.
The colossus in stone armor loomed like a god of ruin, feeding on chaos.
Suddenly — an attack from behind.
Akito barely dodged.
A strike so powerful, the air itself trembled.
Zalgroom's arm roared past Akito's temple, missing by mere millimeters, brushing a single drop of sweat.
Akito ducked and counterattacked, forcing the giant back a step.
But then — a deafening roar.
Explosive, filled with ancient fury.
The nearby civilians dropped dead instantly — their bodies falling like dolls.
Blood burst from Akito's ears.
He collapsed to his knees.
[-50 HP]
"…People…" he whispered, barely conscious.
The next strike nearly crushed him into the rooftop, but he rolled away just in time.
Arden joined the fight.
His arms sliced the air like blades of steel.
He was fast — but without buffs, he couldn't hold off the monster for long.
A few solid hits — then Zalgroom effortlessly swatted him away, pinning him to the ground with a heavy foot.
Elian fired an arrow — Zalgroom caught it mid-air, without even looking.
"You're all insects!" the King bellowed.
Akito rose to his feet, ready to strike — but Zalgroom was already waiting.
Just as he swung — flash.
Arden swapped his position with Akito using [Fang of Deceit].
Akito's blade plunged into Zalgroom's back.
A crack across the giant's face — the weak point.
Arden had noticed.
He jumped, spun, and struck — right into the crack.
With a dull boom, Zalgroom was launched into a building.
Down below, Targus held the front line.
His axe shattered monsters left and right — but one massive humanoid withstood a direct blow, sending out a wave of vibration.
Others took advantage — and Targus took a crushing hit to the chest.
Meanwhile, Rei and Ren reached the house.
Ren jumped out of the car before it even stopped, sprinted up the stairs, and crashed into the apartment.
The creatures were already inside.
He barely slipped past them.
The bedroom door was open.
A monster loomed over Naoki's crib.
The babysitter lay dead — her neck broken.
Terror and fury exploded in Ren's eyes.
He charged at the creature — but his punch did nothing.
In response, he was thrown across the room —
four ribs shattered.
"Sh*t… hurts like hell…" he wheezed, struggling to breathe.
Rei burst in.
She fired.
The creature dropped.
Naoki sobbed uncontrollably.
Rei held him close, then handed him to Ren.
"We have to go," she said.
He nodded, teeth clenched from the pain.
They ran and jumped into the car.
Ren cradled his son in his arms, whispering:
"Don't be scared… Daddy's here… Daddy will protect you…"
Then — impact.
Akito, blasted from the sky along with Zalgroom, crashed into their car.
[-100 HP]
Rei and Akito locked eyes — for just a second.
The earth shook.
The asphalt cracked.
A strike flung Akito back into the air.
[-100 HP]
Skills Activated:
[Relentless]
[Victor]
He vanished — and in the next breath, appeared right in front of Zalgroom.
He grabbed the giant's face and slammed him into a building wall.
For the first time — the King felt fear.
But a voice behind him distracted Akito:
"Kurosawa! What the hell is going on?!" Rei shouted.
He turned—
And rushed forward.
But Ren stepped in between them.
Blood soaked his shirt.
In one arm, he still held Naoki.
The other… hung limp.
"S-sorry… Rei… don't cry, Naoki… Daddy's here…" he whispered… and his head slumped.
Rei's scream tore through the air.
The whole district fell silent, frozen by that scream — drenched in fear and death.
She looked at Akito — he stood still, hand buried in Ren's chest.
His eyes were blank.
Empty — like a puppet.
Like a corpse.
"Kurosawa… what have you done…?" she whispered, her voice filled with rage and sorrow.
Akito slowly pulled his hand out of Ren's body.
His face showed no pain.
No regret.
He raised his palm, ready to strike again…
But in that moment — something snapped.
His consciousness lit up like a spark in the dark.
His eyes regained focus.
He realized.
Everything.
"No… what… have I done…?" he choked out.
But it was too late.
Zalgroom appeared at his side.
The giant's stone fist slammed into Akito's head with a sickening crunch.
His skull cracked.
The world went black.
[You Have Died]
That was the last message he saw.
Then — nothing.
Cold, endless nothing.
"I lost…?"
"I couldn't save… anyone… am I… really going to die here?"
He sank deeper into the darkness.
But then — a flash.
A soft, brilliant white light tore through the void, wrapping him in warmth.
A figure appeared before him.
Small, almost childlike.
A voice spoke — soft and pure:
"Hello, Akito Kurosawa. I'm the creator of this system. And yes… you died."
Akito lifted his head.
The voice wasn't sinister — quite the opposite.
It was… kind. Almost gentle.
"Please…" he whispered hoarsely.
"Give me one more chance… my friends… they're dying. I can't just leave like this."
The being paused.
"That… breaks the rules. But… I like you, Akito.
You remind me of myself."
"Alright. One chance. Just one."
"But if you die again… don't count on me."
The tone shifted — serious.
"And one more thing…
I'm canceling this battle.
Let's say it never happened.
I thought you could handle it.
But that little girl… she distracted you."
The being held out a hand.
"Here's my gift."
The world exploded in blinding light.
Everything disappeared.
[Noxveil]
Hey there, reader!
If you've made it this far, thank you so much. I'm writing this story in Russian and translating it into English — so I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Even one small comment gives me huge motivation 💬💙
Let me know who your favorite character is so far!